Re: 65816 origins?

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

>>When Atari ran into difficult times and development had to be stopped,
>>Western Design  bought the rights to the chip from Atari's ASG for a measly
>>$35,000!
>>
>>     The story is vaguely familiar; but, I do not know whether it is true.
>
>     In any case, $35,000 does not sound very "measly"

The 65C816 has been a very lucrative chip for Western Design Center.
Perhaps not as lucrative as the 65C02, but the '816 has been embeded
in many many consumer electronic products and even automobiles, not
to mention serving as the processor for the IIGS and giant Nintendo's
SNES system.

I'd say $35,000 was measly for the value Western Design Center got
from the '816.  Assuming Atari really did develop it, that is...