E.T.: The Worst Game Ever Made

It was a chilly December night in 1982 when E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game came out. Gamers were excited to play, hoping to help the alien through tough screens and phone home. But, this game turned out to be one of the biggest failures in video game history.

The buzz around the E.T. game was huge. Atari paid a lot, $20-25 million, for the rights. Everyone thought it would be a top Christmas gift. But, as new games came out, orders got cancelled, and E.T. became a flop.

Key Takeaways

• The E.T. video game for the Atari 2600 is widely considered one of the worst games ever made.
• Atari rushed the game’s development, allowing the developer only five weeks to create it, leading to numerous gameplay issues.
• The game’s high production costs, overproduction, and lack of audience testing contributed to its commercial failure.
• E.T.’s poor reception was a major factor in the video game industry’s collapse in 1983.
• Atari’s response to the game’s failure, including burying unsold cartridges in a New Mexico landfill, became an infamous industry legend.

Introduction

In 1982, the video game world was buzzing with hits like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. Atari, Inc. wanted to ride this wave with a game based on the hit film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. But this move led to one of the worst video games ever made.

Overview of the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Video Game

The E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial game came out in 1982, soon after the film. Players had to help E.T. overcome challenges to gather pieces for his phone to call home. But the game was filled with problems that made it a disaster.

Infamous as the “Worst Game Ever Made”

The game became known as one of the worst ever made. It helped cause the 1983 video game crash. Critics panned it for its poor controls and confusing gameplay. It became a warning to game makers.

“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” was a highly anticipated video game adaptation that ultimately failed to deliver, becoming one of the most infamous and disastrous games ever made.

The Development of E.T. Atari 2600 Game

The E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game for the Atari 2600 was made under a lot of pressure. Howard Scott Warshaw, a famous game designer, led the project. He had less than 5 weeks to make the game for Christmas 1982.

Warshaw had to create the game’s design, gameplay, and challenges from scratch. Atari thought making a game from a film could make a lot of money. This made Warshaw and his team work very hard to meet the deadline.

Howard Scott Warshaw’s Role in the Game’s Creation

Howard Scott Warshaw was the main designer of the E.T. Atari 2600 game. He worked with a small team, including a graphics designer and a composer. They had to make the game quickly because of Atari’s tight schedule.

Time Constraints and Unrealistic Expectations from Atari

Atari wanted to make the E.T. game fast to cash in on the film’s success and release it for Christmas 1982. This meant the team had only 5 weeks to design, produce, and ship the game. This was much less time than usual.

Atari spent $22 million on the E.T. licence, which added a lot of pressure on the team. This led to a game that didn’t meet expectations, helping cause the video game crash of 1983.

Gameplay Issues in E.T. Video Game

The E.T. video game came out in 1982 for the Atari 2600. It was known for its poor gameplay mechanics. Despite being based on the popular film, players found the e.t. game gameplay disappointing.

The game’s main goal was to help E.T. through different screens to find pieces of an interplanetary phone. But, the e.t. game design flaws were clear from the start. Players faced constant challenges and got often stuck, making the game difficult to enjoy.

• Disorienting and maze-like level design
• Frequent instances of E.T. falling into pits, leading to frustrating restarts
• Lack of clear objectives and feedback, leaving players unsure of their progress
• Overly complex and unintuitive control schemes, making the game difficult to master

These e.t. game design flaws made the game one of the worst video game adaptations ever. The gameplay issues in e.t. video game ruined the fun for players. This led to a lot of criticism and the game’s sales dropped.

Why E.T. Game Failed

The E.T. video game, based on the beloved film, is often considered one of the worst games ever made. Its poor reception and failure came from many factors. These lessons are still important for the video game industry today.

Rushed Development and Unrealistic Expectations

The main reason for the E.T. game’s failure was its rushed development. Atari gave the game’s creator, Howard Scott Warshaw, just 5 weeks to make the game. This was much less time than the usual 6–8 months for a game in 1982.

This rush led to a game with many flaws and design problems. Players were left unhappy. In contrast, games like Raiders of the Lost Ark took their time to get the gameplay right. This shows how important it is to give games enough time to be tested and polished.

