Below you will find USA related month/year release dates for various games along with lists of popular movies, TV shows, Top 40 music, new arcade games, and so on to help summon your treasured memories of the Atari 2600 and the early 1980s with the bonus of recreating the magical feelings of that special time. For those who only want release dates and nothing else, there is a Quick List of Release Dates on the right side of this page.
To help make your experience even more enjoyable, most items have a link next to them that will lead you to related search results at YouTube where you might find video game commercials, gameplay footage, music videos, and clips from TV shows or movies.
If you find a mistake, or have more information to add, such as month/year release dates for games, please contact me. Every little bit of credible information helps, no matter how insignificant you think it might be. Thanks for your help.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
January 1982
Super Breakout YouTube
Model Number: CX2608
Company: Atari
Programmer: Nick Turner (aka Sandy Maiwald), Carol Shaw
Note: Based on the 1978 arcade game by Ed Logg
Release Date (month/year): 1/1982
Spacechase AtariAge
Model Number: AP2001
Company: Apollo
Programmer: Ed Salvo
Release Date (month/year): 1/1982
New on TV
Fame (January 7) YouTube
On the Radio
I Can't Go For That YouTube
Hall and Oates
Pac-Man Fever YouTube
Buckner & Garcia
Working For The Weekend YouTube
Loverboy
That Girl YouTube
Stevie Wonder
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February 1982
Haunted House YouTube
Model Number: CX2654
Company: Atari
Programmer: Steve Wright
Release Date (month/year): 2/1982
At the Arcades
Space Duel YouTube KLOV
On the Radio
I Love Rock 'N Roll YouTube
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Tonight I'm Yours YouTube
Rod Stewart
We Got The Beat YouTube
The Go-Go's
Do You Believe In Love YouTube
Huey Lewis and The News
Take Off YouTube
Bob & Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis & Dave Thomas with Geddy Lee)
Make A Move On Me YouTube
Olivia Newton-John
Mirror, Mirror YouTube
Diana Ross
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March 1982
Pac-Man YouTube
The official release date was March of 1982, but our local Woolco in Roanoke, Virginia didn't get it until April. See April for more information.
Barnstorming YouTube
Model Number: AX-013
Company: Activision
Programmer: Steve Cartwright
Note: First Atari 2600 game to use a sunset in the horizon.
Release Date (month/year): 3/1982
Grand Prix YouTube
Model Number: AX-014
Company: Activision
Programmer: David Crane
Release Date (month/year): 3/1982
New at the Movies
Porky's (March 19) YouTube
New on TV
T.J. Hooker (March 13) YouTube
Cagney & Lacey (March 25) YouTube
9 To 5 (March 25) YouTube
On the Radio
867-5309/Jenny YouTube
Tommy Tutone
(Oh) Pretty Woman YouTube
Van Halen
Freeze-Frame YouTube
The J. Geils Band
Juke Box Hero YouTube
Foreigner
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April 1982
Pac-Man YouTube ['Release date' for small towns & rural areas]
Model Number: CX2646
Company: Atari
Programmer: Tod Frye
Note: Based on the 1980 arcade game designed by Toru Iwatani.
Personal Note: The main reason my family bought an Atari 2600 was for Pac-Man and we brought that first Atari 2600 home on March 27, 1982. We had pre-ordered Pac-Man and got it as soon as it hit the store (Woolco in Tanglewood Mall; Roanoke, Virginia). The official release date was March, and although other people could buy it in March, it didn't get to our store until April, so that's why it is listed here under April. I was stuck playing Combat for at least a week until Pac-Man arrived at the store.
Release Date (month/year): 3/1982 and 4/1982
At the Arcades
Dig Dug YouTube International Arcade Museum
New at the Movies
Diner (April 2) YouTube
Cat People (April 2) YouTube
The Sword and the Sorcerer (April 23) YouTube
On the Radio
Did It In A Minute YouTube
Hall & Oats
Get Down On It YouTube
Kool & The Gang
Empty Garden YouTube
Elton John
Don't You Want Me YouTube
The Human League
Ebony And Ivory YouTube
Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
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May 1982
Yars' Revenge YouTube
Model Number: CX2655
Company: Atari
Programmer: Howard Scott Warshaw
Note: Based on the arcade game Star Castle.
