Seeking Greenlights: Yes
Page Type: GoI Format
Genre (Optional): History(?)
Elevator Pitch: In 1978 Allan Alcorn began working on a new console for Atari, a console that would later be known as the Atari Cosmos. The Cosmos was cancelled in 1981 following Ray Kassar's refusal to sell a system that might compete with the VCS. Arcadia then takes up the project, and the Arcadia Cosmos nears release - but is suddenly shelved. The Cosmos itself looks identical to its Atari counterpart, save for the microphone and Arcadia labelling. The machine also works quite differently: it projects 3D images onto an environment, as opposed to the Atari Cosmos, which only uses holograms to make the games look 3D. Users of the system are unable to use more then one sense to perceive objects projected by the machine, but are able to change this through the use of the microphone. The story is told through advertisement flyers, internal memos from Arcadia, and letters.
Central Narrative: The story surrounds Allan Alcorn and his team as they try to develop an upgraded version of the Cosmos to compete directly in the console market. Allan and his team disagree quite a bit on how different the new console should be - the team, backed by Arcadia's upper management, support the development of a new, fantastical way of playing. Alcorn just wants to finally release the Cosmos as it was planned, albeit with a bit more features. The Video Game Crash of 1983 sends the project into a deathspiral, as funding quickly begins to run out. It comes to a head when Allan holds a visit with Dan "Wolf" Dunn, and quickly an argument ensues, ending with Alcorn suspending all involvement with Arcadia, and the Cosmos being shelved in 1984.
Hook/Attention-Grabber: The article itself will contain advertisements, memos, and discussions, providing an insight into Arcadia's inner workings at it's height, and it's low point. It hooks the reader by showing them part of the worst side of development - the arguments, the drug use, the mistakes - all of which contribute to Alcorn's leave. Showing a closer look at the development, focusing mainly on the development itself, is something that I believe makes this article unique to other Arcadia articles, as the way it presents itself provides a logical sequence of events.
Additional Notes: I have heavily reworked this concept following feedback, it originally being an SCP, and now being reworked into a GoI format article.










