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Archive for Atari
Today is Atari National Pac-Man Day
Posted in Atari, pop culture, video games with tags Atari, Cavalcade Arcade, Pac-Man, pop culture, video games on April 3, 2014 by Paxton
It’s Atari National Pac-Man Day!
Posted in Pac-Man, pop culture with tags anniversary, Atari, Cavalcade Arcade, holiday, Pac-Man, pop culture, video games on April 3, 2013 by Paxton
Today marks the 31st annual Atari National Pac-Man Day.
Atari declared National Pac-Man Day on the day they released the Atari port of Pac-Man back on April 3, 1982.
(Via Sascha Grant)
Pac-Man was a cultural phenomenon in the early 80s. It was merchandised as thoroughly as anything is today. So on this most auspicious holiday think back on the Atari 2600 and the game of Pac-Man. Maybe head on over to an emulator site and play a game. Enjoy one of the first video games to become a global phenomenon.
Check out these other Pac-Man specific articles:
1. On Episode 77 of the Nerd Lunch Podcast we discuss the Atari 2600 and its games (including Pac-Man)
2. First Perfect Game of Pac-Man played back in 1999
3. America’s Love Affair with a man named Pac
4. Check out some Pac-Man photos in my Video Games Flickr set
Nerd Lunch Episode 77: Atari 2600 VCS retrospective
Posted in Activision, Atari, pop culture, video games with tags Activision, Atari, Cavalcade Arcade, Nerd Lunch Podcast, podcast, pop culture, video games on March 19, 2013 by Paxton
This week on the show CT abandons us so Jeeg and I invite The Retroist back for his second appearance and he brings along Vic Sage, one of the head writers on The Retroist blog, for his first appearance on the show. We bring in these retro experts to help us discuss one of the greatest gaming systems of all time, the Atari 2600 VCS.
We each talk about our own history with the system, then we discuss a bunch of our favorite and least favorite games. Yes, we even discuss our own views on the extremely controversial E.T. game. Also discussed in this episode are the Activision Master Gamer Badges, the Atari port of Pac-Man as well as the bootleg Atari Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween video games.
Download this episode from iTunes or listen to it on Feedburner.
Or listen to it online here.
Happy Atari National Pac-Man Day
Posted in Atari, Pac-Man, pop culture, video games with tags Atari, Cavalcade Arcade, Pac-Man, pop culture, video games on April 3, 2012 by Paxton
30 years ago today on April 3, 1982, Atari announced National Pac-Man Day.
National Pac-Man Day coincided with the release of Atari’s port of the Pac-Man arcade game.
Via John Mundy
Despite that game being one of the worst ports of a game ever created, it was the highest selling game of the year and received an enormous marketing push from Atari.
Above is an ad touting the popularity of Pac-Man and it includes pictures from Pac-Man release parties all over the world. Atari even held several Pac-Man Championships. Here’s an ad for the UK Championship.
Atari’s Pac-Man, along with E.T., probably killed not only Atari but the entire home console video game market. At least for 4 or 5 years until the Nintendo Entertainment System took off. Because, despite selling millions of Pac-Man cartridges (as well as E.T.), Atari had over estimated demand and made many, many more than was sold and they were left with tons of extra cartridges.
So, enjoy Atari National Pac-Man Day! One of the nerdiest holidays ever!
Other Pac-Man articles:
1. Anniversary of the 1st Perfect Game of Pac-Man
2. America’s Love Affair with a Man Named Pac
Only 5 More Days Until Atari National Pac-Man Day
Posted in Atari, Pac-Man, pop culture, video games with tags Atari, Cavalcade Arcade, Pac-Man, video games on March 29, 2012 by Paxton
Cavalcade of Awesome 