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The Worst Video Game Ever?

Season 4
June 26, 2019
Atari joy stick and game console.

Deep within the National Museum of American History’s vaults is a battered Atari case containing what’s known as “the worst video game of all time.” The game is E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and it was so bad that not even the might of Steven Spielberg could save it. It was so loathsome that all remaining copies were buried deep in the desert. And it was so horrible that it’s blamed for the collapse of the American home video game industry in the early 1980s. This time on Sidedoor, we tell the story of just what went SO wrong with E.T.

Transcript

Electronic Gaming in the Collections

Video Game Cartridge, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Atari BH-100, "Touch Me" Electronic Game

Magnavox Odyssey Video Game Unit, 1972

Maniac Electronic Game, 1979

Simon Electronic Game, 1978

Game Boy

Ralph Baer and Bill Harrison recreate their famous Ping Pong video game

Nintendo Entertainment System Video Game Console

Atari Playing Cards

GameFest: Video Games in Retrospect with Nolan Bushnell

The Gamer and the Video Game

This Man Invented the World's First Video Game Console

The Ultimate Video Game

Video Gaming with a Purpose: Meet a Smithsonian Museum Game Designer

The Art of Video Games: "Earthworm Jim" Exhibition Video

Commodore Amiga 500 Microcomputer

National Semiconductor Quiz Kid Racer, Electronic Game

Halo 2600

Simogo - Simulated Gameplay of Device 6

Electronic Gaming before Pong

Microcomputer Peripherals, Apple IIe Game Controllers

National Semiconductor Quiz Kid Speller, Electronic Game

ALPS Interactive PS Gamepad

Omar Electronic Backgammon Game

Invicta Electronic Master Mind Electronic Game

Computer Software, The Simpsons Virtual Springfield computer game for Windows 95 and Macintosh

Book, 101 BASIC Computer Games

National Semiconductor Quiz Kid Electronic Game

Coleco Digits Handheld Electronic Game

Mickey Mouse's School Book Handheld Electronic Calculator and Electronic Game

33c Video Games single

TV Game Unit #1, 1967

Video Game, Cartridge, Atari 2600, Asteroids

The Art of Video Games: "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past" Exhibition Video

Nintendo TL-28 Electronic Game, Turtle Bridge Game & Watch


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