November 9^th, 2005 (4:34pm) - The developer behind Atari’s successful RollerCoaster Tycoon series, Chris Sawyer, is suing the company for unpaid royalties. Sawyer claims that Atari breached contract by refusing to give auditors full access to accounts between 1999-2001. Following a desktop review and analysis carried out by his own auditors, Sawyer claims that Atari owes him 4.8 million dollars in omitted and miscalculated payments.

Sawyer wants to be reimbursed for lost interest and legal costs and is petitioning for the right to cary out a full audit from January 1st, 1999 to the present day.

"Throughout this process Atari Interactive has sought to delay the claims," said Marjacq Micro’s Guy Herbert, who is acting as Sawyer’s agent." Royalty queries were simply ignored, forcing an audit; non-cooperation with the audit forced Chris to sue. Thankfully this ruling should put paid to that, and an end is in sight. Herbert added, "if Chris proves his claim that Atari Interactive has failed to account properly and substantially underpaid, it could have major ramifications for the industry as well as the company."

Atari has yet to comment on the lawsuit.