Climbing and rapid fall of consoles (history of the console industry: generation 2)
I put off this moment for a very long time, and now it has come. It’s time to talk about the console of the second generation and about how all this has disappeared overnight. In this video, you will see an almost complete and almost true story of such consoles as: Fairchild Channel F, Atari 2600, Intellivision, Atari 5200, Vectrex and Colecovision, and also why and why there was a 1983 video game crisis.
In the market of the domed pong console. There are many of them and all of them, as I said earlier, essentially various variations of the same game. Two or more sticks beat off a square and everything is fine.
And hedgehog understands that people will sooner or later get tired of it, so when the company Fairchild They were going to enter the still profitable console market, they decided to release a much more technological console than that of competitors. And this means that their console should be able to display more colors than 2, although some competitors knew such a thing, and there should be more than one games, but there is a problem. Before that, the filling of the consoles consisted of transistors and resistors. With such a filling, to do something more perfect than pong was impossible. No, you could follow in the footsteps of Magnovox and their Oddissey and use the overhead layers on the TV and have a bunch of stuff, which would have come with the console, but this is the idea. Oddissey did not go far in sales, as we recall, and a bunch of additional staff, which is needed for games, will surely scare away buyers who will most likely return to the PONG’s, because the main advantage of the PONG console was that it could simply unpack it and play without using something unnecessary extra. They strove for this in Fairchild, to do something like Oddissey, but without all this additional junk. However, as I said, there were not enough computing power of transistors. And then a microprocessor comes to the rescue.
This is a device that contains the power of hundreds, or even thousands of transistors, but in a smaller volume. Accordingly, if you replace the transistors with a processor, then such a machine will become more powerful, because it will have a capacity of hundreds of transistors
Even before the development of the console Robert Neus, an engineer from Fairchild, created an 8-bit processor, which was built into the console. After the development of this processor, Neus left Fairchild in order to establish his company. Some kind of intel.
This very processor made the console filling much more powerful than any Pong console.
-8 colors;
-resolution of 128×64 pixels;
-64 Bayt memory;
It is with such parameters that Video Entertainment System came out in 1976, if briefly, Ves, not to be confused with Nes.
“Video Entertanment System, later renamed Fairchild Chanel F”
This was the original name of the console. A year later it was replaced by Channel F. This is not an isolated case of changing the name of the console after the release. Even Nintendo almost sinned.
There was another problem left. 2 games were built in the console: tennis and hockey, which have not gone very far from Pong’s. This game was still popular, so such a solution is very justified. But only the console could keep on them. Channel F was much more powerful, and accordingly the games should have been much better. But here is the problem. Internal memory was not enough for a large number of games. I had to come up with something. And then Fairchild thought that users probably do not need all the games that were developed for the console. In addition, you can make a profit if you sell games separately. Why not record games on a fee and that they could be changed freely. So, replaceable gaming carriers in the form of a cartridge were born. And these were already cartridges in our modern sense. That is, not just a set of jumpers, as in the case of Oddissey’, but full -fledged cartridges with a program recorded on them.
Console design is very interesting. Black box, with a tree design, which directly gives its style a strongly with its style and the first half of the 80s, which is generally not surprising. In front are the buttons: Reset, 1, 2, 3 and 4. They needed them to switch between games, if it was a lot of play, or for switching between play modes. On top of the console there was a department for controllers, I still can’t call it gamepads, which allowed the console to conveniently allowed the console. Interestingly, the cartridge slot is located here in front, it was done not just like that. Well, first of all, no one did the cartridge console before, Oddissey did not count, and no one knew how it would be more convenient, and secondly, all this was much like a tape recorder and audio or video cassette, because the cartridges themselves greatly resembled cassettes
All this was done for the convenience of users so that they would not get confused. Also cartridges, there were 26 of them, were numbered. This was done so that users have an incentive to collect them all.
What can I say about games? If you look at them now, then they may seem primitive to us, but then their diversity, compared with the consoles of the first generation, amazed. There were races, bowling, and playing the crosses of Noliki, a game where you need to fight aliens, and this game is very similar to Space Invaders. I will not list all the games, because we are still talking about consoles here, but about games to a lesser extent.
