CommaVid Inc.
FormerlyComputer Magic Video
IndustryVideo game development and publishing
Founded1981
Founders
  • Irwin Gaines
  • John Bronstein
  • Joseph Biel
Defunct1983
FateDefunct
Headquarters
Aurora, Illinois
,
United States

CommaVid Inc. was a game developer and publisher for the Atari 2600 that released six games between 1981 and 1983, plus a programming tool for the console.[1] The company was founded by Dr. Irwin Gaines, Dr. John Bronstein, and Dr. Joseph Biel[2] under the name Computer Magic Video, which was shortened to Com Ma Vid, or CommaVid.[2] It was based in Aurora, Illinois.[3] In addition to developing its own titles, CommaVid ported the arcade game Venture to the 2600 for Coleco.[2]

CommaVid's game were mostly swept up in the video game crash of 1983, but several, such as Mines of Minos, received positive reviews. In 2010 the Retroist wrote, "CommaVid is one of those companies whose games are hit or miss. But even when it is a miss, the games usually bring something interesting to the table."[4]

Products

Games

The following games were released by CommaVid:[1]

MagicCard

MagiCard is an Atari 2600 programming tool on a cartridge that originally came with a 100-page manual and was only available via mail order.[8] According to CommaVid co-owner Gaines, 50 to 100 MagiCard cartridges were produced.[2]

Video Life

Video Life is a version of the cellular automaton known as Conway's Game of Life for the Atari 2600.[9] Video Life was only available through a special mail order offer to owners of CommaVid's Magicard. Fewer than 20 cartridges of Video Life were made.[10] A 2003 report in the Chicago Reader by Jeffrey Felshman estimates that cartridges would sell for as much $3000 at the time.[11]

Unreleased prototypes

  • Frog Demo
  • Mission Omega[6]
  • Rush Hour
  • Underworld

References

  1. 1 2 "CommaVid". AtariAge. Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Santulli, Joe. "The Story of CommaVid". Digital Press.
  3. ↑ "Cakewalk Manual" (PDF). gamesdbase.com.
  4. ↑ "Cosmic Swarm for the Atari 2600". Retroist.
  5. ↑ Ida, Keita. "Cakewalk". AtariHQ.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Goodman, Danny (Spring 1983). "Home Video Games: Video Games Update". Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games. p. 32.
  7. ↑ Sheinbaum, Mike (March 1984). "Stronghold". Electronic Fun with Computers & Games. 2 (5): 57.
  8. ↑ "MagiCard". AtariAge. Archived from the original on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  9. ↑ "Video Life". AtariAge. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  10. ↑ Joe Santulli (September 14, 2003). "The Story of CommaVid". Collector's Corner. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  11. ↑ Jeffrey Felshman (September 11, 2003). "Game Boy". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
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