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Atari 2600 Video Game Release Dates for 1988

With pop culture atmosphere.

Information compiled by Duane Alan Hahn, a.k.a. Random Terrain.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

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Page last updated on: 2023y_08m_14d_0052t

Below is an incomplete list of Atari 2600 video game release dates by month in the USA for the year 1988 along with lists of top 100 music (selected hits in the order they charted), new movies at the theater, and new TV shows to help summon your treasured memories of the Atari 2600 and the 1980s with the bonus of recreating the magical feelings of that special time.

 

If you were too young or not even born yet, play the songs in the order they are listed and watch video clips or commercials for the movies and TV shows (in order) and you might get a sense of what it was like living from month to month back in 1988. There were no smartphones with an Internet full of knowledge and entertainment at your fingertips. If you wanted to know something, you had to go to the library and try to find the information in a book. If you were lucky, you had an encyclopedia set at home, but it would probably be many decades out of date.

 

 

Link Colors

Links that jump to other places on this page are blue. Links that lead to other pages online are red.

 

 

 

Page Table of Contents

For those who only want release dates and nothing else, the game entries are listed in the Page Table of Contents. This page also has an Index to help you find a specific game. There's also an Atari 2600 NTSC Game Index for 1977 to 1991.

 

 

 

Not Set in Stone

Most of the release dates below are not set in stone. Games will be moved as better information is found, so be sure to check back once in a while.

 

 

 

Best Guess

Many games are marked as a best guess. Some guesses are worse than others. Below is a list of the types of guesses that might be on this page.

 

Best Guess (BG): At least one magazine or newsletter mentioned the month a game was released or supposed to be released or newspaper ads have been found.

 

Extreme Best Guess (EBG): A vague mention of the release month in a magazine, newsletter, or newspaper.

 

Super Extreme Best Guess (SEBG): The Video Game Update newsletter only had a review for the game (no release month mentioned), so it's a semi-educated wild guess. The review could have happened the same month the game was released or the review could have been published a month or more later.

 

Desperate Super Extreme Best Guess (DSEBG): There might be an ad in a magazine or newspaper to go on if we're lucky. It's a desperate semi-educated wild guess.

 

 

 

Green Check Mark

I signed up for the most expensive subscription option at Newspapers.com in November of 2020 so I could finally look up games for myself. As I find the earliest newspaper ads for a game, I'll add a green check mark for that entry to indicate that the definitive release date has probably been found for that game.

 

≈ ✔ An almost equal symbol with a green check mark means that the game might have been available in some areas in the previous month. The entry is close enough.

 

A sad face with a green check mark means that I couldn't find any useful newspaper ads, but there is enough evidence showing that the entry probably belongs in that month.

 

A green eight spoked asterisk means that the entry might need to be moved if more information is found, but ads or news items suggest that the entry might be close enough to the correct month.

 

??? Three orange question marks indicate that I searched the newspapers and couldn't find anything helpful, so a more accurate release date for that game still needs to be found.

 

 

Copyright Date

Remember, the date on the box, cartridge, manual, and copyright screen can be different from the actual release date. For example, Atari 2600 Pac-Man was released in March/April of 1982, but the box, cart, manual, and copyright screen have 1981 as the copyright date. It usually took around 6 months for a programmer to make an Atari VCS game back then and that’s not counting the time it took to make the manuals, boxes, and cartridges.

 

 

 

YouTube and Beyond

To help make your experience more enjoyable, most items listed on this page have a link to related search results at YouTube (YT) where you can watch music videos, scenes from movies, or clips from TV shows. The movies and TV shows listed on this page also have links to web sites such as the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and Wikipedia (WP).

 

 

 

You Can Help

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.

 

 

 

 

January 1988

January 1988

 

Skate Boardin’ (Absolute Entertainment) ???

Best Guess. The game was shipped in January according to Computer Entertainer.

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Catalog

Trivia:

The original name of this game was Rad Boardin’ according to Computer Entertainer (V6N3 Jun 87 p12).

News:

Newspaper: Tech Bytes (Aug 16, 87)

Activision said it will market two new video games for the Atari 2600 machine produced by Absolute Entertainment of New Jersey.

“Title Match Pro Wrestling” contains body slams, punching, kicking, air-spins and other wrestling moves. Players choose from four different wrestlers and then match up against the computer.

On “Skateboardin': A Radical Adventure on Wheels,” players skateboard through a maze of city streets and overcome obstacles to get to school on time. The game even allows grabbing the back of a truck to pull the skateboarder along.

The products will be in stores in September, said the Mountain View, firm.

