Cloak & Dagger (video game)
Encyclopedia
Cloak & Dagger is an Atari
video game based on the 1984
film of the same name. The video game was critical to the movie's plot. This collaboration was part of a larger phenomenon at the time of movies featuring video games as critical plot elements (as with Tron
and The Last Starfighter
) and of video game tie-ins to the same movies (as with the Tron games for the Intellivision
and other platforms).
's character was then named "Agent X" in the movie.
, prior to the release of the film. The Cloak & Dagger game screens from the movie are mostly from the arcade version, and not the Atari 5200
game console as it would appear in the film. Although a 5200 version of the game was planned, it was never released due to the video game crash of 1983
and eventual sale of Atari. Because the Atari 5200
version of Cloak & Dagger wasn't complete during filming, the cartridge props are actually other 5200 games with a Cloak & Dagger label stuck on them.
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
video game based on the 1984
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
film of the same name. The video game was critical to the movie's plot. This collaboration was part of a larger phenomenon at the time of movies featuring video games as critical plot elements (as with Tron
Tron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
and The Last Starfighter
The Last Starfighter
The Last Starfighter is a 1984 science fiction adventure film directed by Nick Castle. The film tells the story of Alex Rogan , an average teenage boy recruited by an alien defense force to fight in an interstellar war. It also featured Dan O'Herlihy, Catherine Mary Stewart, Robert Preston, Norman...
) and of video game tie-ins to the same movies (as with the Tron games for the Intellivision
Intellivision
The Intellivision is a video game console released by Mattel in 1979. Development of the console began in 1978, less than a year after the introduction of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. The word intellivision is a portmanteau of "intelligent television"...
and other platforms).
Development
The game was created by Russel Dawe. The game was under development using the title Agent X when the movie producers and Atari learned of each others' projects and decided to cooperate. When Atari was consulted to provide a game as an element of the movie, they tweaked Agent X and renamed it Cloak & Dagger. Dabney ColemanDabney Coleman
Dabney Wharton Coleman is an American actor, best known for his roles in 9 to 5, WarGames, You've Got Mail, Sworn to Silence, The Beverly Hillbillies and as the voice of Principal Peter Prickly in Recess and Recess: School's Out.-Early life:Coleman was born in Austin, Texas, the son of Mary...
's character was then named "Agent X" in the movie.
Arcade release
The game saw limited arcade release as a conversion kit for Robotron 2084 cabinets. The arcade version of Cloak & Dagger appeared in March of 19841984 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* May 10, King's Quest , the first animated adventure game, the first in the King's Quest series, and the first to use the AGI engine.* June 4, Nintendo releases Donkey Kong 3...
, prior to the release of the film. The Cloak & Dagger game screens from the movie are mostly from the arcade version, and not the Atari 5200
Atari 5200
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, commonly known as the Atari 5200, is a video game console that was introduced in 1982 by Atari Inc. as a higher end complementary console for the popular Atari 2600...
game console as it would appear in the film. Although a 5200 version of the game was planned, it was never released due to the video game crash of 1983
Video game crash of 1983
The North American video game crash was a serious event that brought an abrupt end to what is considered the second generation of console video gaming in North America. Beginning in 1983, the crash almost destroyed the then-fledgling industry and led to the bankruptcy of several companies producing...
and eventual sale of Atari. Because the Atari 5200
Atari 5200
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, commonly known as the Atari 5200, is a video game console that was introduced in 1982 by Atari Inc. as a higher end complementary console for the popular Atari 2600...
version of Cloak & Dagger wasn't complete during filming, the cartridge props are actually other 5200 games with a Cloak & Dagger label stuck on them.
External links
- FAQ about the Atari 5200Atari 5200The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, commonly known as the Atari 5200, is a video game console that was introduced in 1982 by Atari Inc. as a higher end complementary console for the popular Atari 2600...
version of Cloak & Dagger, including discussion of the movie tie-in. - IMDb > Cloak & Dagger (1984) > Trivia