Search
- Nintendo Entertainment System, 1987 - The Nintendo Entertainment System catalyzed the revival of home video game consoles in the United States. While the US was recovering from the "Video Game Crash of 1983," the acclaimed "Famicom" system was released in Japan. When adapted for North American markets as the NES in 1985, sales skyrocketed. Nintendo reinvigorated gaming, establishing rigorous quality standards, game testing, and debugging.

- 1987
- Collections - Artifact
Nintendo Entertainment System, 1987
The Nintendo Entertainment System catalyzed the revival of home video game consoles in the United States. While the US was recovering from the "Video Game Crash of 1983," the acclaimed "Famicom" system was released in Japan. When adapted for North American markets as the NES in 1985, sales skyrocketed. Nintendo reinvigorated gaming, establishing rigorous quality standards, game testing, and debugging.
- Excavation Crew in April 2014 at the Alamogordo, New Mexico Landfill, Site of the 1983 Atari Video Game Burial - In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. These images document the world's first video game excavation.

- April 26, 2014
- Collections - Artifact
Excavation Crew in April 2014 at the Alamogordo, New Mexico Landfill, Site of the 1983 Atari Video Game Burial
In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. These images document the world's first video game excavation.
- Atari Products Excavated April 2014 from the Alamogordo, New Mexico Landfill, Site of the 1983 Atari Video Game Burial - In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. These images document the world's first video game excavation.

- April 26, 2014
- Collections - Artifact
Atari Products Excavated April 2014 from the Alamogordo, New Mexico Landfill, Site of the 1983 Atari Video Game Burial
In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. These images document the world's first video game excavation.
- Fairchild Channel F Video Game System, 1976 - The Fairchild Channel F Video Entertainment System is the first home video game console to include interchangeable cartridges. Jerry Lawson, Fairchild's head of engineering and hardware, co-invented the cartridge, which continues to be adapted into systems today. Lawson was one of the first Black engineers to work in Silicon Valley and was an early member of the Homebrew Computer Club.

- 1976
- Collections - Artifact
Fairchild Channel F Video Game System, 1976
The Fairchild Channel F Video Entertainment System is the first home video game console to include interchangeable cartridges. Jerry Lawson, Fairchild's head of engineering and hardware, co-invented the cartridge, which continues to be adapted into systems today. Lawson was one of the first Black engineers to work in Silicon Valley and was an early member of the Homebrew Computer Club.
- Fairchild Videocart-11 Game, "Backgammon, Acey-Deucey," 1977 - The Fairchild Channel F Video Entertainment System is the first home video game console to include interchangeable cartridges. Jerry Lawson, Fairchild's head of engineering and hardware, co-invented the cartridge, which continues to be adapted into systems today. Lawson was one of the first Black engineers to work in Silicon Valley and was an early member of the Homebrew Computer Club.

- 1977
- Collections - Artifact
Fairchild Videocart-11 Game, "Backgammon, Acey-Deucey," 1977
The Fairchild Channel F Video Entertainment System is the first home video game console to include interchangeable cartridges. Jerry Lawson, Fairchild's head of engineering and hardware, co-invented the cartridge, which continues to be adapted into systems today. Lawson was one of the first Black engineers to work in Silicon Valley and was an early member of the Homebrew Computer Club.
- Alamogordo, New Mexico Landfill in September 1983, Site of the Atari Video Game Burial - In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. This image documents the original 1983 burial of material.

- September 01, 1983
- Collections - Artifact
Alamogordo, New Mexico Landfill in September 1983, Site of the Atari Video Game Burial
In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. This image documents the original 1983 burial of material.
- Cementing over Refuse at the Atari Video Game Burial in September 1983, Alamogordo, New Mexico Landfill - In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. This image documents the original 1983 burial of material.

- September 01, 1983
- Collections - Artifact
Cementing over Refuse at the Atari Video Game Burial in September 1983, Alamogordo, New Mexico Landfill
In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. This image documents the original 1983 burial of material.
- Hallmark "Video Party" Christmas Ornament, 1996 - Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

- 1996
- Collections - Artifact
Hallmark "Video Party" Christmas Ornament, 1996
Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.
- Certificate of Authenticity for Video Game Recovered in 2014 from the 1983 Atari Video Game Burial Site - In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. This document captures the history of the world's first video game excavation.

- April 26, 2014
- Collections - Artifact
Certificate of Authenticity for Video Game Recovered in 2014 from the 1983 Atari Video Game Burial Site
In 1983, rumors circulated: Atari was bankrupt, and was dumping truckloads of games into a New Mexico landfill. Victim to the "Video Game Crash," the company buried 700,000 cartridges in the desert. The story became an obscure pop culture legend -- until "The Atari Tomb" was unearthed in 2014. This document captures the history of the world's first video game excavation.
- Sony Playstation, 1997 - Sony's PlayStation became a driving force in the home video game market. Released in the U. S. in 1995, PlayStation adopted compact disc rather than using the then-standard cartridges to create the gaming experience. A CD's increased storage space opened up a larger, virtual 3-D world to explore. Gamers approved and over 100 million original PlayStation consoles were sold.

- 1997
- Collections - Artifact
Sony Playstation, 1997
Sony's PlayStation became a driving force in the home video game market. Released in the U. S. in 1995, PlayStation adopted compact disc rather than using the then-standard cartridges to create the gaming experience. A CD's increased storage space opened up a larger, virtual 3-D world to explore. Gamers approved and over 100 million original PlayStation consoles were sold.