Swordquest, the Atrai 2600 competition that was never finished

[Blueskunky Blueskunky]

Way back in the day, before the Video Game Crash of 1983, was a multi media competition where players across the continental United States would complete puzzles through the game and the Swordquest comic that came with every copy sold, across four games, Earthworld, Fireworld, Waterworld, and Airworld, and the player that could solve the puzzle the fastest would be rewarded prizes made of literal 24 carrot gold... No, I'm not making this up, look at them for yourself

Unfortunately due the Video Game Crash of 1983 the last entry in the series (Airworld) was never released, along with the prize for the third game (Waterworld) never being sent to the winner, which is a big shame because after all four games were released and after the four winners have received their rewards, they would be flown out to Atari HQ to compete for the final prize... A 24 carrot gold sword valued at $50,000 that was actually MADE, mind you, MADE in REAL FREAKING LIFE

And is unfortunately lost to time itself, this photo I'm showing you, is the only photo I could find after surfing the web, and is most likely the only photo we will unfortunately ever have for the foreseeable future

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

It's kind of insane the prizes they were offering for essentially beating a videogame.

Makes you wonder just how much money went into Atari's vaults every month for them to do something like this.

It was definitely another age.

 

[DinoRexMax DinoRexMax]

We need to rob that Jack Tremel guy and get the sword back, uh, y'know...for gamers and stuff...

 

[Deleted member 913503]

Yeah but with the Atari collection they did finally make Air World and finished the quest.

 

[Isegrim]

As a child, I remember getting Earthworld for our 2600 and reading about those real life treasures. Our favorite game was Adventure and we hoped Earthworld was a grander version of the game. Sadly, it was just a bunch of strange puzzles clad in the skin of an adventure game. Worse, apparently there was some kind of regional distribution for the game. The ones sold in stores here did NOT have the Earthworld DC Comic included in the box which was vital for figuring out the clues to solve the game. What were they thinking? There was no way us kids were ever going to solve it since the clues were already considerably archaic and vague for adults who have the comic let alone kids who didn't have anything to go on.

Nevertheless, as a kid, I dreamt I could somehow win the chalice for Fireworld and donate it to our local church for Holy Mass. Sadly, Fireworld never reached our shores or at least, I never saw a copy of it, with or without the comic.

 

[ThatOneLum]

I always thought it would be cool to see these things all put in a gaming museum somewhere so we could all go and see them.

I remember hearing that rumour that Jack Tramiel used to have sword that no one won on the wall of his office and thinking that someone should break in and get it back for the gaming masses lmao.

In some ways I think it would be cool to see this sort of competition happening these days, but I think that knowing the modern games industry they'd find a way to ruin it for us.

 

[PhrawzT]

I remember the AVGN video where he talks all about the contest and plays through some of the games. I wish that more companies would try contests like that again.

 

[Deleted member 913503]

I remember the AVGN video where he talks all about the contest and plays through some of the games. I wish that more companies would try contests like that again.

Nintendo World Championship? Yeah that episode was golden. lol

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

Yeah but with the Atari collection they did finally make Air World and finished the quest.

Wait! Really? That's so fucking awesome!

Still not gonna play it, but kewl!

 

[Deleted member 913503]

Wait! Really? That's so fucking awesome!

Still not gonna play it, but kewl!

only thing is it's sort of only playable in the collection. As far as i know it's not playable on a real Atari 2600.

 

[Badseed Badseed]

The real winner was Jack Tramiel, he had kept the sword and the philosopher's stone
at his house.
At least this guy won the first prize.

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

only thing is it's sort of only playable in the collection. As far as i know it's not playable on a real Atari 2600.

That last part is kind of a slap on the face, but I'll take what I can get.

The ones sold in stores here did NOT have the Earthworld DC Comic included in the box which was vital for figuring out the clues to solve the game. What were they thinking?

Seriously, what the hell.