*By Christian Smith*
Classic video game maker Atari is leaving its retro console past behind and embracing esports with a new plan to make head-to-head editions of its most iconic franchises, said the CEO, Frédéric Chesnais.
"You're going to have games where you can play Pong against somebody else just on the phone," Chesnais said Wednesday in an interview on Cheddar.
In April, Atari ($ATAR.PA) announced a partnership with Bayside Games, granting the company exclusive rights to develop "player-versus-player" and "physical skill"-based Atari titles.
The company's push to expand its mobile gaming options comes just five years after its American arm filed for bankruptcy, at which point Chesnais ー who departed the company in 2007 ー returned to the helm to "right the ship."
Now, the French firm is reclaiming its territory in the U.S.
The company announced Wednesday it would be listed on the Nasdaq International's U.S. OTC market, which Chesnais said will make it easier for U.S. investors to buy shares in the company. Atari stock will still trade on the Euronext Paris market.
Atari first rose to prominence in the late 70s and 80s, thanks to games and franchises like "Pong," "Asteroids," and "Centipede."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/atari-ceo-on-the-companys-growth-strategy-just-a-few-years-after-filing-for-bankruptcy).
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A Michigan judge is putting sponges in the hands of shoplifters and ordering them to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot when spring weather arrives. Genesee County Judge Jeffrey Clothier hopes the unusual form of community service discourages people from stealing from Walmart. The judge also wants to reward shoppers with free car washes. Clothier says he began ordering “Walmart wash” sentences this week for shoplifting at the store in Grand Blanc Township. He believes 75 to 100 people eventually will be ordered to wash cars this spring. Clothier says he will be washing cars alongside them when the time comes.
