What Happened to the E.T. Games?
In 1982, Atari released the video game "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" for the Atari 2600, based on the popular movie of the same name. The game was expected to be a massive hit, but it ended up being a commercial and critical failure. The game’s poor quality and lack of resemblance to the movie led to a massive oversupply of unsold copies, resulting in a significant financial loss for Atari.
The Causes of the Failure
Several factors contributed to the failure of the E.T. game:
• Poor Development: The game was rushed to market, with a development time of only nine weeks. This led to a poorly designed and buggy game that was full of glitches and frustrating gameplay.
• Lack of Testing: Atari did not test the game thoroughly, which meant that many players experienced the same frustrating issues.
• Misguided Marketing: Atari’s marketing campaign focused on the popularity of the movie, rather than the quality of the game itself. This led to high expectations that the game could not meet.
• Oversupply: Atari produced millions of copies of the game, many of which were unsold. This oversupply led to a significant financial loss for the company.
The Aftermath
The failure of the E.T. game had a significant impact on the video game industry:
• The Video Game Crash of 1983: The failure of the E.T. game, combined with other poorly received games, led to a crash in the video game market. Many companies went out of business, and the industry experienced a significant decline in popularity.
• Atari’s Bankruptcy: Atari filed for bankruptcy in 1984, due in part to the massive financial loss caused by the E.T. game.
• The Legacy of E.T.: The E.T. game has become a symbol of the failure of the Atari 2600 and the video game industry as a whole. It is often cited as one of the worst games ever made.
The Excavation of the E.T. Games
In 2014, a team of excavators led by Eric Gradman and Peter Lipson dug up a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where millions of unsold E.T. games had been buried. The excavation was part of a documentary film and was done with the permission of the landfill owner. The team recovered over 1,300 E.T. games, which were put on display at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
The Current Status of the E.T. Games
Today, the E.T. games are mostly considered to be a footnote in the history of the video game industry. However, they remain a fascinating case study of the dangers of rushing development and the importance of testing and quality control.
• Rarity: Due to the massive oversupply of the game, E.T. games are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors. Many copies are in poor condition, due to their age and the fact that they were often buried in landfills.
• Value: The value of E.T. games varies depending on their condition and rarity. Some copies can sell for thousands of dollars, while others are worth little more than their weight in plastic.
Conclusion
The story of the E.T. games is a cautionary tale about the dangers of rushing development and the importance of quality control. The game’s failure had a significant impact on the video game industry, leading to a crash and the bankruptcy of Atari. Today, the E.T. games are mostly considered to be a footnote in the history of the industry, but they remain a fascinating case study of what can happen when a company rushes to market with a poorly designed product.
Table: The Impact of E.T. on the Video Game Industry
| Aspect | Effect |
|---|---|
| Video Game Market | Crash |
| Atari | Bankruptcy |
| Video Game Development | Increased focus on quality control |
| Video Game Industry | Changed forever |
Bullets List: The Lessons Learned from E.T.
• Test your game thoroughly: Don’t rush to market without making sure your game is fun and works properly.
• Don’t oversupply: Make sure you have a clear understanding of demand before producing a large quantity of a product.
• Prioritize quality: Focus on making a high-quality product that will satisfy your customers, rather than rushing to meet a deadline.
• Learn from your mistakes: Use the failure of E.T. as a lesson to improve your game development process and avoid similar mistakes in the future.