From 1982 through 1984, Atari ran summer computer camps at several locations around the United States. That first year, Atari commissioned a film about its summer camps, about the kids and teachers who were there, about the process of learning about computers, about kids challenging themselves, and about making friends at summer camp. Filmmakers Bob Elfstrom and Lucy Hilmer shot the film at the University of California, San Diego campus in 1982. "The Magic Room" was released in 1983.