Updated 1 March 2023
Astrocade was keen to promote its game selection because it was one of the primary selling points of the Videocade computer. The company believed that offering a diverse and exciting range of games would help to increase sales and attract new customers to the platform. Additionally, the Videocade's strong graphics capabilities made it well-suited for gaming, and the company wanted to showcase this feature through its advertising efforts. By promoting its game selection, Astrocade was able to position itself as a serious competitor in the home computer market and appeal to the growing number of consumers interested in gaming.
The space and sci-fi themes were popular in the early home computer games due to the widespread interest in space exploration and science fiction during the 1970s and 1980s. The success of sci-fi movies like Star Wars and TV series like Star Trek contributed to the popularity of these themes. Additionally, the space and sci-fi themes allowed game developers to incorporate imaginative graphics and gameplay elements that appealed to gamers' sense of adventure and exploration. As a result, many home computer games of that era, including those for the Astrocade, featured space and sci-fi themes.
It seems like the Bally Astrocade Gamer Cartridges were a popular choice for two-player competition games in the early 1980s. The Astrovision-manufactured Astrocade machines boasted strong graphics capabilities, which were utilized in games such as Solar Conqueror, Conan, Artillery Duel, Cosmic Raiders, Pirate's Chase, The Incredible Wizard, and Space Fortress. The two included utilities, Creative Crayon and Music Maker, also offered unique opportunities for creative expression and experimentation with sound. Overall, these cartridges offer a fascinating glimpse into the gaming landscape of the past and are sure to be of interest to vintage gaming enthusiasts.
In the early days of home computer gaming, the box art for games was often highly stylized and exaggerated, and did not always accurately represent the actual gameplay or graphics of the game. As a result, gamers learned to be skeptical of these box art representations and instead looked to actual screenshots of the game to get a better idea of what it would look like and how it would play. This was especially important because home computer games were often expensive, so gamers wanted to be sure they were making a good investment before purchasing a game.
Home computer game advertising could have been improved by providing more detailed descriptions of gameplay, better screenshots or illustrations, and more accurate depictions of the game's graphics and sound capabilities. Additionally, including reviews or endorsements from trusted sources such as gaming magazines or industry experts could have helped to establish credibility and generate interest among potential buyers. Finally, advertising could have been targeted to specific demographics based on age, gender, and interests, in order to reach the most receptive audience.
