zzip Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 In the Letters to the Editor section of the April 1986 Antic magazine, they printed the following letter from EA president Trip Hawkins, listing a bunch of new games that would be coming to Atari 8-bit that year. I know Mail Order Monsters, Racing Destruction Set and Ultima IV did come out, but I don't think I've ever seen the other 5 listed. Did they ever come out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Don't think so, C64 yes but not Atari... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 I'm pretty sure Golden oldies was also released. I was going to say ACS too, but that was Aventure Creator I was thinking of (which is pretty cool itself), I used to have it on cartridge years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share Posted April 3, 2017 I'm pretty sure Golden oldies was also released. I was going to say ACS too, but that was Aventure Creator I was thinking of (which is pretty cool itself), I used to have it on cartridge years ago. I had Adventure Creator too. ACS is the game on that list that I really wanted back then. I would have bought it in a heartbeat, but I don't think it ever came out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Oops, Golden Oldies is indeed out..Needs BASIC Golden Oldies - Volume 1 (1985)(Software Country)(Side A)b.atr Golden Oldies - Volume 1 (1985)(Software Country)(Side B)b.atr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Racing Destruction Set was produced, so was Mail Order Monsters. Ultima available all the way from I to IV. Ultima V only made it to the point of an unplayable demo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakidski Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Heart of Africa was released by Ariolasoft in West Germany. It had one of those huge LP vinyl covers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Are you sure? It's practically the successor to 7 Cities of Gold and would have been a pretty prominent release. Also criminal that we didn't get it seeing that 7SoG originated on the Atari 800. Then again we got royally screwed in similar ways with the likes of Marble Madness and Klax. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijor Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I don't understand the relation between Origin Systems and EA at that time. I know EA eventually acquired Origin, but it was much later, at the 90's. Why Ultima IV is included in that EA note??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Are you sure? It's practically the successor to 7 Cities of Gold and would have been a pretty prominent release. Also criminal that we didn't get it seeing that 7SoG originated on the Atari 800. Then again we got royally screwed in similar ways with the likes of Marble Madness and Klax. Time for another letter-writing campaign to EA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heaven/TQA Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Ijor...maybe the same reason like today?ea distributed 3rd party products not only own developed products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 (edited) I don't understand the relation between Origin Systems and EA at that time. I know EA eventually acquired Origin, but it was much later, at the 90's. Why Ultima IV is included in that EA note??? EA was distributor for Origin before they bought them. I still remember my Ultima III box had a 'distributed by EA' sticker on it. Still, the inclusion of U4 on that list does seem like a cop-out since the Ultima games were not really put under the EA brand, and had a history of coming to Atari anyway. Edited April 4, 2017 by zzip 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijor Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 EA was distributor for Origin before they bought them. I still remember my Ultima III box had a 'distributed by EA' sticker on it. Still, the inclusion of U4 on that list does seem like a cop-out since the Ultima games were not really put under the EA brand, and had a history of coming to Atari anyway. Ah, I didn't know EA was distributor for Origin. And yes, kinda demagogic mentioning those third party titles because it wasn't up to EA to release them for Atari or not. I even doubt the EA titles were actually ported and released as a result of the letters they received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 Ah, I didn't know EA was distributor for Origin. And yes, kinda demagogic mentioning those third party titles because it wasn't up to EA to release them for Atari or not. I even doubt the EA titles were actually ported and released as a result of the letters they received. Perhaps so. But I do recall that 1985 was a year when it seemed like almost nothing was coming to Atari. I think there was still skepticism among publishers whether Tramiel could turn Atari around, whether the 8-bit would still be supported, so they were waiting and seeing. This letter was in 86 when it was looking like yes, the new Atari was actually delivering with new XE and ST models. So it may have happened anyway, but it's good PR to say "it's all thanks to your letters". Still, only about half those promised games got delivered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 So it may have happened anyway, but it's good PR to say "it's all thanks to your letters". Still, only about half those promised games got delivered. Because letters don't pay bills. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 Because letters don't pay bills. but then why promise specific titles if their release was contingent on the sales of others? Leave it at "starting with Mail Order Monsters, Racing Destruction Set, Ultima IV with more to follow" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 but then why promise specific titles if their release was contingent on the sales of others? Leave it at "starting with Mail Order Monsters, Racing Destruction Set, Ultima IV with more to follow" Maybe they fully intended to do so, or maybe they thought it would garner more interest; who knows... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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