Release Date (month/year): 5/1982
Defender YouTube
Model Number: CX2609
Company: Atari
Programmer: Bob Polaro
Note: Based on the 1980 arcade game by Eugene Jarvis, Larry DeMar, Sam Dicker, and Paul Dussault.
Personal Note: Unlike Pac-Man, Defender was early, at least where I lived. Everything says Defender was supposed to come out in June. I even got a card in the mail from Atari Age magazine telling me that Defender was coming in June and that I should order it now, but I was glad I didn't because Woolco had it in time for my girlfriend's birthday (May 17). She loved Defender, but didn't have an Atari, so I was very happy that I got Defender early so she could
play it on her birthday at my house.
Release Date (month/year): 5/1982
New at the Movies
Conan the Barbarian (May 14) YouTube
Annie (May 21) YouTube
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (May 21) YouTube
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (May 21) YouTube
Rocky 3 (May 28) YouTube
On the Radio
Rosanna YouTube
Toto
Only The Lonely YouTube
The Motels
Let It Whip YouTube
Dazz Band
Tainted Love YouTube
Soft Cell
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June 1982
Chopper Command YouTube
Model Number: AG-015
Company: Activision
Programmer: Bob Whitehead
Release Date (month/year): 6/1982
Starmaster YouTube
Model Number: AG-016
Company: Activision
Programmer: Alan Miller
Release Date (month/year): 6/1982
At the Arcades
Haunted House (Pinball Game) YouTube Internet Pinball Database
Gravitar YouTube International Arcade Museum
New at the Movies
Poltergeist (June 4) YouTube
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (June 4) YouTube
ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (June 11) YouTube
Firefox (June 18) YouTube
Blade Runner (June 25) YouTube
The Thing (June 25) YouTube
On the Radio
Hard To Say I'm Sorry YouTube
Chicago
Even the Nights Are Better YouTube
Air Supply
Do I Do YouTube
Stevie Wonder
Eye Of The Tiger YouTube
Survivor
Abracadabra YouTube
Steve Miller Band
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July 1982
Math Gran Prix YouTube
Model Number: CX2658
Company: Atari
Programmer: Suki Lee
Release Date (month/year): 7/1982
Demons to Diamonds YouTube
Model Number: CX2615
Company: Atari
Programmer: Nick Turner (aka Sandy Maiwald)
Release Date (month/year): 7/1982
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back YouTube
Model Number: PB5050
Company: Parker Brothers
Programmer: Rex Bradford
Release Date (month/year): 7/1982
New at the Movies
The Secret of Nimh (July 2) YouTube
Tron (July 9) YouTube
Six Pack (July 16) YouTube
Zapped (July 23) YouTube
The World According to Garp (July 23) YouTube
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (July 23) YouTube
An Officer and a Gentleman (July 28) YouTube
Night Shift (July 30) YouTube
On the Radio
Your Imagination YouTube
Hall & Oats
Eye In The Sky YouTube
Alan Parsons Project
Take It Away YouTube
Paul McCartney
Vacation YouTube
Go-Go's
Love Will Turn You Around YouTube
Kenny Rogers
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August 1982
Berzerk YouTube
Model Number: CX2650
Company: Atari
Programmer: Dan Hitchens
Note: Based on the 1980 arcade game by Alan McNeil.
Release Date (month/year): 8/1982
McDonald's/Atari Contest YouTube
"Taste the Thrill of Atari at McDonald's" promotion starts (8/15/1982)
You Deserve an Atari Break Today (Atari Age Magazine)
Atari History Museum
New at the Movies
Pink Floyd: The Wall (August 6) YouTube
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (August 13) YouTube
Friday the 13th, Part 3 (August 13) YouTube
New on TV
Filthy Rich (August 9) YouTube
On the Radio
Someday, Someway YouTube
Marshall Crenshaw
Jack & Diane YouTube
John Cougar Mellencamp
Who Can It Be Now? YouTube
Men At Work
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September 1982
Pitfall YouTube
Model Number: AX-018
Company: Activision
Programmer: David Crane
Note: The 'laser' from Laser Blast was used to create the vine in Pitfall.
Release Date (month/year): 9/1982
Star Raiders YouTube
Model Number: CX2660
Company: Atari
Programmer: Carla Meninsky
Note: Based on the 1979 Atari computer game by Doug Neubauer.
