Birthday Mania (found rare Atari 2600 game; 1984): Difference between revisions
m (Kobochat moved page Birthday Mania (lost rare Atari 2600 game; 1984) to Birthday Mania (lost Atari 2600 game; 1984): the first title is always the wisest, or something) |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
|status = <span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |status = <span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Birthday Mania''''' is an Atari 2600 game developed in 1984 by a young programmer named Anthony Tokar. The game itself never had any commercial release, but instead advertised in the ''Newark Star Ledger'' newspaper. Consumers would mail a check to Tokar and would receive the game personalized with their name on the title screen. The game featured many birthday-themed activities including blowing out birthday candles and popping balloons.<ref>[http://www.retrogamescollector.com/weird-and-rare-birthday-mania-atari-2600/ Retro Games Collecteor article that appears to be the most credible source on the subject.] Retrieved | '''''Birthday Mania''''' is an Atari 2600 game developed in 1984 by a young programmer named Anthony Tokar. The game itself never had any commercial release, but instead advertised in the ''Newark Star Ledger'' newspaper. Consumers would mail a check to Tokar and would receive the game personalized with their name on the title screen. The game featured many birthday-themed activities including blowing out birthday candles and popping balloons.<ref>[http://www.retrogamescollector.com/weird-and-rare-birthday-mania-atari-2600/ Retro Games Collecteor article that appears to be the most credible source on the subject.] Retrieved 07 Mar '18</ref> | ||
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
The game itself only sold somewhere from 10 to 15 copies, only one of which has been found and verified by Atari collector Jerry Grainer. It is likely that these low sales were partly due to the North American video game market experiencing a severe decline from 1983 to 1985, an event referred to as the"Great Video Game Crash." Another more obvious reason for its rarity could be the fact that it had no commercial release. In 2009, a copy of the game surfaced and was put up for sale, with the highest known offer being $6,500. Though the offer was turned down by the seller. The game today is believed to be worth anywhere between $15,000 and $35,000.<ref>[http://atariage.com/forums/topic/204909-birthday-mania-unwrapped/page-1 AtariAge forum thread on the game.] | The game itself only sold somewhere from 10 to 15 copies, only one of which has been found and verified by Atari collector Jerry Grainer. It is likely that these low sales were partly due to the North American video game market experiencing a severe decline from 1983 to 1985, an event referred to as the"Great Video Game Crash." Another more obvious reason for its rarity could be the fact that it had no commercial release. In 2009, a copy of the game surfaced and was put up for sale, with the highest known offer being $6,500. Though the offer was turned down by the seller. The game today is believed to be worth anywhere between $15,000 and $35,000.<ref>[http://atariage.com/forums/topic/204909-birthday-mania-unwrapped/page-1 AtariAge forum thread on the game.] Retrieved 07 Mar '18</ref> | ||
==Resurfaced Footage== | ==Resurfaced Footage== | ||
On November | On November 16th, 2015, YouTube user Trevgauntlet uploaded a high-quality video of gameplay from ''Birthday Mania'' being played on the Stella emulator. According to the YouTube user, the footage is taken from a man named Thomas Jentzsch, though the ROM he owns has not been leaked online. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
|description2 =A video discussing about the video game's origins. Courtesy of Evil Pixel. | |description2 =A video discussing about the video game's origins. Courtesy of Evil Pixel. | ||
}} | }} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Lost video games]] | [[Category:Lost video games]] | ||
Revision as of 14:54, 28 May 2019
The first screenshot of the game to appear online.
Status: Lost
Birthday Mania is an Atari 2600 game developed in 1984 by a young programmer named Anthony Tokar. The game itself never had any commercial release, but instead advertised in the Newark Star Ledger newspaper. Consumers would mail a check to Tokar and would receive the game personalized with their name on the title screen. The game featured many birthday-themed activities including blowing out birthday candles and popping balloons.[1]
Availability
The game itself only sold somewhere from 10 to 15 copies, only one of which has been found and verified by Atari collector Jerry Grainer. It is likely that these low sales were partly due to the North American video game market experiencing a severe decline from 1983 to 1985, an event referred to as the"Great Video Game Crash." Another more obvious reason for its rarity could be the fact that it had no commercial release. In 2009, a copy of the game surfaced and was put up for sale, with the highest known offer being $6,500. Though the offer was turned down by the seller. The game today is believed to be worth anywhere between $15,000 and $35,000.[2]
Resurfaced Footage
On November 16th, 2015, YouTube user Trevgauntlet uploaded a high-quality video of gameplay from Birthday Mania being played on the Stella emulator. According to the YouTube user, the footage is taken from a man named Thomas Jentzsch, though the ROM he owns has not been leaked online.
Gallery
References
- ↑ Retro Games Collecteor article that appears to be the most credible source on the subject. Retrieved 07 Mar '18
- ↑ AtariAge forum thread on the game. Retrieved 07 Mar '18