Atari Bytes

As Intellivision Month draws to a close in episode 231, prepare to be swept off your feet by the enchanting tale of "Beauty & the Beast"! Soak up that Disney Magic! *checks notes* Sorry, not the Disney movie. Okay, we cover the times fairy tale from.... *squints at some scribbles in notes* Sorry again. Actually, we're playing iMagic's 1982 game "Beauty & the Beast" which seems to bear no relation to either of these two. The real question, though: is this game a BEAUTY or a BEAST?!?!? THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: QUARANTINE'S MONSTER - A Bad Poetry Corner Haiku-Off. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat". Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop for ATARI BYTES episodes, social medial and more. While you're there, check out IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, a monthly show dedicated to all things in and around the iconic "Peanuts" comic strip.  The website also ha

Intellivision month rolls on in episode 230 like a poker chip off the chest of a gambler who has passed out after a sound thrashing by Lady Luck. We're playing Mattel's LAS VEGAS POKER & BLACKJACK from 1979. What are the odds that this is a good episode? Well, we're keeping our cards close to our vest. We've managed to bluff our way through 230 episodes so far... THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS ISN'T GOING TO CLEAN ITSELF Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. You can find ATARI BYTES show notes, social media and episodes here and for the monthly IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, dedicated to all things Snoopy and "Peanuts" here at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com  The website also has info about books I've written and links to some of the places you can buy them.  Subscribe to the ATARI BYTES Patreon project at patreon.com and you could get access to ep

Intellivision Month continues in episode 229 with SPACE BATTLE, Mattel, 1979. In this era of social distancing, "space" is a concept we know well. "Battle" is, unfortunately, something we've seen all too much of. SO, take a break with some games and stories. This week's original short story is: BAD POETRY CORNER: SPACE BATTLE Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring". Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. You can fine ATARI BYTES show notes, social media and episode links here. The same stuff can be found for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com  Subscribe to ATARI BYTES on Patreon.com and you could get episodes early and maybe even get bonus content.  The website also has info about books I've written and links to some of the places to buy them, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Pick up "Go play some old games. They've mi

Any old episode could give you swords. Any old episode could give you serpents. But this week in episode 228, to launch INTELLIVISION MONTH 2020, we're giving you SWORDS AND SERPENTS.  I know! How can we afford such generosity? Does this 1982 iMagic sword and sorcery (and serpent) title win the treasure or deserve to die in a fireball?  THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: STUCK Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has show notes, episodes, social media and more for ATARI BYTES here and for the monthly podcast dedicated to all things Charles Schulz and the iconic comic strip "Peanuts" IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLE BROWN here. The website also has info about books I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS here. Become a subscriber to the podcast on Patreon.com and you could get access to episodes EARLY. Y

ATARI BYTES episode 227 explores a concept many of us in this pandemical age in which we live may have forgotten: commuting from one place to another. That place, specifically, is outer space. We're guessing social distancing is a bit easier up there. And if you sneeze, you just splatter the inside of your own helmet instead of the other commuters. We're playing Activision's 1984 ode to the soul-crushing time-suck that is the commute: COSMIC COMMUTER. Whatever else can be said, at least we know the experience will be...stellar. This week's short story: THE COMMUTANTS Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat." Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. You can find ATARI BYTES show notes, social media, episodes and more here on www.carnivalofgleecreations.com and the same stuff for my other podcast, IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." mugs and shirts at www.zazzl

The game this week on ATARI BYTES is an unreleased prototype. The episode is not. Or is it? We're playing COMBAT TWO, announced by Atari in 1982 for a 1984 release that never happened. Yet, here it is. Maybe the show has never happened either. Maybe I never happened. Or you. Maybe everything is an illusion. Anyway...happy listening! This week's short story: COMBAT, COMBAT EVERYWHERE Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring". Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has info, show notes, episodes and more for this show, ATARI BYTES, here and for my monthly podcast IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has info and links to some places to order my books, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.  Support the show by becoming an ATARI BYTES subscriber on Patreon.com. Get episodes early! Get BONUS content! Pick up "Go play some old ga

On ATARI BYTES episode 225, we've got no time for losers...'cause we are the CHAMPIONS! ...of the World! Or at least CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER from Atari, 1980. Grab your cleats and some of those long socks and join us on the field. This week in Bad Poetry Corner: a smattering of "champion" inspired haiku. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme. You can find episodes, notes, info for ATARI BYTES here and for IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, a monthly deep dive into all things related to the iconic "Peanuts" strip here. The website also has info about books I've written and some places you can get them, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Become a subscriber to the show here at Patreon.com. You could get episodes early and even maybe some bonus content!