And here’s what you think, the console that was more powerful than any Pong console, and which offered a lot of various games that are not PONG’s, and the same Pong looks much better here, probably was super successful and popular. Nope. Not even near. From 1976 to 1983, 250 thousand were sold. things. While its direct competitor Atari 2600 diverged about 40 million. copies. There were several reasons for this. I think people simply did not completely understand that something fundamentally new came out. Surely they took her as another pong, albeit in color, and the price bites. Unfortunately, when people realized that this was no longer Pong, there was already 2600 on the market, which was much more technological, and had a more attractive price. The main success awaited her in Europe.
Europe is generally an abnormal region, some consoles, which were expected in the United States, have gained success here. And we will see this further.
Fairchild contribution was very big. If not for Channel F, then figs know when the industry began its rapid development and it would begin at all? In addition, such a technological leap, although users did not appreciate, but competitors fully appreciated. More specifically, one competitor to which we will go now.
After the release of his Pong in 1975, Atari We decided not to sit back, but began to develop a new console. To this end, they acquire Cyan Engineering. During the development of a new console, under the code name “Stela”, it was decided to use the microprocessor MOS 6507. They, like Fairchild, realized that this technology is the future and we need to move in this direction. The development was slow, the rate was not at speed, but on quality. But Ves’s sudden output greatly changed Atari plans.
It was necessary to forge iron so far hotly. Atari was afraid that the same thing would happen as in the case of Pong. After the VES release, many will want to snatch a piece of cake for themselves, and will massively trample consoles with microprocessors and cartridges. Time, and most importantly, the funds were not enough for the quick release of Stela. And therefore, in the same 1976, Warner Communications buys Atari and they have funds for quick finalization and release of Stela. The architecture of the console was improved, and a cartridge slot appears in the console to keep up with the competitor.
And finally, in 1977 a console called Video Computer System came out.
“Video Computer System, later renamed Atari 2600”
About the name. I think most of you know it under the name 2600, as in general and the rest of the world. As I mentioned earlier, renaming the consoles after the exit was not uncommon. But if, Ves was renamed Channel F a year later, actually due to VCS, they wanted to stand out, then Atari renamed their console 5 years after the release, and this was due to the release of their next console 5200. Thus, they wanted to standardize the names of their consoles. And it went down in history just like 2600, not VCS, although it was so called as many as 5 years. If the Xbox One is now changing the name, we will not stop calling it Xbox One. I hope you understand my thought.
In terms of technical characteristics, in comparison with Channel F, it was a real beast. A full -fledged audio processor. Now the console had a real sound, although very primitive, it was still better than the squeak of Channel F. RAM 128 bytes, which is 2 times more, and some games used as much as 256. Screen resolution 160×192. And as many as 128 colors, though she used only 8 colors at a time, but who cares.
Cartridges are now inserted from above and there are 6 switches next to the cartridges slot: power, type of TV, then black and white TVs were still common. The Game Select switch was responsible for choosing a game if there are several games on the cartridge, as well as many games were launched only when this switch is pressed. Well, why here is a reset switch, I think you can not explain.
The games came to a completely new level. If the vice -giving majority on Channel F is such that they can play even a console without a play. Chess, crosses of Noliki, Bowling. Then for 2600 games began to be released, which were taken to a new reality. Pacman, Asterids, Frogger, Adventure and even Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. These games are familiar with the average gamer and even if you did not play them, then you certainly heard about them somewhere.
A considerable number of 2600 games were ports from arcade machines. Arcade machines have already managed to go far ahead by this time and therefore on the consoles they looked much worse, but the fact that players could play arcade hits very much affected popularity. But she kept not only at arcade games. There were legendary games created specifically for the console, for example, Adventure dilogy and Pitfall dilogy. But everything was far from as rosy as it might seem at first glance. So far I will not touch this topic, let’s say, there are many games for 2600, a lot and not all of them were good. We’ll talk about this in more detail later.
