Digital Eclipse’s Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration continues to expand with its second DLC, The First Console War, focusing on Atari’s historic rivalry with Intellivision. This DLC delves into the era when Mattel, then publishing games for Intellivision, ported several titles to the Atari 2600 under the M Network label. Releasing on November 8th for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4, this expansion promises a fascinating look at gaming history.
An Atari 2600+ sits on a table.
The M Network Legacy
This DLC brings 19 M Network games to Atari 50, some with names altered from their Intellivision counterparts. This historical crossover provides a unique opportunity to experience these often-overlooked titles. The inclusion of unreleased and prototype games adds another layer of intrigue for retro gaming enthusiasts.
More Than Just Games
The First Console War goes beyond simply offering playable games. It provides a rich historical context through new interviews with key figures, including M Network programmer Jane Terjung, game historians Leonard Herman and Mike Mika, and former Atari developers David Crane and Garry Kitchen. A new interactive timeline further enhances the historical narrative, mapping out this pivotal era in gaming.
Atari and Intellivision: From Rivals to Stablemates
Atari’s acquisition of Intellivision earlier this year marked the end of a long-standing rivalry and brought over 200 games under the Atari umbrella, including several M Network titles. This move signaled Atari’s commitment to preserving and potentially expanding upon this valuable catalog of classic games. The First Console War DLC represents a tangible step in that direction, showcasing the historical significance of the M Network games and the rivalry that spawned them.
A Deep Dive into Gaming History
The First Console War DLC offers a curated experience, blending gameplay with historical insights. The inclusion of interviews and the interactive timeline elevates this beyond a simple game compilation, creating a compelling exploration of early console wars and the evolution of the gaming industry.
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Trailer
The Complete Game List
The First Console War DLC includes the following games:
- Air Raiders: 2600 M Network
- Antbear: 2600 M Network (unreleased, based on Stern IP)
- Armor Ambush: 2600 M Network
- Astroblast: 2600 M Network
- Frogs & Flies: 2600 M Network
- International Soccer: 2600 M Network
- Dark Cavern: 2600 M Network
- Star Strike: 2600 M Network
- Super Challenge Baseball: 2600 M Network
- Super Challenge Football: 2600 M Network
- Swordfight: 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased)
- Sea Battle: 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased)
- Tower of Mystery (unreleased prototype, recently rescued)
- Video Pinball: 2600
- Basketball: 2600
- Hardball: Atari 8-bit (XE)
- Final Legacy (prototype): 5200
- Xari Arena: Atari 8-bit
- Desert Falcon: 7800
This diverse lineup showcases a range of genres and rarities, offering something for both seasoned Atari enthusiasts and those curious to explore a piece of gaming history.
