E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in video games
Encyclopedia
Starting with the release of the film in 1982
and its susbsequent 20th anniversary re-release, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
has been the subject of video games across several platforms and genres.
made an Atari 2600
game that was based on the film. Despite the popularity of the film, the game was widely considered to be one of the worst games ever. Along with the Atari 2600
port of Pac-Man
, the movie game is often blamed for the video game crash of 1983
.
of computers in 1983
, in this game, you play as Elliot. You have to search your neighborhood for pieces that E.T. wants to build his transmitter. Depending on the level, you may or may not need all the pieces to complete the game. It's also possible to communicate "telepathically" with E.T. to get a reminder of which pieces he is looking for.
As Elliot looks for the pieces, he is pursued by a number of men who are trying to stop him from completing his task. Once Elliot gets enough of the pieces, E.T. says his famous line "E.T. Phone Home". From there, you now play as E.T. trying to find your way back to the landing site in the forest. The game ends with E.T. returning to his spaceship before ascending into outer space.
on December 14, 2001. You must save him from the government agents, scientists and law enforcement officers that are trying to catch him, while attempting to assemble a transmitter that will allow E.T. to "phone home".
on October 18, 2001. This cartridge is designed to turn the Game Boy Color handheld into a child-friendly personal digital assistant. The E.T.: Digital Planner features an address book, a calendar, a clock, and a "To-Do" list, all presented in a theme inspired by the hugely popular 1982 film. The software also contains five mini games, including the opportunity to care for a "Flopgopple" virtual pet. Kids can protect their personal information with a password or print it out on the Nintendo Game Boy Printer.
You can alternate playing as the strategic-minded Elliott or as E.T., whose extraordinary powers, including levitation, can help you out of the many tricky situations you'll confront. This single-player game features three levels of difficulty and three modes of gameplay: exploration, quest, and encounter. Six large maps with 10 environments and 45 miniquests that unlock hidden items you can trade later.
and Sony PlayStation
. E.T. is on a mission to save the universe, that will take you to alien planets with rare and exotic plant species. Journey to the Green Planet, Ice Planet, Desert Planet, Planet Metropolis and Earth. Play and puzzle through 15 levels and battle alien enemies. Uncover these special plants and use E.T.'s glowing finger, telepathy, heart stun, and more to heal them. Listen as they sing back to you in thanks. Travel across 25 new exciting game levels where you will explore & accomplish missions.
in 2002
, E.T. Cosmic Garden is a real-time adventure where you travel to six planets populated by exotic, weird, and wild plants. You Gather these rare and wonderful plants for the spaceship's greenhouse and fulfill E.T.'s original mission by replanting and restoring the Cosmic Garden. Growing a healthy garden requires E.T. and his assistants, Space Bee and Space Slug, to maintain proper amounts of food, water, and light, and to protect these special species from a host of intergalactic pests, including space beetles, fungus, and harmful celestial events, such as a prolonged eclipse. E.T. can use his special telekinesis powers to control the pests.
Features 12 levels and seven environments. You can create more than 60 plants, each with unique personalities and abilities—they sing, jump, generate electricity, and more. Beat the game and you'll unlock the never-ending Prize Garden.
1982 in film
-Events:* March 26 = I Ought to Be in Pictures, starring Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret and Dinah Manoff is released. Manoff would not appear in another movie until 1987's Backfire.* June = PG-rated film E.T...
and its susbsequent 20th anniversary re-release, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote...
has been the subject of video games across several platforms and genres.
E.T. Fantasy Module (Texas Instruments, 1982)
The E.T. Fantasy Module cartridge for the Speak & Spell was released as a promotional tie-in with the film which also referenced the Speak & Spell as a major component in the "Phone Home." Intended as an educational game to help children learn to spell, the cartridge contained thematically-related words from the film such as "geranium." The game retailed for $25, and was re-released in French as Les Extra-Terrestres Module No 5.E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Atari, 1982)
Atari Inc.Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
made an Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
game that was based on the film. Despite the popularity of the film, the game was widely considered to be one of the worst games ever. Along with the Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
port of Pac-Man
Pac-Man (Atari 2600)
In 1982, Atari Inc. released a port of Namco's hit arcade game Pac-Man for its Atari 2600 video game console. Like the original arcade version, the player controls the titular character with a joystick...
