Learning Games Initiative Research Archive (LGIRA) 2026-08-18T16:51:57+00:00 Zend_Feed_Writer https://lgira.mesmernet.org/ Learning Games Initiative Research Archive (LGIRA) https://lgira.mesmernet.org <![CDATA[Retro Videogame Magazine 5]]> Includes interview with Howard Scott Warshaw (developer of Atari E.T. game) by Charles F. Gray.

File needs to be uploaded to server from Ken's home computer.

For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-19T01:13:58+00:00 2018-08-30T10:35:46+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1594 Learning Games Initiative Research Archive (LGIRA) <![CDATA[Howard Scott Warshaw Interview]]> As of 3/19/2015, this interview appears at the following links:

http://www.gooddealgames.com/interviews/int_Howard%20Scott%20Warshaw.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20070707235718/http://atari2600duds.sitesled.com/et.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20050406043144/http://beepbopboop.heavysixer.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=67

In an email from 3/19/2015 with Ken S. McAllister, Charles Gray noted that two other interviews had been set up with HSW:

2nd Interview appears on:

E.T. Book Cart (Atari 2600 Cartridge)

E.T. Book 7800 (Atari 7800 Cartridge)

3rd Interview:

Only questions by me. No answers as Howard did not have time.

Not published.

For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-19T00:12:00+00:00 2017-06-06T10:46:51+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1593 Charles F. Gray <![CDATA[E.T. Book Cart Special Edition]]>

From a communication with Charles Gray on 3/21/15, below is the complete version of the E.T. Book Cart:

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Atari Age

Manufacturer: Atari Age

Label: Regular Label with Atari Age logo

Cart Housing: Clear Transparent

Details: 1 Prototype Made

1st Generation Prototype

Shown at Philly VGXPO 2006

Contents: Basic Aspects of Chapters

No Interview

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Game

Status: ATARI AGE RETAINS OWNERSHIP

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: World

TV Format: ALL(NTSC, PAL, and SECAM)

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Gray Games

Manufacturer: 8-Bit Classics

Label: Prototype Label

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 5 Prototypes Made

2nd Generation Prototype

Contents:

The Wisdom of E.T.

1st Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Secrets of E.T.

No Ode to Howard Scott Warshaw

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Alamogordo Landfill

Status: IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Atari Age

Manufacturer: Atari Age

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with Atari Age logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1st Printing

20 Carts Released

6 Carts Returned

"ZERO PAGE LOAD ERROR"

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: RECALLED OR IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Atari Age

Manufacturer: Atari Age

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with Atari Age logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 2nd Printing

"ZERO PAGE LOAD ERROR" Corrected

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: DISCONTINUED BY ATARI AGE

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: 8-Bit Classics

Manufacturer: 8-Bit Classics

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with 8-Bit Classics logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1st Printing by 8 Bit Classics

"ZERO PAGE LOAD ERROR" Corrected

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: DISCONTINUED BY 8-BIT CLASSICS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Gray Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Label: Regular Label with Hozer Video Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1 Prototype Made

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: IN PRIVATE COLLECTION

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart Special Edition

Company: Gray Games

Region: World

TV Format: ALL(NTSC, PAL, and SECAM)

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Hozer Video Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Label: Special Edition Label with Hozer Video Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1st Printing

Same Rom as E.T. Book Cart 2nd Generation Prototype

Contents:

The Wisdom of E.T.

1st Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Secrets of E.T.

No Ode to Howard Scott Warshaw

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Alamogordo Landfill

Status: CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT HOZER VIDEO GAMES

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart Special Edition "Label Misprint"

Company: Gray Games

Region: World

TV Format: ALL(NTSC, PAL, and SECAM)

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Hozer Video Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Label: Regular Label with Hozer Video Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: Label Misprint. 2 in Existence.

Same Rom as E.T. Book Cart 2nd Generation Prototype

Contents:

The Wisdom of E.T.

1st Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Secrets of E.T.

No Ode to Howard Scott Warshaw

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Alamogordo Landfill

Status: IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart "Rom Misprint"

Company: Gray Games

Region: World

TV Format: ALL(NTSC, PAL, and SECAM)

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Good Deal Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with Good Deal Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1st Printing by Good Deal Games

E.T. Book Cart Special Edition Rom accidentally burned to cart order of 15. Same Rom as E.T. Book Cart 2nd Generation Prototype which is the same Rom used in the E.T. Book Cart Special Edition,

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

1st Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Secrets of E.T.

No Ode to Howard Scott Warshaw

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Alamogordo Landfill

Status: DISCONTINUED DUE TO ROM MISPRINT.

IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Good Deal Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with Good Deal Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 2nd Printing by Good Deal Games

"ZERO PAGE LOAD ERROR" Corrected

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GOOD DEAL GAMES

For more (including 3 images) view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T23:13:24+00:00 2017-06-06T10:47:14+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1577 Michael Rideout and Charles F. Gray <![CDATA[E.T. Book Cart Label Misprint]]>
[Text Unavailable]

For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T19:15:26+00:00 2017-06-06T10:48:16+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1591 Charles F. Gray <![CDATA[Archive of BIN (ROM) Files for Games Released by Gray Games]]> Gray Games is in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T19:02:33+00:00 2017-06-06T10:48:01+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1589 Charles F. Gray, et al. <![CDATA[Hozer Video Games Manual]]> For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T18:55:31+00:00 2017-06-06T10:48:45+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1588 Charles F. Gray and Randy Crihfield <![CDATA[E.T.: Return to Earth Manual]]> For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T18:49:04+00:00 2017-06-06T10:48:59+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1587 Charles F. Gray <![CDATA[E.T. Book Cart Manual]]> For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T18:44:42+00:00 2017-06-06T10:49:24+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1586 Charles F. Gray and Michael Rideout <![CDATA[Cyplix Manual]]> For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T18:42:38+00:00 2017-06-06T10:49:38+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1585 Charles F. Gray <![CDATA[A.I. Project Manual]]> For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T18:38:15+00:00 2017-06-06T10:49:53+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1584 Charles F. Gray and Greg Zumwalt <![CDATA[Collection of Photos of Charles F. Gray's Prototypes and Limited Edition Releases]]> [This complete file is not available to the general public--see below to learn why. The file is located in another non-public record on the LGIRA server. If you would like access to some of its contents, plus contact LGIRA staff.]

A very large (1.2 Gb) file composed of photos of all of Charles Gray's games. About this donation to the Archive, Charles writes:

Here is most of my prototypes and limited releases pictures as a free download via my Dropbox account:

https://db.tt/cSoifvzE

Feel free to publish these as you see fit. I will ask that packages with people's addresses and signatures on carts are not published due to possible identity theft. The signatures are on the back of the carts and may contain more than just my signature for colaborative efforts.

Some of my releases(such as Astrowar) never had a limited release and did not have physical prototypes, so of course these will not be in this folder.

I do not have pics of the prototype made and used of the incomplete E.T. Book Cart made and shown by Atari Age aside from what I emailed you from the 2006 Philly VGXPO. I asked Albert Yarusso about this proto and this is what he said,

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

>

> Question about 1st generation E.T. Book Cart at the 2006 Philly VGXPO as seen in this picture.

>

> Does this cart still exist?

It may still exist, that was some time ago and I’ve moved a few times since then, so it could be in a box somewhere. I don’t normally “recycle” those carts, but since it didn’t have label, I may have reused the cart for demos at another show.

> Was only one cart made or two carts?

Probably just the one, since I always bring hardware necessary to build another cart if need be.

> Would you email me a couple front and back pics of this cart?

I can if I still have the cart. However, if I don’t have it immediately accessible (in other words, it’s buried somewhere in my garage), that’s not something I’d be able to do. I do remember “scrounging” for some clear shells to use for another show (for demo carts), so if I don’t come up with the cart right away, it probably no longer exists.

> What is the cart laying on the Atari 2600 in this picture?

That is Sync, which was another demo for the show (and the game described in the left placard on top of the monitor).

Take care,

..Al

For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T17:49:24+00:00 2017-06-06T10:50:22+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1582 Charles F. Gray, et al. <![CDATA[Images from the E.T. Book Cart's 2006 Philly VGXPO]]>

Images from E.T. Book Cart release at 2006 Philly VGXPO. This was the first generation unfinished prototype.

For more (including 6 images) view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T17:30:26+00:00 2017-06-06T10:50:34+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1581 Charles F. Gray <![CDATA[E.T. Book Cart Abiword Files]]> For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T17:25:50+00:00 2017-06-06T10:50:59+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1580 Michael Rideout and Charles F. Gray <![CDATA[E.T. Book Cart Text Files]]> These are the actual text files that comprise the E.T. Book Cart. They were sent to us by Michael Rideout via Charles Gray.

