First Activision Title?

[sydric]

Hey folks ... I am wondering if anyone REALLY knows which Activision title was the first to make it onto store shelves.

 

Dragster, Boxing, Fishing Derby, Checkers?

 

Or did they release these all at once?

 

Anybody know? Hard to find a real answer out there. Thanks!

[AtariLeaf]

I was under the impression they were all released simultaneously.

[+RichG1972]

I was under the impression they were all released simultaneously.

 

I'm thinking that based on commercial airings it was either Pitfall or Megamania

[jaybird3rd]

I've heard David Crane refer to Dragster as "the first Activision game", so although those four might have been released together, Dragster was evidently the first to be started and/or completed.

[sydric]

I think Dragster is it too - especially because it's model number is "AG-001". And RichG1972 - Pitfall! was 1982, two years after the titles I mentioned....Pitfall! is often considered the "breakthrough" title for Activision and third party development, but it certainly was not the first game.

[+RichG1972]

I think Dragster is it too - especially because it's model number is "AG-001". And RichG1972 - Pitfall! was 1982, two years after the titles I mentioned....Pitfall! is often considered the "breakthrough" title for Activision and third party development, but it certainly was not the first game.

 

All we can do is look for any and all activision atari games in the wild and research the catalog numbers on their respective labels, personally the only thing that matters to me is the games are fun and easy to play

Edited June 27, 2011 by RichG1972

[AtariLeaf]

I've heard David Crane refer to Dragster as "the first Activision game", so although those four might have been released together, Dragster was evidently the first to be started and/or completed.

 

Ok, makes sense. I never could get into that game though.

[jaybird3rd]

Ok, makes sense. I never could get into that game though.

I never could get into it, either. Many of Activision's early games seem in retrospect like technical tricks with games wrapped around them (especially Crane's games, although it's probably unfair to single him out for this); in the case of Dragster, the "trick" was the six-digit display kernel that was used to draw the car. Nevertheless, the game reportedly kept players up all night trying to shave a fraction of a second off their time, so perhaps I would have found it more interesting if I played it in the early 80s.

[accousticguitar]

Dragster is actually my favorite Dave Crane game. Achieving a time under 6 seconds is a challenge that I finally achieved just a few days ago. I should have taken a picture of the screen, but I didn't so I can't prove it.

[rockman_x_2002]

Ok, makes sense. I never could get into that game though.

I never could get into it, either. Many of Activision's early games seem in retrospect like technical tricks with games wrapped around them (especially Crane's games, although it's probably unfair to single him out for this); in the case of Dragster, the "trick" was the six-digit display kernel that was used to draw the car. Nevertheless, the game reportedly kept players up all night trying to shave a fraction of a second off their time, so perhaps I would have found it more interesting if I played it in the early 80s.

 

The game was probably also single-handedly responsible for destroying more CX-40s in a short time period than any other. Fun game but geez, it's brutal.

[+Random Terrain]

I scanned this in a long time ago:

 

[jaybird3rd]

The game was probably also single-handedly responsible for destroying more CX-40s in a short time period than any other. Fun game but geez, it's brutal.

I'll have to try it with a Track & Field Controller the next time I play it. I bet it would work pretty well, since the game only uses left/right and the joystick button, and it would surely save me some wear and tear on my joysticks.

[accousticguitar]

Ok, makes sense. I never could get into that game though.

I never could get into it, either. Many of Activision's early games seem in retrospect like technical tricks with games wrapped around them (especially Crane's games, although it's probably unfair to single him out for this); in the case of Dragster, the "trick" was the six-digit display kernel that was used to draw the car. Nevertheless, the game reportedly kept players up all night trying to shave a fraction of a second off their time, so perhaps I would have found it more interesting if I played it in the early 80s.

 

The game was probably also single-handedly responsible for destroying more CX-40s in a short time period than any other. Fun game but geez, it's brutal.

I would think Activision Decathlon was the game hardest on joysticks.

[Christophero Sly]

Dragster is my favorite Activision game.

[AtariLeaf]

I scanned this in a long time ago:

 

 

That's awesome. A 1981 copyright so probably one of their first ad?

[rolenta]

Hey folks ... I am wondering if anyone REALLY knows which Activision title was the first to make it onto store shelves.

 

Dragster, Boxing, Fishing Derby, Checkers?

 

Or did they release these all at once?

 

Anybody know? Hard to find a real answer out there. Thanks!

 

All 4 were released on the same day.

[Hatta]

I was under the impression they were all released simultaneously.

 

Nothing better a simultaneous release. Although, it can get pretty hard on your joystick.