Computer game
Atari
Category
Toys
Date
1981
Materials
Plastic, electrical wire and metal
Measurements
80 mm (width); 21 mm (depth); 97 mm (length)
Place of origin
California
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 671199.6.4
Summary
A 'Tennis' game, one of eleven game 'cartridges' made to be compatible with the 'ATARI' Video Computer System console. This game was released in 1981 by Activision for the ATARI 2600. In the game the player plays for one set of games in which the first to win six games wins the compotition, a different scoring system to it's real life conterpart. The game does not allow for an 'out of bounds shot', and the simplistic nature of the graphics, means the ball appears as a block instead of a sphere. The game is a black cartridge with a stuck on label with words and pictures.
Provenance
Bought by the donor in c.1980 for £100 and donated to the Museum of Childhood by Trevor Tarbox March 2012.
Marks and inscriptions
Label stuck on the front, and wrapped over to the bottom: 'ACTIVISION™ /PRESENTS / TENNIS / INTERNATIONAL EDITION / Conceived and designed by Alan Miller / For use with the Video Games System / manufactured by Atari, Inc.' Label stuck on the front, and wrapped over to the bottom: 'USE WITH JOYSTICK CONTROLLERS / FULL SPEED / GAME 1 / One player vs. / Activision computer / GAME 2: / Two players / SLOW MOTION / GAME 3: One player vs. / Activision computer / GAME 4: / Two players' Label stuck on the front, and wrapped over to the bottom: 'Audio Visual concept, label and program ©1981 ACTIVISION PAG-007' Label stuck on the front, and wrapped over to the bottom: 'TENNIS' On the back: "ACTIVISION"
Makers and roles
Atari , brand name