Ballblaɀer

Next up, one sorta-rare label variation, and one super-rare variation: Two re-releases by Atari Corp., where instead of re-using the old silver label design with plaintext white titles (like most of their other re-releases), they utilized logotype titles above the artwork, "borrowed" from existing instruction manuals. For example, here's the original Swordquest: EarthWorld manual (image from museumofplay.org): The original silver Atari Inc. version next to the Atari Corp. re-release: Note that the Atari Corp. release invites you to "Use with Joystick Controllers" even though SQ: EarthWorld is strictly a one-player game. Now, why this game was re-released AT ALL is, to me, an inexplicable mystery. For one thing, it's... just not that good of a game. For another thing, the EarthWorld contest (i.e. the *point* of playing the game) was proverbial ancient history by 1986. And to top it off, the game was re-released WITHOUT THE ACCOMPANYING COMIC BOOK, effectively rendering the gameplay completely meaningless. Dropping random items in random rooms to get numerical clues that match up with... nothing?! Doesn't that sound like FUN, kids? Getting back to the cartridge label design, Atari Corp. seemed to do this a lot with their re-releases (use the game manual as the basis for the cartridge artwork). Most of the time, there was hardly a difference -- the artwork on regular picture labels was sometimes extended outside the picture's border, but that was often the extent of it. Here's the original 1981 Atari Inc. picture label release of Basketball next to the 1988 Atari Corp. re-release: Check out that sweet 1988 artwork, it's like the ball is coming right out of the cartridge at you! Basketball, NOW IN 3D!!! Okay, not really. My absolute favorite instance of Atari Corp. using the instruction manual as the basis for their re-release artwork, however, is Pelé's Soccer from 1986/1987: Hilarious -- where it usually says something like "Use with Joystick Controllers" it now says "Atari Game Program Instructions". Why? It's on the game manual (image from atariguide.com): So yeah, Atari Corp. lifted the "Atari Game Program Instructions" text straight from their manual design, same font and everything! I like to imagine that there had to be at least one special kid out there, who, upon looking at their new cartridge for the first time in 1986, wondered how on earth they would possibly plug the game instructions into the console. As for good ol' "RAIDERS LOST ARK", the end label typo is just amazing. Right up there with Pole Positn, I think: And perhaps it's just me, but there's something about those fonts that just *screams* counterfeit/pirate/bootleg to me, especially RAIDERS. Like... they seem to sorta have the same styling/feel as a lot of "Engrish" on knock-off toy packaging/manuals from China, or something. Whatever, it all just adds to their charm and the Atari lore, in my mind!

Yeah, that's almost certainly the correct explanation... I just wonder why these four games in particular. It either has to do with timing of the releases, or the fact that they're all sports titles, or... some other factor I'm not immediately coming up with!

Let's look at some more unusual cartridges! Starting off with... the French-Canadian versions of four Activision games. Funnily enough, they're four sports titles that any French-speaking citizen would understand WITHOUT the translation: "Sacre bleu! 'Tennis'? What ze hell ees zis 'Tennis'?!" *pulls out French-Canadian version of game* "AHHHH, 'LE Tennis'! But of course!" Seriously, someone explain this to me. These are the only four titles with translations as far as I'm aware. Hope to replace these with ones in better condition someday, but *standard* Activision games can sometimes be hard to find in good shape!

I got the lamp (yes, I love lamp!) as a Christmas gift some years ago, but I believe it came from ThinkGeek: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f034/

AtariBrian filled a gap in my collection with Alpha Beam... and also provided a nice upgrade to my copy of Solaris! Games on complete opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of complexity...

Package from nosweargamer is in! Speaking of fun with numbers... getting a copy of Secret Quest means one more SARA Superchip game crossed off my list: Cartridges with the Superchip weigh a fraction of an ounce more than most Atari cartridges -- for example: And since we're weighing things, why not: Thanks again!

Currently available for sale: Boxes have various levels of wear. A few have some staining. A couple have a bit of a cigarette-y smell. Most are in decent shape, however, and all are CIB except Basketball, Pigs in Space, and Strawberry Shortcake, which are missing manuals. I'll happily take additional photos of anything you're interested in. Taking all reasonable offers! Or, make a list of what you're interested in and I can send you a quote.

My wanted list (first post in this thread) has been updated -- thanks to trades, finds in local shops, and a few eBay buys in the last week I've managed to cross off a fair amount missing from my collection... even a few scarce titles. I've also updated my trade/sale list with a handful of new 2600 games, and a couple of 5200 games. If there's something I have that you want for your collection, PM me or post here -- hopefully we can work something out!