January 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Father Figure” by George Michael  (Jan 16)   YT

“Wishing Well” by Terence Trent D'Arby  (Jan 16)   YT   75%

“I Get Weak” by Belinda Carlisle  (Jan 16)   YT

“Just Like Paradise” by David Lee Roth  (Jan 16)   YT

“(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay” by Michael Bolton  (Jan 23)   YT

“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by The California Raisins  (Jan 23)   YT

“It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M.  (Jan 30)   YT   70%

New on Top 100 Radio for February >

January 1988

 

New at the Movies

Cop  (Jan 8)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Couch Trip  (Jan 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

For Keeps  (Jan 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

Braddock: Missing in Action III  (Jan 22)   YT   IMDb   WP

January 1988

 

New on TV

High Mountain Rangers  CBS  (Jan 2)   YT   IMDb   WP

Blackout  CBS  (Jan 4)   YT   IMDb   WP   [game show]

Trivia: Nick Jr. begins as a block of Nickelodeon programming for younger children.   Nickelodeon  (Jan 4)   YT   WP: 1988 Events

48 Hours  CBS  (Jan 19)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Wonder Years  ABC  (Jan 31)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for February >

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

February 1988

February 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Man In The Mirror” by Michael Jackson  (Feb 6)   YT   65%

“When We Was Fab” by George Harrison  (Feb 6)   YT   70%

“You Will Know” by Stevie Wonder  (Feb 6)   YT

“Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” by Billy Ocean  (Feb 13)   YT   60%

“Electric Blue” by Icehouse  (Feb 13)   YT

“Thinking Of You” by Earth, Wind and Fire  (Feb 13)   YT   [Didn’t hear it back then, but I might have liked it.]

“What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong  (Feb 20)   YT   [re-released because it was in the movie Good Morning, Vietnam.]

“Where Do Broken Hearts Go” by Whitney Houston  (Feb 27)   YT

“Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)” by Samantha Fox  (Feb 27)   YT

New on Top 100 Radio for March >

February 1988

 

New at the Movies

She's Having a Baby  (Feb 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Unbearable Lightness of Being  (Feb 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

Action Jackson  (Feb 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Shoot to Kill  (Feb 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Bloodsport  (Feb 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

Frantic  (Feb 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

Hairspray  (Feb 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

February 1988

 

New on TV

America's Most Wanted  Fox  (Feb 7)   YT   IMDb   WP

Day by Day  NBC  (Feb 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

In the Heat of the Night  NBC  (Mar 6)   YT   IMDb   WP

Supercarrier  ABC  (Mar 6)   YT   IMDb   WP

Probe  ABC  (Mar 7)   YT   IMDb   WP

Aaron's Way  NBC  (Mar 9)   YT   IMDb   WP

Eisenhower and Lutz  CBS  (Mar 14)   YT   IMDb   WP

Coming of Age  CBS  (Mar 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

Trial and Error  CBS  (Mar 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for March >

February 1988

 

History

 

Text below from Computer Entertainer (February 1988)

 

Classic Atari 2600 Games Revived by Activision

Activision has recently re-released some classic Atari 2600 games of their own, plus some titles originally done by Imagic. The newly added titles are THE ACTIVISION DECATHLON, ROBOT TANK, ATLANTIS, DEMON ATTACK, and MOONSWEEPER. These games are distributed primarily to nationwide toy store chains, such as Toys 'R' Us and Kaybee Toys.

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

March 1988

March 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Pink Cadillac” by Natalie Cole  (Mar 5)   YT

“Anything For You” by Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine  (Mar 12)   YT

“Shattered Dreams” by Johnny Hates Jazz  (Mar 19)   YT   75%

“Breakaway” or “I Can’t Break Away” by Big Pig  (Mar 19)   YT

“Always On My Mind” by Pet Shop Boys  (Mar 26)   YT

New on Top 100 Radio for April >

March 1988

 

New at the Movies

And God Created Woman  (Mar 4)   YT   IMDb   WP

Moving  (Mar 4)   YT   IMDb   WP

Prison  (Mar 4)   YT   IMDb   WP

Switching Channels  (Mar 4)   YT   IMDb   WP

Masquerade  (Mar 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

Off Limits  (Mar 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

Stand and Deliver  (Mar 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

D.O.A.  (Mar 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Milagro Beanfield War  (Mar 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach  (Mar 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw  (Mar 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Stars and Bars  (Mar 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Biloxi Blues  (Mar 25)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Fox and the Hound [re-release]  (Mar 25)   YT   IMDb   WP

Johnny Be Good  (Mar 25)   YT   IMDb   WP

Beetlejuice  (Mar 30)   YT   IMDb   WP

March 1988

 

