atari

The ET game that Atari came out with in 1982 is known as one of the biggest disasters in video game history. It was rushed into production because of the movie and it wasn't that great a game and it didn't sell well, forcing thousands of cartridges to be buried in landfill in New Mexico.

Here's the ad that introduced it at Christmastime.

(S02E05) I knew it! Others have thought video games were nothing but mind-numbing entertainment that produced a generation of nerds, dweebs, and creators of Red Bull. But they were more...much more. They were keys to, pardon the phrase, weapons of mass destruction. What dual roles have other video games had during their history? Space Invaders as the guide map for the invasion of Iraq? Pac-Man the secret plan to solve America's energy crisis? And...and...what about Grand Theft Auto? Okay, that's really mind-numbing entertainment. But, that's beside the point!

This is just further proof that you need to take your children's video game consoles and toss them into the deepest pit in the farthest land. Well, except for the Wii, because you can exercise and play games at the same time. Brilliant! And, hey, if your kids ask you where they should put their missile launch codes, tell them to place them in a shoe box under their beds. Just the way you did when you were their age.

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. Let's get on with this week's review.