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Film crew to dig up desert in search of millions of copies of E.T. for Atari
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The following comments relate to this news article:

Film crew to dig up desert in search of millions of copies of E.T. for Atari

article published on 1 June, 2013

A documentary crew has now received approval to dig up a site in New Mexico where Atari allegedly buried millions of unsold Atari 2600 consoles and games. The urban legend of the desert site has been around for at least two decades, and gamers (and former gamers) will certainly follow the story. Fuel Industries, a marketing firm, will excavate the site in the next 180 days, before ... [ read the full article ]

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Posted Message
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1. June 2013 @ 23:42 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Way-hey!

And no-one can confirm the dump site for sure?

Heh, you know ET was one of the most terrible games ever made in the history of gaming... some consider it the absolute worst??? There more to the story than just a "large downtrend" in the industry... that was a truly awful game:

"The game is also considered to be one of the causes of the video game industry crisis of 1983... Poor critical reception and lack of a profitable marketing strategy made this game one of many cited decisions that led Atari to report a $536 million loss in 1983 and led to the company being divided and sold in 1984... the game's poor quality was responsible for ending the product life of the Atari 2600."



That's just a tiny sample from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_E...28video_game%29

Here's some screen footage:
Worst Video Games Ever - ET



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Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 2. June 2013 @ 05:02

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2. June 2013 @ 01:31 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
So...you can get a 2600 for $15 shipped off ebay...and there is no worry of being outbid...or you can just get an emulator and download all the games ever made in a few minutes (including googling time)...and these people are going to make an expedition to (hopefully) find a some consoles and a bunch of copies of one of the worst games ever made...all presumably buried both above and below rotting garbage? Are there no more ancient tombs?

I've got an idea for a show...just randomly go to people's houses and dig below them. Sure, you would almost never find anything but dirt; but surely decent top soil would be worth more than a bunch of copies of the ET video game...and who knows...if you do it in Philly you might find something valuable.


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2. June 2013 @ 02:48 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
:) Lara Croft goes hunting for the lost ET game...


... finds it... decides it's too "terrible" to inflict on the human race again... decides some things are just better left buried...


... then goes on to host the reality TV hit "America's next top tomb raider"......................... in Philly.

:P



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 2. June 2013 @ 02:55

Mysttic
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2. June 2013 @ 05:26 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
The reason gaming nerds and collectors would care is because although not the most rare console to have, it does have some rare titles for some reason or another collectors value. There's a lot more than ET waiting on the bottom. I've seen people sell complete Atari 2600's for $100+ in front of my eyes, just because it's hard to find complete. There are a lot of people would love the chance to go digging just to find one at the chance it's sealed and new. Still for most of the 2600 collection, you'd be better off collecting pennies for more value: but the fact that anything coming out of there would be from their "gravesite" would likely increase the value even more.... (only for those copies proven it was from there, should it exist.)
doowop72
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2. June 2013 @ 09:48 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I could almost make a bet Steven Spielberg is behind all this as well.
Hrdrk20
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2. June 2013 @ 15:00 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
This reminds me,years ago living back in Chicago, when Geraldo Rivera had a live-feed camera on a local tv station as he opened what he believed to be a vault owned by Al Capone. Needless to say there was nothing inside for all to see. link

I do believe the story about the 2600 E.T. carts buried in cement. There is also a "urban legend" regarding the toy company LJN and their most popular toy "Gotcha" gun. However I think there is a lot of "Chinese telephone"/misinformation going on. There won't be sealed 2600 console units. I'd be amazed if they actually find the real dump site.

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 2. June 2013 @ 15:03

megadunderhead
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2. June 2013 @ 18:03 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
awesome epic but stupid
Morreale
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2. June 2013 @ 22:21 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Better learn how to solder if you're gonna pick up a 2600... Sealed or not.

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***\\\//****\\\ ****\\\****
GryphB
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3. June 2013 @ 20:34 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Dehydration will get to them before they can manage to dig 1 foot into the ground.

