Atari just announced several updates to the Pong Indie Developer Challenge, a contest which offers developers the chance to create and release their own version of Pong in the App Store, in addition to cash prizes.

• Revenue-sharing agreements for winners have been extended from one year to three years
• Developer Spotlight revealed – this spotlight will promote participants and their studios to Atari’s community
• David Whatley, creator of geoDefense and Tiny Heroes, has joined the judging panel alongside Nolan Bushnell and others

The full press release appears below:

Atari, one of the world’s most recognized publishers and developers of interactive entertainment, today announced several updates to its Pong® Indie Developer Challenge, most notably an extension of the rev-share publishing agreements from one to three years for all winners. The new publishing terms are intended to offer developers larger incentives for participation and increase their potential revenue as a result of their winning Pongsubmission.

Atari also today launched the Developer Spotlight, an online showcase of contest finalists that will give millions of Atari fans a personal look at each developer’s profile and help raise awareness for their contest submission. Additionally, Atari revealed that it has added David Whatley of Critical Thought Games to the contest judging panel. Whatley brings years of game development experience with several App Store blockbusters under his belt, including geoDefense and Tiny Heroes. He joins the judging panel alongside Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, Dave Castelnuovo of Bolt Creative and Mike Schramm of TUAW.

“The Pong Indie Developer Challenge is a great opportunity for an indie developer to jumpstart their career by gaining instant recognition for their work and placing high on the App Store charts,” said David Whatley. “Pong is a classic IP that audiences far and wide still recognize after 40 years, and the association with that and the Atari brand will no doubt provide a platform for participants to showcase their talent to millions. I’m looking forward to reviewing the developers’ efforts and envision a vibrant collection of finalists on the Developer Spotlight.”

Entries are now being accepted until April 15, 2012, with up to ten finalists to be selected by the judging panel on June 19, 2012. In addition to featured profiles on the Developer Spotlight, finalists will be awarded rev-share publishing agreements and cash prizes based on final ranking: 1st place will receive $50,000, 2nd place $27,500, 3rd place $15,000, and 4-10th $5,000 each. To view the Developer Spotlight, visitwww.atari.com/pongdeveloperchallenge/finalists.

For full details regarding the contest and rules, including how to submit, eligibility, timing of submissions and prizes, please visit: www.atari.com/pongdeveloperchallenge.

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