It certainly was a good idea to check out that "myth," huh?
For years, the rumor circulated that during the video game crash of the early '80s, Atari buried a ton of cartridges they couldn't sell in a New Mexico landfill. Well, a curious team excavated it last year and it resulted in the truth.
Hundreds of copies of old Atari games were recovered, including a lot of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial . Now, according to the latest update in the Alamogordo Daily News , those cartridges have generated over $100,000 in sales. The man behind the project, Joe Lewandowski, said 881 cartridges have been sold to date, raking in around $107,000. The most anyone paid for the game was a whopping $1,535.
And as a result, the city of Alamogordo has received $65,000 from these sales, which has drawn praise from city commissioner Nadia Sikes:
"I just want to take a moment to thank Joe Lewandowski for all the hard work. I wouldn't consider myself a real nay-sayer of what was going to transpire with the sale of the games but I have to say I am so impressed with what you've done. Under no circumstances did I ever think you were going to sell over $60,000 worth of games."
I don't think anyone could've predicted that, Nadia. As of now, there are still 297 cartridges remaining. Want one?
For one of the worst games ever made? No thanks!
Owning a little piece of video game history. A bad part of history, but history nonetheless. If I had the money I'd honestly probably go for one.
I'll give you a buck fitty for one!
The game is literal AND figurative garbage. Why are people paying money for it?
The game is literal AND figurative garbage. Why are people paying money for it?
For one of the worst games ever made? No thanks!
I'll give you a buck fitty for one!
Owning a little piece of video game history. A bad part of history, but history nonetheless. If I had the money I'd honestly probably go for one.