Backstory on ET: The Atari video game

[ShyViolet]

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

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

[EricJ]

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.)

[Dacey]

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.

[Ben]

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!

[Dan]

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.

[Randall]

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