With Atari's move into mobile social developer set to be cemented by the launch of Breakout: Boost on iOS, the publisher has seen fit to strengthen itself internally, hiring former former Mindspark, Majesco, and Marvel veteran Gui Karyo.

Following the appointment of several other key figures to the firm, Kayro joins the company as EVP of development and operations, tasked with overseeing product development, operations and Atari's website.

Change or die

"There's no other way to maintain long-term viability," said Atari CEO Jim Wilson, talking with TechCrunch about the firm's mobile push.

"Atari can't rest on its laurels, we have to stay relevant."

The firm's transition to mobile development is financially palpable too, with revenue from digital downloads having risen by 64 percent to $10.5 million for the first half of 2011.

That's up from the $6.3 million posted at the same time last year - a figure that helped shrink the firm's operating loss by 61 percent to $2.6 million.

Currently, Wilson highlights that Atari is looking for "the best and brightest" new staff to help accelerate its transition, with new content to come from the company expected to be original IP.
Breakout: Boost will hit the App Store on December 8.

[source: TechCrunch]