It seems to be official, in Ataris 50th anniversary collection the illusive Air World will finally be released! Earth, Fire, Water and now Air. The balance of the cosmos has been restored.
I'm currently creating my first game with 2 friends. We call it "Project Puppet" for now (the reason behind the name being that we will use this game to build and iron out the engine). This first game is set to be a dark psychological horror game. Could it be that we actually need a hopeful game, with an optimistic message for the future?
Holy crap, I just assumed these prizes were made with faux gems and gold until you mentioned the first dude melted it down?? That's honestly pretty incredible ngl.
When I was a child my parents bought an old Atari and a pile of used games. No instruction manuals or anything, just the cartridges. Swordquest was among them and we could never figure out what the game was supposed to be about. I guess this is why.
I had a similar story, but our town library still had a How To Beat ATARI guide and it had something about SwordQuest in it, so I kind of figured out my way through the first game (I think we had the comics too)
Atari is actually releasing Airworld this year as a bonus brand new game by Digital Eclipse for their 50th anniversary collection which actually seems cool as heck.
Not exactly the same, but BreakTheCode has been similar - playing games, breaking codes and solving puzzles to win IRL prizes. Their secret was having code phrases only verifiable on the server side, with no actual solutions stored on the client side, leaving it all up to the player's/community's interpretations to solve the puzzles.
I’d believe you except there is a mega man Easter egg that was never shown not even datamine has found it. So it is possible to hide stuff even in datamines
Yeah except it seems like a lot of these games used actual people at Atari checking physical entries to win. Although truth be told if something like this existed in 2022 the mystery would be turned into a community city driven ARG anyway.
I grew up in the early 2000s, but we didn't have modern games. I had an NES and a 2600. My friend bought a lot of 2600 stuff on ebay Summer of 04 and we spent that two month period diving into it. He plugged in Fireworld one day and we had a laugh about the weird mini games, until one of us found the poster advertising the contest. It blew our 9 year old minds, the fact that prizes of such quality could have been given away in a gaming competition. The more we looked into it the more of the tragedy we discovered. To this day, I find that the tale of Swordquest is one that gives me the most excitement at the start but leaves me so absolutely sad by the end
This is BY FAR the coolest Atari Game Story I've ever heard! Great telling and format be honest though... You had great material to work with here! I appreciate the video , It really is inspiring !
Man, i never even heard of this series until now and it's still heartbreaking that it wasn't completed. The completed SwordQuest truly would have been a legendary epic of classic gaming
God I never heard of this game, and Atari 7800 was the very first system that I ever had and began my life as a gamer, it sounds like a novelty of an RPG, or quest game, basically the very first one to exist on video game console. Hearing the Final Fantasy VI music in this video really made me happy because as I am listening to your video, I am playing Elden Ring and going through memories of the first time I played all the video games that have the music that you are using in your video. Legend of Zelda Ninja Gaiden Final Fantasy VI Ah great memories as I listen to the legend of the very first quest video game to ever be created in our lifetime, long live the winners of the Swordquest 🗡 !!!!
THe year is 2780: "Son let me this chalice that was passed from one generation to another through out the ages....Legend says your ancestor won at an Atari Video game contest" "What an Atari...or a video game" "No idea"
This was a really cool video! It's such a shame to see the gradual decline and cancellation of the quests and games. It was such a novel concept for the time, and really seemed to invigorate gamers and encourage a community feeling among the players. It would be amazing if we could find the final prizes, and to consider what could have been - what airworld might have looked like, how the games and contests might have gone if they hadn't degraded and been cancelled... Loved all the information and detail of this video as always, and the combination of informative and eye-pleasing visuals, and the clear voice-over and gorgeous music!
The remaining prizes were most likely returned back to the Franklin Mint as they were on loan to Atari for the contest. Atari would pass them off to the winners but had no legal right to hold onto the treasures themselves. As such Franklin Mint most likely melted them down to use in their other wares as was their right.
My grandparents had an Atari (for bridge practice), and they bought this as a clearance game for me to play. I fell in LOVE with the comic enclosed - it was so pretty and made the game feel so much deeper than the tech limitations would allow. Now I want the 50th Anniversary collection to see how it looks through adult eyes (and if they included the comic as an extra).
The infamous pilot episode of Saban Moon (weternized sailormoon proof of concept pilot) has been found after 25+ years thanks to Ray Mona who documented her search for the episode by tracking down people who were involved with the project and discovered the copy at the library of congress, got permission to extract the copy from bandai of america president Frank Ward, and now the mystery behind it is put to rest. Its time someone does a proper scavenger hunt of this 40+ year old relic.
