Well, the other factor of course is that Epyx was the original "developer" of the L y n x when it was still the "Handy", so that's why a lot of the early software for it was from them (Electrocop, Blue Lightning, etc.). They just didn't have enough money to bring it to market themselves, so it ended up with Atari. Sadly, that was not a great place to end up for obvious reasons, but it is what it is. It was and is a great handheld, with tons of power.

They're all rather similar, yes, though of course Epyx's games were as popular as they were for a reason - they were tuned well and felt "just right". I had for instance HES Games at the same time I had Summer Games on the C-64 and I played Summer Games far more. Of course HES Games had some unique events that it would take later "Games" games to cover, and I did play a lot of archery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hes_Games).

I should maybe do a video on Microsoft's Decathlon, Apple II version, as a companion to what you did and cross promote your Summer Games coverage as the first breakthrough hit olympics-style game. Busy, busy day today and tonight, though.

Here's some screenshots: http://www.mobygames.com/game/microsoft-decathlon/screenshots

It's obviously a "rawer" type of visuals and more clinical approach to simulating olympic events. Since it came out in 1981, I wonder if it's the earliest olympic-style game with recognizable graphics? I can't really recall anything earlier save for Pong-style ball and paddle games that called themselves "olympics", a la Atari's late 1970's "Video Olympics" (http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=585) and arcade antecedents.

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Bill Loguidice, Managing Director | Armchair Arcade, Inc.