Unlike Channel F, where the games were released with a small gap, 2600 games were released throughout the console life cycle. Mostly by the forces of Atari. The staff of programmers developed games, and then they were published by Atari. However, the profit from sales of video games was received by Atari. The developers got only a fee.
Well see, let’s say there is an atari developer. He developed the game and received a fee of 10 thousand $. Atari releases it, the game becomes a hit, sold in a large circulation, and brought a huge profit. But the developer remains with these 10 thousand., But Atari is already rowing money. In addition, it happened so that the name of the developer was not mentioned at all in the box, nor in the game, nor in the booklet. They also asked them a very short time and as a result of processing to the detriment of free time.
“Something like this worked out”
And at some point, and specifically in 1979, a group of programmers from Atari said: “Enough. You know what? We leave and will develop and sell games bypassing your slave conditions ourselves!”. And so the first independent studio developer appeared, the patrimony of Bobby Cat Activision. After that, the new studios began appeared one after another. Naturally atari, well, let’s say, I didn’t like it.
When the console only came out, she did not gain great fame and the attitude towards her was exactly the same as Channel F: “Another pong console, as a pancake is interesting,” but when people realized that it was much cooler than Pong’s, then success came to her. Attractive price, a large library of games and a huge variety of these games, made this console a real legend.
And this, with the exception of a couple of moments, so far everything that I can tell about her. If Channel F pushed the console for development, then 2600 developed them much further. No competitor of this generation could not only catch up with 2600, but even compare with it. Damn, even 5200 from the same Atari remained in the shadow of her older sister. And when we talk about the second generation, the first thing that comes to mind is 2600.
Such crazy success simply could not help but activate a bunch of competitors, and they flooded, straightened hard. And we’ll talk about two of these right now.
As we remember, all this began thanks to Ralph Baer and the company Magnavox, when Odyssey was released in 1972, but unfortunately she did not gain success. Since then, Magnovox has no longer made a huge contribution to the industry, but only tried to snatch a piece of pie. After the success of Pong from Atari, Magnovox began to produce a pong console in wagons. But Pong’s time has passed, they were replaced by a new generation console, and after success 2600 from the same Atari, they also decided to try his luck on the processor console field. So in 1978 came out Odyssey 2.
“Magnavox Odyssey 2”
In 1978, Odyssey 2 came out … in Europe. The thing is that Magnovox by that time was a subsidiary of Philips, and Philips is a European company, and therefore the launch occurred in Europe. By the way, in Europe it came out under the name Philips Videopack G700, or just Videopack.
I must say right away 666 Casino that its main success was in Europe. In America, she came out a year later, and at least any success was raped, but the buyers have 2600 and Intelevision, which I will talk about later, were priority. 2 million. copies of Odyssey 2 were eventually sold, which, you see, a little less than at Atari.
The circulation of Atari 2600, for its entire life cycle amounted to 40 million. copies
Technical characteristics:
-8-bit Intel 8040 processor;
-RAM 128 bytes;
-screen resolution 160×200;
-16 colors.
On design, it finally does not look like a piece of wood. Silver color and slot for cartridges from the top as in 2600. The main feature of Odyssey 2 was located below the cartridge slot – keyboard. It was used in several games and for simple programming. For this, a special cartridge was needed.
In games, but I cannot highlight something significant. There were not as many of them as 2600, and there are no loud names here. The graphics was a plus or minus the same as that of 2600.
But what Odyssey 2 cannot be taken away is that it was, if not the first, then one of the first consoles for which additional modules came out. There were 3 of them.
As you can understand from the name, this module was able to reproduce a voice in games.
Believe it or not, but the console computing power was not enough for artificial chess intelligence. The same module of computing power increased, which allowed to play chess with a computer opponent.
Turned the console into a full -fledged home computer.
Actually, this is all about Odyssey 2. Now for garlic, write in the comments who knew about this console before they saw this blog? Because I learned about her relatively recently, and it is not surprising. She had potential, but against the background of 2600 she passed almost imperceptibly, plus one of the problems of this generation manifested itself on it.