This concept would be great for a great indie film. Have a guy who was a fan of this game as a teen, and now as a jaded adult, tries to find his old friends (guild) to try to find the sword, each one for different reasons, and then they take it too far trying to break into Atari but seeing it as a quest. It would be a great commentary when we take nostalgia too far and live in the past to try to relive a childhood that can no longer be
Waterworld was the best of the games. The way the game laid out the relationships between items and rooms without directly telling you was perfect. The first two games were entirely trial and error and copious note taking. To remake the series as a single game would be awesome. Put all four worlds together in one game, each as a chapter. Make the trials into something like a boss battle, platform or other twtich game. Maybe solve mini-game puzzles to earn thr clues. The items could have more function as well with each having strength, weaknesses and the ability to act as keys to unlock clues. The game could even randomize the solutions to add for replay value. Instead of a comic book, have cut scenes (skippable of course) that reveal the story as a player finds clues. It'd make a great retro-PS1 style 3D game.
Thank you for this! I've seen videos on this beforw, but this was really concise and helpful. Also, the soundtrack slaps! Are you both FF6 and/or Uematso fans???
Did the Waterworld comic also include a hint like the "prime number" and "seven" hints? And what about the Airworld solution? The game was never made but I assume they came up with the 4-part poem in advance. So the final line must've existed. Quest in Tower, Talisman Found Leads To Chalice, Power Abounds Hasten Toward Revealed Crown ... I assume the 4th line mentioned the Philosopher's Stone and rhymed with "crown."
What's the song that starts around 9:25? I know it's a remix of Underworld / Dark Side Field from Terranigma, but I don't recognize this particular version. Underworld is my favorite track from any game, so I'd really appreciate info or a link. Thanks in advance.
Honestly, given how vilified Jack would ultimately become in the video gaming community, I wouldn’t put it past him to have had the Sword hanging up above his fireplace at some point as he would’ve made for a pretty convincing King Tyrannus, all things considered.
Its also a shame that none of the Earthworld or Fireworld contest cartridges survived either. For some reason it facinates me that nobody could see what the future would hold when it comes to these old games. They were literally so worthless that thousands of them were dumped into a landfill because nobody wanted anything to do with them at the time. Now those same games decades later after being unearthed are actual sought after collectors items.
Yes, fire world was technically easier, but what made it much harder is that the clue numbers in the game are all place holders and are useless. How anyone ever figured out the words needed is pretty amazing. The game was rushed and unfinished.
I finished Earthworld like 20 years ago and unfortunately it's pretty uneventful. The game doesn't even end! After collecting the Warrior's sword you're left to wonder the zodiac chamber forever with no escape.
In these times, we need more events like this. Sadly gaming companies are being very greedy and more corporate now then anything else. One could say the fantasy has died.
I will NEVER get over what the Stephen Bell did to that literal peice of treasure. Not only did he DESTROYED something that would have been worth close to $80k in today’s money, but he literally destroyed a significant peice of video game history. Of all the idiotic, irresponsible and even downright disrespectful things I’ve ever heard done by anybody in my life, this has to be one of the worst. All I can say is that I hope he bought a goddamn Ferrari with that money because now aside from the games and comics, that chalice is all that’s left of this contest ever happening.
You should check out the channel SAILOR MOON 4LIFE, i havent looked too much into it, but it is another odd channel. His videos have other channels created by him supporting himself in the comments
There were no fans. The contest was a colossal failure and the games themselves were terrible. Between 1983-84 Atari lost like $800+ million dollars. As much as I'd like to believe that the prizes never awarded still exist somewhere the logical conclusion would be that they were melted down and recast for other purposes.
It seems to be official, in Ataris 50th anniversary collection the illusive Air World will finally be released! Earth, Fire, Water and now Air. The balance of the cosmos has been restored.
Great story mate, I never heard about it before.
I'm currently creating my first game with 2 friends. We call it "Project Puppet" for now (the reason behind the name being that we will use this game to build and iron out the engine). This first game is set to be a dark psychological horror game. Could it be that we actually need a hopeful game, with an optimistic message for the future?
Screw the game, finish the comic!
Man that story of the guy turning his prize into a family heirloom is so, fucking, badass.
Wholesome af
I literally said “aww” out loud. It’s so sweet that it meant that much to him. Most people aren’t that passionate about games now it seems.
Yeah that’s super dope. To think your grandpa was a gaming beast is dope lol.
Until some dope decides to sell it to Pawn Stars for 1/10th its worth because 'I need the money more.'
I remember this tale from back when I used to watch the AVGN religiously, hearing it again made me feel oddly nostalgic.
