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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/theatarians2_2487.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:350:Maybe they're the UrExample of ''ComicBook/AtariForce''?]]
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4->"Start Playing With Tomorrow"
5-->--''Promotional flyer''
6
7''The Atarians'' was the first [[PhysicalPinballTable arcade pinball machine]] from VideoGame pioneer Creator/{{Atari}}. It was designed by Bob Jonesi with art by George Opperman, and released in 1976.
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9As a premiere pinball, ''The Atarians'' is notable for some unusual design decisions, such as the two pairs of stacked flippers and the use of inductive under-playfield sensors instead of rollover switches. Unfortunately, anything about the Atarians themselves are lost to the mists of time, as none of the game rules, instruction manuals, or promotional material give any indication as to who they are or what is going on. Who are The Atarians? Why are there two of them? What is the futuristic landscape seen behind them? Who is the long-faced alien with the flaming hair? Why is he blue on the backglass and orange on the playfield? Are those yellow-skinned folks in the purple tights his {{Mooks}} or his captors? Why doesn't the female Atarian use her sword? Why are we asking all these questions?
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11[[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold The world may]] [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot never know.]]
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13Not to be confused with ComicBook/AtariForce.
14
15----
16!!''The Atarians'' demonstrates the following tropes:
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18* FlamingHair: Seen on the long-faced alien on the playfield.
19* HumanoidAliens: Not the Atarians themselves, but the folks they're facing.
20* InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt: Or in this case, made it.
21* JetPack: The Atarians are each wearing one to allow them to fly through space.
22* {{Mooks}}: The yellow-skinned bald humanoids with the purple jumpsuits. Maybe.
23* NoPlotNoProblem: There are enough hints to create some sort of ScienceFiction plot, but that's about it.
24* RayGun: The male Atarian welds one.
25* SpeedStripes: Seen on the playfield.
26* SpellingBonus: Spelling ATARI (via the five saucers at the top of the playfield) doubles the bonus, while EXTRA BALL awards an extra ball.
27* StabTheSky: The female Atarian does this on the playfield.
28* TeamTitle

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