AHC: turn smaller companies into mass-media conglomerates

As the title suggests, the challenge is to turn small or atleast moderately sized companies into large, multimedia powerhouses. This can also apply to old companies that are currently defunct.
 
Production problems are overcome and the brilliance of the Amiga is recognized securing Commodore's hold on the computer market. Uses varying from visual effects to NASA satellites prove it's versatility.
 
Production problems are overcome and the brilliance of the Amiga is recognized securing Commodore's hold on the computer market. Uses varying from visual effects to NASA satellites prove it's versatility.
Still have to over come marketing and management too unfortunately .

Miss my amigas :(
 
y'know, I was think about the possibility of Atari being in a position similar to what Apple and Microsoft are now. Maybe having them remain an independent company instead of being sold to Warner Communications would help them by a long shot. My other suggestions after that would be:
  • Keep Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Jay miner in the company. This could help Atari's computer division and perhaps even console division.
  • Have Nolan Bushnell remain head of Atari till around 1982-1983. After that, we could replace him with maybe Jim Morgan or one of the Steves.
  • Give the people who would later create Activision better treatment, keeping them in the company and perhaps have their future games Atari exclusive.
With all this, we could see an Atari replacing Apple, creating computers, consoles, and eventually cellphones. I do have an idea of Atari holding a stake for Chuck E Cheese's (since Nolan Bushnell was also the founder of Chuck E Cheese's), but i'm not sure if that's likely.
 
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y'know, I was think about the possibility of Atari being in a position similar to what Apple and Microsoft are now. Maybe having them remain an independent company instead of being sold to Warner Communications would help them by a long shot. My other suggestions after that would be:
  • Keep Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Jay miner in the company. This could help Atari's computer division and perhaps even console division.
  • Have Nolan Bushnell remain head of Atari till around 1982-1983. After that, we could replace him with maybe Jim Morgan or one of the Steves.
  • Give the people who would later create Activision better treatment, keeping them in the company and perhaps have their future games Atari exclusive.
With all this, we could see an Atari replacing Apple, creating computers, consoles, and eventually cellphones. I do have an idea of Atari holding a stake for Chuck E Cheese's (since Nolan Bushnell was also the founder of Chuck E Cheese's, but i'm not sure if that's likely.
Also have Atari buy the licensing rights for the NES. That would change EVERYTHING!!!
 
y'know, I was think about the possibility of Atari being in a position similar to what Apple and Microsoft are now. Maybe having them remain an independent company instead of being sold to Warner Communications would help them by a long shot. My other suggestions after that would be:
  • Keep Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Jay miner in the company. This could help Atari's computer division and perhaps even console division.
  • Have Nolan Bushnell remain head of Atari till around 1982-1983. After that, we could replace him with maybe Jim Morgan or one of the Steves.
  • Give the people who would later create Activision better treatment, keeping them in the company and perhaps have their future games Atari exclusive.
With all this, we could see an Atari replacing Apple, creating computers, consoles, and eventually cellphones. I do have an idea of Atari holding a stake for Chuck E Cheese's (since Nolan Bushnell was also the founder of Chuck E Cheese's), but i'm not sure if that's likely.
Funny thing was Bushnell was given the chance to invest in Apple. I bet he regrets turning THAT opportunity down.
 
Funny thing was Bushnell was given the chance to invest in Apple. I bet he regrets turning THAT opportunity down.
Yes, I have heard of that situation. I was just wondering how Atari could keep up with two computer brands (Apple's Apple II/Macintosh and Atari's own computers), so I decided to just have Steve Jobs and Wozniak stay at Atari.
 
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Yahoo buys Google as they almost did.

Jim Clark retains control of SGI, adds the web browser to it, goes huge.

Yes, I have heard of that situation. I was just wondering how Atari could keep up with two computer brands (Apple's Apple II/Macintosh and Atari's own computers), so I decided to just have Steve Jobs and Wozniak stay at Atari.

Bushnell sold because he was a terrible manager and had zero cash and wanted to be rich—he’s a business dude interested in technology. You can do super-Atari but in 1976 nobody is investing a hundred twenty million dollars (aka what Warner spent) to launch the VCS. Somebody has to buy them. Perhaps an earlier POD where Bushnell doesn’t stab Dabney in the back and then Atari IPOs? But that fundamentally changes his character.

You can switch the company buying them but really you need someone to run the company well. Plus Bushnell was a key part in making Apple, he sent them to Don Valentine who sent them to Mike Markkula for adult supervision—without that there’s no Apple, just two guys stuck at Atari while Bushnell is busy with the VCS until at least 1978. One of the reasons Atari turned Jobs down in 1975 was because they were too busy, Bushnell turning down a third in 1976 was because he didn’t think home computers would be a thing—it is actually a very complex handwave to keep Woz and Jobs working at Atari, on a computer.

But I do love a super-Atari… :)

Funny thing was Bushnell was given the chance to invest in Apple. I bet he regrets turning THAT opportunity down.

He really does, see his AMA. But if he had invested Apple might not have gotten Markkula on board, and hence no Apple as we think of it.
 
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