I never had an Atari when I was growing up. My aunt bought my sisters and me a Texas Instruments computer instead. I didn’t know the difference. I was eight years old. I pretty much just liked pressing the buttons and pretending to play library. (Don’t ask.) My sisters really liked the “TI-Invaders” game (the TI rip-off of Space Invaders). But my favorite game — if I did actually play a game — was a little hide-‘n-seek-ish type novelty called “Hunt the Wumpus.” I think I maybe just liked saying the word “Wumpus.” You try it. “Wumpus.” See? It’s fun, right? Though, to this day, I still have no clue what a “wumpus” is. Other than being something with freakishly large teeth and two awkwardly long arms with claw-hands.
Anyway, Texas Instruments evolved into more of a calculator giant. Atari, however, remains the top retro gaming device. Plus, they had a pretty rad logo. Texas Instruments was pretty banal. I mean, a silhouette of the state of Texas? Whoa. How mind-blowingly creative. Pff. So… for this installment of Throwback Thursday, I give you… Atari.
Most photos borrowed from the fabulous Atari Flickr group. Others found HERE, HERE, and HERE.
