Xbox co-creator gathers Atari 'Jedi Council' together to develop games for iOS

The personnel roster for new startup Innovative Leisure has raised a few eyebrows - and weakened a few knees - among Atari fans.

Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley and his journo partner Van Burnham have decided to bring arcade ideals to the App Store by hiring the designers responsible for some of Atari's greatest games and inviting them to produce some new iOS titles.

Speaking to VentureBeat, Blackley said: "We are looking at the new arcade, and 99 cents on the iPhone is the new quarter. People are playing on all these new devices and are finding the joy of the arcade games."

Playfully referred to as "the Jedi Council of video game design", Blackley's newly assembled 'squad' counts among its members Atari luminaries such as Rich Adam (Missile Command - 1980), Ed Logg (Asteroids - 1979), Ed Rotberg (Battlezone - 1980), and Lyle Rains (Tank - 1974).

Each designer will be working on his own individual project: Rich Adam is designing a Sonic-esque title called Echidna, while Lyle Rains is reportedly dreaming up the next Angry Birds.

Funded by THQ and Blackley himself, the primary team is composed of 11 industry veterans, with eager interns bringing the group tally up to 30.

"We have to create a quality experience, hone it, and tweak the crap out of it so that you get the same level of gameplay that people demanded in the arcade era. It's scary as sh*t if you don't understand gameplay," Blackley continued.

Blackley's 'dream team' will unveil its game plan in Las Vegas during next week's DICE summit. We will be waiting with bated breath.