Why did they bury the ET cartridges?

Why did they bury the ET cartridges?

In 1983, Atari, one of the pioneers in the video game industry, faced a major crisis. They had produced millions of cartridges for their highly anticipated game, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but the game received devastating reviews and failed to generate the expected sales. This led to a massive surplus of unsold cartridges, which posed a significant financial burden on the company. To mitigate this risk, Atari decided to bury millions of E.T. cartridges in a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

The Failure of E.T.

The game was released in December 1982, amidst great hype and expectations. However, the game’s poor reception and lack of engagement led to a swift decline in sales. [ Only 10% of the game’s copies were sold, a significant failure for a major game release]** The game’s poor quality was attributed to the rush to release the game, and the lack of quality control and testing. This debacle led to a major loss for Atari, with the company estimating losses of up to $500 million.

The Burying of the Cartridges

In September 1983, Atari decided to take drastic measures to address their inventory problem. They dug a hole in the landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and [ banned over 700,000 E.T. cartridges, along with other unsold games and inventory]** from the company’s warehouses. The burial was carried out by a private waste disposal company, and the location was kept secret to avoid public attention.

Reasons for the Burial

There were several reasons why Atari decided to bury the cartridges:

• Cost savings: By disposing of the inventory, Atari aimed to reduce its financial losses and minimize the risk of the cartridges being resold.
• Environmental concerns: The company was concerned about the environmental impact of storing the cartridges in warehouses for an extended period.
• Public relations: Burying the cartridges was a way to distance themselves from the failure and avoid any further negative publicity.

The Discovery of the Burying

The burying of the cartridges was not a secret for long. In 1989, a group of gamers and archaeologists, including Microsoft’s Larry Hryb, discovered the existence of the buried cartridges. They conducted an excavation of the landfill and uncovered several hundred E.T. cartridges, along with other unsold games.

What Happened to the Remaining Cartridges?

It is estimated that only [ about 800,000 E.T. cartridges were buried]**, leaving around 1.2 million cartridges unaccounted for. It is unclear what happened to these remaining cartridges, although some are believed to have been sold or distributed through other channels.

Lessons Learned

The burying of the E.T. cartridges serves as a cautionary tale for companies in the video game industry. It highlights the importance of quality control, marketing, and financial planning to avoid the risks associated with a major game failure. Today, Atari has learned from its mistakes and has adopted more effective strategies to mitigate the risks associated with game development and distribution.

Conclusion

The burying of the E.T. cartridges is a fascinating example of the challenges faced by companies in the video game industry. The failure of the game and the subsequent burial of the cartridges serves as a reminder of the importance of quality control, marketing, and financial planning in the development and distribution of video games. While the burying of the cartridges may have been a necessary step for Atari, it also highlights the need for companies to learn from their mistakes and adapt to the changing landscape of the industry.