New on TV

Just in Time  ABC  (Apr 6)   YT   IMDb   WP

China Beach  ABC  (Apr 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

Just the Ten of Us  ABC  (Apr 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for April >

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

April 1988

April 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“I Still Believe” by Brenda K. Starr  (Apr 2)   YT

“Jack The Lad” by 3 Man Island  (Apr 2)   YT

“Nite And Day” by Al B. Sure!  (Apr 9)   YT   80%

“Together Forever” by Rick Astley  (Apr 16)   YT

“Hands To Heaven” by Breathe  (Apr 16)   YT

“Circle In The Sand” by Belinda Carlisle  (Apr 16)   YT

“Da' Butt” by E.U.  (Apr 16)   YT

“Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard  (Apr 23)   YT

“Nothin' But A Good Time” by Poison  (Apr 23)   YT

“Supersonic” by J.J. Fad  (Apr 23)   YT

“The Valley Road” by Bruce Hornsby & The Range  (Apr 30)   YT

New on Top 100 Radio for May >

April 1988

 

New at the Movies

Bright Lights, Big City  (Apr 1)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Seventh Sign  (Apr 1)   YT   IMDb   WP

18 Again!  (Apr 8)   YT   IMDb   WP

Above the Law  (Apr 8)   YT   IMDb   WP

Bad Dreams  (Apr 8)   YT   IMDb   WP

Appointment with Death  (Apr 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

Brain Damage  (Apr 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

Colors  (Apr 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Moderns  (Apr 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

Plain Clothes  (Apr 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

Return to Snowy River  (Apr 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

Casual Sex?  (Apr 22)   YT   IMDb   WP

Return of the Killer Tomatoes  (Apr 22)   YT   IMDb   WP

Critters 2: The Main Course  (Apr 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

Sunset  (Apr 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for May >

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

May 1988

May 1988

 

Crossbow (Atari) ???

Desperate Super Extreme Best Guess. According to Computer Entertainer The Newsletter, Crossbow was supposed to be released in 1987, then it was delayed month after month until it was eventually scheduled for a possible May 1988 release in the May and June 1988 issues. In the July 1988 issue, Crossbow was no longer on the list. Problem is that I didn't get a dandy little x next to the game as officially being shipped. Until more information is found, I'll just leave the game here in May.

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Catalog

Ads:

NEW LOW PRICES ON ATARI VIDEO GAMES - GAMEPRO (May/June 1989)

May 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Dirty Diana” by Michael Jackson  (May 7)   YT

“Rush Hour” by Jane Wiedlin  (May 7)   YT

“I Should Be So Lucky” by Kylie Minogue  (May 7)   YT

“New Sensation” by INXS  (May 14)   YT

“Love Changes (Everything)” by Climie Fisher  (May 14)   YT

“Parents Just Don't Understand” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince  (May 21)   YT   55%

“Fat” by “Weird Al” Yankovic  (May 21)   YT   60%

“Sign Your Name” by Terence Trent D'Arby  (May 28)   YT   60%

New on Top 100 Radio for June >

May 1988

 

New at the Movies

The House on Carroll Street  (May 4)   YT   IMDb   WP

Dead Heat  (May 6)   YT   IMDb   WP

Salsa  (May 6)   YT   IMDb   WP

Shakedown  (May 6)   YT   IMDb   WP

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood  (May 13)   YT   IMDb   WP

Maniac Cop  (May 13)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Nest  (May 13)   YT   IMDb   WP

Call Me  (May 20)   YT   IMDb   WP

Willow  (May 20)   YT   IMDb   WP

Crocodile Dundee II  (May 25)   YT   IMDb   WP

Rambo III  (May 25)   YT   IMDb   WP

Killer Klowns from Outer Space  (May 27)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for June >

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

June 1988

June 1988

 

Commando (Activision) ???

Best Guess using info from Computer Entertainer The Newsletter.

[Commando was reviewed in the July 1988 issue of Computer Entertainer The Newsletter.]

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Catalog

Computer Entertainer The Newsletter

Preview:

Atarian (May/June 89 p4)

Ads:

Newspaper: Cоmmando $19.99 (Dec 24, 88)

June 1988

 

California Games (Epyx) ???

Best Guess using info from Computer Entertainer The Newsletter.

[California Games was reviewed in the July 1988 issue of Computer Entertainer The Newsletter.]

