Save Mary

a.k.a. Saving Mary

published by Atari / Video 61 in 1990, developed by Atari / Axlon, running on Atari 2600 VCS

This game has not passed the prototype stage.

type: puzzle, action/reflex
perspective: side view
player options: single player

other: Prototype
languages: eng

Description

CX26178. This prototype cartridge was not published by Atari in 1990. But it was published later by Video 61. Then in 2005 it was published again with the flashback Atari Flashback 2.0
Had this game been released it may have permanently saved Tod Frye's reputation. It may have even extended the life the Atari 2600 a few more years. Every Atari owner would have wanted one this game and it was worth buying the system for since the 2600 was selling so cheaply at the time. Nolan Bushnell and Steve Wozniak both expressed interest in buying this game for themselves. Sources say that development of this game started in 1987 giving it the longest development time of any other VCS game. The development was drawn out because Tod Frye was working at Axlon at the time. Atari kept hiring him part time, on and off again, while he kept his job at Axlon. The game was ready for production when Atari officially dropped support of the 2600 in 1990-01-01. The PAL version was ready 10-24-1991-19-24 (?huh? ?Atari had already dropped support for the 2600? ?so, why?)

(Zerothis) - # 2006