1970s
Adventure
1979 · Action-Adventure · Atari 2600
Overview
Adventure is a classic 1970s action-adventure game developed by Warren Robinett for Atari 2600.
Deep Dive
Adventure is a classic 1970s action-adventure game developed by Warren Robinett for Atari 2600.
Developer Story
Adventure was programmed by Warren Robinett for the Atari 2600 in 1979. Atari's management told programmers not to include any credits in games — they feared developers would be poached. Robinett hid his name in a secret room: by carrying a specific dot to a specific wall junction, a hidden room appeared reading "Created by Warren Robinett." This was the first known Easter egg in a video game, and it sparked a tradition that continues to this day.
Did You Know?
- Adventure contained the first known Easter egg in a video game — Warren Robinett hid his name in a secret room because Atari forbade developer credits.
- The game was a graphical adaptation of Colossal Cave Adventure, condensed from a text game into the Atari 2600's 4KB of ROM.
- The dragon AI was based on a simple fleeing/chasing behaviour that Robinett developed — Yorgle the yellow dragon feared the gold key.
- A black dot hidden in one of the castles was the key to accessing the Easter egg room — players searched for it for years before discovering it.
- Robinett left Atari the day he submitted the final code, ensuring the Easter egg couldn't be removed before manufacturing.
