The Global Gaming League (GGL), a league of celebrity-owned teams structured like the NFL meets WWE, that compete in multi-title video game matches, announced that Atari has given permission for classic titles to be included in its first season.
Among the games covered are titles that are true icons of the medium such as Centipede, Food Fight and the game that started it all, Pong.
The inclusion of iconic Atari titles accelerates GGL’s mission to create a gaming league which brings together every style of play and every type of player. The GGL is made up of celebrity-owned teams with four player rosters. Each competition will see two teams face off over four different games – each from a different genre such as sports, fighting, racing, shooter and classic.
SZN Zero kicked off in Las Vegas on August 23 with its first competition featuring T-Pain vs. Ne-Yo’s teams.
“Atari is the beginning of it all,” said Clinton Sparks, CEO of the Global Gaming League, in a statement. “There would be no Global Gaming League without Atari – that’s what made me a gamer in the first place. It changed me, entertainment and honestly, what I remember most about my Atari is it brought friends and family together to play – just like our mission is here at The GGL. Whether it was Centipede, Food Fight or Pong, it was built for everybody, which is why our motto is ‘Everybody Games,’ because just like Atari, we’re building something for everybody to watch, play and be a part of – exactly what gaming was built for, and what Atari has done for decades.
“It is great to see Initiatives like the Global Gaming League celebrating and expanding the visibility of video games in popular culture, and we are excited to have our classic games included in the inaugural season,” said Wade Rosen, CEO of Atari, in a statement. “We look forward to seeing Clinton Spark’s competitive vision play out, and watching the celebrity teams take on these timeless challenges.”
“It’s impossible to overestate the impact Atari had on this medium, ” said Darin Colucci, Global Game League Commissioner, in a statement. “To have them participate with the Global Gaming League’s mission to make video game competitions relatable, entertaining and thrilling is a huge endorsement of our vision.”
GGL is a first of its kind gaming entertainment league—where gaming, culture, music, sports, fashion, competition and rivalry converge. With celebrity-led teams, live competitions, global fan engagement, and next-gen media experiences, GGL is building the first entertainment system for the world’s largest and most engaged audience.