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Computer Entertainer The Newsletter

Ads:

Newspaper: Cаlifornia Gаmes $16.99 (Dec 25, 88)

June 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“1-2-3” by Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine  (Jun 4)   YT   55%

“Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman  (Jun 4)   YT

“Do You Love Me” by The Contours  (Jun 4)   YT

“Rag Doll” by Aerosmith  (Jun 4)   YT

“Roll With It” by Steve Winwood  (Jun 11)   YT

“Colors” by Ice-T  (Jun 11)   YT

“I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That” by Elton John  (Jun 18)   YT

“The Twist (Yo Twist)” by Fat Boys & Chubby Checker  (Jun 18)   YT

“I Hate Myself For Loving You” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts  (Jun 25)   YT

“Please Don't Go Girl” by New Kids On The Block  (Jun 25)   YT

New on Top 100 Radio for July >

June 1988

 

New at the Movies

Big  (Jun 3)   YT   IMDb   WP

Funny Farm  (Jun 3)   YT   IMDb   WP

Big Business  (Jun 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

Poltergeist III  (Jun 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Presidio  (Jun 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

Puss in Boots  (Jun 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

Bull Durham  (Jun 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Great Outdoors  (Jun 17)   YT   IMDb   WP

Red Heat  (Jun 17)   YT   IMDb   WP

Waxwork  (Jun 17)   YT   IMDb   WP

Who Framed Roger Rabbit  (Jun 22)   YT   IMDb   WP

Coming to America  (Jun 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for July >

June 1988

 

History

 

Text below from Computer Entertainer The Newsletter (July 1988)

 

Availability Update

(Based on projected release dates by manufacturers. May change without notice.)

 

June [from Jul 88 availability update]

x - California Games (Epyx)

x - Commando (Activision)

 

Note: Any program noted with an “x” indicates it has shipped prior to our going to print. May not be in national distribution yet, however.

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

July 1988

July 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer  (Jul 2)   YT

“Monkey” by George Michael  (Jul 9)   YT   60%

“Nobody's Fool” by Kenny Loggins  (Jul 9)   YT

“Hole In My Heart (All The Way To China)” by Cyndi Lauper  (Jul 9)   YT

“Coming To America” by The System  (Jul 9)   YT

“Perfect World” by Huey Lewis & The News  (Jul 16)   YT

“What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” by Information Society  (Jul 16)   YT   65%

“It Would Take A Strong Strong Man” by Rick Astley  (Jul 16)   YT   50%

“One Good Woman” by Peter Cetera  (Jul 23)   YT

“Another Part Of Me” by Michael Jackson  (Jul 23)   YT   80%

“Time And Tide” by Basia  (Jul 23)   YT   55%

“Don't Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin  (Jul 30)   YT   60%

“Don't Be Cruel” by Cheap Trick  (Jul 30)   YT   55%

“Chains Of Love” by Erasure  (Jul 30)   YT   75%

New on Top 100 Radio for August >

July 1988

 

New at the Movies

License to Drive  (Jul 6)   YT   IMDb   WP

Short Circuit 2  (Jul 6)   YT   IMDb   WP

Arthur 2: On the Rocks  (Jul 8)   YT   IMDb   WP

It Couldn't Happen Here  (Jul 8)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Dead Pool  (Jul 13)   YT   IMDb   WP

Bambi  [re-release]  (Jul 15)   YT   IMDb   WP

Die Hard  (Jul 15/22)   YT   IMDb   WP

Midnight Run  (Jul 20)   YT   IMDb   WP

Big Top Pee-wee  (Jul 22)   YT   IMDb   WP

Caddyshack II  (Jul 22)   YT   IMDb   WP

Mr. North  (Jul 22)   YT   IMDb   WP

Cocktail  (Jul 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

Monkey Shines  (Jul 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking  (Jul 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for August >

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

August 1988

August 1988

 

Super Baseball (Atari) ???

Computer Entertainer The Newsletter claimed that Super Baseball was supposed to be shipped in March of 1989, but Atari's sales activity for 01/01/88 - 01/01/89 shows that 26,667 units were sold in 1988. If that number wasn't just preorders from stores then Computer Entertainer was wrong.

An Atari dealer document claimed that a commercial starring All-Star short-stop Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals was scheduled to air in August of 1988 (see news section below). [I'll place this entry in August until more information is found.]

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Catalog

News:

Summer Consumer Electronics Show Report - Michigan Atari Magazine (Jul/Aug 88 p14)

The Winning Package 1988 (88 p7)

The promotion is supported by its own 30-second commercial starring All-Star short-stop Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals and is scheduled to air in August.