With Odyssey 2 finished, go to the console, which forced Atari to tickle with nerves.
In 1978 the company Mattel, Seeing the success of 2600 from Atari, they also decided to try his luck and began to develop their console. Moreover, they planned not only to make a profit in the new market for them, but to supplant Atari and take its place.
By the time their console is released Intellivision, 2600 has already firmly strengthened and dominated the market, and such ambitious plans, for example, Fairchild or Magnavox would be just ail. However, it was Mattel, and it was already seriously.
Mattel is a very famous and successful to this day a toy manufacturer, and even if you have not heard about Mattel, then you have exactly heard about their doll Barbie.
And in 1980, Intellivision appears on store shelves and Atari began to get nervous and that’s why
“Intellivision”
Processor: General Instrument CP 1610. 704 bytes of RAM. Resolution 160×196. 16 colors simultaneously on the screen (I somehow forgot to mention that 2600, although I had a 128-colored palette, could operate on the screen at the same time only 8 colors). And 3 sound channel.
Compared to 2600, it was an animal. In terms of technical and graphic characteristics, Intellivision left 2600 far behind. And that’s not all. A keyboard was supposed to be released, which could turn Intelevision into a full -fledged home computer. In addition, a printer and, attention, an adapter that would allow us to launch games from 2600!
That is, in theory you get two consoles plus a home computer at the price of one console. But as you understand by the fact that I used a subjunctive inclination, these additions never came out. In the case of complement by the launching games from 2600, Mattel was likely to be frightened by court lawsuits. The keyboard is even started, but after several tests it was recognized unreliable and costly, and production was folded. And since the opportunity to turn Intellivision into a computer disappeared, the printer disappeared as unnecessary.
Two other modules came out instead.
Allowed to download games. Download again … games! In the early 80s. Naturally, not via the Internet, due to the fact that the Internet then … was not, but on a cable network once a week. The one that in the early 80s could be played on the console without a cartridge is amazing. The Xbox Live remained before the launch of about 20 years ..
The second module called Intellivoice synthesized in the games, and unlike the Odyssey 2 voice module, there were games in which you can’t play without Intellivoice.
These devices stuck right into the cartridge slot.
And let’s talk about the design of the console. It looks impressive and even stylish. Controllers are inserted into the console itself, which makes Intellivision very convenient to transport. And even no heaps of buttons of switches and toggle switches. And where is the cartridge slot? On the side. Have you ever seen at all that the cartridge slot was on the side?
In the graphic plan, the games looked compared to 2600 incredibly technologically advanced and much more advanced. But how to convey it to ordinary users? Yes, just take and say it from TV screens and give examples.
Again, now this is impossible. Now this is done veiled, well, how in that video about how to convey the game to PS 4, who did not see google. Then to declare from TV screens that “our console is cool, but this console of bullshit” was absolutely normal. But the most aggressive war of the consoles was only ahead and about the war of Nintendo and Sega, we will talk later.
Now it is worth saying that such an advertising company in a compartment with the promised additional. Intillivision worked for the modules briskly and would be sold even better if not for the events of the ill -fated 1983. But until 1983, the console was sold by a circulation of about 3 million. copies that in 3 years is quite good for. However, Atari firmly held the market in its hands and therefore, sales of Intillivision did not take off since Mattel planned this.
Nevertheless, at Atari began to move, and their moves resulted in a new console about which right now.
So, after the release of Intillivision in Atari Strongly tensed. They saw their technological lag. And if not Mattel, then someone else will lead users from them. It was decided to urgently release a new console in order to compete on equal terms with Intillivision in technological terms. So was born 5200, and actually because of this VCS was renamed 2600. It’s funny that 5200 was originally created to compete with Intillivision, but in the end, Coolecovision was its main competitor.
MOS 6502C processor, which was slightly more powerful than the processor 2600. Screen resolution 320×192, 16 colors on the screen at a time. Memory 16 kb! At that time it was a lot.
The console itself was just a giant. Largely due to the opening door from the back.
