The new Atari.com represents phase one of the company’s internet re-launch, allows fans of the company’s works to browse the latest Atari titles, buy games from the Atari Store, enter contests, and most importantly, play six classic Atari games for free as long as you;d like, unless your boss is watching. The six games currently on the site include Asteroids, Adventure, Battlezone, Crystal Castles, Lunar Lander and Yars Revenge, each retro-fitted with leaderboards so players can keep track of how much they suck at Crystal Castles and how many times they blame it on the lack of a trackball.

“Today commences the first stage in Atari’s ongoing commitment to growing its online business with the re-launch of Atari.com,” said Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Atari, Inc. “Our online roadmap contains a multitude of enhancements and exciting new features which over time will redefine how people play and connect with Atari.”

Yes, yes Jim, whatever you say. More Yars Revenge please.

For those of you not up to par on your Star Trek calendar, that’s actually January 12, 2010. The open beta will run through to January 26, giving players two weeks to play the game prior to the February launch. Open beta keys will be given out on a first come, first serve basis, with players urged to watch the game’s official website at http://www.startrekonline.com to keep abreast of the situation.

“We are excited to announce the dates for the open beta phase as this is one of the final steps in launching Star Trek Online to the public,” said Craig Zinkievich, Executive Producer on Star Trek Online. “We are looking forward to the launch of our first-of-a-kind MMORPG with anticipation and excitement and we expect Star Trek Online to explode onto the scene, giving fans and gamers a Star Trek experience like no other.”

Star Trek would be a much bigger hit with the fans if video game website writers didn’t have to covert dates to stardates of their own accord. Just sayin’.

We’ve spent more than enough time telling you about how ship combat works in Star Trek Online — now it’s time to show you.

We’ve been harping on the space combat in Star Trek Online for quite some time, and now Cryptic gives you a look at what we’re so excited about. It’s possibly the best video game representation of Star Trek space battles so far, and utilising bridge officers as special powers and abilities during combat is rather brilliant.

Once again I must point out that the space shots look incredibly pretty, and the on-foot bits not-so-much. It almost looks like you’ll be playing two different games when Star Trek Online launches in February. I’ll be sticking to the space lanes as much as possible, thanks.

Star Trek Online is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game based in the near future, or at least the near future of the Star Trek universe. Players become high-ranking Starfleet officers, customising their ships and boldly going many different places, both in space or planet side. Beta testing is now underway, and will likely continue until the game’s newly-announced February 2 North American release date.

“Star Trek Online is poised to become the ultimate Star Trek gaming experience,” said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari, Inc. “Throughout the last four decades, Star Trek has been a mainstay in pop culture, influencing legions of fans through television, film and more. Star Trek Online opens a whole new chapter and expands upon this incredible universe in 2010.”

While I am excited by the concept of the game, the more stats-based side of me is even more interested in seeing how many Trek fans take to the game. It could become the new online destination for Trek fandom, or it could wind up one of those deserts where the crew of the Enterprise tends to run across the odd megalomaniac robot.

Atari and Cryptic announced the one million character milestone today, using the figure as an example of the strong reception Champions Online has received from both fans and game critics since the game launched in early September. A million superheroes running about saving the day is nothing to scoff at, though I’m sure the companies would rather that was a million registered players. Still, Atari seems pleased.

“We are very pleased with the wonderful praise Champions Online is receiving,” said Jim Wilson, CEO, Atari, Inc. “We credit the great MMO fan base and look forward to seeing what players create as the game continues to grow and develop. We are working hard on new content and updates that will expand the universe and give Champions fans more to explore.”

Expect that number to increase by a large amount this weekend, with a free trial of Champions Online kicking off tomorrow.

It’s strange. I don’t remember Star Trek Online looking this pretty when I played it at PAX last month, but it was pretty early on the first day, and I was still getting my show legs. Perhaps I was too busy destroying Klingon ships and raiding the planet below to pause and take everything in. Or maybe someone on the Cryptic crew takes a damn fine screenshot.

From Friday October 30th to Monday November 2nd, Cryptic is opening up Champions Online to any and all who want to come try it out. Simply head over to the free play promo page, sign up for an account, download the client, and then wait. Perhaps you could make a sandwich or something.

The free play weekend coincides with Champions” Blood Moon Halloween event, which introduces invading zombie hordes (*sigh*) and the introduction of the new Celestial power set. The event begins for current subscribers on the 27th. Free players can play around with it once the weekend comes.

Photo Sauce, developed by the Atari London Studio, is a free Facebook app that allows users to plaster retro stickers, stamps and speech bubbles all over their photos, creating images and comic strips they can share with their friends, or people who added them because they felt it was rude not to. As you can see from the image above, I am already an expert at using this application.

So why a Facebook app, Atari?

“Atari introduced the world to computer entertainment with simple and fun games for everyone,” said Paulina Bozek, Development Director, Atari London Studio. “Atari Photo Sauce builds on that heritage with a social application that is universally appealing and instantly fun, allowing social networkers, who share billions of photos online, a new way to be creative with photos and share them instantly with friends everywhere.”

See? Atari is building on its heritage. Soon its heritage will be littered with “Totally Rad” stickers and rainbows. This pleases me. Go forth and Photo Sauce, I suppose.