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Atari 2600 Game History: 1982
An incomplete chronological history of Atari 2600 VCS games.

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)

Atari Age article with game pieces

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

Back to Top

 

 

 

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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Pages in this Subsection

Quick List

January

Super Breakout (Atari)

Spacechase (Apollo)

 

February

Haunted House (Atari)

 

March

Pac-Man (Atari)

Barnstorming (Activision)

Grand Prix (Activision)

 

April

Pac-Man (Atari) [small towns & rural areas]

 

May

Yars' Revenge (Atari)

Defender (Atari)

 

June

Chopper Command (Activision)

Starmaster (Activision)

 

July

Math Gran Prix (Atari)

Demons to Diamonds (Atari)

S.W.: The Empire Strikes Back (P.B.)

 

August

Berzerk (Atari)

 

September

Pitfall (Activision)

Star Raiders (Atari)

 

October

Megamania (Activision)

Swordquest Earthworld (Atari)

Realsports Baseball (Atari)

Realsports Volleyball (Atari)

 

November

Raiders of the Lost Ark (Atari)

 

December

River Raid (Activision)

Realsports Football (Atari)

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Atari)

Vanguard (Atari)

Related RT Page

Related Link

I. C. When

A chronological history of computers, video games, and related technologies (at archive.org).

Me in the Atari years

Me (Duane Alan Hahn) in the Atari 2600 years.

< Back to the Atari 2600 Game History hub page

1983 >

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