* Although the original release doesn’t list it, a label version of Surround has been found having the controller type info listed AND having a numbered end label.īreakout, Home Run, and Hunt & Score are the only 3 known (besides some of the original 9 releases) that were made with a colored border on the end labels. The number on the end label is dropped as well. Those with larger ™ and ® symbols are earlier releases than those with smaller symbols. Labels now have the controller type info listed, with Surround* being the first. A limited few have a colored border on the end label as well. The last 2 CX #’s of the title appear on the end label. Only the original 9 releases appear with this style. Furthermore, there are several sub-styles with the matte-black look: Some titles were issued in two (or more) different-colored text. Besides the title, the face of the cartridge also shows the game variations listed by number.

Some of the cartridges have a colored border surrounding the text on the end label as well. This 1 st style features cartridges with a matte-black (flat) finish, and colored text. If you have any updates to add, email me.

For more variations and 3rd-party info, check out Philip Dispenza's website. Some of the pictures (especially those in the last section) were culled from various sources over the years.For more information, check out John Earney's article. This pertains to the week and year that cartridge was produced. I suggest trying to obtain some of the olderĪlso, you'll notice that many carts have numbers or letters stamped onto the end labels. The information listed below should help to sort out the confusion in many cases, but to be 100% sure on a given cartridge. Changes in software, hardware, or packaging did not affect all of these at the same time, which makes tracking down the original release version of a certain item even more difficult.

Atari had its products made at company-owned facilities in various locations around the world (besides the U.S.), such as Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan. You can’t rely on any one specific detail there are many factors involved: type font/color, picture/no picture, overall layout, etc. Determining if a cart you have is an original release or a re-release depends mostly on what type of label(s) it has.

Battle tank atari manual