It was one of both of our favorite episodes too! Digging much more into the mystery and history now also made us pretty nostalgic too.
@@DebunkFile hell yea... and the Nintendo world championships?
Holy crap, I just assumed these prizes were made with faux gems and gold until you mentioned the first dude melted it down?? That's honestly pretty incredible ngl.
Hearing the reference to AVGN at the end made me tear up a bit. Loved his video, loved this one. Great work.
Thank you so much, it was certainly an emotional one to write too, we knew we had to make the reference
When I was a child my parents bought an old Atari and a pile of used games. No instruction manuals or anything, just the cartridges. Swordquest was among them and we could never figure out what the game was supposed to be about. I guess this is why.
I had a similar story, but our town library still had a How To Beat ATARI guide and it had something about SwordQuest in it, so I kind of figured out my way through the first game (I think we had the comics too)
Atari is actually releasing Airworld this year as a bonus brand new game by Digital Eclipse for their 50th anniversary collection which actually seems cool as heck.
Holding a contest like this today is sadly impossible. Players would either datamine the game, cheat, or share secrets online.
Dataminers would ruin everything
Not exactly the same, but BreakTheCode has been similar - playing games, breaking codes and solving puzzles to win IRL prizes. Their secret was having code phrases only verifiable on the server side, with no actual solutions stored on the client side, leaving it all up to the player's/community's interpretations to solve the puzzles.
Or it would have to be really well thought out.
I’d believe you except there is a mega man Easter egg that was never shown not even datamine has found it. So it is possible to hide stuff even in datamines
Yeah except it seems like a lot of these games used actual people at Atari checking physical entries to win. Although truth be told if something like this existed in 2022 the mystery would be turned into a community city driven ARG anyway.
"The Kingdom of Nerdom depends on it". You said the AVGN phrase at the end! What a glorious way to end the video!
the game itself sounds so cool like a remake/modern version would be so cool even without the real life prize component
This story was amazing. I had never heard of anything like it. I can’t believe that guy melted down the medallion.
The sword is probably sitting in someone's closet, gathering webs like the Atlantean sword from Conan: The Barbarian
I grew up in the early 2000s, but we didn't have modern games. I had an NES and a 2600. My friend bought a lot of 2600 stuff on ebay Summer of 04 and we spent that two month period diving into it. He plugged in Fireworld one day and we had a laugh about the weird mini games, until one of us found the poster advertising the contest. It blew our 9 year old minds, the fact that prizes of such quality could have been given away in a gaming competition. The more we looked into it the more of the tragedy we discovered. To this day, I find that the tale of Swordquest is one that gives me the most excitement at the start but leaves me so absolutely sad by the end
I wish I had the means to do this when I was a kid back then, I would have loved it.
How disappointing it turned out this way.
This is BY FAR the coolest Atari Game Story I've ever heard! Great telling and format be honest though... You had great material to work with here! I appreciate the video , It really is inspiring !
I wish something like this still happened. Even without the prizes and stuff but the comic stuff finding secret in game. Etc. Something more engaging
Man, i never even heard of this series until now and it's still heartbreaking that it wasn't completed. The completed SwordQuest truly would have been a legendary epic of classic gaming
I hope the artifacts will one day be reunited in someone's private collection (even tho one of them was melted down)
Some people have claimed that Atari hadn't finished paying for them, so they might have been returned to the Franklin Mint.
"The real treasure is the friends we made along the way." -Barney
God I never heard of this game, and Atari 7800 was the very first system that I ever had and began my life as a gamer, it sounds like a novelty of an RPG, or quest game, basically the very first one to exist on video game console.
Hearing the Final Fantasy VI music in this video really made me happy because as I am listening to your video, I am playing Elden Ring and going through memories of the first time I played all the video games that have the music that you are using in your video.
Legend of Zelda
Ninja Gaiden
Final Fantasy VI
Ah great memories as I listen to the legend of the very first quest video game to ever be created in our lifetime, long live the winners of the Swordquest 🗡 !!!!
THe year is 2780: "Son let me this chalice that was passed from one generation to another through out the ages....Legend says your ancestor won at an Atari Video game contest"
"What an Atari...or a video game"
"No idea"
Haha.
This was a really cool video! It's such a shame to see the gradual decline and cancellation of the quests and games. It was such a novel concept for the time, and really seemed to invigorate gamers and encourage a community feeling among the players. It would be amazing if we could find the final prizes, and to consider what could have been - what airworld might have looked like, how the games and contests might have gone if they hadn't degraded and been cancelled...
Loved all the information and detail of this video as always, and the combination of informative and eye-pleasing visuals, and the clear voice-over and gorgeous music!