Release Date (month/year): 9/1982
New at the Movies
Eating Raoul (September 24) YouTube
Amityville II: The Possession (Sept. 24) YouTube
New on TV
The Powers Of Matthew Star (Sept. 17) YouTube
Tales Of The Gold Monkey (Sept. 22) YouTube
Family Ties (September 22) YouTube
Bring 'Em Back Alive (September 24) YouTube
Silver Spoons (September 25) YouTube
Knight Rider (September 26) YouTube
Matt Houston (September 26) YouTube
Square Pegs (September 27) YouTube
Cheers (September 30) YouTube
On the Radio
Valley Girl YouTube
Frank Zappa/Moon Unit Zappa
I Ran (So Far Away) YouTube
A Flock Of Seagulls
Gloria YouTube
Laura Branigan
Heart Attack YouTube
Olivia Newton-John
Don't Fight It YouTube
Kenny Loggins/Steve Perry
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October 1982
Megamania YouTube
Model Number: AX-017
Company: Activision
Programmer: Steve Cartwright
Release Date (month/year): 10/1982
Swordquest Earthworld YouTube
Model Number: CX2656
Company: Atari
Programmer: Tod Frye
Release Date (month/year): 10/1982
Realsports Baseball YouTube
Model Number: CX2640
Company: Atari
Programmer: Joseph Tung
Release Date (month/year): 10/1982
Realsports Volleyball AtariAge
Model Number: CX2666
Company: Atari
Programmer: Bob Polaro
Release Date (month/year): 10/1982
New at the Movies
My Favorite Year (October 1) YouTube
First Blood (October 22) YouTube
Halloween 3 (October 22) YouTube
Monsignor (October 22) IMDb
New on TV
Remington Steele (October
1) YouTube
Voyagers (October 3) YouTube
Tucker's Witch (October 6) IMDb
Newhart (October 25) YouTube
St. Elsewhere (October 26) YouTube
On the Radio
Love Me Tomorrow YouTube
Chicago
Nobody YouTube
Sylvia
Mickey YouTube
Toni Basil
Rock This Town YouTube
Stray Cats
Steppin' Out YouTube
Joe Jackson
Pressure YouTube
Billy Joel
Muscles YouTube
Diana Ross
I'm So Excited YouTube
Pointer Sisters
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November 1982
Raiders of the Lost Ark YouTube
Model Number: CX2659
Company: Atari
Programmer: Howard Scott Warshaw
Note: Graphics by Jerome Domurat.
Release Date (month/year): 11/1982
New at the Movies
Creepshow (November 12) YouTube
Tex (November 19) YouTube
On the Radio
Whatcha Gonna Do YouTube
Chilliwack
It's Raining Again YouTube
Supertramp
Sexual Healing YouTube
Marvin Gaye
Maneater YouTube
Hall & Oats
Dirty Laundry YouTube
Don Henley
Rock The Casbah YouTube
The Clash
You Can't Hurry Love YouTube
Phil Collins
The Girl Is Mine YouTube
Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
Down Under YouTube
Men At Work
Africa YouTube
Toto
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December 1982
River Raid YouTube
Model Number: AX-020
Company: Activision
Programmer: Carol Shaw
Release Date (month/year): 12/1982
Realsports Football YouTube
Model Number: CX2668
Company: Atari
Programmer: Robert Zdybel
Release Date (month/year): 12/1982
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial To What Degree . . .
Model Number: CX2674
Company: Atari
Programmer: Howard Scott Warshaw
Note: Graphics by Jerome Domurat.
Release Date (month/year): 12/1982
Vanguard YouTube
Model Number: CX2669
Company: Atari
Programmer: ?
Release Date (month/year): 12/1982
New at the Movies
Gandhi (December 8) YouTube
48 Hours (December 8) YouTube
Sophie's Choice (December 10) YouTube
The Toy (December 10) YouTube
Tootsie (December 17) YouTube
The Dark Crystal (December 17) YouTube
On the Radio
Goody Two Shoes YouTube
Adam Ant
Shock The Monkey YouTube
Peter Gabriel
Allentown YouTube
Bily Joel
Heart To Heart YouTube
Kenny Loggins
1982 1983
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