Oversaturation and Industry Crash

The E.T. game’s failure also hurt the whole industry. It sold 1.5 million copies, but had 4 million cartridges made. This meant there were too many games and not enough buyers. The focus on making more games than quality ones led to a massive decline in industry sales.

From $3.2 billion in 1983 to just $100 million in 1985, sales fell by 96%. This made people more careful about what games they bought. The industry’s overconfidence, inflation, and focus on quantity over quality led to this crash. The E.T. game is a lesson to everyone in the industry.

“The E.T. video game’s failure and the resulting industry crash serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of proper game development, testing, and market strategy. The lessons learned from this experience continue to shape the video game industry today.”

Critical Reception of E.T. Game

The E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game for the Atari 2600, released in 1982, is considered one of the worst video games ever made. Critics gave it bad reviews when it first came out. They said it had poor gameplay, confusing mechanics, and wasn’t fun to play.

Now, the E.T. game is often called “The Worst Game of All Time.” Its failure is seen as a big reason for the Video Game Crash of 1983. Millions of E.T. cartridges were buried in a New Mexico landfill, showing how bad the game was.

Today, many YouTube videos still criticize the E.T. game. This shows how it has affected gaming culture and opinions. Howard Scott Warshaw, the game’s developer, was at the landfill when they found all those unsold games. He talked about how the game was made too quickly, leading to its bad reviews.

“Playing the E.T. game was described as an ‘excruciatingly frustrating sort of fun’ due to its difficulty and repetitiveness.”

The E.T. game was different from other Atari games because it had multiscreen exploration and visible characters. But, these cool features didn’t save the game from being a failure. Players got frustrated with falling into pits and the game’s difficulty.

The critical reception of the E.T. game has made it one of the worst games in history. It warns us about the risks of making games too quickly and the problems of studio interference. The game’s failure and its effect on the industry are still talked about today.

Financial Impact of E.T. Game

The E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game, released in 1982 for the Atari 2600, had a big financial hit on its maker, Atari. Even though the film was a giant hit, the game didn’t do well. This led to many retailers cancelling their orders, leaving Atari with a huge amount of unsold games.

Sales Figures and Returns

Atari thought the E.T. game would sell a lot, paying $21 million for the rights. But the sales were much lower than expected. They made over 4 million copies, but only sold 1.5 million. Most of the rest were sent back by stores.

Atari’s Financial Losses

The failure of the E.T. game was a big financial blow for Atari. It was a key reason for the 1983 video game crash. Atari’s stock fell by 35% after the game came out. They needed to sell at least 5 million copies to break even, but they didn’t come close. This failure led to Atari’s downfall and almost ended the video game industry.

The story of the E.T. game teaches a lesson in the video game world. It shows how important careful planning, development, and market research are for success. Especially for games based on popular movies or characters.

Atari’s Response to E.T. Game Failure

After the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game failed, Atari quickly changed its plans. The game’s failure shook Atari’s leading spot in the gaming world. The company had to change how it marketed and distributed games to get back on track.

Revised Marketing Strategies

Atari knew it had to change its marketing after E.T. failed. It moved from big ads to targeted promotions to win back trust. The company focused more on showing off its game quality and innovation, not just big names like E.T.

Distributor Relationship Changes

The failure of the E.T. game also hit Atari’s distributors hard. Atari worked on improving its relationships with distributors. It offered better deals to make sure its games were always available and supported well. This move was key to controlling the supply chain and avoiding more unsold games.

Metric	Pre-E.T. Failure	Post-E.T. Failure
Atari’s Market Share	75%	Declined significantly
E.T. Game Sales	1.5 million units sold	Over 3 million unsold cartridges
Atari’s Annual Revenue	$3.2 billion (1982)	$100 million (1985)

Atari tried to adjust after the E.T. game failure, but it was too late. The company’s problems, along with others in the industry, led to the North American video game crash of 1983. This crash was a big setback for the gaming world.

E.T. Atari Landfill Story

The story of E.T. Atari cartridges buried in a New Mexico landfill was once thought to be a myth. But in 2014, it was proven true. A documentary crew found the truth about the E.T. Atari landfill, revealing the failure of a much-hyped video game.

