So which game is truly the best sports game on the Atari? Which is more innovative? Truthful to the sport? Best graphics? Most accurate controls? And more importantly, is it fun?

I've listed 44 games that should be consider. I've skipped all the Pong variants, boardgames, and pretend sports or variations. No Steeplechase, but there is Trick Shot and Skeet Shoot. No crazy Math Grand Prix, no Fishing Derby, no Wall Ball. I was going to limit myself to games that I owned, but thanks to the Harmony I can play the 8 titles that I don't own (or want to keep boxed).

24 titles fight it out in the first preliminary round. 12 winners proceed to join the 20 titles that are a bit more sophisticated. Titles will be kept separate by company (i.e. no Atari vs Atari).

The 12 match-ups are:

1. BMX Airmaster (TNT Games) vs Homerun (Atari)
2. Bowling (Atari) vs Skate Boardin' (Absolute)
3. Dragster (Activision) vs Indy 500 (Atari)
4. Enduro (Activision) vs Night Driver (Atari)
5. Titlematch Pro Wrestling (Absolute) vs Karate (Froggo)
6. California Games (Epyx) vs Basketball (Atari)
7. Grand Prix (Activision) vs International Soccer (M-Network)
8. Trick Shot (Imagic) vs Pele's Soccer (Atari)
9. Golf (Atari) vs Mogul Maniac (Amiga)
10. Motocross Racer (Xonox) vs Sprintmaster (Atari)
11. Racquetball (Apollo) vs Motorodeo (Atari)
12. Skeet Shoot (Apollo) vs Street Racer (Atari)
    
    

Why is Enduro there in the preliminary round? Well, it's not really a "proper" sport. And yes, the same argument can go for Wrestling, Drag Racing, Pool, etc, etc.

The winners will join the following 20 games for 5 round knock-out tournament. We'll try to keep companies apart when we assign.

Here they are:
Tennis (Activision)
Ice Hockey (Activision)
Skiing (Activision)
Decathlon (Activision)
Winter Games (Epyx)
Summer Games (Epyx)
Pete Rose Baseball (Absolute)
Pole Position (Atari)
Realsports Soccer (Atari)
Realsports Tennis (Atari)
Realsports Baseball (Atari)
Realsports Football (Atari)
Realsports Boxing (Atari)
Realsports Volleyball (Atari)
Track&Field (Atari)
Super Baseball (Atari)
Super Football (Atari)
Super Challenge Football (M-Network)
Super Challenge Baseball (M-Network)
My Golf (HES)


This will be fun.