Review:

Atarian (May/June 89 p14)

Ads:

Newspaper: Supеr Basеball $14.97 (Dec 4, 88)

Newspaper: Supеr Basеball $16.99 (Dec 25, 88)

August 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Forever Young” by Rod Stewart  (Aug 6)   YT

“Red Red Wine” [re-release] by UB40  (Aug 13)   YT

“Wild, Wild West” by The Escape Club  (Aug 20)   YT

“Another Lover” by Giant Steps  (Aug 20)   YT   70%

“It Takes Two” by Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock  (Aug 20)   YT

“The Loco-Motion” by Kylie Minogue  (Aug 27)   YT

New on Top 100 Radio for September >

August 1988

 

New at the Movies

The Blob  (Aug 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

A Fish Called Wanda  (Aug 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Rescue  (Aug 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

Vibes  (Aug 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

Clean and Sober  (Aug 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Last Temptation of Christ  (Aug 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Mac and Me  (Aug 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Tucker: The Man and His Dream  (Aug 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Young Guns  (Aug 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Married to the Mob  (Aug 19)   YT   IMDb   WP

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master  (Aug 19)   YT   IMDb   WP

Betrayed  (Aug 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

Hero and the Terror  (Aug 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

Hot to Trot  (Aug 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

Stealing Home  (Aug 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for September >

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

September 1988

September 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Groovy Kind Of Love” by Phil Collins  (Sep 3)   YT

“Kokomo” by The Beach Boys  (Sep 3)   YT   60%

“The Promise” by When In Rome  (Sep 3)   YT

“Look Away” by Chicago  (Sep 24)   YT

“Bad Medicine” by Bon Jovi  (Sep 24)   YT

New on Top 100 Radio for October >

September 1988

 

New at the Movies

Crossing Delancey  (Sep 16)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Deceivers  (Sep 2)   YT   IMDb   WP

Eight Men Out  (Sep 2)   YT   IMDb   WP

Moon over Parador  (Sep 9)   YT   IMDb   WP

Running on Empty  (Sep 9)   YT   IMDb   WP

Miles from Home  (Sep 16)   YT   IMDb   WP

Tougher Than Leather  (Sep 16)   YT   IMDb   WP

Messenger of Death  (Sep 17)   YT   IMDb   WP

Kansas  (Sep 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Patty Hearst  (Sep 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Sweet Hearts Dance  (Sep 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Daffy Duck's Quackbusters  (Sep 24)   YT   IMDb   WP

War Party  (Sep 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

Bird  (Sep 30)   YT   IMDb   WP

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark  (Sep 30)   YT   IMDb   WP

Heartbreak Hotel  (Sep 30)   YT   IMDb   WP

September 1988

 

New on TV

Fun House [game show]  Syndication  (Sep 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

Relatively Speaking [game show]  Syndication  (Sep 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo [animated sat. morn.]  ABC  (Sep 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

ALF: The Animated Series [animated sat. morn.]  NBC  (Sep 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

Baby Boom  NBC  (Sep 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley [animated sat. morn.]  NBC  (Sep 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

Police Academy [animated]  Syndication  (Sep 10)   YT   IMDb   WP

Denver, the Last Dinosaur [animated]  Syndication  (Sep 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Sweethearts [game show]  Syndication  (Sep 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

USA Today: The Television Series  Syndication  (Sep 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Wipeout [game show]  Syndication  (Sep 12)   YT   IMDb   WP

Garfield and Friends [animated sat. morn.]  CBS  (Sep 17)   YT   IMDb   WP

Hey Vern, It's Ernest! [sat. morn.]  CBS  (Sep 17)   YT   IMDb   WP

Superman [animated sat. morn.]  CBS  (Sep 17)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for October >

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

October 1988

October 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Symptoms Of True Love” by Tracie Spencer  (Oct 1)   YT

“In Your Room” by Bangles  (Oct 15)   YT

“I Don’t Want Your Love” by Duran Duran  (Oct 15)   YT

“My Prerogative” by Bobby Brown  (Oct 22)   YT

“Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses  (Oct 22)   YT

“Hippy Hippy Shake” by The Georgia Satellites  (Oct 22)   YT

“Wild World” by Maxi Priest  (Oct 29)   YT

“Handle With Care” by Traveling Wilburys  (Oct 29)   YT

“Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince  (Oct 29)   YT

New on Top 100 Radio for November >

October 1988

 

New at the Movies

Alien Nation  (Oct 7)   YT   IMDb   WP

Clara’s Heart  (Oct 7)   YT   IMDb   WP

Gorillas in the Mist  (Oct 7)   YT   IMDb   WP

Memories of Me  (Oct 7)   YT   IMDb   WP

Punchline  (Oct 7)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Accused  (Oct 14)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Kiss  (Oct 14)   YT   IMDb   WP

Another Woman  (Oct 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Night of the Demons  (Oct 14)   YT   IMDb   WP

