Re: 65816 origins?

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Supertimer writes ...
> 
> 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...


     Taking the story to be fairly accurate, we still do not know how much
work and money Atari put into the 65816 before bailing out. Nor do we know
what problems and costs Atari may have avoided by selling off its interest
in the project. The 68xxx-based Atari ST arrived in 1985; so, it does not
look like Atari was all that interested in extending their 65xxx series
commitment.

     My inclination is to believe that the $35,000 was a bit of a risk and
that the 65816 turned out well for WDC due mainly to WDC marketing and
Apple's decision to bring out another Apple II, the IIgs.



Rubywand