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 3. June 2013 @ 20:35

LouV68
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3. June 2013 @ 21:02 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by KillerBug:
So...you can get a 2600 for $15 shipped off ebay...and there is no worry of being outbid...or you can just get an emulator and download all the games ever made in a few minutes (including googling time)...and these people are going to make an expedition to (hopefully) find a some consoles and a bunch of copies of one of the worst games ever made...all presumably buried both above and below rotting garbage? Are there no more ancient tombs?

I've got an idea for a show...just randomly go to people's houses and dig below them. Sure, you would almost never find anything but dirt; but surely decent top soil would be worth more than a bunch of copies of the ET video game...and who knows...if you do it in Philly you might find something valuable.
If you think playing an emulator without the actual Atari controllers is equivalent, you are sadly mistaken. I had an Atari 2600 growing up, and you have to have the original controllers for it to be authentic. There is no substitute. How are you supposed to play Pong, Super Breakout, or Night Driver with the joystick? You need the paddle or driving controller (two different controllers). I never understood the all in one units you can buy that only include the joystick. ie. http://www.amazon.com/Flashback-Classic.../ref=pd_cp_vg_0 If they had the three separate controllers, I'd buy them.
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3. June 2013 @ 22:49 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by LouV68:
Originally posted by KillerBug:
So...you can get a 2600 for $15 shipped off ebay...and there is no worry of being outbid...or you can just get an emulator and download all the games ever made in a few minutes (including googling time)...and these people are going to make an expedition to (hopefully) find a some consoles and a bunch of copies of one of the worst games ever made...all presumably buried both above and below rotting garbage? Are there no more ancient tombs?

I've got an idea for a show...just randomly go to people's houses and dig below them. Sure, you would almost never find anything but dirt; but surely decent top soil would be worth more than a bunch of copies of the ET video game...and who knows...if you do it in Philly you might find something valuable.
If you think playing an emulator without the actual Atari controllers is equivalent, you are sadly mistaken. I had an Atari 2600 growing up, and you have to have the original controllers for it to be authentic. There is no substitute. How are you supposed to play Pong, Super Breakout, or Night Driver with the joystick? You need the paddle or driving controller (two different controllers). I never understood the all in one units you can buy that only include the joystick. ie. http://www.amazon.com/Flashback-Classic.../ref=pd_cp_vg_0 If they had the three separate controllers, I'd buy them.
If you're emulating on a PC you can use Xpadder to map the keyboard & mouse to an Xbox or ps controller (or any controller you desire if you get the drivers). Then you can use their d-pad... ok, so it's not the same thing but better than before.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 3. June 2013 @ 22:52

LouV68
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3. June 2013 @ 23:00 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by Jemborg:

If you're emulating on a PC you can use Xpadder to map the keyboard & mouse to an Xbox or ps controller (or any controller you desire if you get the drivers). Then you can use their d-pad... ok, so it's not the same thing but better than before.
You must me in 30yrs old or younger to believe the Sh!t you are spewing. There is no substitute, period. You probably have never even played a real 2600, I have and owned one with 50+ games. Don't even try to 'guess' that it's the same thing; it's not. If you're not using the original controllers, it's not the same thing. It does not feel the same.

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 3. June 2013 @ 23:02

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3. June 2013 @ 23:10 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by LouV68:
Originally posted by Jemborg:

If you're emulating on a PC you can use Xpadder to map the keyboard & mouse to an Xbox or ps controller (or any controller you desire if you get the drivers). Then you can use their d-pad... ok, so it's not the same thing but better than before.
You must me in 30yrs old or younger to believe the Sh!t you are spewing. There is no substitute, period. You probably have never even played a real 2600, I have and owned one with 50+ games. Don't even try to 'guess' that it's the same thing; it's not. If you're not using the original controllers, it's not the same thing. It does not feel the same.
Well, you have the manners of an adolescent. Chill out...

I meant better than a keyboard.

PS: I'm way older than you think btw.


Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD
LouV68
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3. June 2013 @ 23:30 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by Jemborg:
Originally posted by LouV68:
Originally posted by Jemborg:

If you're emulating on a PC you can use Xpadder to map the keyboard & mouse to an Xbox or ps controller (or any controller you desire if you get the drivers). Then you can use their d-pad... ok, so it's not the same thing but better than before.
You must me in 30yrs old or younger to believe the Sh!t you are spewing. There is no substitute, period. You probably have never even played a real 2600, I have and owned one with 50+ games. Don't even try to 'guess' that it's the same thing; it's not. If you're not using the original controllers, it's not the same thing. It does not feel the same.
Well, you have the manners of an adolescent. Chill out...

I meant better than a keyboard.

PS: I'm way older than you think btw.

Chill out? I was a video game addict when I was a kid in the early 80's. I now enjoy playing video games probably once every 2 yrs or so now, only because I have a much younger brother. I'm just stating a fact that I honestly do not believe you know what you are saying. If you in fact owned and played a 2600, then you know what I'm talking about. It obviously was not about graphics, but about game play. If the controls don't feel right, it's not the same thing. Why don't you chill out.
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4. June 2013 @ 03:33 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
You can connect the original controllers to a pc if you want to use them, you can even convert them to usb...a good idea since you will probably want to clean up the internals anyway. The emulation is perfect for 99% of the titles, many titles such as ET have modded versions that actually work, and you can set most emulators to simulate the crummy appearance of an old tv. You can even save game states! Other than the controllers (which are not really rare) the only reason to have 2600 stuff is as a collection...like old stamps or pennies or something...or maybe if you are a super nerd hacker type that wants to try to port *nux to the thing...
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4. June 2013 @ 04:31 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Like KB said you can use the original controllers and drivers for them if you want and you can use something like Xpadder to map keys/mouse to it. Hell, you can use a Guitar Hero controller for it.

My first computer game was Pong at the bowling ally, arcades did not exist at the time.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD
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4. June 2013 @ 13:34 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
People will watch it. Just look at all the garbage on tv nowadays.
Mysttic
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4. June 2013 @ 15:30 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I have to admit though on some games that controller pad worked well... Especially for Activision titles which in my mind had way better titles than Atari themselves ever got on the shelf. Most of my Atari 2600 collection is Activision. Although I have the emulators to play my fav '2600 games on it from time to time I do enjoy hooking up my console to use the original paddle to control games like Frostbite or Plaque Attack, even Oink. Oink was kind of more annoying using a keyboard, and using my 360 controller was even worse.
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5. June 2013 @ 00:37 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
If it weren't for that Decathlon game, I'd still have like 4 working controllers!!!

No time for Leap frog!!!
IguanaC64
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5. June 2013 @ 15:54 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
ET was a decent game once you figured out wtf was going on. I'm willing to bet nobody complaining about it ever actually finished it.

If you liked Adventure, Superman, or Haunted House...it was very similar in structure.

Epyx 500 joystick was the best joystick for the Atari...
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5. June 2013 @ 21:12 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by IguanaC64:
ET was a decent game once you figured out wtf was going on. I'm willing to bet nobody complaining about it ever actually finished it.
That would be a LOT of people then.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD
IguanaC64
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6. June 2013 @ 10:00 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
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6. June 2013 @ 10:39 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by IguanaC64:
http://www.techbliss.org/threads/howto-fix-worst-video-game-ever-e-t-for-atari-2600.339/

I don't like ET this much...
Nice find.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD
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6. June 2013 @ 20:04 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by Jemborg:
Like KB said you can use the original controllers and drivers for them if you want and you can use something like Xpadder to map keys/mouse to it. Hell, you can use a Guitar Hero controller for it.

My first computer game was Pong at the bowling ally, arcades did not exist at the time.
My first computer game was a pinball game...it had a digital score, so technically it was computerized.


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6. June 2013 @ 22:36 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by KillerBug:
Originally posted by Jemborg:
My first computer game was Pong at the bowling ally, arcades did not exist at the time.
My first computer game was a pinball game...it had a digital score, so technically it was computerized.
Haha



Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD
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