Bat*21  (Oct 21)   YT   IMDb   WP

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers  (Oct 21)   YT   IMDb   WP

Little Dorrit  (Oct 21)   YT   IMDb   WP

Mystic Pizza  (Oct 21)   YT   IMDb   WP

Tapeheads  (Oct 21)   YT   IMDb   WP

Feds  (Oct 28)   YT   IMDb   WP

October 1988

 

New on TV

COPS [animated]  Syndication  (Oct 5)   YT   IMDb   WP

War of the Worlds  Syndication  (Oct 7)   YT   IMDb   WP

Roseanne  ABC  (Oct 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Something Is Out There  NBC  (Oct 21)   YT   IMDb   WP

Mission: Impossible  ABC  (Oct 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Midnight Caller  NBC  (Oct 25)   YT   IMDb   WP

Tattingers  NBC  (Oct 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

Annie McGuire  CBS  (Oct 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Van Dyke Show  CBS  (Oct 26)   YT   IMDb   WP

Paradise  CBS  (Oct 27)   YT   IMDb   WP

Dirty Dancing CBS (Oct 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for November >

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

November 1988

November 1988

 

River Raid II (Activision) ???

Best Guess using info from Computer Entertainer The Newsletter.

[River Raid II was reviewed in the December 1988 issue of Computer Entertainer The Newsletter.]

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Computer Entertainer The Newsletter

November 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Put A Little Love In Your Heart” by Annie Lennox & Al Green  (Nov 5)   YT

“It's Money That Matters” by Randy Newman  (Nov 5)   YT

“Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson  (Nov 12)   YT   70%

“(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me” by Paula Abdul  (Nov 12)   YT

“Two Hearts” by Phil Collins  (Nov 19)   YT

“What I Am” by Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians  (Nov 26)   YT

New on Top 100 Radio for December >

November 1988

 

New at the Movies

Everybody's All-American  (Nov 4)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Good Mother  (Nov 4)   YT   IMDb   WP

They Live  (Nov 4)   YT   IMDb   WP

Child's Play  (Nov 9)   YT   IMDb   WP

A Cry in the Dark  (Nov 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

Distant Thunder  (Nov 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

Ernest Saves Christmas  (Nov 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

Iron Eagle II  (Nov 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

Split Decisions  (Nov 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

1969  (Nov 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Chocolate War  (Nov 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Fresh Horses  (Nov 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

High Spirits  (Nov 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Land Before Time  (Nov 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Oliver & Company  (Nov 18)   YT   IMDb   WP

Buster  (Nov 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Cocoon: The Return  (Nov 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Full Moon in Blue Water  (Nov 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Hanna's War  (Nov 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Scrooged  (Nov 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

November 1988

 

New on TV

Murphy's Law  ABC  (Nov 2)   YT   IMDb   WP

Knightwatch  ABC  (Nov 11)   YT   IMDb   WP

Murphy Brown  CBS  (Nov 14)   YT   IMDb   WP

Raising Miranda  CBS  (Nov 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Almost Grown  CBS  (Nov 27)   YT   IMDb   WP

TV 101  CBS  (Nov 29)   YT   IMDb   WP

Good Morning, Miss Bliss  Disney Channel  (Nov 30)   YT   IMDb   WP

New on Top 100 Radio for December >

November 1988

 

History

 

Text below from Computer Entertainer The Newsletter (December 1988)

 

Availability Update

(Based on projected release dates by manufacturers. May change without notice.)

 

November [from Dec 88 availability update]

x - River Raid II (Activision)

 

Note: Any program noted with an “x” indicates it has shipped prior to our going to print. May not be in national distribution yet, however.

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

December 1988

December 1988

 

Dark Chambers (Atari) ???

Best Guess. There were ads in various states around the country in December of 1988 that included Dark Chambers. If the ads can be trusted, the game was available in 1988.

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Catalog

Ads:

Newspaper: Dаrk Chаmbers $14.97 (Dec 4, 88)

December 1988

 

Super Football (Atari) ???

Best Guess. Computer Entertainer The Newsletter claimed that Super Football was supposed to be released in March of 1989, but Atari's sales activity for 01/01/88 - 01/01/89 shows that 24,164 units were sold in 1988. If that number wasn't just preorders from stores then Computer Entertainer was wrong. I checked newspapers.com for newspaper ads. There were ads in various states around the country in December that included Super Football, so at least we know that the game was being sold in December of 1988.

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Catalog

News:

Summer Consumer Electronics Show Report - Michigan Atari Magazine (Jul/Aug 88 p14)

Ads:

Newspaper: Supеr Footbаll $14.97 (Dec 4, 88)

December 1988

 

Pete Rose Baseball (Absolute Entertainment) ???