And this console came out and … failed. Let’s start with the games. The games looked of course more technological than 2600, but basically they were a repetition of games from 2600, and there were very few of them. Plus, the inability to launch games from 2600 to 5200 was also met negatively. Although in 1983 the module launched the games from 2600, but everyone had already spit.
The connection to the TV was still hemorrhoids. At that time, all consoles were connected through the antenna cable, and almost every console was equipped with a switch between the console and the antenna. But at Atari decided that, they say, it is inconvenient. Therefore, the consoles were completed with such a box. Its idea was that when the console is turned on, the TV itself switches to the console. But they didn’t stop there. Atari cares about users very much, and poor users are very inconvenient when a bunch of wires are scattered on the floor. In general, 5200 is one wire, which combines both the antenna wire and food wire. This wire goes to the box and the cable and power cable are already coming from it. I repeat, it was done for convenience … and it was uncomfortable kapets. After all, the TV did not always stand close to a free outlet and had to move the TV, which was no longer a plus. In addition, this contraption was out of order. And not the ability to replace it with adequate methods of connection only poured oil. Later, of course, they understood their mistake and the next year they released the version of the console without this crap, but as I already told everyone it was already spitting.
If they return to the topic of failure, then here the advertising company worked, more precisely, its almost complete absence. It feels like Atari made 5200, launched it on the market, and then simply did not know what to do with it. Plus she overshadowed her … her older sister 2600, who by that time was sold at a very low price, well, the situation in the market was not so rainbow.
With one ended. We are probably moving to the most unusual console of this generation.
In 1980 the company General Consumer Electric began to develop their own console. But unlike the rest of the companies that wanted to tear off a piece of the pie, they understood that now there was just a little to make the console, we had to show off. Basically, the console of any generation uses a reservoir graphics. In the same console it was decided to use vector graphics. The vector graphics also used not a small number of arcade machines. And it is obvious that many of these arcade games pumped here. This console was originally conceived as a home arcade machine and the name it received the corresponding “Home Arcade”. But in the end it turned out that the name was busy. And after several changes in the names, she came out under the name Vectrex.
You have probably noticed a small appendage to her. At least at least that time, televisions could only display a raster image. And to the output of the vector image, a monochrome monitor was required, which was far from everyone. Therefore, the console was supplied together with the monitor united in one building. Vectrex was not cheap for her time, but this did not prevent her from selling very briskly. The unusual console has done its job. She still looks very unusual.
There was another problem left. The graphics were black and white, and the era of black and white home games had already passed. In addition, in some games, a flicker was noticed, which negatively acted on the eyes. Therefore, it was decided to use the overhead layers.
No-no, no, it was not like Odyssey. There were no overhead layers. Here, if desired, you can play without them. Each false layer went with his game.
As for the games, there are like your games made for Vectrex, but mostly there are ports from arcade machines.
At the beginning, Vectrex was sold out well, but later sales began to fall. The reason is the same, 2600. It was painfully dear Vectrex, but 2600 was very cheap. And there was already 83 years old. And before we move to it, we will consider the last console for today.
In the same 1982, suddenly the company Coleco releases his replio atari, Colecovision. But unlike most of these “competitors” Atari, Coleco were not newcomers. In the first generation, they have already released their pong console. So no matter what, but they had experience, that the console went to plus.
“Colecovision”
And what else went to her plus is the technical characteristics. Zilog ZZ80A processor, resolution 256×192, 16 colors, memory 16 KB, and 4 sound channels. It was just a monster. Thanks to such a filling, many arcade games on Colecovision looked almost the same as on the machine guns. In terms of technical characteristics, it was very similar to 5200, but unlike Atari, who threw their console on the shelves and did not know what to do with it, Coleco made sure that their console was bought. In particular, Coleco has concluded an agreement with Nintendo on the transfer of their Arcadian hit Donkey Kong to Colecovision. As a result of such cooperation, the consoles began to be equipped with Donkey Kong, which significantly affected sales, because many wanted to play this hit at home, and so that it looked right in the arcade halls.
I say it’s all just like that. This cooperation of Coleco and Nintendo we will recall. In the meantime, hold it in your head.
