06/23/2003: Robocop: The VCR Game.
The new week is here, and with it, Robocop. Today’s article features a look back at one of the rarest and terribullest and awfulest Robocop-themed items ever, his infamous VCR Game. Combining a lame video with tiny yellow car-shaped playing pieces, the title impressed no one and almost killed yours truly. The ‘tribute’ weighs in with 2,500 words, so if you’re in a rush, I’ll just sum it up for you here: the game sucked.
The Water Ball Yo-Yo article will have to wait a bit, as I found out how great they work in Water Ball Yo-Yo Slapping Wars before I had a chance to take pictures. What’s on deck for this week is as of yet undetermined, but you’ll get something. I think. Anyway, that’s your little dog and pony show — go read about Robocop’s VCR game.
Discussion Thread: 28 comments
"I’d buy that for a dollar!" And not a penny more…
Posted by
BotchieGulpe @ 06/23/2003 1:50 AM EDT
The best VCR game is the "Commercials Crazies" game, if only for all the classic 80’s commercials and the old Micro Machines spokesmen’s intro.
I remember a lot of the things Matt brings up on this page, but this game eluded me. I don’t remember it. I remember a lot of bad VCR games… I fact, I don’t recall any good ones. I recall some good audio-CD based ones, but that’s about it. Anyho, looks horrid this does. I remember Spinnaker putting out some sub-par software titles as well, although I had some fun with Splash, which was a painting program.
You’ve got to give credit where credit is due, though. Nightmare owned. Admit it.
Posted by
Kev @ 06/23/2003 8:00 AM EDT
Loved the article Matt, it was very funny and creatively written - this is what X-E’s all about! Obscure semi-supernatural phenomena from years past that have vanished without a trace and may now only be found in those little dusty stores that exist outside time or in the "confidential" records of the CIA!
Now how about a review of Atmosfear or Mouse Trap?
Posted by
JC @ 06/23/2003 8:19 AM EDT
Not only nightmare owned, when mattel bought the rights and called it atmosfear and redid it all it owned as well. I still have both and play them even now. I just wish I had gotten the other tapes when I could have.
Posted by
KoMoDo @ 06/23/2003 9:54 AM EDT
True, Atmosfear ROCKED! "Wave to me, presious! I’m waving you goodbyyyyye!"
Now how about that "Mac and Me" review, Matt? Seriously, you’ve never answered me on this!
Posted by
A-wel Cruiz @ 06/23/2003 10:16 AM EDT
Nightmare and Atmosfear were by far the best VCR games ever. I still bust them out every once and a while if I get bored, if for nothing more than the scary old man calling me a "maggot".
Ah…memories.
Posted by
Diabetic Dinosaur @ 06/23/2003 11:06 AM EDT
Nightmare and AtmosFear were "the bomb.com" Go MUMMY!!!
I’m certainly glad I never played this horrid game as RoboCop is still one of my favorite movies of all time. That game looks so crappy.
I have never had the honor of playing Nightmare or AtmosFear. But they sound great. Hey, Matt, how can I mail you a box of old tapes? I just moved, and found the mutha load of old, obscure 80’s TV shows and movies. I’d like to mail them to you, so you can share them with all my special X-E friends. Thanks.
Posted by
Bansheex @ 06/23/2003 3:02 PM EDT
Matt, Have you ever played the Wrestlemania VCR game? I know you used to watch rasslin’. The taped segments aren’t bad, but that may only be for nostalgia reasons. (How often do you get to see Don Muraco battle King Kong Bundy? Even if it’s only for 10 seconds)
The game itself is a baffling ordeal. After a while, we just watched the tape and gave up on the game.
Posted by
mutton72 @ 06/23/2003 3:54 PM EDT
Matt, Have you ever played the Wrestlemania VCR game? I know you used to watch rasslin’. The taped segments aren’t bad, but that may only be for nostalgia reasons. (How often do you get to see Don Muraco battle King Kong Bundy? Even if it’s only for 10 seconds)
The game itself is a baffling ordeal. After a while, we just watched the tape and gave up on the game.