Beamrider! Go, beamrider! (To the tune of "Greased Lightning"? No?) In episode 224 of ATARI BYTES, we're playing the 1983 Activision spacey shoot 'em up BEAMRIDER. Blast the alien invaders because apparently the Earth shield you're "cleaning" is really more of an Earth sieve and aliens are flowing fast and free through that thing. THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: ESSENTIAL WORK Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring".   Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme. You should go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for info, show notes and episodes of ATARI BYTES here and IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. You can help support the show by becoming a patreon subscriber on the ATARI BYTES patreon page here. Get episodes early! Get BONUS content! zazzle.com/ab_pod_store has your "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirt and mug needs covered.  Pick up books by your author like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED

This week in ATARI BYTES episode 223, we're playing the 1983 Activision game SEAQUEST. Your sub must DIVE DIVE DIVE! to rescue treasure-hunting divers. Insert obligatory "We all live in a yellow submarine" joke here. This week's original short story: A QUEST TO UNITE THE WORLD Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Get ATARI BYTES show info, social media and episodes at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com. While you're there, check out IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.  The website also has info about books you can buy for your very onw, including MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." mugs at shirts at www.zazzle.com/ab_pod_store.  Become an ATARI BYTES subscriber on Patreon.com and you could get episodes EARLY. Maybe even BONUS content!

ATARI BYTES episode 222. Three of the same digit in the episode number. Three names for the same game. Coincidence? Yes. Yes, it is. We're playing homebrew "ATARI CLIMBER" in our continuing effort to alphabetically work our way through the Flashback 9. Or maybe we're playing "Climber". Or perhaps "Climber 5".  Does the game reach the highest heights or sink to the lowest lows? Climb on up and grab a seat... THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: JACOB'S OTHER LADDER Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. You can fine info, social media and episodes for ATARI BYTES here and for IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here on www.carnivalofgleecreations.com  Become an ATARI BYTES Patreon subscriber here. You could get episodes EARLY. You could get BONUS content. Craziness! Check out my books, including MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Get "Go play some o

In ATARI BYTES episode 221 this week, we dive deep to the depths of Atari Ocean, dodging fierce sharks and the surprisingly tender embrace of amorous octopi, to bust open the treasure chest that contains FATHOM.  Does this 1983 iMagic game rise triumphantly to the surface or sink like a stone? This week's short story: THE UNDERSEAN Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.  At www.carnivalofgleecreations.com you can find show notes, social media, info at more for ATARI BYTES and for the monthly ode to the iconic Peanuts comic strip IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.  The website also has info and links to some of the places you can order books that I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.  Become a subscriber on the ATARI BYTES Patreon page to help keep the lights on in the podcast studio. You could also get access to e

THE CARNIVAL IS IN TOWN! In episode 220, we flagrantly defy stay-at-home orders to go to the carnival. Okay, not really. But we are playing Sega's 1980 Atari 2600 game CARNIVAL. Grab a corn dog, do something involving butter, and take  a spin on the tilt-a-whirl. Just don't hug a carney. Social distancing, friends. This week's short story: SECOND DUCK ON THE LEFT Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".   Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. You can find show notes, social media and info about ATARI BYTES here  and about my other podcast, IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here on www.carnivalofglee.com Get info on the website about books I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Support the podcast by becoming a subscriber on the ATARI BYTES page on Patreon.com here. Get episodes EARLY! Get BONUS episodes! Madness! Exclamation points! Pick up "Go Play Some Old G

So, in 1981, Atari was wanting to do a follow up to the hugely popular ASTEROIDS. What to call it? Asteroids II? Boring. Asteroids Again? Kind of whiny. And it doesn't play up the goal of improving on the original. Asteroids Better? Better what? Asteroids Mediocre? *sigh* Kenny from janitorial services walked by with a broom in one hand and a ham sandwich in the other. "Call it 'Asteroids Deluxe', he said and kept on walking.   And a legend was born, one day to appear in episode 218. This week's entry in Bad Poetry Corner: ODE TO ASTEROIDS DELUXE Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.  You can find info, show notes and episode links for ATARI BYTES and the monthly deep dive into the iconic "Peanuts" comic strip and related stuff IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com  Become an ATARI BYTES subscriber on Patreon.com and you could get episodes E

