Best Games Never Published Part 3 - Last Starfighter

Ah, the good ole days of Atari! This was the opening of the proposed Atari 5200 game based on the 1984 film "The Last Starfighter."

Ah, the good ole days of Atari ! This was the opening of the proposed Atari 5200 game based on the 1984 film "The Last Starfighter."

"Greetings Starfighter!" The Atari 5200 title was designed to capitalize on the movie, which focuses on a small-town kid who discovers the arcade game in his trailer park is actually a training simulator for an alien world looking for combat pilots.

"Greetings Starfighter !" The Atari 5200 title was designed to capitalize on the movie, which focuses on a small-town kid who discovers the arcade game in his trailer park is actually a training simulator for an alien world looking for combat pilots.

The Last Starfighter was cancelled by Atari and eventually converted into another title, Star Raiders II.

The Last Starfighter was cancelled by Atari and eventually converted into another title, Star Raiders II.

Atari was also working on an arcade version of the fictional Starfighter game used in the movie. Here's a look at some of the prototype footage used in the film.

Atari was also working on an arcade version of the fictional Starfighter game used in the movie. Here’s a look at some of the prototype footage used in the film.

The Last Starfighter arcade game, like the movie version, was a space combat simulator.

The Last Starfighter arcade game, like the movie version, was a space combat simulator.

The arcade version of The Last Starfighter was abandoned in 1984 after the movie was released (even though Atari teased the game at the end of the film's credits). But some folks at RogueSynapse.com recently created a remarkably faithful version of the ga

The arcade version of The Last Starfighter was abandoned in 1984 after the movie was released (even though Atari teased the game at the end of the film’s credits). But some folks at RogueSynapse.com recently created a remarkably faithful version of the ga

The look of the new Starfighter remake is almost identical to the prototype used in the movie "The Last Starfighter."

The look of the new Starfighter remake is almost identical to the prototype used in the movie "The Last Starfighter."

Is that the Ko-Dan Aramda's Command Ship in the background?

Is that the Ko-Dan Aramda’s Command Ship in the background ?

A quick look at the different ships featured in the modded remake of The Last Starfighter arcade game.

A quick look at the different ships featured in the modded remake of The Last Starfighter arcade game.

While gamers never officially got their hands on The Last Starfighter, modders kept the dream alive more than 20 years later. If only there were enough modders and game assets to do that with every cancelled title.

While gamers never officially got their hands on The Last Starfighter, modders kept the dream alive more than 20 years later. If only there were enough modders and game assets to do that with every cancelled title.