Latest news with #Atari
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
DreamPark Opens Mixed Reality Theme Park at West Canal Yards in Seattle
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DreamPark, the creator of the world's largest downloadable theme park, today opened a permanent DreamPark experience at West Canal Yards, a new waterfront redevelopment on Seattle's Ship Canal. The 25,000-square-foot free-roam augmented world offers real-life fun and adventure for adults and kids alike (ages 4+). By transforming everyday environments into immersive adventures through mixed reality, DreamPark aims to make the real world a playground. Grab your friends and family, and come visit DreamPark at West Canal Yards. Tickets Available at DreamPark's website: Share Situated on the water, the DreamPark location in Ballard is centrally located to Seattle landmarks and major employers, making it an ideal destination. DreamPark was founded by industry veterans Brent Bushnell, a Seattle-based entrepreneur and son of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese founder Nolan Bushnell; Aidan Wolf, co-founder of AR House and a former creator at SNAP; and Kevin Habich, co-founder of Kevaid and CTO/co-founder of Frameri. DreamPark was featured on ABC's Shark Tank in April 2025. DreamPark's unique and novel entertainment experience engages families, adults seeking social activities and corporate teams looking for innovative team-building solutions. "This West Canal Yards installation is a testament to our ability to create immersive and profitable entertainment units quickly and efficiently," said Aidan Wolf, Co-Founder and CEO of DreamPark. "It's the world's largest mixed reality theme park, offering an unparalleled experience that differentiates us in the virtual reality marketplace. We are thrilled to bring this to the vibrant Seattle community, especially given its strong game audience and proximity to major tech companies and attractions." The West Canal Yards installation, spearheaded by lead developer Ned Carner, addresses the growing need to revitalize idle retail spaces across the country. The national office vacancy rate was 19.4% in May, up 160 basis points year-over-year, with occupancy unlikely to rise in the near future, according to CommercialCafe. DreamPark's rapid deployment capability, combined with the capacity to handle bigger installations, addresses key challenges in transforming empty storefronts into revenue-generating entertainment destinations. 'With West Canal Yards, our goal is to create a place that invites people to visit and enjoy our working waterfront,' said Ned Carner, founder and president of Wing Point Partners and visionary behind West Canal Yards. 'DreamPark plays a key role in that vision by quickly revitalizing the space and helping to transform it into a vibrant entertainment hub for family fun.' DreamPark eliminates the million-dollar construction costs of typical VR venues by requiring no permanent infrastructure. The immersive, multiplayer experience generates enough revenue to cover costs within its first month, making it a cost-effective way to revitalize underused spaces. Grab your friends and family, and come visit DreamPark at West Canal Yards on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Tickets Available at DreamPark's website: /seattle About DreamPark DreamPark is creating the world's first downloadable mixed-reality theme park platform, transforming real-world spaces into immersive adventures. Using the latest XR technology, we overlay digital worlds onto physical environments, creating magical experiences accessible through Meta Quest headsets or mobile devices. With strategic locations across major cities, we're building the world's largest theme park—one that exists everywhere and is open to everyone. Founded by industry veterans Brent Bushnell, Aidan Wolf, and Kevin Habich, and backed by top VCs like Long Journey Ventures and Founders, Inc., DreamPark is reimagining how people play, connect, and experience their communities in the mixed reality era.