Like a gaming geyser, the Flashback 9 spews forth a fountain of gaming fun in episode 217 with the water-based AQUAVENTURE. This 1983, never released Atari prototype pits flippered-man against finned foes as a mermaid looks on enigmatically. Treasure awaits! Then we swim against the tide to come up with this week's short story: BAXTER VERSUS THE MERMAID. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Show notes, social media and more for ATARI Bytes at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.  The website also has info and some order links for books I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Become a subscriber to ATARI BYTES on the Patreon page here. Unlock BONUS EPISODES! And get EPISODES EARLY! Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs on zazz

Until now, I think the "newest" Atari game I had talked about on the show was from, like, 1988. Episode 216, though, is breaking new ground...by revisiting old ground.  In 2007, AtariAge produced ADVENTURE II, a loving tribute to the iconic ADVENTURE as a cartridge you could actually buy and hold in your hands, I, however, played it on the Flashback 9, which came out a couple years ago. Castles! Vaguely (okay, now so vaguely) duck-like dragons! Chalices! It's all here! This trip through the decades is exhausting. Kick back with my original short story: FATE'S FATE.  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Reformat" and "Take a Chance".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop shop for ATARI BYTES info, social media, and episode links here. All that same stuff for my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN is there too. What's that? Only the finest (and only the only) monthly podcast devot

Wooooo! Are you hot, or is it just me? Episode 215 is on FIRE! We're playing SWORDQUEST: FIREWORLD, the second in the series of four adventure games Atari created in the 1980s that tied into a contest where you - yes, you! - could win valuable prizes. Only you couldn't, 'cause Atari torched itself and never finished the four games or the contest. But you know what you can finish? This episode! Congratulations!* *There will be no prize awarded. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for show notes, social media, episodes and more for ATARI BYTES here and for IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here...that show being a monthly deep dive into all things Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the like from the iconic comic, TV eps, films, merchandise, etc..  Support the show by becoming an Atari Bytes Patreon subscriber at Patreon.com here.  You can get

In episode 214: GOLF, we consider Atari's answer to the question: How can we take a game designed for walking around outside in nature and make it less healthy? We also say goodbye to daredevil Mad Mike Hughes. This week's short story: PEANUT PUTTER BUTTER Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Immersed", "Pinball Spring", "Reformat" and "Take a Chance".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Find show notes, episode links, social media and more at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com here for ATARI BYTES and here for the monthly devotion to all things in and around the Peanuts comic strip IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN. The webiste also has info about books by William Pepper, including MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Become a subscriber on the ATARI BYTES Patreon page here and help keep the lights on in the studio.  Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs on zazzle.com/ab_pod_store

If sports is a metaphor for human competition, auto racing is a metaphor for life as a whole: going round and round as fast and loud as possible, consuming as many resources as possible, without actually getting anywhere.  Exhibit A: this week in ATARI BYTES episode 213, we're playing Atari's 1977 contribution to automotive sports INDY 500. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines and perhaps you'll outrun the futility of existence without crashing into the inevitability of the finish line that awaits us all. This week's short story: ANATOMY OF VROOM: A POEM Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Thanks to Mike Mann for the "Mad Mike Hughes" theme. Show notes, episode links, social media for ATARI BYTES here. Same stuff for the monthly exploration of the "Peanuts" comic strip, IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has info and links to just some of the p

On episode 212 of ATARI BYTES, we learn that maybe not all board games need to make the jump to the TV screen. To be fair, our discussion of Atari's 1979 BACKGAMMON adaptation could be colored by the flu and flu-related weariness bombarding the podcast studio while putting the episode together. But we're not sure that excuses everything... This week's short story: GET BACK, GAMMON! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".  Thanks to Mike Mann for the "Mad Mike Hughes" theme. Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. You can find show info, social media and links for ATARI BYTES on www.carnivalofgleecreations.com here and the same for the monthly devotion to ALL things related to the iconic comic strip "Peanuts" IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs on zazzle.com/ab_pod_store here. Support show by becoming a subscriber on the ATARI BYTES Patreon p

Episode 211 of ATARI BYTES asks you, the listener, to test your MEMORY and remember back to a time long ago. CONCENTRATE and get ready to MATCH the fun you had with Hunt & Score in episode 192 as we get ready to play CONCENTRATION this week; the same game, by another name. I know. You're not sure you can handle so much excitement in such a short time. It'll be okay.  This week's short story: PERFECT MATCH Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".  Thanks to Mike Mann for the "Mad Mike Hughes" theme. Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Get show notes, episodes, social media and more for ATARI BYTES on www.carnivalofgleecreations.com Also find show notes, episodes, social media and more for the monthly discussion of all things related to Peanuts comics here on www.carnivalofgleecreations.com  Get "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs.  Support the show by subscribing on the Atari By