Atari Bytes

Episode 110 of the podcast is silent...but DEADLY. That is to say, we're playing DEADLY DUCK, the 1982 20th Century Fox game. It's sort of like waterfowl nested inside a Space Invaders game and QUACKED everything up. Also, there are brick-wielding crabs and dragonflies armed with bombs. Because why not? What story could I possibly make out of this? Hope I don't lay a (duck) egg on this one. Listen to find out if I do. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".  Atari Bytes - show notes, social media and so much more. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - my other show. Get your Snoopy fix here. The AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com for show shirts and more You can also support the show financially on our Patreon page here.

Ding-Ding! In the left corner, weighing in at episode 109, it's BOXING by Activision, 1980. In the right corner, weighing in at...well, he's working on it. Gotta get back on that treadmill. It's PODCASTER BILL. Gentlemen...fight! Dirty tricks and junk-punching totally okay. Our salute to the Olympics concludes this week with an Activision game. We do love us some Activision here on the podcast. Does this game disappoint? Listen and find out. Then hang around the ring for this week's story devoted to the "sweet science"... Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes - episodes, social media and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Get your fix of all things Snoopy here. Zazzle.com store at AB_Pod_Store - get your "go play some old games" shirts here Patreon - If you can, support the show financially on our Atari Bytes page on Patreon

Our salute to the Olympics continues this week in episode 108. Like all elite Olympic athletes, I've got a beer and a pocket full of nachos (I hope those are nachos). Why? Because we're going BOWLING! The 1978 Atari version that is.  You might argue bowling is not an actual Olympic sport. I submit to you that, as with doughnuts being a health food, in my reality Olympic bowling darn well is a thing. In this week's story: what mystery and intrigue lurks at the other end of the lane?  Grab your balls and join us! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes - show notes, social media, episodes, puppies and chocolates (guess which one is a lie) It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - get all your Snoopy needs met here. Zazzle.com - AB_Pod_Store - that's my store with "Go Play Some Old Games" shirts and more Patreon - support the show financially here

As the episode rolls out, the 2018 winter Olympics are underway. The competition! The pageantry! The steroid scandals! To celebrate, we're leaping off the ski jump into the future to play the 1985 game WINTER OLYMPICS from Epyx FOR THE ATARI 7800!!! If the story WITHIN the game we've come up with can be believed (it can't), the drama and intrigue on the ski jump, bobsled, speed skating rink and biathalon (biathalon? Really?) is NOTHING compared to the thrilling adventure going on behind the scenes. Good thing our old friend, Steve Stetson, superspy, is on the case.  So cinch up your leotard, grab a bowlful of steroids and join us at the medal ceremony that is this episode! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat", "Pinball Spring", "Volatile" and "Killers". Atari Bytes - show notes, episodes, social media and more here It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. The AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com - pick up show merchandise here. Pat

This week on the podcast, we're going commando! Aren't you glad this is an audio podcast? Of course, we're actually referring to this week's game COMMANDO RAID, a 1982 game from U.S.Games, a division of Quaker Oats. The odor of heavy artillery fire and oatmeal hangs heavy in the air. In this week's story within the game, we wonder: in the war between the humans and androids, are there any winners? R.I.P. Mort Walker Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat". Atari Bytes episodes, show notes, social media here It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Get your Snoopy fix here every month. Pick up Atari Bytes "go play some old games' merchandise and other stuff in our Zazzle.com store here. AB_Pod_Store Please consider supporting the show financially on Patreon. Thanks!

When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are...though retro gamers get preferential treatment. Am I right??? Well, we wished upon a star and we got episode 105 of Atari Bytes - STAR VOYAGER, the iMagic game from 1982. We wanted to be 6"1", with a chiseled physique and good cheekbones. But this is a good consolation prize. I've still got some Ranch Doritos in the kitchen, so it's all good. In STAR VOYAGER, you travel among the stars protecting star ports from the treaty-breaking Zakorans. Be careful, or the only wish you'll be making is to not have your atoms scattered among the stars. In this month's story, we imagine Jimminy Cricket in a space helmet singing to space Pinocchio. We might have been heavily medicated when we recorded this. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".  Atari Bytes show notes, episodes, social media and what-not can be found here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other

If they only knew. If only Elliott and those soft-hearted scientists knew. In 1982, extra-terrestrials invaded Earth - by leaving a so-homely-he's-cute alien being to wander the planet, seeking only to feed his addiction to sugary snacks and flowers. This horror was chronicled by some brave journalist named Steven Spielberg in the documentary "E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial". Our government finally caught the would-be conquerer of Earth. Phew! Crisis averted! But then...they let him go... And as a result, a fate worse than the destruction of Earth crashed down on us. The same year, Atari self-destructed by way of a pretty bad E.T. game that everyone hated, single-handedly destroying the video game industry. Earth went on a-spinnin', but life as we know it was over. At least, I think that's how it happened. This month, as we mark two years since this podcast launched, episode 104 of ATARI BYTES picks through the wreckage to try and figure out why E.T. was the...man? thing? to  bring Earth to its knees. Why, E.T.?

