Chronogamer

Okay, don't talk to me about basic math, see? It ain't a game, see? It ain't fun, see?

 

It's not fun? I thought when Sears released the cart they called it "Fun with numbers" [gee, where have I heard that name before?]

Okay, don't talk to me about basic math, see? It ain't a game, see? It ain't fun, see?

 

It's not fun? I thought when Sears released the cart they called it "Fun with numbers" [gee, where have I heard that name before?]

 

 

That's right! Could no body come up with something different from "Fun with Numbers"? Grant it, as someone who could've been considered "into math" (730 on my math SAT, um *cough*25yearsago*cough*) I can find numbers to be fun. I totally geeked-out on NIM. But couldn't they come up with something better than "Fun with Numbers"? Couldn't THREE different companies come up with something different than "Fun with Numbers". How about "Digital Challenge!" or "Murder by Numbers!" or "Numbers Ate My Brain!"

 

Ironically, this makes Analogic (Odyssey by Magnavox, 1972) look a heck of a lot better in comparison, at least they gave that game some flavor. A somewhat interesting sci-fi premise, something on the screen that was actually moving . . . geez.

 

I wonder if there was anyone in 1977 saying:

 

"gosh, remember back in the old days when the Odyssey was enough to entertain us? Man, I miss old school videogames, when one overlay, a deck of cards, roulette tokens, a gameboard, a pair of dice and controllers with which you could bludgeon someone to death, (pause to breath) were enough to keep us entertained on a rainy day . . . (wistful sigh)"

Educational and gambling games were a must back then, and today are still of great importance. You can't afford to ignore niche markets, particularly when videogames were still finding their place in the universe.

 

I had to pawn an old multi-colored glass desk lamp which belonged to my wife since high school for $20.

 

I'm not sure if you were being serious. If you were, that was awesome! lol

If not, well, at least it was funny!

 

Oh, and LOL at your Odyssey comment!

One thing I don't think anyone brought up in all these blackjack reviews, but which I think is a fairly important one: Blackjack is a "sophisticated game for adults", and having a "sophisticated game for adults" in your game library is a pretty big plus if you're trying to market these rather expensive devices to families. The market for these systems were families that included kids in grade/middle school and adults in their 40s, and back in the 70s, tank games and spaceship games weren't really something that 40-somethings were going to be particularly drawn to. Blackjack, however, is right up their alley (another obvious subject is chess, but that's considerably more complex to program and has somewhat less broad appeal, which is probably why everyone went for blackjack first), and advertising that "not only can the kids play cowboy, spaceman and soldier on this new entertainment system, the adults can also use it to play blackjack against an electronic dealer" is the kind of pitch that can net you a good couple sales.

Same goes for Basic Math and the other generic math drill "games" that every system had, for that matter. "And it's not just fun and games, this system also has educational software in its library that can help the kids practice math and more" is absolutely going to get parents more interested in shelling out money for a system.

On 12/9/2018 at 1:29 PM, Odd said:

One thing I don't think anyone brought up in all these blackjack reviews, but which I think is a fairly important one: Blackjack is a "sophisticated game for adults", and having a "sophisticated game for adults" in your game library is a pretty big plus if you're trying to market these rather expensive devices to families. The market for these systems were families that included kids in grade/middle school and adults in their 40s, and back in the 70s, tank games and spaceship games weren't really something that 40-somethings were going to be particularly drawn to. Blackjack, however, is right up their alley (another obvious subject is chess, but that's considerably more complex to program and has somewhat less broad appeal, which is probably why everyone went for blackjack first), and advertising that "not only can the kids play cowboy, spaceman and soldier on this new entertainment system, the adults can also use it to play blackjack against an electronic dealer" is the kind of pitch that can net you a good couple sales.

You are absolutely correct! back in 1980 (I got my Atari that Christmas) My Grandmother had gotten us the system and two more carts, so we had Combat, Space Invaders and somehow she'd decided to get us Blackjack. I'm being quite honest right now when I admit that it never once occurred to me, until this minute, that she gave us the Blackjack cart so that my Mom and Dad might be interested in playing it. I'll still probably complain more about Blackjack (and later, Checkers) but I appreciate you reminding me that adults had to purchase these systems and they'd want to play Blackjack.

 

On 12/10/2018 at 3:05 AM, Odd said:

Same goes for Basic Math and the other generic math drill "games" that every system had, for that matter. "And it's not just fun and games, this system also has educational software in its library that can help the kids practice math and more" is absolutely going to get parents more interested in shelling out money for a system.

Yes, absolutely. I had understood the "educational" angle. I was often frustrated watching the type of "education" games that came out, more often than not just trying to make a quick buck. (Until Robot Odyssey by Warren Robinette which was freaking amazing. Technically, I guess it was a puzzle game, but it felt educational.)

 

"Son .. sit down in front of the TV and practice your math with the joystick."

 

FYI back in the 1990s the thrift stores in Vegas were full of 2600 Blackjack and Casio carts.