Which cart am I?

[+Nathan Strum]

Super Football.

 

 

I'd thought about Atari Football earlier (the classic X's and O's arcade game), but hadn't thought of it as a source. I was looking for a 2600 game with X's and O's.

 

The sky is blue on the box, black in the game.

 

I suppose the uprights look vaguely like a menorah.

 

That's about all I got.

[+thegoldenband]

Pretty interesting theories! Alas, it's neither of the above.

 

Let's see...should I give another hint? Or hold off?

 

No additional hints for now. Later, maybe. You're all cool with that?

[+Nathan Strum]

Pick 'n' Pile?

 

It has X's and O's, a Tic-Tac-Toe mode, and is PAL only. Beyond that I'm stumped.

Edited September 13, 2012 by Nathan Strum

[+thegoldenband]

No, but you've got the right (very general) idea!

 

Should I ask the audience? I don't think any poll will help, even if they pony all the ideas they've got up. "Slip a clue, vex a lot of people", as my grandpappy used to say.

[+thegoldenband]

Here's another clue, though it's a bit meta-:

 

6. No staying home: you'll go crazy finding the answer.

[+Nathan Strum]

Obelix?

[+thegoldenband]

Not our Gallic friend, I'm afraid. But again, you're in the right area...or do I mean domain? (Realm? Help me out here.)

 

Here's a recap of the clues with some guidance:

 

1. No Christmas story: just a weak hint of Hanukkah. (art, title, and gameplay)

2. No Hollywood Squares: and no Hunter either. (kind of a meta-clue, but obliquely relates to the title and gameplay)

3. No easy embrace for us: just friendly hugs & kisses for now. (art and gameplay)

4. No easy success: it usually backfires. (gameplay)

5. No pastel blue skies: paint it black, 'cause we're having a fine time. (art and title, and gameplay somewhat)

6. No staying home: you'll go crazy finding the answer. (doesn't directly relate to the game, but offers meta-help)

 

And here's a seventh clue:

 

7. No easy options: choose wisely to reach your goal.

[+Omegamatrix]

Earthworld?

[+Nathan Strum]

Klax?

 

PAL exclusive (as per the anagram for "Slip a clue, vex" and the other "PAL only" clues.

Mentions Tic-Tac-Toe on the back of the box.

Sky is blue on box, black in-game.

And I'm sure the other clues probably fit somehow...

[+thegoldenband]

Oh, man, that fits alarmingly well, but it's not the one I had in mind. Your last two guesses have something in common, though, and that trait is shared by the game I intended.

 

Also, it is indeed a PAL exclusive.

 

Clue #6 and Clue #7 are related. I might have added emphasis:

 

7. No easy options: choose wisely to reach your goal.

 

If that touches off a web of associations, you're on the right track. Then again, that forces me to rewrite Clue #2:

 

2. No Hollywood Squares: and no Hunter either. (...or is there?)

[+Omegamatrix]

Acid Drop?

[+Nathan Strum]

Asterix? (Umm... ends in an "X". That's all I've got left.)

[+thegoldenband]

Not Asterix.

 

That said, you're very warm. Perhaps a trip to the Middle East would offer some inspiration? It's downright hot there, after all.

 

But you couldn't stay here at home for that -- you'd have to succumb to an excessive enthusiasm or desire, or an obsession. Still, don't forget to write.

 

(Or you could just send a ham radio broadcast of some kind, though we'd all be waiting for our sight-seeing souvenirs.)

[Gateway]

Open Sesame! aka Apples and Dolls aka I Want My Mommy ?

 

In the story 1001 Arabian Nights Schezarnade-something had to "choose wisely" the stories she told in order to stay alive long enough for the King/Sultan guy to fall in love with her and not kill her. One of her stories included Ali Baba and the 40 thieves and the phrase "Open Sesame" in order to open the cave of treasure (in the Middle Eastern part of the world). I think it was his brother who could not remember the password and it backfired on him, getting him caught by the thieves, etc.

 

The gameplay itself is all black screen with difficult joystick control, etc., however it includes voice synthesized speech in the PAL release.

[+thegoldenband]

Oh, man, that's a great guess, but no. The game doesn't have a Middle Eastern theme, but there's something about it that exemplifies a cultural phenomenon often found in that part of the world, and very seldom seen anywhere else. (In fact it's found in that whole area, including Israel.)

[+Omegamatrix]

I think the difficulty is a little high on this one. For my next guess I will say Pharaoh's Curse.

[+thegoldenband]

Not Pharaoh's Curse. And yeah, I was worried it would be too tough...the clues aren't meant to be super-obscure, but I don't think most folks know this game.

[Mxyzptlk]

Boy, the last 7 carts or so have been too hard for me. The clues are clues to get actual clues.

[Schizophretard]

Not Pharaoh's Curse. And yeah, I was worried it would be too tough...the clues aren't meant to be super-obscure, but I don't think most folks know this game.

 

I looked at every PAL exclusive over and over. I'm lost.

[+Nathan Strum]

Fatal Run? Because... um... people in that region drive heavily-armed Lamborghinis?

[+thegoldenband]

I looked at every PAL exclusive over and over. I'm lost.

 

This game is in the AA database, but the entry is woefully thin on details and not 100% correct. You can get better information elsewhere if you (ahem) choose wisely. That is, if you have enough of an (ahem) excessive enthusiasm or desire.

[Gateway]

Jungle Fever or Burning Desire by Mystique(PAL) ?

 

Mystique was in the X-men movies and comics. The lables have a cross-hatch "square" pattern and the guy on the label for Jungle Fever looks similar to the player in Jungle Hunt

 

Mystique, IIRC was PAL and sold their game right to Playaround in No. America?

 

If you, ahem, get you bodily essence on the woman in Burning Desire, the fire grows larger instead of dies down (it backfires)

 

The game screen when trying to rescue your "lover" is pitch black, though the later "reward" scenes have blue skies. The sky on the labels for either of these titles is anybodies guess as it is hard to tell.

 

That's all I got. I'm tired, LOL. Goodnight.

[Schizophretard]

This game is in the AA database, but the entry is woefully thin on details and not 100% correct. You can get better information elsewhere if you (ahem) choose wisely. That is, if you have enough of an (ahem) excessive enthusiasm or desire.

 

I don't use the AA database. If I did it would make it even harder.

[+Atari_Warlord]

My Golf seems to fit some of the clues about obsession but golf definitely isn't just in the middle east so doesn't fit.

[+thegoldenband]

Man, I feel bad for giving everyone such a tough puzzle -- depressed, even. (What's the opposite of being depressed, anyway?)

 

I should just go to my room, turn out the lights, and listen to some New Order. I wish I had some of their stuff from the seventies.