Jabba1

For all you video gamers out there, here's an opportunity to test your gaming knowledge. See how you fare in this little quiz.....



1: What company released the first video gaming console in 1971?


2: What console was the first to accept cartridge based software?


3: This video game was created at M.I.T. in 1960. It was released into the arcades in 1970 by the same man who later created the "Pong" games. Name both the game and the man.

4: This 1978 video game revolutionized the arcade gaming industry, name it.

5: This game was created by Eugene Jarvis and Larry DeMarr in 1979. It often created long lines in the arcades, name it.

6: "Pong" was test marketed at what California tavern.

7: Name the Japanese designer responsible for the "Mario Bros." games.

8: What company pioneered the use of "lightgun" technology?

9: This 1980's Japanese rpg was the bases for the "Resident Evil" games, name it.

Last, but certainly not least....

10: What event led to the demize of Atari corp as a major player in the console wars?

edwords

I'd rather play than answer questions.

Duncs

Ok lets see how nerdy i can be?

1. The Odyssey was released by Magnavox and designed by Ralph Baer.

2. The Channel F by Fairchild Camera & Instrument Video Entertainment System in 1976.

3. Spacewar designed by Steve Russell and made into an arcade machine by Nolan Bushnell.

4. Space invaders was imported from Taito in 1978 but Ataris Football had the revolutionary trackball controller. Ok not sure.

5. Defender.

6. Andy Capps, it broke down in 2 weeks.

7. Shigeru Miyamoto

8. Namco?

9. give up?

10. Ok not sure. Insider trading by Ray Kassar in 1983 did damage then in 1984 Warner Communications sold Atari to Jack Tramiel who switched to Computer production instead. They never really recovered after that.


Hmm well not a complete nerd then.

regards,

Duncan

Jabba1

Is that a another way of saying you don't know the answers?

edwords

I know most of the answers. I even got a Magnavox Odyssey system when it first came out. I've also interviewed Nolan Bushnell (not to mention Bill Gates, Michael Dell and many other tech industry leaders). But when I'm here, I'd rather play than work.

Jabba1

1: Close, it was the Odyssey 100. You forgot the 100.

2: Yep, I still have mine, and it still works! Video Wizball is one helluva game!

3: Right on! BTW, Bushnell also founded Chuck E Cheese Pizza Time Theatres. Just a little foot note; Bushnell changed the name of the game from "Spacewar" to "Computer Space". This may have thrown some gamers off.

4: The trackball controller was certainly revolutionary, but it was Space Invaders that stood the industry on it's ear. There were arcades in Japan that had nothing but Space Invader games. Games like Defender and Asteroids derived from the popularity of Space Invaders.

5: Yep!

6: It was indeed Andy Capp's! When Bushnell went to see why the game had broken down, he discovered that it had been stuffed full of quarters. Thus the first ever video game craze was born!

7: Yep, this one was easy.


8: Good guess! Wrong though, try again.

9: Before answering this, I'll give others a chance.


10: Nope! You seem to be missing the question just a bit. I was looking for a specific event which led to the company's downfall, rather than specific acts by any man or men.



All in all though, you're as big a nerd as any I've ever incountered.

Jabba1

Well then.....get back to work, you!!!

datcha

10: Is it cos Atari spunked all their money on the Jaguar console and it bombed massively? I'd still be writing music on my ol' ST today if they hadn't gone down the pan.


Cheers,
David.

Webbie

Hey my Commodore Amiga could wup your ST's ass anyday !

datcha

hehe I had my built-in MIDI ports and was more than happy =) Don't dare bash my Spectrum 48k tho!


Cheers,
David.

Webbie

Spekkie 48k ?!!
Don't make me bring out my BBC Micro !

(God how crap were these "computers ?!" I remember when we thought they were the dogs bollocks. My calcutator has more processing power than all of them put together !)

Jabba1

Good try, Dave!! But I'm sorry to say that's not the answer. The Jaguar, which was manufactured by IBM, was an attempted comeback by Atari which, as you so charmingly put it, "bombed massively".

Atari had already fallen from it's once lofty heights well before the Jaguar was released in the fall of 1993.

Oggie Oi!

I'll have a go - I believe it was when Atari lost exclusive rights to make cartridges for its own console, allowing competitors to flood the market with cheap games. Not only had Atari lost its monopoly on its own games, new machines like Intellivision were starting to take a share of the industry.

Or could it be when Atari invested a lot of money in the crappest game of all time - E.T. ? It was awful and I don't think they could give them away.

Jabba1

Ahh, your getting close now. The events you describe are all a part of an even larger event which heralded the fall of Atari. This event has a name, it is well known to all industry insiders and long time gamers alike. All I need is the name of this event. Your getting much closer.

Oggie Oi!

Didn't Atari also have a chance to buy Nintendo when it was still unknown in the US, but they cocked up the deal?