Atari 2600 - Dukes of Hazard (Never Released)

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Published on April 22, 2024 11:45:15 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guhxVdhCSy8

Duration: 9:23

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Atari had previously made two separate attempts to release an Atari 2600 video game based on the series, but both versions failed to materialize.

Cancelled Atari 2600 versions
Initially, Atari, Inc. attempted to revamp the graphics of an unreleased Atari 2600 port of their arcade game Stunt Cycle, to convert it into a Dukes of Hazzard game.[17] For unknown reasons, Atari abandoned the idea.[17] In November 1982, Atari Age reported about a new video game in development at Atari that would be based on a popular CBS television series,[18] later revealed to be The Dukes of Hazzard,[19] for the Atari 2600.[17]

Mark R. Hahn, the game's sole programmer, had a development team stationed in New York, while the majority of Atari's staff was based in California. Hahn claimed that the California team did not provide much assistance to his team,[17] saying, "There was a lot of competition between the New York and California offices. Nobody from marketing (which was in California) was willing to tell me they didn't like the game. So I did demos of several screens, they said they liked them, and then I got working on game play."[20]

Hahn said the game was still in development in 1983, when Atari, for unknown reasons, chose to have the unfinished game burned onto a large number of ROM chips. Atari abruptly cancelled the game before the chips were to be placed into cartridges and shipped.[21] The game was nearly completed.[22] Atari was not satisfied with the game's graphics, which were lacking in comparison to other games the company was releasing at the time.[20] Hahn only learned of the game's cancellation from the secretary of an Atari VIP, and said, "I had put months of very long days and weekends into the game. I was a bit upset."[20] Atari Age reported the game's cancellation in September 1983.[19]

The game would have had the player control the General Lee, with the goal being to break Daisy out of jail before Boss Hogg can get to her, while also avoiding Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and Deputy Enos Strate in their police vehicles. The game contained many glitches and gameplay issues. One of the game's major glitches included Rosco and Enos abruptly ramming the General Lee if it got too close to their vehicles, resulting in the player losing a life