A question regarding PAL exclusives for the vcs/2600

[carmel_andrews]

I only brought this up after seeing John Dean's web page (a former Atari product manager at Atari UK) where he mentioned that he worked on the first Atari published PAL title for the A8 (The lone raider) that wasn't based on an existing US or NTSC game

 

The question is, how many PAL exclusives were there for the VCS or original PAL games for the vcs (not based on existing US/NTSC games) and what was the first PAL game not based on existing US/NTSC game released in UK/europe

Edited August 8, 2013 by carmel_andrews

[CatPix]

The only game I can think of is Obelix. Tho, it has been released on NTSC version, so it's not a PAL exclusive, but it's way rarer in NTSC version than it is on PAL version.

 

 

There is a more common Asterix game, but it's based on Taz (and IMO, way less fun that Obélix).

[Thomas Jentzsch]

There are quite some more, the console was longer popular in PAL countries than in NTSC land.

 

E.g. Wing War, My Golf, Ghostbusters 2, Fatal Run... Look here.

[Philflound]

I think he was referring to Atari made games, not 3rd party. I'm not sure there were too many.

 

Phil

Edited August 8, 2013 by Philflound

[Serious]

I believe Klax and Fatal Run are the only PAL exclusives released by Atari for the VCS.

 

This excludes prototypes and multicarts.

[CatPix]

Reading on Atariage, it seems Obelix doesns't exist on NTSC version officially, whereas other websites claim it exist (but Atariaga database mention Klax being a NTSC prototype, so I guess it's not exactly accurate).

 

A list of games that existed first as PAL games then were ported later on NTSc by Atari would be interesting, too.

[Rom Hunter]

There are no VCS PAL exclusives from Atari.

 

They planned to release a NTSC version of Fatal Run and Klax as well, but these only exist in proto form.

 

Obelix (NTSC) does exist:

http://www.atarimani...elix_11764.html

 

Same goes for Asterix (NTSC).

http://www.atarimani...erix_13734.html

 

Edited August 11, 2013 by Rom Hunter

[CatPix]

Well if they exist as protos only, technically, Klax and Fatal Run ARE PAL exclusives... Since you can't find them on flea market.

 

I did not counted Asterix as it's not an original game, unlike Obelix.

[Rom Hunter]

Ye

Well if they exist as protos only, technically, Klax and Fatal Run ARE PAL exclusives... Since you can't find them on flea market.

 

True.

 

That's about it for Atari.

 

[Supergun]

While I agree that it would appear that 2600 Klax & Fatal Run are technically the only Atari first party games that were PAL exclusive, I think it would be prudent to mention in the same breath that for many years we assumed other games to be PAL exclusive until NTSC samples were found. Yes Asterix & Obelix come to mind. But in addition, Ikari Warriors, Motorodeo, Sentinel, and perhaps a few others should also be considered.

 

And more importantly, I think it should at least be mentioned that the possibility exists that Klax & Fatal Run could very well be found one day (and found in bulk mind you) inside a warehouse in Venezuela. Oh and NTSC 7800 Sentinel as well would also seem very likely.

 

I think what Rom Hunter was trying to say was that Atari may have intended to release these "pal exclusive" games for NTSC, but time ran out and the hatchet came down and Atari was done before it could be done. (and/or it was done, and the boxes of carts were ready, but they never went to retail and were either destroyed, discarded, or found by someone who still has them stashed someplace; perhaps a warehouse in Venezuela

 

Also want to add that we have 2600 NTSC Sentinel & 7800 NTSC Fatal Run, so those games are cousins as I see it. And a 7800 NTSC Klax Proto as well so they were all buddies.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Supergun

[Rom Hunter]

I think what Rom Hunter was trying to say was that Atari may have intended to release these "pal exclusive" games for NTSC, but time ran out and the hatchet came down and Atari was done before it could be done.

 

Exactly.

 

[Fr0st]

but I think the op knows this, and with the time having run out this does make these two games technically PAL Exclusive, it may not have been the intention by Atari, but it is what it is.