As for the rest of the games, then there were very few of them. Mostly there were ports from machine guns. But they acted very carefully. They did not contact those companies that had the rights to games that were published on the Atari consoles, but lured the rest. For example, Konami and Sega, whose machines were very successful. But that’s not all. Coleco had something else to increase sales, but before I tell about it, a few words about the appearance.
And you really get a few words, because this is the most typical view for the console of that time, very similar to Intillivision. Controllers resemble those in 5200 only without Start, Pace and Select buttons, and a hat flaunted on the joystick. In addition, there were windows for each button on the digital panel, which prevented finger slipping. Well, in the manner of Intillevision with each game included overlays on the dial panel.
Now about trump cards. Let’s move on to additional modules.
The converter that, attention, could launch games from 2600 on Colecovision. That is, not only they released the keyboard, they also did it, what was not enough for the eggs to make mattel. Do you know what is still funny? Atari could not do anything about it. 2600 consisted of public details and in theory anyone could collect his 2600 and send for sale without violating patents. Moreover, Coleco made a clone of 2600 and sold it! In Atari, they must have torn and threw it, because this is a huge damage. In the future, the developers of the gaming iron began to weaken to the filling of their consoles. The module was also planned that launches the games from Intillivision, but it was never released. Perhaps they were and were scared of court claims, because, for sure, to get around the patents as it would have not been possible, or maybe it was not released due to the crisis.
Steering wheel and pedal. Now it may seem banal, well, the steering wheel is the pedal, and what is the case? Now you can connect the steering wheel to almost any console, but then it was something new. The TURBO game was included with the steering wheel, but it worked with other racing games.
Keyboard. With this device, your Colecovision could turn into a full -fledged home computer.
All of the above gave the console a very powerful start and sales sales. Colecovision had huge potential. She had all the possibilities to remove Atari from Olympus and become a legend, but the trouble crept unnoticed ..
So, what is the “Crisis of the 1983 video game play”? And everything is simple. Home video game industry died. And nobody needs video games. But how did it happen? There were several factors.
First. And you probably already felt this factor. Too many consoles. Today we examined a lot of consoles, but in fact, I walked only by the most significant representatives, and the consoles themselves in this generation were much, much more. And at some point people are just confused. There are too many similar systems with similar games.
Second. The turnover was collected by homemade personal computers. They offered much more opportunities than consoles. In addition to what is possible on them, and the games were much more colorful than that of the consoles at first, you can also work for them. Actually, therefore, in the second generation, they so dreamed of turning a video game console into a PC. And some even succeeded.
But in fact, these factors are not as important as the next factor. After all, the consoles in the future will be, albeit not so large, but still a lot. And we can observe high competition with the PC and now. All this would not have interrupted users, if not for ..
Third. Games. The second -generation games were a big problem. It consisted in the fact that shitty and low -quality games prevailed on the market. At first, the inexperience of the programmers affected, because before that there were games where 2 sticks went and beat off the square. But even when the programmers were talked, bad games not only did not decrease, but even more. This is primarily due to the disgusting policy of Atari. After the Intillivision, sales 2600 began to fall, so Atari, in addition to the development of 5200, decided to reduce the price and sell 2600 at cost, but it was necessary to somehow make up for the loss. And Atari began to stamp games with tones. Thus, the profit from sales of games was supposed to cover a loss from the sale of the console. And it worked. Sales 2600 because of the low price took off, and accordingly the games were sold well. Other companies followed the same example. Games poured on the market as a river. But no one followed the quality of these games. The fact that the already small development periods became even less added problems that, as you understand, you did not benefit the final product. As a result in the market a bunch of mediocre and non -quality games. So not only did the companies produce shit, these are trifles, but also the Third Party developers eat. After Activision was formed, Atari began the trials with them. As a result, the court ruled that third -party developers now have the right to create their own games for consoles. And okay Activision, there were far from fools and their games came out good. The same Pitfall is considered one of the best games for 2600. But there was a bunch of developers who also decided to make money at the games.
