Let me share a personal anecdote. My introduction to the world of gaming came courtesy of my father, who introduced me to interactive entertainment through his cherished Atari ST, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Titles like Starglider, Dungeon Master, Populous, Defender of the Crown, and Captain Blood were the games that shaped my early experiences. Although I eventually transitioned to consoles, I retain a fondness for the ST. My admiration was strong enough to realize that being an Atari enthusiast during the late ’80s and early ’90s was quite challenging.
### The Rise and Fall of the Atari ST
When the Atari ST debuted in 1985, it was initially a formidable contender in the market, with its limited release occurring between April and June, followed by a broader launch in July. However, it soon faced stiff competition from the Commodore Amiga, a rival 16-bit home computer developed by the very company that Atari Corp’s Jack Tramiel had left in 1984. The 520ST, designed in just five months by a team led by ex-C64 developer Shiraz Shivji, was later joined by several models, including the STE, the portable STacy, the TT030, Mega STE, and Falcon. Ultimately, the ST line was discontinued in 1993 as Atari shifted its focus to the ill-fated 64-bit Jaguar console.
### Complicated Histories Unveiled
In a conversation I had with Shivji in 2008 for Retro Gamer magazine, he shed light on the intertwined histories of the ST and the Amiga. He noted that the challenges Atari faced under Warner were partly due to Tramiel’s Commodore. The Commodore 64 had achieved remarkable success, far surpassing Atari’s earlier computers like the 800 and 400. This competition also impacted Atari’s video game division, particularly the Atari 2600. Jay Miner, who had worked at Atari, left to design the Amiga. Atari had initially funded some of the Amiga’s development and held an option to purchase it. When Atari took control in July 1984, they had to decide how to handle that option. However, the Amiga wasn’t ready for acquisition, requiring substantial investment. Ultimately, Atari chose to forgo the Amiga, putting immense pressure on their development team. In contrast, Commodore lacked confidence in creating a 32-bit graphics-oriented machine internally and opted to acquire Amiga for $25-$30 million, investing an additional $20 million to bring the product to market shortly after Atari.
### A Legacy of Musical Innovation
Despite the Atari ST’s limitations, especially in audio compared to the Amiga, it featured built-in MIDI ports that made it a favorite among both professional and amateur musicians. Notably, White Town’s “Your Woman,” which topped the UK singles chart, was produced using an Atari ST. Many renowned artists, including Utah Saints, Atari Teenage Riot, Pet Shop Boys, Dario G, Fatboy Slim, Mike Oldfield, and Tangerine Dream, have utilized this machine during their careers to create music. Although I sometimes envied my friends who owned Amigas—being the only ST user in my circle—I will always cherish the incredible moments I had with that platform. If you’re also an enduring fan of the ST, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
