question about an atari game
I am looking for an ET: The Extra-Terestial cartridge for the Atari and I am wondering how rare the game is? I heard from some people that the game is near impossible to get a hold of. So I am wondering if it is even worth my time trying to find one.
Comments
Have you checked Ebay?
The ones from the landfill in New Mexico are the hardest.
I think by now, most of the carts in New Mexico have been found.
They only extracted a small number. They buried 700,000.
It sold millions, though, despite the awfulness.
I saw a documentary called Atari: Game Over and in it, they talk about how most of the cartridges got buried by Atari, so I was just wondering how rare the game is. I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
Depends on the variant.
Some copies have a purple gannon at the end, those have brought as much as $3000.
I saw a documentary called Atari: Game Over and in it, they talk about how most of the cartridges got buried by Atari, so I was just wondering how rare the game is. I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
Depends on the variant.
Some copies have a purple gannon at the end, those have brought as much as $3000.
You're confusing it with Zelda w/ Caution underlined on the back.
The rare E.T. variant has M&M's instead of Reese's Pieces. Remember, back then Mars turned down the opportunity to be placed in the movie so they went with Hershey instead. The developers of the game just never got the notice and still went with M&Ms.
I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
-obligatory E.T. defense post-
Actually, no. While it was rushed, most people didn't complain at the time, and in reality E.T. was better than most of the other Atari titles coming out at the time. For instance it had an actual storyline, inventory, and even an ending. If you read the instruction booklet to learn how to play, the game can be quite good.
The whole idea that E.T. was the 'worst game ever' is 100% revisionist history, but it fits the 'easy' narrative --
It's just easier to state Atari single-handedly crashed the video game market because of lack of consumer confidence, and E.T. was the final nail in the coffin. And that it was so bad they were forced to dump most copies in a landfill.
But like with many things in life, most people don't bother putting in extra effort to research the truth (or don't know there's a truth to uncover in the first place, since they've been repeatedly lied to).
I saw a documentary called Atari: Game Over and in it, they talk about how most of the cartridges got buried by Atari, so I was just wondering how rare the game is. I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
Depends on the variant.
Some copies have a purple gannon at the end, those have brought as much as $3000.
You're confusing it with Zelda w/ Caution underlined on the back.
The rare E.T. variant has M&M's instead of Reese's Pieces. Remember, back then Mars turned down the opportunity to be placed in the movie so they went with Hershey instead. The developers of the game just never got the notice and still went with M&Ms.
The M&M variant definitely has to be one of the ultimate holy grails in video games.
http://www.pcmuseum.ca/story_etfollowup.asp
I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
-obligatory E.T. defense post-
Actually, no. While it was rushed, most people didn't complain at the time, and in reality E.T. was better than most of the other Atari titles coming out at the time. For instance it had an actual storyline, inventory, and even an ending. If you read the instruction booklet to learn how to play, the game can be quite good.
The whole idea that E.T. was the 'worst game ever' is 100% revisionist history, but it fits the 'easy' narrative --
It's just easier to state Atari single-handedly crashed the video game market because of lack of consumer confidence, and E.T. was the final nail in the coffin. And that it was so bad they were forced to dump most copies in a landfill.
But like with many things in life, most people don't bother putting in extra effort to research the truth (or don't know there's a truth to uncover in the first place, since they've been repeatedly lied to).
didn't they produce way more ETs than there were Atari systems in people's homes at the time? I mean obviously it wouldn't meet sales expectations at that point but that should also support the fact that it's common as dirt
Only one way to find out. Send Syd @ the PC Museum your penis pics and if they measure up, you might get a free copy!
I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
-obligatory E.T. defense post-
Actually, no. While it was rushed, most people didn't complain at the time, and in reality E.T. was better than most of the other Atari titles coming out at the time. For instance it had an actual storyline, inventory, and even an ending. If you read the instruction booklet to learn how to play, the game can be quite good.
The whole idea that E.T. was the 'worst game ever' is 100% revisionist history, but it fits the 'easy' narrative --
It's just easier to state Atari single-handedly crashed the video game market because of lack of consumer confidence, and E.T. was the final nail in the coffin. And that it was so bad they were forced to dump most copies in a landfill.
But like with many things in life, most people don't bother putting in extra effort to research the truth (or don't know there's a truth to uncover in the first place, since they've been repeatedly lied to).
didn't they produce way more ETs than there were Atari systems in people's homes at the time? I mean obviously it wouldn't meet sales expectations at that point but that should also support the fact that it's common as dirt
Yeah, IIRC they overproduced right before the unexpected market crash, so it became cheaper to dump them in a landfill than to store them or dispose of them another way. RTB kind of stuff.
