Breaking: E.T. Atari Cart Landfill Legend

Instant Karma Got Atari

There are tons of posts from other bloggers on the web that talk about the infamous "worst-game-ever" from former king-of-the-hill game-maker, Atari, so I'll spare you the personal experiences this time. 

Here's the brief: Around Christmas '82, Atari released a rushed E.T. game for their 2600 home system. The game blew so it stopped selling and the company was left with tons of unsold inventory on their embarrassed hands. About a year later the media reported that Atari would be dumping 14 truckloads of games and other gear into a landfill somewhere in New Mexico so that they could write off the loss. Of course, rumors immediately sprang up speculating that thousands of leftover E.T. carts were part of the burial. Not too long after this incident, the entire video-game market crashed hard and of course, people eventually began to point to the shamefully horrible E.T. game as one of the many nails in the Atari coffin.

But now, today in fact (April 26, 2014), this enduring mystery may finally be solved. A group of filmmakers are currently in New Mexico digging up the infamous site in hopes to finally get an answer to this 30 year-old legend.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE STORY AT THE GUARDIAN

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UPDATE: E.T. CARTS FOUND!! WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW!

Pac 'yer buckaroos, retrogeek style

Next time you travel back to the future—or just to an 80's theme party—complete your bitchin' retro fashion ensemble with the ultimate retro billfold.

We'll assume you're already decked out in the aforementioned 8-bit sunglasses and Casio calculator watch, and are clad in a denim jacket with your favorite band painted on the back. Maybe some kind of vaguely mullety hairdo... I digress.

When it's time to pay for your drink—we'll assume you ordered cherry 7up cuz that shit is outrageous—whip out your hardshell cash protector. The ladies swoon:

Is that a 2600 cartridge in your pocket, or are you just a major retro geek?