Shark Jaws is an action video game by Atari, Inc. under the name of Horror Games, originally released for arcades in 1975. An unlicensed tie-in to the movie Jaws, and believed to be the first commercially released movie tie-in, it was created to be a game about sharks eating people. According to Bushnell, the game was successful enough to sell approximately two thousand units.
In the game, the player controls a deep-sea diver trying to catch small fish while avoiding a great white shark that is trying to eat him. Points are scored by running over the fish to catch them.
Development
Atari head Nolan Bushnell originally tried to license the Jaws name, but was unable to secure a license from Universal Pictures. Deciding to go ahead with the game anyway, it was retitled Shark JAWS, with the word Shark in tiny print and JAWS in large all caps print to create greater prominence. Bushnell created a second hidden subsidiary corporation, Horror Games—the previous being Kee Games—to help isolate Atari from a possible lawsuit.
Technology
The game is housed in a custom cabinet that includes a single joystick and start button. The cabinet bezel uses blue and green colors, and portrays sharks swimming around along with a solitary swimmer. The game PCB is composed of discrete technology, and although the game was released under the name Horror Games, the PCB clearly states Atari.
References
- Additional sources
- Montfort, Nick; Bogost, Ian (2009). Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System. MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-01257-7.
- Operation, Maintenance, Service Manual: Shark Jaws. Los Gatos, CA: Horror Games (Atari). 1975.
External links
- Restored arcade cabinet
- The Horror of IP Infringement, The Dot Eaters.com (2014)
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Put under the Gamer24h team's microscope, Shark Jaws raises the bar considerably with both its storytelling and technical polish. Thanks to Horror Games (Atari, Inc.)'s meticulous craftsmanship and Pumpkin Press's strong presentation, the high production quality is evident in every moment of the game. Masterfully blending Action mechanics with modern standards, the game's fluid gameplay makes hours fly by unnoticed. All in all, the Gamer24h team stands firmly behind our rating. This is a unique journey you won't want to miss.