I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
-obligatory E.T. defense post-
Actually, no. While it was rushed, most people didn't complain at the time, and in reality E.T. was better than most of the other Atari titles coming out at the time. For instance it had an actual storyline, inventory, and even an ending. If you read the instruction booklet to learn how to play, the game can be quite good.
The whole idea that E.T. was the 'worst game ever' is 100% revisionist history, but it fits the 'easy' narrative --
It's just easier to state Atari single-handedly crashed the video game market because of lack of consumer confidence, and E.T. was the final nail in the coffin. And that it was so bad they were forced to dump most copies in a landfill.
But like with many things in life, most people don't bother putting in extra effort to research the truth (or don't know there's a truth to uncover in the first place, since they've been repeatedly lied to).
didn't they produce way more ETs than there were Atari systems in people's homes at the time? I mean obviously it wouldn't meet sales expectations at that point but that should also support the fact that it's common as dirt
Yeah, IIRC they overproduced right before the unexpected market crash, so it became cheaper to dump them in a landfill than to store them or dispose of them another way. RTB kind of stuff.
I played through E.T. as a kid (probably age 6 or 7) and completed it. I did have all the original packaging, so I'm sure I read the manual. I don't remember the game being awful. Not the greatest, but not terrible. I also remember struggling with Raiders of the Lost Ark, even with the manual. I played it alot though.
E.T. was made I think around 5 million units. It sold enough to be about eight on the all time sales, but it didn't move near as many units as they had made, hence disposing of them (some were taken to other landfills, from what I understand.)
I think E.T. is okay. It's not flawless. But it had some good ideas. At least it only used one controller, unlike Raiders.
You can get it for $2.
Even then, that's an impulse buying price.
I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
-obligatory E.T. defense post-
Actually, no. While it was rushed, most people didn't complain at the time, and in reality E.T. was better than most of the other Atari titles coming out at the time. For instance it had an actual storyline, inventory, and even an ending. If you read the instruction booklet to learn how to play, the game can be quite good.
The whole idea that E.T. was the 'worst game ever' is 100% revisionist history, but it fits the 'easy' narrative --
It's just easier to state Atari single-handedly crashed the video game market because of lack of consumer confidence, and E.T. was the final nail in the coffin. And that it was so bad they were forced to dump most copies in a landfill.
But like with many things in life, most people don't bother putting in extra effort to research the truth (or don't know there's a truth to uncover in the first place, since they've been repeatedly lied to).
Even AVGN didn't think it was THAT bad.
And yes, you had to read the instructions, just like 80% of the 2600 library. Pick any random 2600 game and try playing it without reading the instructions and see how many games are even "playable" until someone shows you what to do.
I actually think E.T. is a lot like the Indiana Jones game on the Atari 2600. Both have a story, both have an ending, both allow freedom to move around different screens, and both are both seem pretty impossible if you don't have at least an idea of what you are supposed to do.
Also, you have to give credit to the E.T. graphics on the opening screen. They really don't look that bad.
I actually think E.T. is a lot like the Indiana Jones game on the Atari 2600. Both have a story, both have an ending, both allow freedom to move around different screnes, and both are both seem pretty impossible if you don't have at least an idea of what you are supposed to do.
They were both Howard Scott Warshaw games, along with Yars Revenge.
You can get it for $2.
Even then, that's an impulse buying price.
$2 Canadian = $1.50 American
http://www.ebay.com/itm/E-T-The-Extra-Terrestrial-Atari-2600-1982-Tested-Works-/322452706492?hash=item4b13add4bc:g:h60AAOSwfVpYoRIM
I saw a documentary called Atari: Game Over and in it, they talk about how most of the cartridges got buried by Atari, so I was just wondering how rare the game is. I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
Great flick. Have you watched King of Kong or Indie Game?
If ET is a rarity 1, then Combat is a rarity 0 -- but yeah, super common. Beating a dead horse, but a quick ebay search would have eliminated the need for this thread.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-2600-Alamogordo-Landfill-Dump-Dig-Cartridge-with-COA-Defender-/391321520036?hash=item5b1c9487a4:g:TbQAAOSwlV9WSRyH
http://atariage.com/software_page...
If ET is a rarity 1, then Combat is a rarity 0 -- but yeah, super common. Beating a dead horse, but a quick ebay search would have eliminated the need for this thread.
Penis pics??
But you're looking for E.T. which is common. Nice meme tho.
Originally posted by: ne$_pimp
Originally posted by: Sibby
I saw a documentary called Atari: Game Over and in it, they talk about how most of the cartridges got buried by Atari, so I was just wondering how rare the game is. I do understand that in 1982, everyone thought the game was horrible.
Great flick. Have you watched King of Kong or Indie Game?
Man vs Snake is better than all of those!
I found a sealed E.T. for next to nothing, I'll have to ask guests to 'find the new turd in my collection!'