Thank you so much 💛💛
The remaining prizes were most likely returned back to the Franklin Mint as they were on loan to Atari for the contest. Atari would pass them off to the winners but had no legal right to hold onto the treasures themselves. As such Franklin Mint most likely melted them down to use in their other wares as was their right.
My grandparents had an Atari (for bridge practice), and they bought this as a clearance game for me to play. I fell in LOVE with the comic enclosed - it was so pretty and made the game feel so much deeper than the tech limitations would allow. Now I want the 50th Anniversary collection to see how it looks through adult eyes (and if they included the comic as an extra).
This almost like a precursor to ARGs, pretty interesting story!
Update: After ALL these years, AirWorld will FINALLY be released as part of Atari 50 for the Nintendo Switch, PS5, XBOX One, and PC.
This is why we can't have nice things.
Debug files you are a god send Ever since that old AVGN episode I've always wanted to see somebody else cover this very topic
The infamous pilot episode of Saban Moon (weternized sailormoon proof of concept pilot) has been found after 25+ years thanks to Ray Mona who documented her search for the episode by tracking down people who were involved with the project and discovered the copy at the library of congress, got permission to extract the copy from bandai of america president Frank Ward, and now the mystery behind it is put to rest. Its time someone does a proper scavenger hunt of this 40+ year old relic.
Your speech at the end was epic 👏 👌 thank you that was a cool video enjoy that
Glad you enjoyed!
@@DebunkFileI believe your right 💯 we need games like this I wanna go on a quest and try win a prize at the end sweet mate thank you
This concept would be great for a great indie film. Have a guy who was a fan of this game as a teen, and now as a jaded adult, tries to find his old friends (guild) to try to find the sword, each one for different reasons, and then they take it too far trying to break into Atari but seeing it as a quest. It would be a great commentary when we take nostalgia too far and live in the past to try to relive a childhood that can no longer be
I genuinely love this idea, so cinematic
''The Kingdom of Nerdum'' xD wow, one epic tale to be told 4 sure! loved it :)
ONE OF MY FAVORITE GAMES AND STORIES OF ALL TIME! THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BACK INTO THE SPOTLIGHT IT DESERVES.
Air world is out on the Atari collection now
Your videos have gotten so popular lately! Good job man!
Thank you 💛💛
“What were they thinking!?!?”
FFVI music takes me back... every time. It holds a special place in my head.
same, but so much it's kind of distracting me from the subject matter :/
@@wompwomp9946 well it doesn't distract anyone else, u must be the only one
truly a memorable moment of gaming history
Great video as always! This reminded me of The Secret, the book treasure hunt with real prizes.
Waterworld was the best of the games. The way the game laid out the relationships between items and rooms without directly telling you was perfect. The first two games were entirely trial and error and copious note taking.
To remake the series as a single game would be awesome. Put all four worlds together in one game, each as a chapter. Make the trials into something like a boss battle, platform or other twtich game. Maybe solve mini-game puzzles to earn thr clues. The items could have more function as well with each having strength, weaknesses and the ability to act as keys to unlock clues.
The game could even randomize the solutions to add for replay value. Instead of a comic book, have cut scenes (skippable of course) that reveal the story as a player finds clues.
It'd make a great retro-PS1 style 3D game.
Thank you for this! I've seen videos on this beforw, but this was really concise and helpful.
Also, the soundtrack slaps!
Are you both FF6 and/or Uematso fans???
Who isn't a fan of ff6?
Sword quest? That's a name I haven't heard in a long time.
that guy is a legend lmao
can I ask when the next 4chan video is coming? its like my favourite youtube series atm
Avgn made this event seem like an adventure fr
Wow! I remember playing this on a TRS-80 computer!
Did the Waterworld comic also include a hint like the "prime number" and "seven" hints?
And what about the Airworld solution? The game was never made but I assume they came up with the 4-part poem in advance. So the final line must've existed.
Quest in Tower, Talisman Found
Leads To Chalice, Power Abounds
Hasten Toward Revealed Crown
...
I assume the 4th line mentioned the Philosopher's Stone and rhymed with "crown."
What's the song that starts around 9:25? I know it's a remix of Underworld / Dark Side Field from Terranigma, but I don't recognize this particular version. Underworld is my favorite track from any game, so I'd really appreciate info or a link. Thanks in advance.
Written by Sep & JIP.........and James Rolfe. 🧡
These kind of contests could never be done today unfortunately.
The champion to unite the kingdom of nerdom will one day appear
@@DebunkFile loved it! Huge nostalgia trip on this one!