, the movie game is often blamed for the video game crash of 1983
Video game crash of 1983
The North American video game crash was a serious event that brought an abrupt end to what is considered the second generation of console video gaming in North America. Beginning in 1983, the crash almost destroyed the then-fledgling industry and led to the bankruptcy of several companies producing...
.
E.T. Phone Home! (Atari 1983)
Released for the Atari 8-bit familyAtari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
of computers in 1983
1983 in video gaming
-Events:* A major shakeout of the video game industry begins. By 1986, total video games sales will decrease from US$3.2 billion to US$0.1 billion.* MCA Universal files suit against Nintendo, claiming that the latter company's video arcade hit Donkey Kong violated Universal's copyright on King Kong...
, in this game, you play as Elliot. You have to search your neighborhood for pieces that E.T. wants to build his transmitter. Depending on the level, you may or may not need all the pieces to complete the game. It's also possible to communicate "telepathically" with E.T. to get a reminder of which pieces he is looking for.
As Elliot looks for the pieces, he is pursued by a number of men who are trying to stop him from completing his task. Once Elliot gets enough of the pieces, E.T. says his famous line "E.T. Phone Home". From there, you now play as E.T. trying to find your way back to the landing site in the forest. The game ends with E.T. returning to his spaceship before ascending into outer space.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (2001)
Released for the Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
on December 14, 2001. You must save him from the government agents, scientists and law enforcement officers that are trying to catch him, while attempting to assemble a transmitter that will allow E.T. to "phone home".
E.T.: Digital Companion (2001)
Released for the Game Boy ColorGame Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
on October 18, 2001. This cartridge is designed to turn the Game Boy Color handheld into a child-friendly personal digital assistant. The E.T.: Digital Planner features an address book, a calendar, a clock, and a "To-Do" list, all presented in a theme inspired by the hugely popular 1982 film. The software also contains five mini games, including the opportunity to care for a "Flopgopple" virtual pet. Kids can protect their personal information with a password or print it out on the Nintendo Game Boy Printer.
E.T.: Escape from Planet Earth (2001)
Your mission is to construct a communicator so that E.T. can phone home. You must search 60 environments for all the components needed to build the transmitter. All the while, you have to evade capture by government agents and avoid the clever traps they've set for you.You can alternate playing as the strategic-minded Elliott or as E.T., whose extraordinary powers, including levitation, can help you out of the many tricky situations you'll confront. This single-player game features three levels of difficulty and three modes of gameplay: exploration, quest, and encounter. Six large maps with 10 environments and 45 miniquests that unlock hidden items you can trade later.
E.T.: Interplanetary Mission (2002)
Released March 28, 2002 for PCIBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
and Sony PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. E.T. is on a mission to save the universe, that will take you to alien planets with rare and exotic plant species. Journey to the Green Planet, Ice Planet, Desert Planet, Planet Metropolis and Earth. Play and puzzle through 15 levels and battle alien enemies. Uncover these special plants and use E.T.'s glowing finger, telepathy, heart stun, and more to heal them. Listen as they sing back to you in thanks. Travel across 25 new exciting game levels where you will explore & accomplish missions.
E.T.: Cosmic Garden (2002)
Released for the Game Boy ColorGame Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
in 2002
2002 in video gaming
The year 2002 in video gaming saw the release of many games to sixth-generation video game consoles, predominately, the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.-Events:...
, E.T. Cosmic Garden is a real-time adventure where you travel to six planets populated by exotic, weird, and wild plants. You Gather these rare and wonderful plants for the spaceship's greenhouse and fulfill E.T.'s original mission by replanting and restoring the Cosmic Garden. Growing a healthy garden requires E.T. and his assistants, Space Bee and Space Slug, to maintain proper amounts of food, water, and light, and to protect these special species from a host of intergalactic pests, including space beetles, fungus, and harmful celestial events, such as a prolonged eclipse. E.T. can use his special telekinesis powers to control the pests.
Features 12 levels and seven environments. You can create more than 60 plants, each with unique personalities and abilities—they sing, jump, generate electricity, and more. Beat the game and you'll unlock the never-ending Prize Garden.