How many E.T. games were buried?

How Many E.T. Games Were Buried?

The burial of E.T. games is a topic of fascination for many retro gaming enthusiasts. The story of how Atari, a once-iconic video game developer, buried millions of E.T. cartridges in a New Mexico landfill has become a legendary tale. But how many E.T. games were actually buried? In this article, we’ll dive into the history of the E.T. game and the infamous burial to provide a definitive answer.

The Rise and Fall of Atari

Atari was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. The company quickly gained popularity with the release of the Atari 2600, a home video game console that revolutionized the gaming industry. Atari’s success was fueled by a string of hit games, including Pong, Asteroids, and Centipede.

However, by the early 1980s, the video game market began to experience a downturn. The introduction of new consoles, such as the Intellivision and ColecoVision, and the lack of innovative games from Atari led to a decline in sales. The company’s financial struggles worsened, and in 1984, Atari filed for bankruptcy.

The E.T. Game: A Flop

In 1982, Atari released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a video game based on the popular movie of the same name. The game was a commercial failure, with many critics panning its poor gameplay and lack of faithfulness to the movie. The game’s poor reception was a major factor in Atari’s financial struggles.

The Burial

In 1983, Atari’s financial situation worsened, and the company was forced to abandon its console division. The company decided to bury millions of unsold E.T. cartridges, along with other unsold games, in a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The burial was a desperate attempt to get rid of inventory and reduce costs.

How Many E.T. Games Were Buried?

So, how many E.T. games were actually buried? According to James Heller, a former Atari manager who oversaw the burial, 728,000 cartridges were buried in the landfill. This number includes E.T. cartridges, as well as other unsold games and parts.

Here is a breakdown of the burial:

The Excavation

In 2014, a documentary crew from Xbox Entertainment Studios, led by filmmaker Zak Penn, excavated the landfill to search for the buried E.T. cartridges. The excavation was filmed for a documentary, titled "Atari: Game Over," which premiered in 2014.

The Discovery

During the excavation, the crew discovered a significant number of E.T. cartridges, including many that were still sealed in their original packaging. The discovery sparked renewed interest in the E.T. game and the burial, with many retro gaming enthusiasts and collectors seeking out the game.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 728,000 E.T. games were buried in the Alamogordo, New Mexico landfill in 1983. The burial was a desperate attempt by Atari to get rid of inventory and reduce costs, but it has become a legendary tale in the world of retro gaming. Today, the E.T. game is a rare and valuable collector’s item, with many enthusiasts seeking out the game and its accompanying packaging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAtyzHZc7l8