How many copies of ET were sold?

The Infamous E.T. Video Game: A Study of Its Sales

In 1982, Atari released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a video game based on the popular movie of the same name. The game was developed by Howard Scott Warshaw, who was tasked with creating a game that would be released alongside the movie. However, the game’s poor quality and lack of explanation of the gameplay mechanics led to it being panned by critics and gamers alike.

How Many Copies of E.T. Were Sold?

According to Ray Kassar, the CEO of Atari at the time, approximately 3.5 million copies of E.T. were produced. However, due to the game’s poor quality and the failure to provide adequate instruction on how to play, many of these copies were never sold. In fact, it’s estimated that over 2.6 million copies of the game were sent back to Atari by retailers due to their unsellable condition.

As seen in the table above, the total number of copies produced was 3.5 million, but only approximately 669,000 copies were sold. The remaining 2.8 million copies were either returned to Atari by retailers or remained unsold.

Why Did E.T. Fail?

There are several reasons why E.T. failed to gain popularity among gamers. Some of the main reasons include:

• Poor Game Design: The game’s lack of explanation on how to play led to confusion among gamers. The gameplay mechanics were also too simplistic, making it a chore to play.
• No Instruction Manual: The game came without an instruction manual, which added to the confusion among gamers.
• Low Quality Graphics: The game’s graphics were subpar, even for the standards of the time.
• Poor Marketing: Atari failed to properly market the game, leading to a lack of awareness among gamers.

Impact of E.T. on the Video Game Industry

The failure of E.T. had a significant impact on the video game industry. The game’s poor quality and low sales led to a decline in Atari’s stock price, causing the company to lose over $536 million in 1983. The industry as a whole also suffered, as the failure of E.T. led to a decline in the popularity of video games and a lack of confidence among investors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a failure in terms of its sales. Despite being one of the most hyped games of its time, it failed to live up to expectations and was met with widespread criticism from gamers and critics alike. The game’s poor design, lack of instruction, and low quality graphics all contributed to its failure, leading to a significant impact on the video game industry.