Copyright: 1982
Release Date: November1982
Developer: Atari Inc.
Publisher: Atari Inc.
Deisgner: Howard Scott Warshaw
Code: CX2659
Description
Below you find other two images related to the game: the back of the box and the label of the cartridge itself.
We read from the back of the box
You and Indiana Jones have a mission: find the lost Ark of the Convenant. To find the Ark you must travel to ancient Egypt and follow clues that lead to the Well of the Souls. Use Indy’s bullwhip and your own wits to get out of danger – and watch out for snakes!
Here’s a commercial for the game, back in 1982
Sources
In the Atari Age Volume 1 Number 4 of November/December 1982 there’s s piece about Raiders of the Lost Ark (and the super secret Atarians secret hand shake if you needed it)…
…and f wonderful full-page ad. If I had been a kid back then I would have surely wanted it after having seen it!
The release date is confirmed by Atari Age 1982 retrospective.
Ports and legacy
Howard Scott Warshaw was already a big name when he released this game following a deal between Atari and Steven Spielberg. He joined Atari in June 1981 and soon after he had already created what is probably his best game, Yars’ Revenge. Before becoming famous for the infamous E.T., HSW curated the development of Raiders of the Lost Ark, another title that would have become an Atari 2600 masterpiece.
With Raiders of the Lost Ark, the console developers started to understand that a simple 1-button controller wasn’t enough: in fact to control Indy the player need to use both of the controllers even to perform the most simple actions.
However the not so simple gameplay and the good visuals together with a good dose of puzzle and adventure boosted the sales of the game and make Warshaw and even more respecter designer. Spielberg itself approved his role in the game development, a role that, unfortunately, he will play again in E.T.
Have you played Raiders of the Lost Ark today?
I ❤ Old Games! 
It was pretty ambitious for the system, it required both joysticks to play, and there were a lot of secrets you had to discover in order to beat it.
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When I was a kid I had a NES and an Atari 2600 that I got from my uncle. I still remember playing this and not knowing what to do or what was happening. Other Atari games were pretty self explanatory (shoot everything that moves basically) but this one was a complete different story.
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I seem to remember this being a little too similar to E.T.
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