Backstory on ET: The Atari video game

General Discussions, Polls, Lists, Video Clips and Links
Post Reply
AV Forum Member
AV Forum Member
Posts: 9044
Joined: October 25th, 2004
Location: Binghamton, NY

Backstory on ET: The Atari video game

Post by ShyViolet » February 23rd, 2016, 10:09 pm

Spielberg apparently wanted more of a "Pac-Man" type game:

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-355604 ... pockethits

:)
You can’t just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!

AV Forum Member
AV Forum Member
Posts: 5192
Joined: September 27th, 2007

Re: Backstory on ET: The Atari video game

Post by EricJ » February 23rd, 2016, 11:30 pm

There's a documentary on Showtime/Netflix, "Atari: Game Over" where they not only go into the history of Atari and Warshaw's abstract idea for the game, but was made to explore the myth of whether all those cartridges really are buried in New Mexico, and what they found when they finally dug it up.

(Although what they did find puts the rise and fall of the company more into perspective.)
Last edited by EricJ on February 24th, 2016, 12:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

AV Team
AV Team
Posts: 6633
Joined: February 8th, 2005
Location: The US of A

Re: Backstory on ET: The Atari video game

Post by Dacey » February 23rd, 2016, 11:46 pm

There's probably an alternate reality somewhere where the video game for E.T. 2: Nocturnal Fears is like more popular than Super Mario Bros.
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift--that is why it's called the present."

User avatar
AV Founder
AV Founder
Posts: 25268
Joined: October 22nd, 2004
Location: London, UK

Re: Backstory on ET: The Atari video game

Post by Ben » February 24th, 2016, 5:38 am

Game Over is a good, sometimes fun doc that I urge you to check out. And little over an hour, I think. And they do clarify, from what i remember, that Spielbergo did in fact okay the game, even though I guess even he was under pressure to do so to get it in the shops on time.

Love that ad, though...wow - $39.99 for a game...BACK THEN? Wowsers. No wonder our parents made so much of a big deal when we got a new cartridge!

User avatar
AV Team
AV Team
Posts: 1816
Joined: March 27th, 2008

Re: Backstory on ET: The Atari video game

Post by Dan » February 24th, 2016, 10:56 am

The doc is a fantastic watch, and really puts into perspective both the creative thinking and corporate structure of Atari back in the day. As Ben said, a must see if you have Netflix. It's one of my favorites.

AV Founder
AV Founder
Posts: 7245
Joined: October 23rd, 2004
Location: SaskaTOON, Canada

Re: Backstory on ET: The Atari video game

Post by Randall » February 24th, 2016, 9:48 pm

I have it on my Netflix list to watch... along with about 50 other things! But I do want to see it.

Post Reply