Best Guess using info from Computer Entertainer The Newsletter. [Not reviewed in CETN.]

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Computer Entertainer The Newsletter

News:

Newspaper: Edward J. Semrad (Feb 22, 89)

Baseball is right around die corner and there are a couple of new 2600 versions. Easily the best and very similar to the computer version is “Pete Rose Baseball” by Absolute Entertainment.

December 1988

 

New on Top 100 Radio

“Straight Up” by Paula Abdul  (Dec 3)   YT

“Wild Thing” by Tone Loc  (Dec 3)   YT

“Kiss” by The Art Of Noise Featuring Tom Jones  (Dec 3)   YT

“Doctorin' The Tardis” by The Timelords  (Dec 17)   YT   65%

Back to New on Top 100 Radio for January >

December 1988

 

New at the Movies

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!  (Dec 2)   YT   IMDb   WP

Tequila Sunrise  (Dec 2)   YT   IMDb   WP

Watchers  (Dec 2)   YT   IMDb   WP

My Stepmother Is an Alien  (Dec 9)   YT   IMDb   WP

Twins  (Dec 9)   YT   IMDb   WP

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels  (Dec 14)   YT   IMDb   WP

Torch Song Trilogy  (Dec 14)   YT   IMDb   WP

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka  (Dec 16)   YT   IMDb   WP

Purple People Eater  (Dec 16)   YT   IMDb   WP

Rain Man  (Dec 16)   YT   IMDb   WP

Working Girl  (Dec 21)   YT   IMDb   WP

Dominick and Eugene  (Dec 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Hellbound: Hellraiser II  (Dec 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

The Boost  (Dec 23)   YT   IMDb   WP

Back to New on Top 100 Radio for January >

December 1988

 

History

 

Text below from Computer Entertainer The Newsletter (December 1988)

 

Availability Update

(Based on projected release dates by manufacturers. May change without notice.)

 

December [from Dec 88 and Jan 89 availability updates]

x - Pete Rose Baseball (Absolute Entertainment)

x - Tomcat F-14 Simulator (Absolute Entertainment)

 

Note: Any program noted with an “x” indicates it has shipped prior to our going to print. May not be in national distribution yet, however.

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

Need a Month

??? 1988

 

Sprintmaster (Atari) ???

Computer Entertainer The Newsletter claimed that Sprint Master was supposed to be shipped in March of 1989, but Atari's sales activity for 01/01/88 - 01/01/89 shows that 15,084 units were sold in 1988. If that number wasn't just preorders from stores then Computer Entertainer was wrong. According to a post at AtariAge, bfstats purchased Sprint Master from Toys “Я” Us in February of 1989, so it looks like I can trust Atari's sales information.

Info:

YT

Atarimania

AtariAge

Back to Top

 

 

 

 

Pages in this Subsection

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1991

Index

Company List

Activision List

 

 

 

 

Information Compiled From the Following Sources

Internet Archive

Digital Press Library

Atari Compendium Archives

The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers

I. C. When

Atari History Museum (Atari Historical Society)

AtariAge

Hot 100 Singles Chronology

Rock on the Net: The Ark Weekly Top 40 Archives

Internet Movie Database

WP: Wide-release Movies

WP: List of Years in Television

 

 

 

Index

 

Amazon Stuff

 

Interesting Subjects

Atari Owners Club Bulletin / VCS Owners Club Bulletin

Find release dates for Atari 2600 games that were sold in the UK.

 

I. C. When

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

Back to Top

 

 

In Case You Didn't Know

 

Trump's Jab = Bad

Did you know that Trump's rushed Operation Warp Speed rona jab has less than one percent overall benefit? Some people call it the depopulation jab and it has many possible horrible side effects (depending on the lot number, concentration, and if it was kept cold). Remember when many Democrats were against Trump's Operation Warp Speed depopulation jab, then they quickly changed their minds when Biden flip-flopped and started pushing it?

 

Some brainwashed rona jab cultists claim that there are no victims of the jab, but person after person will post what the jab did to them, a friend, or a family member on web sites such as Facebook and they'll be lucky if they don't get banned soon after. Posting the truth is “misinformation” don't you know. Awakened sheep might turn into lions, so powerful people will do just about anything to keep the sheep from waking up.

 

Check out these videos:

If You Got the COVID Shot and Aren't Injured, This May Be Why

Thought Experiment: What Happens After the Jab?

The Truth About Polio and Vaccines

What Is Causing the Mysterious Self-Assembling Non-Organic Clots and Sudden Deaths?