Next up... some unusual cartridges in my 2600 collection. Since I'm still working on my "regular" 2600 collection I haven't focused all that much on picking up oddities, but I have managed to score a few noteworthy things. My favorite example: You ever have those dreams where things are mostly normal but something seems a little off -- like you're back in your old high school, but the hallways and stairwells don't connect like they should and generally make no sense? That's how seeing these cartridges released by Atari Monaco (New Zealand) makes me feel. Like... Berzerk and Defender existing in the silver/gray style is just a tad unsettling to me, somehow! Or perhaps I'm just weird. Scratch that, I know I'm weird, but you know what I'm saying, hopefully. You may have noticed a few additional peculiarities in the first photo, but if not... here's a regular Atari Inc. (USA) Centipede on the left, and an Atari Monaco (NZ) Centipede on the right: To sum things up: the labels 1) have rounded corners that don't quite fit the shells, 2) are on upside-down compared to "regular" cartridges, and 3) look more like the later Atari Corp. gray labels than the Atari Inc. silver labels. The end labels for Defender and Berzerk are also unusual in that they're in the silver/gray cartridge style font: I'm hoping to eventually have some more of these -- there are at least six more titles with silver-style labeling that weren't released in the rest of the world (unless you count some of the Brazilian Polyvox releases, which I don't think look nearly as nice).

I'm gonna pass, but if you have an updated trade list please let me know, I'd love to take a look!

Yes -- same game. Basic Math was one of the original nine gatefold-box releases -- i.e. "61 Basic Math". I'm pretty sure the re-titling to Fun With Numbers occurred in 1980, about the same time as the title change for "Hunt and Score" (which became "A Game of Concentration"). They first appear in the Rev. D 1980 Atari catalog, I'm pretty sure. Why were they renamed? I can only assume the marketing department decided that including words like "Fun" and "A Game" in the titles might generate a few more sales. "Fun With Numbers" in a toy store might fool a kid (or parent!) into think it's actually a fun title, whereas... a title like "Basic Math" is as bland (but accurate!) as can be.

That sounds great. Photos of the four: PM me with your address -- I can send as soon as tomorrow!

Awesome! I see lots I'd love to steal for myself get a closer look at!

@nosweargamer -- absolutely interested in trading for Secret Quest loose and Gravitar loose. Ikari Warriors... maybe. Depends on what you want for it, I suppose! Have a look at my list and let me know if anything interests you.

Hmm. I have the smaller 2600 Trak-Ball, the CX-80... so I think I'm gonna pass on the CX-22 for now. That said, if you need any of my extra 5200 carts I can certainly put them aside for you. I'm not in a big hurry to eBay them or anything!

I'm interested in seeing photos of Gravitar (Red), Secret Quest, and Ikari Warriors CIB. Generally I try to avoid buying boxes, but when the price is right and I feel like it's a box I could sell/trade as a standalone, I'll at least consider it! Send me a photo or three? And see what looks interesting to you from my trade list. Hopefully we can work something out!

Procured the 2800 direct from Japan. No box, manual, or anything else came with it unfortunately. I'd like to eventually get my hands on one or two of the Atari 2800 game box and/or manual releases, just as a little added color (the cartridges themselves are indistinct from standard release games). I mean, take a look at this sweet/unique/weird Air-Sea Battle box: That is somehow both SO ATARI and SO JAPAN at the same time, it's amazing. I must find one! @Clint Thompson -- I do have a Flickr, but there are no other game-related photos there... yet. I'll probably publish an album of everything I post here, though, so I'll send a link when it's ready.

...I figure I'll start things off with a bang. Behold! I love, love, love my 2800. Everything about it! Don't get me wrong, I love a woodgrain sixer like anyone else, but there's just something about this thing that grabs me by the shoulders and demands my attention: It's got a great overall look, but there's also the little things, like the Atari plates on the controllers: Got a 4-player game? Got you covered: Sure, I can't play Space Shuttle on it very easily: And I do wonder why my controllers weren't manufactured at the same time the console was made: I mean, is it a Sears Video Arcade II with different plates? Well, yeah. But regardless -- this is beautiful technology to me, and it's easy for me to see why they modeled the 7800 on this design. More to come!

Indeed -- I believe you mentioned this one to me in our PMs on AA. I think I'd rather avoid a trade for JUST this, because the cost to ship it to me would be something like 10x what the game itself is worth (in my mind, anyway)! That said, I'm *positive* you'll have something else I want soon enough, if not already. We can build a trade -- we have the technology!

I need cartridges! The looser the better! Trades are preferred (link to my trade list in the Trading Post forum), but sales offers are always considered, too. Ballblaɀer's Wanted List -- Google Spreadsheet

Edit: see my trade list over in this other thread.