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The search for ET

PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:30 pm
by acsi
This could be interesting.

rumoured 5 million cartridges. I wonder if they reused the cases and just dumped the pcb's etc?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/9910492/Unearthing-millions-of-1980s-video-game-cartridges

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:48 pm
by tezza
yes, I read this. It will be interesting. Kind of computer archaeology.

Next thing is to uncover that site where Apple buried all those Lisas for a tax writeoff :)

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:12 pm
by SpidersWeb
I can't wait to see what they find.

But I noticed on Wikipedia they said the items were crushed and then buried? I sort of hoped it was more of a 'drop it in the hole' kind of affair.

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:36 pm
by Gibsaw
SpidersWeb wrote:I can't wait to see what they find.

But I noticed on Wikipedia they said the items were crushed and then buried? I sort of hoped it was more of a 'drop it in the hole' kind of affair.

Don't landfills charge by the cubic metre? That would raise the probability of compacting. (at least to my judgement.)

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:31 pm
by mrad01
I have this cart. It is bad alright. My 2600 screams in terror everytime I (try to) play it.

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:40 pm
by RonTurner
mrad01 wrote:I have this cart. It is bad alright. My 2600 screams in terror everytime I (try to) play it.


It cant be worse than "freeway" can it ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPpPWE_vNA8

Gibsaw wrote:Don't landfills charge by the cubic metre? That would raise the probability of compacting. (at least to my judgement.)

I would have thought compactors are standard landfill equipment, but back in the early 80's I used to see tonnes of punch cards by the box
load at the local dump, and im pretty sure they didnt even have a compactor at that dump, just a bull dozer.

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:29 am
by SpidersWeb
The other thing that might give hope to finding something not completely wrecked - is the reports say the trucks ran at night.
If you're dumping that much stuff in to a landfill, at night, and quickly - there might not have been time to compact everything and bury it afterwards.

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:35 pm
by acsi
Well they exist and are in very good condition considering the length of time underground.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/04/26/e-t-atari-cartridge-landfill-excavation-uncovers-fabled-cache.aspx

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 9:16 pm
by tezza
Yes, I've been following this story. A great bit of American video game (crash) history!

Re: The search for ET

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:16 pm
by Carcenomy
Thanks Microsoft ;)

I love it when urban legends come true.