How ET Killed Atari

The video explores the rise and fall of Atari, focusing on the infamous ET video game. It begins with the success of the ET film and Atari's early achievements, including the creation of Pong. The narrative shifts to Spielberg's impact on genre filmmaking and the cultural significance of ET. The video then discusses the challenges faced by Atari with the Atari 2600 console and the development of the ET video game, which was a commercial failure. The 1983 video game market crash, known as the Atari shock, is examined, along with the urban legend of Atari dumping ET cartridges in a New Mexico landfill. The documentary 'Atari: Game Over' investigates this legend, confirming its truth.

What was the notorious reputation of the ET video game?

• It was the best-selling game of all time.

• It was considered the worst video game ever made.

• It was the first video game to win an award.

• It was the most expensive game to produce.

Who were the founders of Atari?

• Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak

• Bill Gates and Paul Allen

• Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney

• Larry Page and Sergey Brin

What was the first successful arcade game developed by Atari?

• Pong

• Pac-Man

• Space Invaders

• Donkey Kong

How did Steven Spielberg change the perception of genre filmmaking?

• By focusing on historical dramas

• By creating emotionally resonant stories with genre elements

• By making only animated films

• By avoiding science fiction themes

What was the original name of the Atari 2600 console?

• Atari PlayStation

• Atari Genesis

• Atari VCS

• Atari NES

Who was selected to program the ET video game?

• John Carmack

• Sid Meier

• Howard Scott Warshaw

• Shigeru Miyamoto

What was the main gameplay challenge in the ET video game?

• Defeating alien invaders

• Navigating fields without falling into potholes

• Building a spaceship

• Collecting coins

What major event in 1983 affected the video game industry?

• The invention of virtual reality

• The video game market crash

• The launch of the internet

• The release of the first PlayStation

What urban legend surrounded the ET video game cartridges?

• They were melted down to make new games

• They were buried in a New Mexico landfill

• They were sent to space

• They were given away for free

What was the outcome of the 2014 excavation of the New Mexico landfill?

• No cartridges were found

• Only a few cartridges were found

• ET cartridges were found at the bottom

• The landfill was empty