Atari 2600 Air Raid box found

[Mitch]

So this one-of-a-kind-oh-my-God-rare-as-hell-never-before-seen-or-pictured game box is "discovered" on 4/1 and is discussed at length on AA.

Actually it was posted a couple days before the first, though I see your point.

Mitch

[AcePuppy]

If the creator of the game can be contacted to verify the name of the game, couldn't that individual also verify the legitimacy of the box?

I believe the person who verified the game (creator, designer, etc. can't remember where in the thread the title was said), stated it was verified a couple years ago. I'm sure they could with the box as well if someone can find him. However, there is no doubt in my mind this is real, being a former webdesigner I don't see anything fake in those pictures. :/

[DreamTR]

I don't know why the creator is not interviewed more in this. People don't have a CLUE about MEN-A-VISION.

[ProgrammingAce]

Yeah, i keep hearing that there was an interview with someone involved with men-a-vision. If we know who made the game, why don't we ask him?

[Callin]

If it was the same guy who claimed to have found an Air Raid box years ago, then I think it's because he stopped responding to emails.

[Queen Of The Felines]

I'm calling real too and if it is then what rare games for the 2600 still need boxes to be found for them?

Was a box for Eli's Ladder found?

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Yeah, i keep hearing that there was an interview with someone involved with men-a-vision. If we know who made the game, why don't we ask him?

This would answer a lot of questions. I often wonder why more classic game developers aren't members of classic game message boards.

[PingvinBlueJeans]

Was a box for Eli's Ladder found?

It wasn't sold with one. CPUWIZ at AtariAge did make a mock-up box for it at one point (as he did with the MagiCard).

I often wonder why more classic game developers aren't members of classic game message boards.

Because too many posters on classic game message boards are lunatics.

[DreamTR]

It wasn't sold with one. CPUWIZ at AtariAge did make a mock-up box for it at one point (as he did with the MagiCard).


Because too many posters on classic game message boards are lunatics.

Exactly. And when people try to bring out something new to the community, they get chastised for it. See Messiah and Rob Fulop.

[Emperor Megas]

I often wonder why more classic game developers aren't members of classic game message boards.

Gaming forums are full of freaks, for one thing. And just because they developed video games almost 2 generations ago doesn't mean they have a social interest in it. I know that I wouldn't be jumping at the chance to argue with a bunch of nerds and fanboys about what I did for a living 30+ years ago.

[Zap!]

If the creator of the game can be contacted to verify the name of the game, couldn't that individual also verify the legitimacy of the box?

I believe the person who verified the game (creator, designer, etc. can't remember where in the thread the title was said), stated it was verified a couple years ago. I'm sure they could with the box as well if someone can find him. However, there is no doubt in my mind this is real, being a former webdesigner I don't see anything fake in those pictures. :/

I don't know why the creator is not interviewed more in this. People don't have a CLUE about MEN-A-VISION.

The creator of the game is unknown, and has never been found. It has been called "Air Raid" since 1991, and is basically a hack of Space Jockey. when someone in The 2600 Connection newsletter stated he seen it in box. Another person one Usenet in 1995 also confirmed this. However, neither offered pictures. There are also some discrepancies in their descriptions and this box. For one, it doesn't open like a book, as the person in 1991 claimed.

[Greg2600]

I wonder, is it proper to consider the game an actual Atari 2600 game, or simply a hack/homebrew 10 years before those became commonplace?

[PingvinBlueJeans]

I wonder, is it proper to consider the game an actual Atari 2600 game, or simply a hack/homebrew 10 years before those became commonplace?

That's a good point, but a lot of games were hacks (see games by Puzzy/Bit Corp, ZiMag, Panda, Froggo, etc).

There were a few other titles released back then (Birthday Mania, Gamma-Attack, Red Sea Crossing) which were basically homebrews. While those at least were original games, Air Raid is a hack. But regardless, Air Raid was sold with a box, in actual stores, and was distributed by a 'corporation' (in theory, at least). Those earlier titles I mentioned were programmed by individuals working out of their homes and sold via mail order. Even still, they're just as legitimate anything else. I suppose it's all subjective in the end and people can draw lines wherever they like.

[tom]

I wonder why people even thought it's not an original box. Hello, did you guys feel the same about Stadium Events, maybe THAT was a selfmade box.

[Zap!]

I wonder, is it proper to consider the game an actual Atari 2600 game, or simply a hack/homebrew 10 years before those became commonplace?

That was discussed on Atari Age in this thread a couple of years ago. The guy who started the topic threw out the possibility the whole thing may have been a hoax, with the homebrew programmer scattering a bunch around the nation to thrift shops in the 90's. I think this is more of a possibility than it being a mail-order homebrew, because no one has yet seen an ad for it.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I wonder why people even thought it's not an original box. Hello, did you guys feel the same about Stadium Events, maybe THAT was a selfmade box.

I think because there is no known box to compare it to. There are known sealed Stadium Events, so comparisons can be made to an actual product to verify authenticity if need be. That and the dubious origins of "Air Raid." No one seems to agree if it was a retail release, a homebrew, the actual name of the game, or anything about the company. I knew little about the game before the box surfaced, and after reading through this thread I'm more confused than ever.

[skaar]

I think this game needs more butter monster.

[Zap!]

you might want to flood that page with Google ads.

It's got 345 views in it's first three days, not bad.

http://www.men-a-vision.com/

[Gameguy]

I wonder why people even thought it's not an original box. Hello, did you guys feel the same about Stadium Events, maybe THAT was a selfmade box.

The Air Raid box was announced just before April Fools day by a new member with few posts, on a site that regularly does over-the-top April Fools day pranks that are similar in nature. Why would you be surprised about some people having doubts?

The owner of the box should have waited at least a week past April Fools day to post anything about it.

[Greg2600]

That was discussed on Atari Age in this thread a couple of years ago. The guy who started the topic threw out the possibility the whole thing may have been a hoax, with the homebrew programmer scattering a bunch around the nation to thrift shops in the 90's. I think this is more of a possibility than it being a mail-order homebrew, because no one has yet seen an ad for it.

Interesting, I'm just surprised that the game was "given" a title in 1991. Even though the box lists a copyright of 1982. What's more, there was that letter to the editor in 1992 Atari 2600 connection describing the box and game. And supposedly that reader died 2 years ago. Even though this box doesn't appear to be a "gatefold" as the reader described, Albert of AA saw it himself and his word is gold for me. I won't be bidding though. Then again, I think the ebay account is Albert's? If the game was indeed produced during the system's original life cycle, especially as early as '82, it has the same validity as unauthorized games like Halloween or Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Not sure if its worth tens of thousands though.