What video game is buried in the desert?

What Video Game is Buried in the Desert?

In 1983, a legend was born. A tale of a video game that was so poorly received, it was literally buried in a landfill in New Mexico. The game in question is none other than E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, developed by Atari and released in 1982. This game is considered one of the worst games of all time, and its story is a fascinating one.

The Game That Changed the Course of History

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a game that was heavily promoted and anticipated by the gaming community. Atari had obtained the rights to develop a game based on the iconic movie, and the game was released just a year after the film’s premiere. Unfortunately, the game failed to live up to the hype. The gameplay was clunky, the controls were unresponsive, and the graphics were subpar. The game was panned by critics and players alike, and it became a symbol of Atari’s failure to produce a successful game.

The Burying of the Games

In September 1983, Atari decided to take drastic measures to eliminate the massive stockpile of unsold E.T. games. They hired a company to dump the games into a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The games were never meant to be seen again, and the event was shrouded in secrecy. The burial was a failure, and the games continued to be lost for years.

The Discovery and the Legacy

In 2014, a documentary called "Atari: Game Over" was released, which featured an expedition to the Alamogordo landfill to search for the buried games. The documentary team, led by director Zak Penn, uncovered the remains of the games and even managed to dig up a few of them. The discovery sparked a new wave of interest in the game and its history, and it cemented the game’s place in the annals of gaming lore.

Other Interesting Facts About E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Here are some other interesting facts about E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial:

• Worst Game of All Time: E.T. is often considered one of the worst games of all time, along with other Atari games like Pitfall! and Adventure.
• Unintentional Legend: E.T. became a cult classic, with many players seeking out the game despite its poor reception.
• High Price: In 2014, a copy of E.T. sold for $27,000, making it one of the most expensive video games ever sold.
• Preservation: In 2015, the Smithsonian Museum acquired a copy of E.T. and a few other Atari games for preservation and historical purposes.

Conclusion

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a game that will always be remembered as a cautionary tale of the dangers of overhyping a product. Despite its poor reception, the game has become a cult classic and a symbol of the early days of the gaming industry. The story of the game’s burial and subsequent discovery is a fascinating one, and it will continue to captivate gamers and non-gamers alike for years to come.

Timeline of Events

Here is a timeline of the key events in the history of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial:

• 1982: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is released by Atari
• 1983: Atari decides to bury unsold copies of the game in a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico
• 2014: The documentary "Atari: Game Over" is released, featuring an expedition to the Alamogordo landfill to search for the buried games
• 2015: The Smithsonian Museum acquires a copy of E.T. for preservation and historical purposes

Table: Comparison of Atari Games

Here is a table comparing some of the key statistics of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial with other Atari games:

Note: Sales figures are approximate and sourced from various online sources. Critic scores and player reviews are based on aggregate scores from websites like GameRankings and Metacritic.