In 1978, Atari was all set to unleash upon the world another maze game. But then someone said, "We can do better. We can make this maze game something more...something with higher stakes. We can turn an ordinary maze game into a SUPER maze game of chases. We could make this game...a game of COPS AND ROBBERS! We have the technology." And MAZE CRAZE was born. And it, in turn, begat this podcast episode a mere forty years after that. Funny how fate works. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring".  Atari Bytes show notes and oh, so much more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Check out episodes here. Check out the Atari Bytes shirts and more at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com If you can, please support the production of this podcast on our Patreon page here.

We can thank the 1981 arcade game VANGUARD, and the 1982 Atari port we're talking about this week, for giving us many firsts: the "continue" feature, four-direction shooting, multi-direction stage scrolling, and invincibility power-ups.  But can VANGUARD give us the love we so desperately need?  Failing that, how about egg rolls? I feel like some egg rolls... Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes show notes and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! The Atari Bytes merchandise store is at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com Please consider supporting the show financially on our Atari Bytes Patreon page here.

As 2017 slinks off the stage wiping from it's jacket bits of rotten tomato, we prepare to usher in a new year full of promise and, of course, Atari games. The (root beer) taps are open. Let's celebrate! And celebrate we do with Bally Midway's 1983 root beer (*wink*) -slinging party TAPPER. Cheers! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".  Pick up Atari Bytes mugs and more at our AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com If you can, support the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page. My 2017 year-in-review "GOODNIGHT, 2017!" is up at my oft-neglected blog here. Don't forget to please check out my book IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, a sort of Santa Claus story for adults. It's never too late to start on next year's Christmas spirit.

Egg the nog, yule the log and send Rudolph to guide Santa through the fog. It's CHRISTMAS EVE! Oh, and it just happens to be episode 100 of this here podcast thingy.  So what does all this mean for this week's ATARI BYTES episode? I dunno. Let's find out together! Happy holidays, everyone! Links: Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and, this week, "Happy Happy Game Show". Atari Bytes - show notes, social media and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Get your Snoopy fix here every month.  Zazzle.com - pick up cool show merch in our store AB_Pod_Store. Atari Bytes Patreon - Our Patreon page is here. Consider supporting the show if you can. Here's one of the places you can pick up my novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, a sort of Santa Claus story for adults, ALL YEAR 'ROUND! And if you've already bought the book, thanks! Don't forget to go where you ordered it and leave a review! Check out my year-in

So, here's what I think happened: In 1982, game company Parker Brothers wanted to make another video game. One of the designers had her heart set on making a space battle game. Another designer really wanted to make a game that said something about the nuclear arms race and the dangers of nuclear waste. The designers waged all out war, each entrenched in their positions. Until Mr. Parker Brother said, "Work together or you're fired." And, thus, REACTOR was born.  Those designers compromised to merge their ideas and create something new. Does the premise, flying your space ship inside a nuclear reactor and fighting evil photons and neutrinos, make any sense? We find out in episode 99. (Spoiler: No) But there was no way they were going to mix their chocolate and peanut butter.  Some principles just can't be compromised.  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes - show notes, episodes, social media and more It's

ATARI BYTES STRIKES BACK... ...With another episode. Number 98 to be specific. This week, in honor of the oncoming cinematic blockbuster STAR WARS EPISODE VIII: THE LAST JEDI, we're playing the game based on episode II of the original Star Wars trilogy, which *actually* was episode V of the overall story. Hey, wake up. This is nerdery at it's finest. Anyway, we're playing STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Is it a good time or do we need the Force just to get through the thing? And by storming ice planet Hoth, what exactly are those AT AT's playing at at? Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes show notes and much more  It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Get your Snoopy fix here. Here's a place where you can pick up my novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, a sort of Santa Claus novel for adults. Pick up Atari Bytes shirts, mugs, bags and more at our Zazzle.com store, AB_Pod_Store Please con

Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door. Well, that's assuming they can find the door. It's like a maze out here. Hasn't anyone heard of Google Maps? This week on episode 97 we're playing Exidy's 1981 game MOUSE TRAP (Well, specifically we're playing Coleco's later Atari port of said game) and then we'll dissect the motives of the titular mouse. Is it really all about the cheddar? Crowd around your podcaster apparatus to listen, but on your way grab a big, gooey bowl of cheese fondue and some delectable items to dip. Or a trowel with which to apply the cheese directly to your skin. You do you. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance", and "Pinball Spring".  Atari Bytes show notes, episodes, social media and more here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Go there for your Charlie Brown and Snoopy fix. It's the holidays! Check out the t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, stickers and more at our absurdl