The whole mountain of game studios opened and, unlike Activision, most of these studios did not have the idea of what they do. They just wanted to get money, without possessing skills or talent. It turns out that in addition to those shitty games that the companies produced the companies, and games from third -party developers also came. According to statistics, one good game was 5 bad, if not more, which was critical.
But the most funny is that it all worked. And even the worst game brought good profit. Why? Yes, because the games were still new. People gladly bought any games and were amazed at what progress came to. And since the pup is hawing, then the conveyor can be continued.
Imagine a bubble that is slowly filled with fecal masses. People just didn’t notice what they were fed. But someday something had to happen. Then what people would finally see. And this happened with the release of the infamous E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial. Many consider this particular game a causal crisis, but I don’t think so. No, the game was definitely bad, but it served only the catalyst to the fall, if not for her, then some other game would provoke a crisis.
“Cartridge with e.T. The Extra-Terrestrial “
And what is the matter? In the first half of 1982, the film “Alien” was released the original name, which, just, E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial. The film came out insanely successful, and still loved by many. And to get to your console playing such a successful film will be a real gold residential. This was what was engaged in Atari. After negotiations with Spielberg, they were given good to develop the game. But only some, shitty, 2 months. And in principle, you could get out and make some simple game, but Howard Warshaw, game developer, wanted to go further. Make a truly innovative game. And he could have succeeded, but … all the same, 2600 was already weak and had a burned out of its age, and it would be more logical to release the game at 5200, but we remember that even Atari herself did not spit on her, not to mention users. And another 2 months of development, which was insanely not enough.
And then the game was released in the Christmas period of 1982 and at first it was sold very well. I’m not going to make a review of this game, about it and so many videos and documentaries. I just say that in this game there were a lot of problems and errors, in general, this game can be called a mistake. I advise you to watch the vidos on the Internet about her, or even better, play yourself. Believe me, this is an unforgettable gamexpiriens, the benefit of emulators 2600 in bulk.
As I said, the game at first was sold well, and the reviews were trumpeted “10 out of 10!”. But even then Atari was not satisfied. They expected that the game would become meguspatic and would understand how hot pies. Millions of cartridges were shipped to the shops. And most of these cartridges, even with initial success, were not in demand.
And it happened! People began to return cartridges with this game to shops. And such an atari, no shops, well, did not expect at all, but it was only the beginning. The bubble burst. People finally saw that they were regularly fed shit. And after E. T. Other games began to return to stores, and then consoles. And it was just a disaster.
But why E. T.? Why exactly she provoked such a disaster? Games of that time were not as expected as games now. Just suddenly a game came out and people bought it, but that it was not very, maybe it was necessary. With e. T. There was another situation. This was one of the first games in the film license, and even such a successful film. And people were waiting for her. People expected that an equally awesome game should be released in such an awesome film, but it was, like most games of that time.
There was no limit to the disappointment of people in video games. Game companies began big problems. Game studios began to close one after another. Some such as Activision were able to escape by switching to the computer market. And many companies producing consoles eventually sunk into oblivion due to huge losses. Mattel closed their video game unit in the same way as Magnavox and Coleco. GCE generally went bankrupt. And only Atari somehow still kept afloat, and then in a very deplorable state.
And video games? And what about video games? They have not needed them nobody. Sales of consoles and games for them inexorably fell to the bottom. Over time, the games and consoles began to disappear from the stores, and instead more necessary things began to appear. Games not only did not need anyone, but they also began to look at them like something shameful and bad. If you, yes, you would say at that time that you like to play video games, you would have been raised to laughter, and perhaps the family would have refused you. There was a really bad time for games, and it seemed that the era of video games had come to an end. But one proud Japanese company managed to revive the industry and commit a revolution … But on this next time.
In general, it’s all for today. Thank you for reading this huge wall of the text, or watched the video. I prepared this material for a very long time and it is important for me that at least someone would see it.
Thank you for your attention!
I remind you that I am just a person and how all people can be mistaken. If you find some mistake, then point to it in the comments. Let’s not swear and we will be kinder to each other
I am madly apologizing for the second publication. Slightly confused in editing and accidentally deleted the original post (