Page 18 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #8
P. 18
Five Atari 2600
Games Worse
.
Than E. T
By Mark Androvich
It is a common belief that E.T. Had Atari been able to control the
for the Atari 2600 is “the worst chip supply and require licenses of
game ever!” -- a notion game publishers, as Nintendo later
repeated ad nauseum on did, perhaps the majority of these
internet forums -- yet this games would not have been released.
couldn’t be further from the
truth. The expensive and slow process of
manufacturing cartridges meant that
The following five games are closer companies weren't able to respond
to the bottom of the Atari 2600 to the market (or lack of it) for their
barrel, and they certainly aren't sub-par games. Overestimating
alone. In fact, it was difficult just to demand, companies were stuck with
narrow the list down to five unsold inventory that they quickly
selections. dumped. The glut of titles caused
full-price sales to drop as consumers
Between 1982 and 1983, dozens of (mostly parents) faced the decision
companies attempted to cash in on of purchasing similar-looking game
the video game craze that was boxes: one with a $39.99 price tag
making Activision and Atari wealthy. and one with a $9.99 price tag.
The problem is that most of them
lacked talented programmers that These factors led to the market
were able to make the Atari 2600 crash, which can't be blamed on any
shine, resulting in games that one particular game -- and certainly
weren't able to compete with the not on E.T. Still not convinced?
likes of Pitfall! and Demon Attack.
Track down the following titles...
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