Hypebeast
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Hypebeast
Atari Brings Classic Arcade Games to Volkswagen Cars
Summary Volkswagendrivers can now play classicAtarigames,Asteroids: RechargedandBreakout: Recharged, directly from their infotainment screens, thanks to a new partnership between Atari and in-car gaming platformAirConsole. The feature is rolling out to select Volkswagen models starting today, marking Atari's first step into the in-vehicle entertainment space. Designed for 1–2 players, both games bring modern twists to the iconic Rechargedincludes 50 levels and power-ups like rail guns, whileAsteroids: Rechargeddelivers fast-paced action and upgraded weaponry, perfect for short, engaging sessions while parked or charging. Passengers can join the fun using their smartphones as controllers, simply by scanning a QR code on the car's display. The integration is part of a broader push by AirConsole to transform idle moments into opportunities for play. With successful collaborations already under its belt — including titles fromSony Pictures,MattelandBandai Namco— AirConsole continues to solidify its position as the go-to platform for in-car gaming. 'AirConsole's partnership with Atari is a milestone in making the car a space for social connection and interactive entertainment,' said Anthony Cliquot, CEO of AirConsole. More titles, likeMissile Command: Recharged, are expected to join the growing library soon.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition—Everything You Need To Know
Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition is out now for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch complete with all four campaigns and cross-platform multiplayer features. The four campaigns are the original storyline, Mask of the Betrayer, Storm of Zehir, and Mysteries of Westgate. You don't have to necessarily play them in that order, but it's definitely what I'd recommend. You can read my review here for my thoughts on the game as a whole, but I also wanted to publish a separate article answering a lot of the specific questions I've seen raised about this game. This new Enhanced Edition was developed and published by Aspyr, but the original game from 2006 was originally developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari exclusively on PC. Neverwinter Nights 2—What Is It And Why Care? 'Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition brings players back to the rich, story-driven world of Dungeons & Dragons with updated visuals, improved UI, and full mod support," Aspyr product manager Jordan Reese said in an email. Set in the iconic region around Neverwinter and the Sword Coast, it's a deep, choice-driven RPG that modern players—especially fans of Baldur's Gate 3—will love. Whether you're returning or diving in for the first time, this edition delivers classic D&D adventure reimagined for today.' Even though this is a numbered entry in a series, you don't need to play the original Neverwinter Nights at all previously if you don't want to. As I mentioned, there are four total campaigns included in Neverwinter Nights 2 and you can technically play them in any order, but I definitely recommend playing them in the order they're presented at the main menu. 'You don't have to start with the base game, but it can be a helpful introduction—especially for players new to the classic ruleset of D&D 3.5e,' Reese said. 'The base campaign gives you a solid grounding in the world and mechanics, and if you do complete it, you can carry your character into Mask of the Betrayer. That said, MotB also lets you create a new level 18 character, so you can jump right in if you prefer. Storm of Zehir and Mysteries of Westgate are standalone adventures with their own stories, so no prior progress is required—they're great options whether you're continuing your journey or looking for something fresh.' Neverwinter Nights 2—What's The D&D 3.5e Ruleset? Dungeons & Dragons has been around for many decades and directly influenced and laid the groundwork for, essentially, the entire RPG genre in video games. You can trace a direct line from D&D, to Ultima, and everything else that followed. As a result, it's seen many iterations and updates over those years. Right now, D&D 5e is the current version most people play and it's the version games like Baldur's Gate 3 are based on. But since Neverwinter Nights 2 is a nearly 20-year old game, that version didn't exist when it was released. Instead, NWN2 is based on D&D 3.5e. '5e is a ruleset that has been built upon the foundation set by 3.5e,' Reese said. 'Neverwinter Nights 2 is based on the 3.5e which, to some, may feel more complex however it translates so well into the classic D&D game where the computer handles all the behind the scenes math. Players will have a lot of freedom in character customization, classes, and overall experience. Players looking for a deep and original D&D experience will feel right at home in Neverwinter Nights 2. I deeply enjoy playing with the 3.5e ruleset.' Plus, as I mentioned in my review, the game has 'packages' you can use during character creation to align with a certain playstyle you want to follow. Additionally, you can even have the game recommend stat points and feats when leveling up for you and any of your companions. There's a lot to digest in this game, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming if you don't want it to be. Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition—What's New? As you can surmise from the title of the game, it's not a remake and not even really a remaster. This is, more or less, a cleaned up port with restored functionality, better performance, more platforms supported, and slightly improved textures. 'We've made several adjustments to gameplay including controller support, with a new controller specific UI, updates to the visuals with improved textures and assets,' Reese said. 'We're adding in cross-platform multiplayer, so players are able to play with friends regardless of the platform they own. We're also including all four enhanced campaigns, which includes the expansions, Mask of the Betrayer, Storm of Zehir, and Mysteries of Westgate. There are some additional minor updates being made and we'll leave those to players to uncover and experience on their own.' So if you were hoping for sweeping changes and updates to the game, this may leave you a little disappointed. But if you play primarily on Steam Deck, consoles, or had trouble getting the original game to run on your PC like a lot of folks, this is a very faithful and smooth way to play Neverwinter Nights 2. In fact, I'd say if you haven't played the game before, this is definitely the version to get regardless of platform since all of the existing mods and player-made campaigns still work on PC. 'Most of the console updates center around visual enhancements and playability,' Reese said. 