258 replies to this topic

[sydric]

SO here's the big news that everyone has been wondering about today!

We have indeed found a RELEASED Atari 2600 game made in 1983 that has never been archived, and I am quite sure that nobody out there has played it (but if you have, please let us know)

The game is called "Extra Terrestrials" and is a combination of (in my opinion) Freeway, E.T., and Pac-Man.  The game was created in Burlington, Ontario and sold in VERY limited quantities. Please visit this page for more information:

http://www.pcmuseum....errestrials.asp

We do NOT at this point in time have a way to archive this cartridge, but are more than willing to do so. We are looking into options on getting a 7800 to archive. If anyone in South Western Ontario is willing to come and help us with this, PLEASE let know.

Here is what the cartridge looks like. We will be making the game available for people to play at our next open house which is October 15.

[Wickeycolumbus]

That's even cooler than a new prototype.  Thanks for sharing   I hope you guys find a way to archive it.

[Nathan Strum]

Learn somethin' new every day.

[Rick Weis]

can you get a more close up picture of the label?

Rick

[awhite2600]

Rick Weis, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 5:03 PM, said:

can you get a more close up picture of the label?

Rick

Click the link in the original post.

[boxpressed]

Very cool. That first alien looks like it could be infringing on a certain well-known IP.

[svenski]

Cool news, thanks for sharing.

[BassGuitari]

Awesome!

Is it just the photo angle, or is this cartridge shorter physically than other Atari cartridges?

[Austin]

Pretty cool, albeit I'll admit I'm a bit skeptical.

[Animan]

Looks interesting. Love the sound effects!

[lapetino]

Bizarre! And I think this had more to do with capitalizing on the ET craze, rather than the home video game one. They probably never got sued because so few people saw it.

Great find! That's why I love this hobby.

[PingvinBlueJeans]

BassGuitari, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 5:28 PM, said:

Is it just the photo angle, or is this cartridge shorter physically than other Atari cartridges?

I was wondering the exact same thing.

[awhite2600]

Austin, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 5:34 PM, said:

Pretty cool, albeit I'll admit I'm a bit skeptical.

For the doubters - Sydric is not the type to try a scam.  He runs a computer museum (www.pcmuseum.ca) and has been named as having Canada's largest collection of video games.  I've known the man for over 25 years.  If he says the game is real then it is.  He has already offered to dump the ROM.  Someone just has to lend him a dumper.  What kind of proof do you want?

[AtariLeaf]

awhite2600, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 7:15 PM, said:

Austin, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 5:34 PM, said:

Pretty cool, albeit I'll admit I'm a bit skeptical.

For the doubters - Sydric is not the type to try a scam.  He runs a computer museum (www.pcmuseum.ca) and has been named as having Canada's largest collection of video games.  I've known the man for over 25 years.  If he says the game is real then it is.  He has already offered to dump the ROM.  Someone just has to lend him a dumper.  What kind of proof do you want?

That's amazing Syd, and as was mentioned, Syd is not the type of guy to play practical jokes. Chances are this is a legit find.

[sydric]

Hey guys - YES it is shorter than most 2600 carts. I will post a picture of that tomorrow! Until then, enjoy this clip that was on Electric Playground today:

[AlvinKarpis]

What an amazing find!

I love Freeway so if that type of gameplay is in the mix somehow that would be awesome


Edit: I posted at the same time as the video was posted, the game looks interesting to say the least

Edited by AlvinKarpis, Mon Oct 3, 2011 7:39 PM.

[CPUWIZ]

I hope this is not a hoax from Atari Charles.

If not, awesome find, you should contact Shawn Sr. on this board, he is in Canada and has a dumper.

[edweird13]

CPUWIZ, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 7:43 PM, said:

I hope this is not a hoax from Atari Charles.

[disjaukifa]

If that is real I'm actually astonished! That game would be put on a level of rarity next Air Raid wouldn't it?

[nofrills100]

I wonder if the cartridge mold matches the short carts that come out of asia - like supervision and spacevision short carts.
I'm guessing for such a small run they would have ordered then in from somewhere?

[nofrills100]

How does the donor know so much about the original company?

[PingvinBlueJeans]

nofrills100, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 7:56 PM, said:

I wonder if the cartridge mold matches the short carts that come out of asia - like supervision and spacevision short carts.
I'm guessing for such a small run they would have ordered then in from somewhere?

According to info found in the link in the first post, the games were manufactured by Telcom Research Ltd. in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Does anyone have a photo of one of these short SpaceVision/SuperVision cartridges?

nofrills100, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 7:57 PM, said:

How does the donor know so much about the original company?

Because he appears to have gotten in contact with one or more of the people who ran it.

CPUWIZ, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 7:43 PM, said:

I hope this is not a hoax from Atari Charles.

Heh.  Yeah, this is that "E.T. - Return to Earth" prototype he was always babbling about.

[awhite2600]

nofrills100, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 7:57 PM, said:

How does the donor know so much about the original company?

The company that produced the game was a family run business.  The original donor was part of that family.  He provided information and put Sydric in touch with other family members that provided additional info.  Here is the link to the page with the company info http://www.pcmuseum....file.asp?id=519.  

This game was donated about a week ago.  Sydric contacted me immediately and provided what info he had as well as some pics.  Over the next few days Sydric got in touch with the family members and obtained the other info.  He then waited until G4 could run the story before releasing news to the AtariAge community.

[nofrills100]

awhite2600, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 8:05 PM, said:

nofrills100, on Mon Oct 3, 2011 7:57 PM, said:

How does the donor know so much about the original company?

The company that produced the game was a family run business.  The original donor was part of that family.  He provided information and put Sydric in touch with other family members that provided additional info.  Here is the link to the page with the company info http://www.pcmuseum....file.asp?id=519.  

This game was donated about a week ago.  Sydric contacted me immediately and provided what info he had as well as some pics.  Over the next few days Sydric got in touch with the family members and obtained the other info.  He then waited until G4 could run the story before releasing news to the AtariAge community.

So they potentially have more cartridges in their possession?

[Despina83]

Wow...very interesting indeed.