Red Sea Crossing (video game)
{{Short description|1983 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Red Sea Crossing
| developer = Steve Stack, Inc.
| publisher = Inspirational Video Concepts
| programmer = Steve Schustack
| platforms = Atari 2600
| modes = Single-player
| genre = Platformer, Christian
| image = Red Sea Crossing video game cover.jpg
| caption = Original cartridge label
| alt =
}}
Red Sea Crossing is a Christian side-scrolling video game for the Atari 2600. Released for mail order only in 1983, its existence went unrecorded until it was discovered at a garage sale in 2007. Only four copies have been found as of 2018, making it one of the rarest published video games.
One of the earliest Christian video games, Red Sea Crossing is the first published console game based on an event described in the Bible. It was created and published by an independent programmer without any involvement from Atari, Inc.
Gameplay
File:Red Sea Crossing screenshot.png. The fish that represents the time limit can be seen in the top left.]]Moses parts the Red Sea and the player directs him between the parted waters. Moses must avoid obstacles such as seaweed and giant clams, as well as the pursuing Egyptians, by precisely timing his movements and jumping.
A fish swimming in the water behind Moses serves as a time limit{{snd}}he must reach the end of the screen before the fish. Bonus points are awarded for collecting stone tablets or catching doves, and a staff item awards an extra life.
The game is not known to have an ending, but the developer has claimed that it is winnable. When the player runs out of lives, the Red Sea closes up.(2017) [https://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/manuals/vcs/red_sea_crossing_fan-based.pdf "Red Sea Crossing Manual (Unofficial)"]
Development
In 1983, Red Sea Crossing was developed independently by the self-taught programmer Steve Schustack. He developed the game in California using a Franklin ACE computer. He decided to make a Christian video game believing that it could be a marketable niche,{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Stefan|date=September 6, 2018|title=Indie Games in the Atari Era|url=https://mediacommons.org/imr/content/indie-games-atari-era|access-date=March 29, 2025|work=In Media Res|publisher=MediaCommons|language=en}} but also notes that he enjoys making software for children:{{cite book |last=Schustack |first=Steve |author-link= |date=January 1, 1993 |title=C for Fun and Profit |url= |location=Carmel, IN |publisher=Sams Publishing |page=493 |isbn=9780672303654}}
{{blockquote|text=I see children as a terrific market and one many of us are very familiar with [...] Money isn't the only aspect to this; there's plenty of potential satisfaction out there for the grabbing. I like the thought of my young nephews' and nieces' cute little fingers pressing keys, while [the video game's] music and animation bring smiles to their faces.}}
Schustack had between 100{{Cite web|last=Scullion|first=Chris|date=December 24, 2019|title=History Lesson: The rarest, most expensive games|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/most-rare-and-expensive-games/|access-date=March 29, 2025|website=Video Games Chronicle|language=en}} and 500{{Cite web|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|date=September 10, 2012|title=One of the Rarest Games on Earth is About The Bible|url=https://kotaku.com/one-of-the-rarest-games-on-earth-is-about-the-bible-5941784|access-date=March 29, 2025|website=Kotaku|language=en}} copies of Red Sea Crossing manufactured. He self-published the game and sold it exclusively through a single magazine advertisement by Michael Nason.{{cite web |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/september/letters-conversation-church-worship-forgiveness-video-game.html |title=A Chorus of Replies about Church Worship |last1=Lucky |first1=Kate |last2=Mellen |first2=Alexandra |date=August 14, 2023 |website=Christianity Today |publisher= |access-date=July 11, 2024 |at=sec. "Behind the Scenes"}} Instead of a manual, the game shipped with a coloring book{{cite book |last=Durham |first=Gabe |author-link= |date=June 2, 2014 |title=Bible Adventures |url= |location= |publisher=Boss Fight Books |chapter=Quality Control |isbn=9781940535074}} and an "explanatory" audio cassette tape, apparently recorded by Dale Evans Rogers.{{cite magazine |last=Nason |first=Michael |title=Bible Video Game Brings Fun Home |type=full-page advertisement |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/135715.jpg |magazine=Christianity Today |location= |publisher= |date=October 7, 1983 |access-date=}}{{cite web |url=https://dangerousminds.net/comments/atari_holy_grail_moses_crossing_the_red_sea_bible_story_video_game_1983 |title=Atari 'holy grail': Moses 'Crossing The Red Sea' Bible story video game, 1983 |last=Metzger |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Metzger |date=January 15, 2014 |website=Dangerous Minds |publisher= |access-date=October 15, 2023 |quote=}} The publisher was named "Inspirational Video Concepts".
