Warshaw intended the game to be an innovative adaptation, and Atari thought it would sell well based on the international box office success of the film. Negotiations for the game rights ended in late July 1982, giving Warshaw just over five weeks to develop it in time for the 1982 Christmas season. The final release received negative reviews, with low-quality graphics and confusing gameplay facing significant criticism. "E.T." is often cited as one of the worst video games of all time and one of the biggest commercial failures in video game history. It is cited as a major contributing factor to the video game crash of 1983 and has been frequently referenced and mocked in popular culture as a cautionary tale about the dangers of rushed game development and studio interference.