Classic computer-game maker Atari is now leveraging HD telepresence solutions from Polycom Inc. to help unite globally dispersed teams for more effective collaboration, accelerated decision-making, lower costs and improved work/life balance for employees.

Atari relies on Polycom standards-based telepresence solutions, which provide an UltimateHD experience – video, voice and multimedia content-sharing capabilities – which allows teams to not only see and hear each other in life-like clarity, but also share multimedia content, like full-motion graphics from games, in HD, according to Polycom.

“Using HD video conferencing provides a more intimate experience and brings us closer together as a company,” said Roland Lesterlin, an Atari product development manager. “As we’ve rolled out our Polycom HD telepresence solution, users have been very impressed with the ease of use, the video and audio quality and the content sharing capabilities. There is real value in seeing real-time facial reactions of our colleagues and the ability to share our work in real-time is changing how we collaborate as a company.”

The catalyst for deploying Polycom HD telepresence systems was to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of critical “green light” meetings, where decisions about video game development are made. The often lengthy meetings connect executives and staff from all over the world.

The Atari IT team was asked to improve the quality of the interactions and presentations during the green light meetings, in a cost-effective manner. Atari had been using legacy video conferencing systems from Polycom to reduce the travel required for green light meetings and decided that a move to Polycom HD telepresence solutions would be ideal for facilitating life-like communications and collaboration through the UltimateHD experience.

“Presentations during the meetings now include demonstrations of games, viewing of HD-quality images, videos, and reviews of builds that are going through the alpha and beta stages,” said Atari IT Manager Arnaldo Espinal.

“One selling point of video games is the visual quality, especially with HD becoming ubiquitous in the home,” said Lesterlin. “Being able to present these games in HD during the green light meetings is an important part of accurately assessing whether or not it is a game to move forward with.”