Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR), one of the worlds' most recognized brands and a third-party video game publisher, today announced that Atari Classics Evolved, a large compilation of classic Atari arcade games, has shipped to retailers in North America just in time for the holiday season. Atari Classics Evolved, rated E for Everyone, is available on the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system for a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Atari Classics Evolved features a full gamut of genre-defining classics like Battlezone, Centipede, Millipede, Missile Command, Tempest, Lunar Lander, Super Breakout, Warlord, Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe and Pong. In addition to the 11 arcade classics, players can unlock more than 40 original Atari 2600 titles. These titles include such noted favorites as Yar's Revenge, Night Driver, Canyon Bomber and Crystal Castles among many others.

"Gamers today have gotten used to the increasing complexity of video games," said Todd Slepian, Producer, Atari, Inc. "But it's always nice to take a break from these monstrous titles and go back to the games that defined our childhoods. With so many fun classic games packed into such a small disc, it's hard not to crack a little smile for days gone by."

For true arcade authenticity, all 11 classic arcade titles in Atari Classics Evolved feature their original retro graphics, as well as an option for beautifully rendered "Evolved" graphics and enhanced gameplay. While retaining the tried-and-true gameplay of the original games, the 11 classic arcade titles also feature online leaderboards, allowing players to compare scores against some of the best players in the world. Some games also have local peer-to-peer wireless capability allowing players to compete in fierce local multiplayer matches.