For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T17:22:22+00:00 2017-06-06T10:51:10+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1579 Charles F. Gray and Michael Rideout <![CDATA[Interview with Charles F. Gray]]> For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T16:25:20+00:00 2017-06-06T10:51:22+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1578 Charles F. Gray and Interviewer (?) <![CDATA[<em>E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial</em>]]>
[Text Unavailable]

For more view the original article

]]> 2015-03-18T15:41:08+00:00 2017-06-06T10:51:51+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1576 Atari, Inc. <![CDATA[E.T. Book Cart]]>

To be determined: Did you get the manual with the E.T. Book Cart? If not, I am sure Albert Yarusso still has the PDF file and can print you off a high res manual. I think if your organization bought the E.T. Book Cart right when it was released and you did not return it to Atari Age, you have a first printing of the cart. This means it has the Zero Page Load Error which means that on 4 switch Atari 2600s it works fine. BUT on the 6 switch Atari 2600s, the screen will roll. Michael Rideout can explain it better. Otherwise you have the second printing. (From personal correspondence with Charles Gray, 5/15/2013)

See also: http://www.2600connection.com/eastereggs/26etbookcart.html

From personal correspondence with Charles Gray, 3/21/2015, below is the complete version history of the E.T. Book Cart:

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Atari Age

Manufacturer: Atari Age

Label: Regular Label with Atari Age logo

Cart Housing: Clear Transparent

Details: 1 Prototype Made

1st Generation Prototype

Shown at Philly VGXPO 2006

Contents: Basic Aspects of Chapters

No Interview

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Game

Status: ATARI AGE RETAINS OWNERSHIP

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: World

TV Format: ALL(NTSC, PAL, and SECAM)

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Gray Games

Manufacturer: 8-Bit Classics

Label: Prototype Label

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 5 Prototypes Made

2nd Generation Prototype

Contents:

The Wisdom of E.T.

1st Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Secrets of E.T.

No Ode to Howard Scott Warshaw

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Alamogordo Landfill

Status: IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Atari Age

Manufacturer: Atari Age

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with Atari Age logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1st Printing

20 Carts Released

6 Carts Returned

"ZERO PAGE LOAD ERROR"

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: RECALLED OR IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Atari Age

Manufacturer: Atari Age

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with Atari Age logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 2nd Printing

"ZERO PAGE LOAD ERROR" Corrected

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: DISCONTINUED BY ATARI AGE

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: 8-Bit Classics

Manufacturer: 8-Bit Classics

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with 8-Bit Classics logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1st Printing by 8 Bit Classics

"ZERO PAGE LOAD ERROR" Corrected

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: DISCONTINUED BY 8-BIT CLASSICS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Gray Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Label: Regular Label with Hozer Video Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1 Prototype Made

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: IN PRIVATE COLLECTION

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart Special Edition

Company: Gray Games

Region: World

TV Format: ALL(NTSC, PAL, and SECAM)

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Hozer Video Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Label: Special Edition Label with Hozer Video Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1st Printing

Same Rom as E.T. Book Cart 2nd Generation Prototype

Contents:

The Wisdom of E.T.

1st Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Secrets of E.T.

No Ode to Howard Scott Warshaw

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Alamogordo Landfill

Status: CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT HOZER VIDEO GAMES

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart Special Edition "Label Misprint"

Company: Gray Games

Region: World

TV Format: ALL(NTSC, PAL, and SECAM)

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Hozer Video Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Label: Regular Label with Hozer Video Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: Label Misprint. 2 in Existence.

Same Rom as E.T. Book Cart 2nd Generation Prototype

Contents:

The Wisdom of E.T.

1st Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Secrets of E.T.

No Ode to Howard Scott Warshaw

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Alamogordo Landfill

Status: IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart "Rom Misprint"

Company: Gray Games

Region: World

TV Format: ALL(NTSC, PAL, and SECAM)

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Good Deal Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with Good Deal Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 1st Printing by Good Deal Games

E.T. Book Cart Special Edition Rom accidentally burned to cart order of 15. Same Rom as E.T. Book Cart 2nd Generation Prototype which is the same Rom used in the E.T. Book Cart Special Edition,

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

1st Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Secrets of E.T.

No Ode to Howard Scott Warshaw

No E.T.'s Transmission

No Alamogordo Landfill

Status: DISCONTINUED DUE TO ROM MISPRINT.

IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

----------

Title: E.T. Book Cart

Company: Gray Games

Region: North America

TV Format: NTSC

Programmer: Charles F. Gray and Michael S. Rideout

Publisher: Good Deal Games

Manufacturer: Hozer Video Games

Contributing Writers: Charles F. Gray, Duane Alan Hahn, and others

Label: Regular Label with Good Deal Games logo

Cart Housing: Solid Black

Details: 2nd Printing by Good Deal Games

"ZERO PAGE LOAD ERROR" Corrected

Contents: The Wisdom of E.T.

2nd Charles F. Gray Interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Ode to HSW

Secrets of E.T.

E.T.'s Transmission

Alamogordo Landfill

Easter Egg

Status: CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GOOD DEAL GAMES

For more view the original article

]]> 2012-08-14T15:04:35+00:00 2017-06-06T11:02:06+00:00 https://lgira.mesmernet.org/items/show/1053 Charles F. Gray and Michael Rideout