Posted by
mutton72 @ 06/23/2003 3:55 PM EDT
This is a somewhat similar idea, but minus the board game. Does anyone remeber the "action max" ?(i think that’s what it was called). It was different tapes like ghost hunt, or wild west excursion, or other things of that ilk. The main difference as that you had a little contraption that had a ligt gunn attached to it. And it would keep track of your score as you shot certain things on screen. It waas actually kinda fun. I’m just wondering if anyone remebrs this, and if they know the name.
Posted by
fedor @ 06/23/2003 5:26 PM EDT
Aren’t banner ads supposed to pop up a new window when they’re clicked? I hit the Cowboy Bebop banner to the right, and it took me away from X-E. Is that supposed to happen, or am I straight tripping?
They usually do for me, might’ve been a glitch. Hard to tell since you might be the first to click on that ad! 
Posted by
Matt @ 06/23/2003 8:21 PM EDT
Hey Matt, Robocop, the toy robot, and Heartbeeps…whats with the robot fetish? Something you want to share with group?
Posted by
whitemale_98/competent soldier @ 06/23/2003 10:25 PM EDT
wow…i didn’t think a game could be that bad. i have a vcr/board game in my closet that i’ve had for years and only played once. it is the "Wayne’s World VCR Board Game". From what i remember it was prety cool, if you were really into the first waynes world movie when it came out. The board and pieces were much more detailed and colorful than the robocop ones too. and the game actually had new footage of wayne and garth talking to you and telling you what to do with your game pieces and when to pause the tape. hehe….memories…
Posted by
heeloyd @ 06/23/2003 11:22 PM EDT
At one point I had a Star Trek VCR game and a Dinosaurs (that sitcom with the puppet dinosaurs) VCR game. I wonder if I can dig them out…
Posted by
Delightful! @ 06/24/2003 5:46 AM EDT
A Star Trek VCR game?
Horror!!
Posted by
JC @ 06/24/2003 10:36 AM EDT
Fuck Mac and Me.
ah yes i remember dinosaurs. i had the audio cassete tape with the songs the charachters had. the baby would always call the dad "not the momma" lol. how do i remember these things..i need help.. 0_o
Posted by
heeloyd @ 06/24/2003 4:14 PM EDT
HA! Matt, pretty good review, now tell me something else, you seem to mention it here and there.
NOW, I request that You Review Robocop 2, just so we can find out what you hated and found wrong with it , like you have so many other things.
Thank you.
Posted by
Kyo Kusanagi @ 06/25/2003 6:59 AM EDT
(SXE- Streets Of X-Entertainment) You eject this piece of shit tape, get off your ass, and watch something good, like Freaked, Mac and Me, or a Toilet Duck commercial. (haha)
Posted by
Bansheex @ 06/26/2003 3:43 PM EDT
I wonder if there’s anywhere I can get episodes of Dinosaurs on DVD or tape. I really want to see that last episode where everyone dies.
Posted by
Delightful! @ 06/26/2003 6:27 PM EDT
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future. Remember? ‘Course you do. Had the tapes for that. Great show. Far too advanced a concept for the child-based audience. Great early J. Michael Straczynski writing there! Anyho, it was great zapping the stuff on screen, even tho it would be lame today.
Posted by
Alpha Centaurian @ 06/26/2003 9:34 PM EDT
> Hey, I’m at the Old Mill District! That’s where Robocop takes off his forehead
> plate and looks all freakish and stuff.
In that picture, he sort of looks like Paul McCrane (Dr Robert Romano on ER; Montgomery McNeil in Fame).
Posted by
Molten @ 06/30/2003 9:26 AM EDT
Hey! Paul McCrane was in Robocop: http://www.notmydesk.com/henchmen/emil.html
Posted by
Molten @ 06/30/2003 9:30 AM EDT
The Three Stooges VCR Game–great clips and way fun game play!
Posted by
joiseygal @ 07/31/2003 11:00 AM EDT
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