So they dug up that ET landfill.

[Bobinator]

Yeah, we all know the story, bad game, landfill, video game crash of North America, yadda yadda.

But then they dug it up. All the gritty details are in the link provided, but basically, yes, it turns out the whole thing wasn't a crazy urban legend.



So, yeah, myth unbusted. Thoughts?

[Shadowrunner]

I think it's pretty cool they found it after so many years. Really want to see the documentary when it's done!

We should also start seeing a whole bunch of ebay auctions for "recently dug up" Atari products 

[TrekMD]

I'm quite curious to see the documentary now!  Clearly, though, they found more than just ET in there! 

[retromod]

How many cartridges were found? The housings and pcb may be sold for about 10 dollars. As you may read within the book of curt there may be additional hardware dumped. May be atari 2600 housings which were produced and broken during transport? Is the landfill adventure over now or additional digging organized?

But why dump something if you are able to reuse it. Specially the game modules may be easily reused by removing sticker and reburn eprom with another title. And plastic over time does not vanish so what was the expectation it disappears by magical wonders? Finally it is a big pollution of nature.

[Scooter-Computer]

I know~! I was so excited about the FINDINGS yesterday! I went on youtube and devored the dozen of videos, even though most of them were just reactions, not really NEWS about the findings.  I hope we get more pics of MORE findings today!!!

[zapiy]

Amazing news and really looking forward to seeing more and more from this over the coming days and weeks.

[TL]

Lots of people are reporting that the "Atari Landfill Myth" was true when it wasn't. The myth is that Atari buried millions of E.T. cartridges in the New Mexico desert. The truth is exactly what Atari said it was all those years ago, random junk and unsold stock, including a number of different games.

It all matches what was described in Marty Goldberg and Curt Vendel's Atari book. One of the people from Atari who was responsible for the original burial was there, as well has Howard Scott Warshaw himself, and he saw it all and confirmed it was exactly what he said it was. There were a few E.T. cartridges but it was mostly other stuff. They took some carefully selected pictures to fuel the media but this is what they really found:

[zapiy]

I see plenty of gaming stuff in that image lol..

[Scooter-Computer]

I hope they find the Ark of the Covenant!
Raiders of the Lost Landfill!

[resident paul]

I wonder do the carts still work?

[TrekMD]

I wonder do the carts still work?

Wouldn't that be amazing!  Suddenly new collector's items! 

[TrekMD]

You may want to check out this thread over at VGF:  So, they've been found (Atari in the landfill).... One of the members, Mayhem, quoted someone who lives an hour from the site and personally went to check things out.  He posted his own version of the events, which is a cool read. 

[TL]

You may want to check out this thread over at VGF:  So, they've been found (Atari in the landfill).... One of the members, Mayhem, lives an hour from the site and personally went to check things out.  He posted his own version of the events, which is a cool read.

I can't read that. But if it's the same Mayhem as AA and RG then he lives near London 

[TrekMD]

I didn't realize the thread cannot be seen.  I fixed it.  Mayhem is quoting someone who attended.  He didn't go himself. 

[TrekMD]

Check this out...

[align=center:1h1gf7r6]Atari Landfill Dig CLOSEUP: E.T., Defender, Missile Command[/align:1h1gf7r6]

And here is what Mayhem was quoting:  http://atariage.com/forums/topic/66637-ataris-landfill-adventures-i-now-have-the-proof-its-true/?p=2978186