Design
CommaVid, Atari 2600 Video Life / Magicard Label Design
Doc4 worked with Mark DiLuciano, the owner of Sunmark Electronics. Mr. DiLuciano developed and contributed to a number of Atari Computer and home console games as well as a variety of Vectrex homebrews. Our previous collaboration involved the design of several Atari 800 Computer game labels however, moving into the Atari 2600 market, he set his sights on two CommaVid games wanting to combine two of their rarest; Video Life and Magicard.
CommaVid Inc. was a game developer and publisher for the Atari 2600 that released six games between 1981 and 1983, plus a programming tool for the console. The company was founded by Dr. Irwin Gaines, Dr. John Bronstein, and Dr. Joseph Biel under the name Computer Magic Video, which was shortened to Com Ma Vid, or CommaVid. It was based in Aurora, Illinois.
Working with Sunmark closely, Doc4 vectorized the original Video Life label artwork and merged it with an etching from a PCB board loosely based on the original Magicard game label. This was an interesting challenge that was executed in such a simple manner. And for all of you designers out there the title font is using the 'Glaser Stencil' font family designed by the great Milton Glaser in 1970.
Video Life is a version of the cellular automaton known as Conway's Game of Life for the Atari 2600. It was only available through a special mail order offer to owners of CommaVid's Magicard. Fewer than 20 cartridges of Video Life were ever made. - Wikipedia
MagiCard is an Atari 2600 programming tool on a cartridge that originally came with a 100-page manual and was only available via mail order. According to CommaVid co-owner Gaines, approximately 50 to 100 MagiCard cartridges were produced. - Wikipedia
Services
- Graphic Design
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