Combat re-release.

[crunchysuperman]

Found an interesting re-release on Ebay - a 1986 Combat! (well, sort of).

 

The box is, as you can see, full-color and not the b&w type that most all re-releases were. But notice that the "Warner Communications" text is missing below the Fuji on side 1, and sure enough, side 2 reads "1986 Atari Corp." There is no mention of a 1986 box in any variation listing I can find.

 

 

On to the cartridge inside, the label is identical to the last 1978 version released, but it's stuck on a type-3 cartridge - the style without the dustcover! Here's some comparison pics with the 1978 release (with locking dustcover) on the left, and the re-release (no dustcover) on the right. If you look, you can see the "holes" on the upper main area of the type-3 re-release cartridge where the label usually ends up getting punched through. This is better shown in the bottom pic with the view of the pcb side (sorry for the fuzzy photo, but you still get the idea)

 

 

I completely forgot to scan the manual, which is indeed the b&w copy I was expecting.

 

So, while this isn't a new label style that I was hoping for, it shows that more Combats were indeed produced alongside the other Atari Corp re-releases. I suppose they must have had a stockpile of original labels on hand to use, otherwise I don't see them printing up more "Atari, Inc." labels after they had changed the name of that division.

 

Makes one wonder if they had enough of these older labels to do the whole re-run, or are there in fact some more re-release Combat cartridges out there with new "Atari Corp" labels on them when they ran out?

 

 

And for those of you who care not for re-release variatiants, we now proceed with the "it's Combat - who cares?" statements, already in progress . . . . . .

[+Omegamatrix]

It's Combat - who cares?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But's a damn cool find Crunchy.

[Christophero Sly]

Are there any differences between the end labels that might suggest that the end label was a new printing?

Edited February 23, 2006 by Christophero Sly

[crunchysuperman]

Looks like it's printed more off-center to the left. Who knows if that means it's a new printing, or if it was just cut incorrectly.

 

The color is a tad different, but I don't think it's enough to warrant calling it new.

[CincYnoTi]

I saw this one when it was listed, but thought the $25+ price was too high for my wallet. I had seen this 1986 once before, but the owner disappeared. Good catch though. It's very hard to wade through all the other boxed combats on ebay to find one like this!

 

How about Asteroids? Did you find a 1986 silver label inside? If so, congrats on that one too! I have a couple of that 1986 Asteroids box, so I assume the silver label is inside.

[crunchysuperman]

How about Asteroids?  Did you find a 1986 silver label inside?  If so, congrats on that one too!  I have a couple of that 1986 Asteroids box, so I assume the silver label is inside.

1023127[/snapback]

 

I did indeed. I already had a PAL gray label with the blue end text, but I was lacking the NTSC with the red end text. I gambled there was one inside & was proved correct.

[Clint Thompson]

Combat... scary

 

[ flashback memories of 100s of Combat carts at the local flea market ]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo

[crunchysuperman]

Here's the b&w manual:

 

 

other pages here, here and here.

[+doctorclu]

Combat... scary

 

[ flashback memories of 100s of Combat carts at the local flea market ]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo

1023349[/snapback]

 

At least Combat was more fun than the Jaguar's pack in game, Cybermorph.

 

See my love for that game...

 

http://www.geocities.com/doctor_clu/cybermorph.html

 

(A few pics are missing but you'll get the point.)

[CincYnoTi]

How strange that manual is! It looks like they used the 1977 version of the 01 combat manual to reprint a b/w version. I don't know if it's deja vu, but I seem to remember seeing or having one like that.

[Christophero Sly]

I just picked up one of these sealed 1986 Combat boxes. I opened it up and found the controller info omitted variant! It's on my re-release list, but I've only seen it once before and couldn't get the owner to part with it. It's strange that they kept the Atari, Inc. copyright on these, but they are obviously re-releases. Now I've got to find one with the controller info present.

Edited January 9, 2007 by Christophero Sly

[crunchysuperman]

Sweet find!

 

[Christophero Sly]

The box front is identical to yours, crunchy. However, there are differences on the back.

 

The end label is plastic on this one.

 

 

Edited January 13, 2007 by Christophero Sly

[shadow460]

Nice! It's...worth money!

But, how can that be? It's only Combat!!

[Christophero Sly]

I don't think it's worth a lot, it's just an interesting variant.

[Godzilla]

amazing, I wonder how many other systems in the cart based era had 10 year+ production runs. neat variant, I've never seen it before.

[shadow460]

From the looks, I'd guess they were making Combat carts for a full decade. I assume with the VCS being ready in 1976, they probably built some cartridges in 75 and 76 both.

Some of those lab loaners are probably older than me!

[Christophero Sly]

amazing, I wonder how many other systems in the cart based era had 10 year+ production runs. neat variant, I've never seen it before.

I never thought about it like that. That is amazing.

[Rom Hunter]

Christophero,

 

Could you also take a picture of the front (and perhaps a second one of the back if the colors differ too much)?

 

I want to add it to the database.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Hm, I just noticed that you don't own this one...

 

Edited January 13, 2007 by Rom Hunter

[Foxsolo2000]

So is Combat the oldest title that was released for the longest period of time or were there others?

[Rom Hunter]

So is Combat the oldest title that was released for the longest period of time or were there others?

Missile Command

 

[Foxsolo2000]

So is Combat the oldest title that was released for the longest period of time or were there others?

Missile Command

 

 

I thought Missile Command was 81

[Christophero Sly]

So is Combat the oldest title that was released for the longest period of time or were there others?

Missile Command

 

 

I thought Missile Command was 81

There is a PAL Missile Command re-release that carries a 1991 copyright.

http://atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?MENU...ERSION_ID=18274

[Christophero Sly]

Christophero,

 

Could you also take a picture of the front (and perhaps a second one of the back if the colors differ too much)?

 

I want to add it to the database.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Hm, I just noticed that you don't own this one...

 

I own it now.

 

I'll get some better scans to you ASAP.

[Christophero Sly]

I hope these will work. I can't get better photos without taking off the shrinkwrap.