About the Game
History
How to Play
Geneology
Links

Original Release
Atari 8-Bits

Picture Galleries
Coming Soon

Screenshot Galleries
Title
Parts List
Phone Piece
Pursuit
E.T. on the Run!

Audio Clip Galleries
Title

Help E.T. Get Home Again (Again)

In 1982, Atari released a game based on the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for the Atari 2600. The game was met with overwhelming confusion and hatred, and is considered by many to be the first step toward the massive video game industry crash two years later.

This is not that game.

The following year, Atari quietly offered a new E.T. game for their home computers, E.T. Phone Home! The plots of both games are similar: E.T. must build the world's greatest long-distance telephone, make a call to his people, and then catch a ride on a space ship, all while scientists and other government busybodies are in hot pursuit. Friend Elliot plays a more prominent role in this game, now responsible for collecting the pieces E.T. needs to build his phone. Once the phone is assembled and E.T. has made contact, it is then up to E.T. to reach the landing site in the forest, where he will be whisked home again.

The computer game has a bigger world to explore than its 2600 companion, and nicer graphics to represent that world. With mere Earthling Elliot getting most of the attention, there is less chance for players to get confused over how to use E.T.'s powers, though reading the manual is still essential to learning how to play! Generally the game enjoyed more positive reviews and a whole lot less wrath than the console game, but ironically this means it wasn't as memorable either. Today, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial still keeps a prominent place in video game history, while E.T. Phone Home! has faded into obscurity.