Full Video of Tennessee House of Representatives Health Subcommittee Hearing Room 2 (The Doctors Start Talking at 33:28)

 

 

H Word and I Word = Good

Take a look at my page about the famous demonized medicines called The H Word and Beyond. You might also want to look at my page called Zinc and Quercetin. My sister and I have been taking zinc and quercetin since the summer of 2020 in the hopes that they would scare away the flu and other viruses (or at least make them less severe). Here's one more page to check out: My Sister's Experiences With COVID-19.

 

 

B Vitamins = Good

Some people appear to have a mental illness because they have a vitamin B deficiency. For example, the wife of a guy I used to chat with online had severe mood swings which seemed to be caused by food allergies or intolerances. She would became irrational, obnoxious, throw tantrums, and generally act like she had a mental illness. The horrid behavior stopped after she started taking a vitamin B complex. I've been taking Jarrow B-Right (#ad) for many years. It makes me much easier to live with. I wonder how many people with schizophrenia and other mental mental illnesses could be helped by taking a B complex once or twice a day with meals (depending on their weight)?

 

 

Soy = Bad

Unfermented soy is bad!When she stopped eating soy, the mental problems went away.” Fermented soy doesn't bother me, but the various versions of unfermented soy (soy flour, soybean oil, and so on) that are used in all kinds of products these days causes a negative mental health reaction in me that a vitamin B complex can't tame. The sinister encroachment of soy has made the careful reading of ingredients a necessity.

 

I started taking AyaLife (99% Pure CBD oil) as needed in April of 2020. So far it's the only thing that helps my mood when I've mistakenly eaten something that contains soy. AyaLife is THC-free (non-psychoactive) and is made in the USA. I also put a couple dropper fulls under my tongue before leaving the house or if I just need to calm down.

 

It's supposedly common knowledge that constantly angry Antifa-types basically live on soy products. What would happen if they stopped eating and drinking soy sludge and also took a B complex every day? Would a significant number of them become less angry? Would AyaLife CBD oil also help?

 

 

Wheat = Bad

If you are overweight, have type II diabetes, or are worried about the condition of your heart, check out the videos by Ken D Berry, William Davis, and Ivor Cummins. It seems that most people should avoid wheat, not just those who have a wheat allergy or celiac disease. Check out these books: Undoctored (#ad), Wheat Belly (#ad), and Eat Rich, Live Long (#ad).

 

 

Negative Ions = Good

Negative ions are good for us. You might want to avoid positive ion generators and ozone generators. A plain old air cleaner is better than nothing, but one that produces negative ions makes the air in a room fresher and easier for me to breathe. It also helps to brighten my mood.

 

 

Litterbugs = Bad

Never litter. Toss it in the trash or take it home. Do not throw it on the ground. Also remember that good people clean up after themselves at home, out in public, at a campsite and so on. Leave it better than you found it.

 

 

Climate Change Cash Grab = Bad

Seems like more people than ever finally care about water, land, and air pollution, but the climate change cash grab scam is designed to put more of your money into the bank accounts of greedy politicians. Those power-hungry schemers try to trick us with bad data and lies about overpopulation while pretending to be caring do-gooders. Trying to eliminate pollution is a good thing, but the carbon footprint of the average law-abiding human right now is actually making the planet greener instead of killing it.

 

Eliminating farms and ranches, eating bugs, getting locked down in 15-minute cities, owning nothing, using digital currency (with expiration dates) that is tied to your social credit score, and paying higher taxes will not make things better and “save the Earth.” All that stuff is part of an agenda that has nothing to do with making the world a better place for the average person. It's all about control, depopulation, and making things better for the ultra-rich. They just want enough peasants left alive to keep things running smoothly.

 

Watch these two videos for more information:

CO2 is Greening The Earth

The Climate Agenda

 

 

How to Wake Up Normies

Charlie Robinson had some good advice about waking up normies (see the link to the video below). He said instead of verbally unloading or being nasty or acting like a bully, ask the person a question. Being nice and asking a question will help the person actually think about the subject.

 

Interesting videos:

Charlie Robinson Talks About the Best Way to Wake Up Normies

Georgia Guidestones Explained

The Men Who Own Everything

Disclaimer

View this page and any external web sites at your own risk. I am not responsible for any possible spiritual, emotional, physical, financial or any other damage to you, your friends, family, ancestors, or descendants in the past, present, or future, living or dead, in this dimension or any other.

 

If reading this page opens a time vortex back to 1988, the good news is that I've heard there are infinite timelines and you can't do any damage to the timeline you came from. The bad news is that you can't return to your original timeline in the future, so enter the time vortex at your own risk.

 

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