Rediscovery
{{external media
| float = right
| width = 258px
| image1 = [https://www.christianitytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/135715.jpg The Christianity Today advertisement for Red Sea Crossing]
| image2 = [https://media.invisioncic.com/r322239/monthly_10_2012/post-17917-0-99321800-1351401605.jpg A reproduction copy of Red Sea Crossing, with new artwork, distributed by a 2012 auction winner]
}}
A copy was found at a Cincinnati rummage sale in 2007, and the discovery of the unattested game proved controversial. Users of the AtariAge forum identified Schustack as the developer and contacted him; he recalled advertising the game in an unspecified religious magazine. In 2011, an advertisement for Red Sea Crossing was found in a 1983 issue of Christianity Today, finally verifying the game.{{cite book |last=James |first=Mike |author-link= |date=February 15, 2023 |title=Smoke and Mirrors |url= |location= |publisher= Andrews UK Ltd |page= |isbn=9781837910335}}{{Cite web|last=Goldfarb|first=Andrew|date=September 10, 2012|title='Holy Grail of Atari Games' Sells for $10,000|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/09/10/holy-grail-of-atari-games-sells-for-10000|access-date=January 9, 2022|website=IGN|language=en}}
Calls for the finder, who was not a video game collector, to sell the game increased after another alleged found copy was discovered to be a hoax. The finder scheduled an auction in 2012. Days before the auction was to occur, a genuine second copy of Red Sea Crossing was discovered by a Philadelphia thrift store owner.{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/cumberland/2012/09/vineland_natives_stumble_upon.html |title=Vineland natives stumble upon rare Atari game |last=Woods |first=Don |date=September 11, 2012 |website=NJ.com |publisher= |access-date=October 13, 2023 |quote=}}{{cite web |date=August 20, 2012 |url=http://www.philebrity.com/2012/08/20/attn-nerds-super-rare-atari-game-surfaces-at-medium-bobs/ |title=Attn. Nerds: Super Rare Atari Game Surfaces At Medium Bob's |website=Philebrity.com |access-date=October 15, 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023145814/http://www.philebrity.com/2012/08/20/attn-nerds-super-rare-atari-game-surfaces-at-medium-bobs/ |archive-date=October 23, 2013}} The auction was carried out after a deferment,{{cite web |last=Conditt |first=Jessica |date=August 21, 2012 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012-08-21-rare-atari-2600-game-red-sea-crossing-pops-up-in-philly-shop.html |title=Rare Atari 2600 game, Red Sea Crossing, pops up in Philly shop |website=Joystiq |access-date=October 15, 2023}} and the game sold for $10,400. The second copy was also auctioned in 2012, for $13,877.{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/cumberland/2012/09/rare_atari_game_sells_for_1387.html |title=Rare Atari game discoverd by Vineland natives sells for $13,877.78 on eBay |last=Woods |first=Don |date=September 12, 2012 |website=NJ.com |publisher= |access-date=October 13, 2023 |quote=}}
One of the buyers used the game cartridge to create reproduction copies for collectors{{cite web |url=https://www.nexgam.de/VCS-Atari2600/Red-Sea-Crossing-der-heilige-Gral-des-Atari-2600 |title=Red Sea Crossing - der heilige Gral des Atari 2600 im Test |language=German |trans-title=Red Sea Crossing{{snd}}Testing the Holy Grail of the Atari 2600 |date=January 14, 2021 |website=NeXGam.de |publisher= |access-date=March 24, 2025}} and the ROM image is now readily available online. The coloring book and cassette tape originally packaged with Red Sea Crossing have not resurfaced and may be lost.{{cite web |url=https://racketboy.com/retro/rarest-and-most-valuable-atari-2600-games |title=The Rarest and Most Valuable Atari 2600 Games |date=June 21, 2022 |website=Racketboy |access-date=March 29, 2025}}
Two additional original copies of Red Sea Crossing were found by 2018, bringing the total to four. One of the cartridges, with a missing end label, was sold for a lower price than was seen in the 2012 auctions.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://forums.atariage.com/topic/113497-help-information-on-red-sea-crossing/ Forum thread started by 2007 finder]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avR62MKEwyw Gameplay video]
Category:Atari 2600-only games
Category:Christian video games
Category:Cultural depictions of Moses
Category:Video games based on the Bible
Category:Video games set underwater
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Video games set in ancient Egypt