'We've reworked menus, updated the controls scheme, and polished the experience so that players feel more comfortable navigating the world and game using a controller. Along with controller support we've targeted Verified status on Steam Deck. It comes down to personal preference how and when someone wants to play games. If that's on a console or on the go with something like the Steam Deck, we want the player to be able to make that choice.' Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition—Physical Release? If you've followed my work here on Forbes, on social media, or anything I've done over the years then you probably know I'm a huge proponent of physical media, specifically in the game industry. I buy physically almost always when given the chance and have a large collection of nearly 800 games stretching back to Atari consoles, NES, Genesis, and far beyond. Naturally, I was hoping for a physical release of Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition, but it doesn't seem like that was the plan for initial release—but we don't need to rule it out entirely just yet. 'Physical is something we're always thinking about,' Reese said. 'There is a certain type of value that comes from having the physical version, plus it opens the doors to do all kind of cool things with collector's editions. I can't confirm anything right now but know it's something we think about with all of our titles.' Fingers crossed. Since I received a PS5 code for the review, I'd immediately buy a physical edition on Switch to play on Switch 2. I'd love to see cross-save support added at some point in the future as well. 'If you have experience playing any D&D based game, or D&D adjacent game, you'll pick up pretty quickly on how the mechanics work,' Reese said. "Much like Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 and the Pillars of Eternity games, this game is a real time combat system simulating turn based gameplay. New players that are inexperienced with D&D will find that the learning curve isn't so steep that they will have a bad time. It's an exceptional game that veterans of the D&D world, and newcomers, can enjoy. 'Take your time, get into the story and the world, experiment with different characters, races, and classes, and above all else—have fun. My personal favorite is a lawful good Paladin on a traditional hero's journey smiting evil from the land. That might be a good place for people to start.' Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition is available now from Aspyr for PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Top Gear
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Here's that in-car version of classic Atari arcade game Asteroids you wanted inside your VW
Here's that in-car version of classic Atari arcade game Asteroids you wanted inside your VW Finally, long road trips accompanied by a symphony of 8-bit game sound effects Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. The auto industry seems intent on making native in-car gaming a thing. You can play Uno in your BMW, Solitaire in your Tesla, and now not to be outdone, Volkswagen's Airconsole integration has bolstered its own gaming portfolio by adding Asteroids: Recharged and Breakout: Recharged. We're hearing early reports that the makers of I Spy and Just Sit Quietly Or I'm Turning This Thing Around And Going Home are holding crisis talks in response. The pair of arcade classics joins the Airconsole roster alongside Pac-Man, the aforementioned Uno, Pictionary and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? Advertisement - Page continues below For anyone not well-versed in in-car gaming, Airconsole works by displaying the game on your car's infotainment screen and allowing passengers to connect their phones as game controllers. Meanwhile the driver – and we can't stress this enough – continues driving the car. That's unless they're parked up, of course. If you're sitting in the car while charging, it might be a welcome way to occupy some time. 'Atari laid the foundation for generations of gamers,' said Anthony Cliquot, CEO of N-Dream, in the announcement presser. 'To welcome these timeless titles onto AirConsole shows that our vision for in-car play is being embraced by the world's most trusted entertainment brands.' The games are available to Volkswagen owners with an active VW Connect Plus contract, and an active internet connection via their smartphone. Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
'Retro Park' Revives 80s and 90s Gaming Nostalgia at the Esports World Cup 2025
The video game industry has undergone rapid evolution over the past decades, with various devices and platforms shaping the features of successive generations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. In this context, the Retro Park pavilion drew large crowds at the Esports World Cup 2025, currently taking place at Boulevard Riyadh City. It offers an interactive journey through the world of classic video games, inspired by the 1980s and 1990s, continuing through the 2000s to the present day, starting with the 1972 "Odyssey," the world's first home gaming console, and culminating in today's virtual reality technologies. In the 1970s, specifically in 1977, the Atari video game console gained prominence with its iconic game Pac-Man. In 1983, the Arab world saw the launch of its first Arabic-localized home gaming console, known as Sakhr, alongside the release of the Family game console, fondly remembered by a generation for the classic game Mario. In the early 1990s, the Super Nintendo console emerged, accompanied by the release of Super Mario World in 1993. Arcade machines also became popular in gaming halls before many of their titles transitioned to home consoles. A significant turning point occurred in 1996 with the launch of the PlayStation by Sony, which gained widespread popularity due to its hit game, Crash. The decade concluded with the release of the Sega Dreamcast video game console. In the 2000s, home gaming advanced significantly with the release of the PlayStation 2 and 3, alongside popular games such as Ratchet & Clank and Black Ops. Moreover, Nintendo launched the highly successful Wii, while handheld consoles from Nintendo and PlayStation also gained traction. The emergence of YouTube in 2005 paved the way for "Let's Play" content and gaming-related media. In the second decade of the millennium, video games continued to evolve with the rise of motion-based games such as Just Dance, while meme culture and reaction content spread among gamers and internet users, becoming part of their digital memory. In 2020, virtual reality (VR) technology gained significant prominence through the use of VR headsets, elevating the gaming experience to unprecedented levels and becoming a key part of the industry's global future. The Saudi scene is an active part of this evolution, with the Kingdom witnessing significant growth in the number of players and content creators, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, which places strong emphasis on the gaming sector as part of digital transformation and youth empowerment.
