Is the Atari E.T. Game Rare? Unearthing the Truth Behind a Gaming Legend
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The short answer is: no, the Atari E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial game is not rare in terms of overall production numbers. While it carries a legendary status, often associated with scarcity and astronomical prices, the reality is that millions of cartridges were produced. The story of E.T. on the Atari 2600 is more about a spectacular failure and the urban legend of its burial than it is about true rarity. However, the story is far more nuanced and interesting than a simple binary of ‘rare’ or ‘not rare.’ Let’s delve deeper into why this game remains a topic of fascination for gamers and collectors alike.
The Infamous Launch and Initial Production
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, designed and programmed by Howard Scott Warshaw, was rushed to market in 1982 to capitalize on the immense popularity of the Steven Spielberg film. Atari, driven by aggressive timelines, gave Warshaw only five weeks to develop the game. This incredibly short development cycle resulted in a game that was notoriously buggy, confusing, and generally considered one of the worst video games of all time.
Despite its poor quality, Atari manufactured between 2.5 and 3.5 million cartridges in anticipation of high sales. While the game eventually sold 1.5 million units, a significant number of cartridges remained unsold. This oversupply, coupled with widespread negative reception, contributed to the game’s downfall and solidified its place in gaming infamy. Therefore, in terms of sheer numbers, the game was far from rare. There were many, many copies floating around.
The Legend of the Landfill
The infamous story of the Atari landfill burial in Alamogordo, New Mexico, is a key part of the E.T. narrative. It was indeed true: in 1983, facing massive losses and a warehouse full of unsold inventory, Atari made the decision to dump an enormous quantity of cartridges, including a significant number of E.T. copies. Approximately 728,000 games were buried at the site, not just E.T. cartridges, but other unsold titles and even some spare parts.
This act, intended to prevent scavenging and protect the company’s image, gave rise to the urban legend of millions of E.T. cartridges being buried. The story gained so much traction that it became ingrained in pop culture. In 2014, a documentary team led by Zak Penn and funded by Microsoft exhumed the site, confirming the story and adding another layer of fascination to the E.T. legacy. The excavation unearthed over 1,300 cartridges, including E.T. copies, further solidifying the story as fact.
Why the Legend Persists
The landfill incident dramatically increased the notoriety of E.T., effectively cementing its place in video game history. While not rare in terms of original production, the story of the burial and subsequent discovery made finding a surviving cartridge more significant. It also contributed to a narrative of the game being so bad it was literally buried – adding to its cultural cache.
The Market Value of E.T. Today
Although not rare in the classic sense, E.T. cartridges hold some value in the collector’s market. A loose cartridge might fetch anywhere from $10 to $50 depending on its condition. However, sealed or boxed copies, especially those from the excavation, can fetch significantly higher prices, even reaching into the hundreds or even low thousands of dollars at auctions. This is because sealed copies are becoming scarce and there’s a demand for these historically significant games.
The recovered cartridges from the Alamogordo landfill, often associated with the documentary, have their own unique provenance, making them particularly desirable for collectors. Even though many copies exist, the story surrounding the cartridges creates an artificial scarcity and associated value.
The Rarity Paradox
The case of Atari E.T. highlights a crucial point: rarity is not just about the quantity produced but also about the story, context, and demand surrounding an item. E.T. isn’t rare in the way that Gamma Attack (of which there is reportedly only one authentic copy), or Red Sea Crossing (with its limited distribution through phone orders) is rare. However, its unique history, its colossal failure, the urban legend of its burial, and the subsequent recovery have made it a notable piece of gaming history, commanding a certain value despite its overproduction. The combination of mass production, terrible reputation, and the fascinating landfill story has placed E.T. in a unique position in the world of video game collecting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many E.T. Atari games were originally produced?
Approximately 2.5 to 3.5 million cartridges were produced by Atari.
2. Why was the Atari E.T. game considered so bad?
The game suffered from rushed development, poor gameplay mechanics, confusing level design, and numerous bugs, leading to its reputation as one of the worst games ever made.
3. Was the E.T. game responsible for the 1983 video game crash?
While E.T. was a significant factor due to its poor reception and overproduction, it was not the sole cause. A combination of market saturation, poor quality games, and a lack of consumer confidence contributed to the crash.
4. How many E.T. cartridges were buried in the New Mexico landfill?
Approximately 728,000 games were buried, including E.T. cartridges, other unsold titles, and spare parts.
5. Who was responsible for digging up the buried E.T. games?
A documentary team, led by Zak Penn, and financed by Microsoft, excavated the site in 2014.
6. What is the value of a loose E.T. Atari cartridge today?
A loose cartridge can generally fetch between $10 to $50, depending on its condition.
7. Are boxed or sealed copies of E.T. more valuable?
Yes, boxed and particularly sealed copies are considerably more valuable, sometimes reaching hundreds or even low thousands of dollars.
8. Are the cartridges unearthed from the landfill more valuable?
Yes, these provenance-rich cartridges are often valued higher due to their historical significance.
9. Who developed the E.T. Atari game?
The game was designed and programmed by Howard Scott Warshaw.
10. How long did it take to develop the E.T. game?
Warshaw had only five weeks to create the game.
11. Did E.T. sell well initially?
Yes, E.T. sold 1.5 million units, but this was against millions of unsold copies.
12. How does the E.T. game’s rarity compare to games like Red Sea Crossing and Gamma Attack?
While the E.T. game is a collector’s item, it does not share the same levels of true rarity as games like Gamma Attack (reportedly a single original copy) and Red Sea Crossing (a very limited run with unique distribution).
13. Why did Atari bury the unsold cartridges?
Atari buried the cartridges to remove surplus inventory and prevent people from scavenging them, thus protecting the company image and the market value of their products.
14. Did the dig confirm the urban legend about the burial?
Yes, the excavation confirmed the truth behind the long-standing rumor of the burial, though the numbers were lower than the folklore initially suggested.
15. Is the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Atari game a must-have for collectors?
For many collectors, particularly those interested in gaming history, the E.T. game is a significant piece of the puzzle despite its flaws and abundance. It serves as a lesson in development gone wrong and the fall of a video game giant. Its infamy and the surrounding story have turned it into a unique and sought-after piece for many collections.