Some late night chill vibes let's go
That is it, 100% diamond achievements and 100% platinuming a game needs to come with irl rewards lol
Ok but honestly if I had an Atari chalice I’d have a family just to make it a family heirloom
someone at atari was really reading those llewellyn books
Honestly, given how vilified Jack would ultimately become in the video gaming community, I wouldn’t put it past him to have had the Sword hanging up above his fireplace at some point as he would’ve made for a pretty convincing King Tyrannus, all things considered.
Its also a shame that none of the Earthworld or Fireworld contest cartridges survived either. For some reason it facinates me that nobody could see what the future would hold when it comes to these old games. They were literally so worthless that thousands of them were dumped into a landfill because nobody wanted anything to do with them at the time. Now those same games decades later after being unearthed are actual sought after collectors items.
What I wouldn't give to claim that sword.
That sword is sick
I wish at least the Sword Quest story was finished. Comic book form, animated series, re-do the games. Something for a conclusion.
Well they are addressing very specific spiritual concepts or ideas
I was just thinking about this channel haha
You know I'm down for this
i remember seeing this on avgn and being really interested in the story (but too lazy to look up) thanks guys :3
You’re welcome!
I would like to meet the guy who paid for his car with an amulet.
I think it's about time SwordQuest was made into a movie. A GOOD movie. Not a comedy.
Fascinating story thanks for sharing
Of course!
10:11 Like a BOSS.
Note to self; never name anything "Waterworld" because apparently that name is cursed.
Best video hands down
He had no idea what he was looking at.
I used to a reprint copy of the comic in trade form. I accidentally got rid of it and bought it again for my kindle app.
What's the very first music, at 0:24?
in the first game I get the goal of getting clues to find the final message but how were you suppose to find what item to put where????
You weren't. The whole thing was a colossal sham
Yes.
i never let my inside child die that's why everyone says me "get a life bro grow up"
From soft should do something like this but the prizes are legendary items from the games
I have played air world once before. But my dad works at Microsoft.
Yes, fire world was technically easier, but what made it much harder is that the clue numbers in the game are all place holders and are useless. How anyone ever figured out the words needed is pretty amazing. The game was rushed and unfinished.
I actually have Swordquest on my Atari Flashback, and still have not beaten it after like a decade or so.
I finished Earthworld like 20 years ago and unfortunately it's pretty uneventful. The game doesn't even end! After collecting the Warrior's sword you're left to wonder the zodiac chamber forever with no escape.
Of course the coolest thing I've ever heard of got cancelled
This is cool as fk. Thanks for the history lesson
Fantastic
These artifacts are probably like The One Piece
There’s a copy of sword quest at my local game store, should I get it??
specifically waterworld
How much were they asking for it?
In these times, we need more events like this. Sadly gaming companies are being very greedy and more corporate now then anything else. One could say the fantasy has died.
I miss Ultima online it was lit like you could be just what you wanted creature tamer was illest imo
fr fr
QUEST ON!
Wow, surprised they gave winners 2k after canceling the contest
They didn't do it to be nice. They did it in exchange for a waiver not to sue for canceling the contest.
I will NEVER get over what the Stephen Bell did to that literal peice of treasure. Not only did he DESTROYED something that would have been worth close to $80k in today’s money, but he literally destroyed a significant peice of video game history.
Of all the idiotic, irresponsible and even downright disrespectful things I’ve ever heard done by anybody in my life, this has to be one of the worst. All I can say is that I hope he bought a goddamn Ferrari with that money because now aside from the games and comics, that chalice is all that’s left of this contest ever happening.
What kinda a-hole melts it down to buy a car?!?!?!
The video game nerd said that supposedly the dude who bought Atari has the sword hanging in his office or home.
RIP George Perez.
Why the fuck would you melt something like that down? It would have been worth way more to a collector as it was than the value of the materials.
I own all 3 swordquest games including Waterworld
Hope a airworld prototype will appear so we can see all four games together
They were looking for someone specific
You should check out the channel SAILOR MOON 4LIFE, i havent looked too much into it, but it is another odd channel. His videos have other channels created by him supporting himself in the comments
I had the Swordquest Fire. Made no sense to a 9 yr old. lol
God weekend
Why didn't Franklin mint just sell them to the sword quest fans?
How many fans had $50,000 for a sword? Besides, it's not even confirmed that they went back to the Mint.
There were no fans. The contest was a colossal failure and the games themselves were terrible. Between 1983-84 Atari lost like $800+ million dollars. As much as I'd like to believe that the prizes never awarded still exist somewhere the logical conclusion would be that they were melted down and recast for other purposes.
I don’t care, I loved Fireworld and still do.
The sword of truth or of light
This didn't show up in my feed. Are you shadowbanned?
Why is this ominous or something