Did Atari Really Bury E.T. in the Desert?
The legend of Atari burying millions of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial cartridges in a New Mexico landfill has been a topic of debate among gamers and historians for decades. In recent years, the story has been perpetuated by various documentaries, articles, and social media posts. But did Atari really bury E.T. in the desert?
The Origin of the Story
The story of the buried cartridges began in the early 1980s, when Atari’s parent company, Warner Communications, was facing financial difficulties. The company was struggling to sell its E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial game, which was released in 1982 to coincide with the popular film. As a result, Atari had a large inventory of unsold cartridges that were taking up valuable storage space.
In an effort to clear out its inventory and make some extra cash, Atari decided to hold a "landfill sale" at a local landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico. According to some reports, the company offered the public a chance to buy unsold games and consoles at discounted prices. However, the event was reportedly poorly organized, and many customers left without making a purchase.
The Burying of the Cartridges
After the landfill sale failed to generate the desired revenue, Atari reportedly decided to bury the remaining unsold cartridges in the same landfill. This story was allegedly corroborated by Atari’s former vice president, Howard Schiffman, who claimed that the company buried around 700,000 to 1 million cartridges in the landfill.
However, it’s worth noting that Schiffman’s claims have been disputed by other sources. In 2014, an excavation team led by filmmaker Zak Penn dug up the alleged E.T. cartridge graveyard and found only a small number of Atari cartridges, including some E.T. games, but not the millions of cartridges claimed by Schiffman.
The Truth Behind the Story
So, did Atari really bury E.T. in the desert? While the company did hold a landfill sale and may have buried some cartridges, there is no concrete evidence to support the claim that millions of cartridges were buried in the landfill.
In reality, the E.T. game was not as poorly received as commonly believed. While it was not as successful as other Atari games, it did have its fans, and some critics have praised its unique gameplay and atmospheric soundtrack.
What’s Left of the Legend?
While the story of the buried E.T. cartridges may not be entirely true, it has become an enduring part of gaming lore. The legend has been perpetuated by popular culture, including films, books, and documentaries, and continues to fascinate gamers and historians alike.
In the end, the truth behind the story is less important than the impact it has had on our understanding of the early days of the video game industry. The legend of E.T. has become a symbol of the risks and rewards of innovation and experimentation in the gaming world.
Key Takeaways:
- Atari did hold a landfill sale in the early 1980s to clear out unsold inventory.
- Some sources claim that the company buried millions of E.T. cartridges in a New Mexico landfill.
- However, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.
- The E.T. game was not as poorly received as commonly believed and had its fans.
- The legend of the buried E.T. cartridges has become an enduring part of gaming lore and a symbol of the early days of the video game industry.