Jun
28

Sidedoor: The Worst Video Game Ever?

 

Graphic for Sidedoor Ep. 4.1

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.

Listen now.

Related posts:

Side by side composite of two bronzesICYMI: Highlights from the week of March 7 – 11, 2022 Detail of brick with "brick" written on itOur Smithsonian: Backyard archaeology Stock photo showing different silhouettes of peopleMy Name, My Story Five fascinating facts about Alexander Graham Bell that have nothing to do with the telephone

Posted: 28 June 2019
About the Author:

Jessica Sadeq has worked in the Central Office of Public Affairs since June 2007. She is the Marketing Manager for the Office of Communications and External Affairs.