The Buried Cartridges

In 1983, Atari made 4 million copies of the E.T. game, thinking it would be a hit. But it was a giant failure. Players found it too hard and frustrating. So, Atari buried the unsold cartridges in a New Mexico landfill to hide their loss.

The Landfill Excavation

For over 30 years, the story of the buried E.T. cartridges was just a legend. Then, in 2014, a documentary crew got permission to dig into the landfill. They found hundreds of E.T. cartridges and other Atari games. This showed how big Atari’s financial problems were and how many E.T. games were thrown away.

This excavation was big news for gamers and the gaming industry. It reminded everyone of the dangers of making games too quickly and not checking their quality. The E.T. Atari landfill story warns us about the risks in making video games based on movies.

Legacy of E.T. Video Game

The E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game for the Atari 2600 has a complex legacy. It is both a cautionary tale and a sign of the industry’s strength. Released in 1982, it is known as one of the worst video games ever made. This has had a lasting effect on the gaming world.

Influence on the Video Game Industry

The failure of the E.T. game led to the video game industry’s crash in the early 1980s. This caused a market overload and made players sceptical. It showed the risks of turning popular media into games and the problems of rushing game development.

The game’s issues, like its complex gameplay and quick five-week production, set a bad example. Yet, it also taught game developers to think more about making games. They learned to focus on the player’s experience and the need for a quality product.

E.T. as a Cautionary Tale

The E.T. video game warns the industry about the dangers of corporate meddling, high hopes, and not testing games enough. Its failure and the crash that followed made developers think hard. They started to make games that were more engaging and well-made.

Even though it’s infamous, the E.T. game has become a cult hit among gamers and historians. Its cartridges sell for over £20 on eBay. The game’s story is still talked about and studied, reminding the gaming world of its past and how it has changed.

Howard Scott Warshaw E.T. Game Interview Insights

Howard Scott Warshaw was tasked with making the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game for the Atari 2600 in just 5 weeks. He shares his insights on the game’s development and his thoughts on the criticism it got. Warshaw, known for hits like Yars’ Revenge and Raiders of the Lost Ark, talks about the challenges he faced and the impact of the E.T. game on the industry.

Warshaw’s Reflections on the Game’s Development and Legacy

Warshaw felt a lot of pressure from Atari to make a game based on the hit film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial quickly. Despite his past successes, the Atari 2600’s limits made it hard. He’s disappointed with the final game, seeing its flaws as major issues that made it one of the worst games ever.

Warshaw’s Perspective on the Game’s Criticism

Looking back, Warshaw sees the E.T. game’s problems as due to the pressures and limits he faced, not a lack of effort. He stresses the need to understand the early 1980s game development scene. With limited tech and a fast-changing industry, the E.T. game serves as a lesson. It shows the importance of careful planning and collaboration in game development.

“The E.T. game was not a reflection of my abilities as a game designer, but rather a product of the constraints and pressures I faced at the time. While it may be remembered as one of the worst games ever made, I hope that its legacy can also serve as a lesson in the importance of balancing creative vision with realistic development timelines and resources.” — Howard Scott Warshaw, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial game developer

Warshaw’s insights offer a profound look at the E.T. game’s development and its lasting impact. His reflections help us appreciate the video game industry’s growth and the lessons learned from its ups and downs.

Conclusion

The E.T. video game is a key moment in gaming history. It’s known for being one of the worst games ever made. Yet, it has had a big impact on the industry.

The game failed because it was rushed and poorly designed. It also had high expectations that weren’t met. This taught a big lesson about the risks of making games too quickly.

Today, the E.T. game’s mistakes help guide the video game industry. It shows the value of careful development and testing. It also highlights the need for games that are engaging and well-made.

The E.T. game’s story has deeply influenced gaming history. It tells us that making games fast isn’t always best. Instead, focusing on quality and investing in making great games is key.

Now, the E.T. game serves as a warning. It tells developers and publishers not to rush games without proper care. This approach can harm the game’s reception and the industry’s health.

Thanks to the E.T. game’s failure, the industry has become more thoughtful. It now focuses more on what players want. This has made the gaming world better and more sustainable for everyone.

FAQ

Source Links

Show links

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