Technology

The lack of technological maturity has indirectly endangered Swordquest WaterWorld. Prior to the widespread internet usage, Gameline was a service that allowed subscribed members to download games and save scores through a telephone cord that was connected to the server or to their Atari 2600. However, the project did not last as it was financially jeopardized by the Video Game Crash soon after it was released. Therefore, Atari never had the chance to sign on to Gameline. 

Nowadays, people can freely buy new games through virtual game stores such as Playstation and Xbox. Therefore, a video game can never be "sold out". However, during the 1980s, video games were mainly sold through department stores. Gamers needed not only a console, but they also had to buy a video game that came in a cartridge. This was one of the reasons to explain the infamous Atari video game burial during the crash. Game companies had to pay rent to store their inventory in warehouses. Atari overestimated the quality and players' enthusiasm towards E.T. In order to alleviate the warehouse cost, Atari had no choice but to bury countless E.T. cartridges and other unsold products. Because of such limitations, Swordquest WaterWorld was released in a limited amount, resulting in very few people owning the physical game.