Seamonster Atari 2600

[Elvis8Atari]

Does Seamonster have another name? Or is it a unique game not under any other name. Was it released in the USA as NTSC? Or only overseas?

[karokoenig]

http://www.atarimania.com/game-seamonster-monstre-des-mers_s13343.html

[Supergun]

Sea Monster is among the top 5 of the most controversial & debateable Atari 2600 USA / NTSC official "releases". Officially, it was not released in the USA. However, it has been accepted as such because of a technicality.

 

Yes, the South American (Brazil) release of Sea Monster is indeed in the NTSC format. (as were several other Atari 2600 games) However, this does not serve as the qualifier for what would classify it as an official release.

 

Rather, it is a technicality associated with the Canadian NTSC release which gives Sea Monster its' official status. Reason being that several Canadian border & northern city USA retailers sold the Canadian games in their stores. And as such, despite this extremely limited & almost minuscule window of opportunity, Americans nevertheless therefore had the ability to purchase the game on American soil.

[Elvis8Atari]

Thanks so much for that enlightened answer! I am curious now what the other Top 5 debatable NTSC titles are!

[BONEMAN]

Supergun, what are the other games you're referring to?

[Supergun]

Sorry for the delayed response, I have been very busy as of late.

So, without getting into too much detail, these three are also among those highly controversial NTSC games:

 

-- the Vidco/Zimag NTSC releases of Pizza Chef, Immies & Aggies, and A Mysterious Thief from South America (Brazil)

 

Then, to a lesser degree, we also have these anomalies:

 

-- the 2600 Fatal Run & Klax PAL exclusive EURO releases

Atari released NTSC 7800 Fatal Run here in the USA, and all of the packaging: cart, box, & manual

are absolutely identical to what would have been used here in the USA had they been released here.

In addition, we have found the official Atari NTSC roms for the games, albeit in proto form.

In addition, over the years, we have had the discoveries of NTSC Motorodeo & Ikari Warriors

which proves that the "cases of boxes sitting in a warehouse someplace" is an absolute possibility here.

(and also NTSC Asterix & Obelix, even though to a lesser degree, also pave this path)

 

-- the Ghostbusters 2 & Wing War Activision/Imagic PAL exclusive EURO releases

There is far less evidence to support these titles, but they are always worth mentioning.

 

Keep in mind that these are from the "NTSC controversies" of the 2600 library.

This does not include the other controversies, from the other categories.

There are a few of those as well.

[BONEMAN]

Thanks!