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Intriguing graphics from a forgotten Atari 2600 game titled Earthquake have surfaced, revealing hidden artwork and game concepts from the iconic E.T. artist.
A Fascinating Discovery at the National Video Game Museum
The National Video Game Museum in Frisco, Texas, recently unveiled a captivating find within the archives of former Atari artist Jerome Domurat. They uncovered floppy disks containing graphic assets for a previously unknown Atari 2600 game, tentatively called Earthquake.
This discovery sheds light on a title that never saw the light of day but was clearly shaped by a creative vision and dedicated development effort.
Game Concept: A Rescue Mission Amidst Ruins
Based on the unearthed materials, Earthquake was planned as a game focusing on a rescue operation following a devastating earthquake. The player would control a firefighter navigating through shattered buildings, searching for survivors.
The lighting mechanic was designed to mimic the style of the 1982 game Haunted House, where the flashlight beam illuminates only a small portion of the screen, adding tension and atmosphere to the gameplay. Meanwhile, the levels were envisioned as maze-like structures, reminiscent of the classic Berzerk game.
Jerome Domurat: The Talent Behind the Art
Jerome Domurat served as an artist at Atari from 1981 until 1986. He contributed to the graphics of Raiders of the Lost Ark and the infamous E.T. game alongside Howard Scott Warshaw. He also worked on a game featuring the cartoon character Taz, collaborating with programmer Steve Woita.
Later in his career, Domurat designed graphics for Atari 5200 and Atari ST systems. In the early 1990s, he transitioned to Sega Multimedia as a creative director, contributing to the development of Jurassic Park for Sega CD.
Domurat passed away in 2016, and his archives have since become part of the National Video Game Museum’s collection.
“If the artist spent so much time creating graphics, the game must have been mentioned somewhere in development documents. However, we found no references to it,” museum representatives shared.
Ongoing Research on Earthquake’s History
Museum staff continue to delve into Domurat’s archives in search of more clues about Earthquake. They promise to share any new findings with the public, keeping the mystery alive.
The rediscovery of Earthquake’s graphics raises an intriguing question: how many other hidden gems from the golden age of gaming remain lost in dusty archives? What would you hope to uncover in forgotten game vaults?
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was Jerome Domurat and what was his role at Atari?
Jerome Domurat was an artist who worked at Atari from 1981 to 1986, creating graphics for games like Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., and others. - What is the gameplay concept for Earthquake?
Earthquake was designed as a rescue mission game where players controlled a firefighter navigating earthquake-damaged buildings in a maze-like environment, with limited flashlight visibility. - Why is there so little documentation about Earthquake?
Despite the detailed graphics, no development documents or mentions of Earthquake have been found so far, leaving it a mysterious and largely unknown project. - What other projects did Jerome Domurat work on after Atari?
After Atari, Domurat worked as a creative director at Sega Multimedia and contributed to the Jurassic Park game for Sega CD. - Where can I learn more about discoveries like Earthquake?
The National Video Game Museum in Frisco, Texas, regularly shares insights from their archives and collections related to classic video games and development history.
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