The bomber in Activision's 1981 game KABOOM! is mad. How do we know? The exclamation point in the title, obviously! That doesn't stop him from dropping bombs with cartoony lit fuses though. What are you supposed to do? Call the bomb squad? Flee the scene?  Nope. Just get out you buckets of water and start fielding those explosive pop flies. Miss one and bucket water won't be only thing splattered all over the computer landscape.  Why is all this happening? We'll blow the lid clean off this mystery. Join us! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring".  Atari Bytes show notes and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Please consider supporting the show financially on our Atari Bytes Patreon page here. You can get show-inspired mugs, shirts, tote bags and more at our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME - my novel about three men thrown together during the holidays, one of which is Sa

In the Spectravision B-movie pirate serial THE CHALLENGE OF NEXAR...*Show notes interrupted by a note passed to the host by the editor* What? THE CHALLENGE OF NEXAR is an Atari game?** **Yes. Yes, it is. From Spectravision, 1982. But I thought Spectravision was a format 1950s TV was presented in.*** ***You're fired. Also, there are no pirates in it. Anyway, I guess this is a game where you fly through some sort of colorful space vortex thing and shoot space saucers that look less like saucers and more like an unnamed licensed property, the name of which, in Pig Latin, is Rsta Swar Eti Rfighte. Classic Arcade Machines Make a Comeback $100 a Pop If you like my podcast: first, thanks! Second, consider checking out my writing! My novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, a sort of Santa Claus story for adults (it even has guns and naughty words!) is available wherever you like to get books. Here's one of those places. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chanc

Feeling claustrophobic? Like the walls are moving in on you? No, you're not coming down from one too many espresso shots. You just have SQUEEZE BOX fever! And you know what they say about fevers: starve a cold and feed a fever, right? Like, maybe, you could feed it some Quaker oats, which would be appropriate since a division of that company, U.S. Games, released SQUEEZE BOX in 1982. And it's our focus in episode 94. In the game, you're a prison inmate, desperate to escape as the walls literally squeeze in on you. Don't worry, though, this isn't one of those lame prisons where you have to make due with turning a spork into a shank. In this prison, you have your own gun. Why? Dunno. But we'll make something up! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring".  Atari Bytes show notes, social media links and so much more. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Get all your Snoopy news here. Please consider suppor

As Jimmy Buffett sang, "I like mine with lettuce and tomato. And hot dogs. And ice cream. And pickles. Not the purple ones though. Eatin' my pickle in paradise!" (Parrotheads send your angry emails now.) The 1982 Telesys game FAST FOOD recalls a more innocent era - high calorie snacks. Parachute pants. Urkel. We know the mission in the game is to gobble as much food as you can (We Americans do love our excessive consumption!) and we know WHAT to eat. (Hold the purple pickle!). But do we know WHY we eat? Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes show notes and more. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Got a hankering for some Peanuts? This show has you covered! Find show merchandise - bags, mugs, shirts, stickers, blankets, etc. at our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store Support the show financially on our Patreon page. Thanks in advance!

This week's episode of ATARI BYTES, number 92 for those keeping score, is all about Benjamin Franklin. Well, not really. But thanks to this week's co-host, my kid Henry, there is a long digression from talking about the 1983 Data Age game FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER to talk about the mechanics of the founding father's famous key-on-a-kite-string experiment. Just a little extra info for you, our faithful listeners, at no extra charge. You're welcome. Getting back to the game, what lurks in the creepy depths of Dr. Frankenstein's castle? Any why is it so angry? How big is its power probe exactly? Can we do NOTHING about this unsightly green wall it hides behind?  No tricks, only treats in this Halloween episode! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes show notes, episodes and more. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! You can support Atari Bytes financially on our Patreon page here. Pick up coo

EPISODE 91: SPACE JOCKEY, 1982, from U.S. Games, looks a lot like a game made by a company that mostly just makes oatmeal. 'cause it is! But we're playing it anyway.  Why so much space? Who, exactly, is this "jockey" of which the game speaks? Are YOU the jockey? Am I the jockey? There's not a single horse in this thing, so why do we even need a jockey. I'm so confused.  Thanks this week to Speck for the use of (a portion of) the song "I Don't Care Anymore". Thanks also to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring".  Check out that cool Atari cake (that someone needs to get me RIGHT NOW!) here.  Atari Bytes show notes, links and more. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Zazzle.com - AB_Pod_Store has many great shirts, mugs and more. Please consider supporting the show on our Patreon page here.