It’s wonderful when your passion for a particular niche blossoms into something tangible. In my case, the art of classic video game brand Atari has influenced me since childhood. It engrossed me so much that I’ve spent quite a few hours researching, interviewing, and collecting examples of the illustration, graphic design, and industrial design of this pioneering company. I’ve had the privilege to talk to many artists, designers, and even co-founder Nolan Bushnell about the creative legacy of Atari. That work is beginning to take shape as a book, and as word has gotten out about it, I’ve gotten quite a few questions. So I took the opportunity to talk with Michael Gapper at Edge Magazine and answer some of them. If you also have fond memories of Missile Command and Pitfall Harry, you might enjoy checking out the full interview.

“The game-playing wasn’t 100 percent of the experience. Part of what made the world complete was the artwork that conjured up this other place. I wasn’t sitting in my living room anymore; I was on this desolate planet or in space. And it was mostly because of that art.” – Tim Lapetino, quoted at The Verge

I have written before about my love for Atari, and how it morphed into a career and passion for design. It’s funny how some influential moments keep echoing throughout one’s life. I had the great privilege to be interviewed by The Verge’s Andrew Webster about the art of Atari, alongside some of the great artistic talents behind Atari’s amazing package illustrations. I am in great company, as some of the others interviewed for this story are now friends of mine, including amazing Atari artists Cliff Spohn, Steve Hendricks, John Enright, and Susan Jaekel. Definitely worth a read for another look behind the packaging of those great retro games.