ATARI BYTES

This week on the podcast, we're excited to offer another Conversation Bytes segment. This time, we've got Eoin Marron, the artist drawing the new "Centipede" comic from Dynamite Entertainment. Centipede is a classic 1982 arcade shooter and a favorite among Atari fans. The game about a giant, rampaging centipede, angry, jumping spiders, and mushrooms galore already got the comics treatment via a pack-in comic from DC in the '80s. THAT story gave us little Oliver, magic wands and wizards. We don't want to spoil anything for you, but we can assure you the new "Centipede" is NOT your father's (Or brother's. Or your) Centipede comic. Less engaging in whimsical hijinks; more being hell bent on revenge. (By the way, you can hear my CENTIPEDE game review and story within the game in episode 11 of this very podcast.) Thanks again to Eoin Marron for giving me a little of his time. I really enjoyed talking to him. I think you'll enjoy listening. So do that thing right NOW! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring", and "Take a Chance". It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey, that's my other show! Atari Bytes show notes and more. Pick up show merchandise in our AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com Support the show on our Patreon page here.

If you learn only one thing from ATARI BYTES episode 79, let it be this: Bears who live in crystal castles, shouldn't throw magic gems. Wait. That's not it. Actually, throwing magic gems is exactly what you should do in this 1983 Atari port of the proto-3D arcade adventure game CRYSTAL CASTLES. I mean, how else is Bentley Bear going to defeat the evil witch Berthilda? With an earnest heart-to-heart over steaming lattes?* *I'm totaling waiting for someone to make a steaming latte adventure homebrew game. Why is Bentley the only bear for this job? Did Fozzie, Yogi and Smokey say no? Is crystal really the ideal building material for a castle? So many questions... 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 and more here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Check it out here! Support the show financially at our Patreon page here. Pick up Atari Bytes merchandise here. Zazzle.com AB_Pod_Store

EPISODE 78 of the podcast is in the ZONE, baby! Unfortunately, the zone is the BATTLEZONE. So, you know, duck! We are tank-ful for this 1983 Atari port of the 1980 arcade tank shooter. And we know after you listen, you'll give us your TANKS for the episode too! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Reformat" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes and more here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown episodes here. Support the show financially at our Patreon page here. Pick up Atari Bytes merchandise here at Zazzle.com

In episode 77, we find out whether the Pac-Apple falls far from Ghost Tree. Then we gobble it up because....mmm, pac-apples. We're playing JR. PAC-MAN, the 1984 son-of-a-classic-arcade icon. Does the game surpass it's predecessor? Or is it an embarrassing disappointment to the family? Then we dig into whether Jr. Pac has daddy issues or if he's his own Pac. Also, we eat some ghosts! And a bicycle! Good times! Join us! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! This is my other show. Go here and check it out. Check out cool Atari Bytes shirts and more here at Zazzle.com. AB_Pod_Store. Support the show financially on Patreon.

EPISODE 76: SPIDER-MAN swings in on a web to fill your earholes with sticky podcasting fluid. We're playing the 1982 Parker Brothers adventure in honor of SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING being in theaters right now. (As this episode drops.) The Green Goblin has planted a super bomb in the high voltage tower atop a skyscraper. Will Spidey defuse the bombs in time? Will the Green Goblin get away? What exactly does the high voltage tower do? Who should get fired for signing off on the design choice of having a high voltage tower so accessible to people who want to scale it? These questions and more will have you climbing the walls like...well, like you-know-who. 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, links and so much more are here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Consider supporting the show financially at our Patreon.com page here. Check out the merchandise in our Zazzle.com store here.

EPISODE 74: SKY JINKS. In this 1982 high-flying adventure from Activision, you need cat-like reflexes (though, ironically, felines are notoriously bad pilots. They prefer train travel.) to bank left and right around those pylons while dodging trees and hot-air balloons. Sure, you want to finish the time trials in record time, but, hey, don't let all those fast, high-altitude turns make you queasy or anything... 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... Consider supporting the show financially on our Patreon page here. You can also find cool Atari Bytes merchandise at our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store.

Did you know that "dogie" as in "Git along, little dogie," is spelled with just one "g" when it's cattle, not with two like in "My doggie just peed on your cat"? Me neither! That's just one of the many things we learn in episode 74 of the podcast where we drive those dogies across the digital prairie in Activision's 1981 tribute to the American cowboy STAMPEDE. So go find your ten-gallon hat and chaps (pants are optional) and join us on the cattle drive! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - hey, that's my other show! Find cool Atari Bytes and It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown stuff at our Zazzle.com store - AB_Pod_Store Consider supporting the show financially on our Patreon page here.

Episode 73 is a heapin' second helping of River Raid-esque goodness. RIVER RAID II from 1988 takes what we loved about the original Activision legend and overlays an early era flight simulator. Does the game soar or crash and burn? Hmmm. 1980s. Fighter jets screaming overhead, performing death defying maneuvers as the sexy pilots complete their mission while trading witty banter. Does any of that sound familiar? Let's discuss... Here's the article about the true "Age of Aquarius" we talked about in the show. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes and much, much more! It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey, that's my other show! Find cool mugs and shirts and more at my store AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com You can support the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page.

ATARI BYTES EPISODE 72: CHOPLIFTER! has taken flight! That's two exclamation points already. That means you know the 1987 port of this 1982 Apple game to the Atari 7800 has to be good. Who are the Bungelings? How fast can the delegates run? Who knew the post office could be this exciting? So. Many. Questions. But we're here with the (made up) answers. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes notes, links and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Support the show on our Patreon page. Get cool Atari Bytes merch at our Zazzle.com page AB_Pod_Store

For Episode 71, ATARI BYTES gets back to nature with an adventure in the animal kingdom - WOMBAT... *Checks Notes* Whoops! I meant, we're playing the 1977 Atari original COMBAT. Tanks! Bi-planes! Jets! Mayhem abounds!* *No wombats were harmed in the production of this episode. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes, episodes and links It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - my other show! Consider support the show at our Patreon page here. Cool shirts, mugs and more in our store AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com

EPISODE 70 invites you to be a star and to get your RAID on! STAR RAIDERS is here! This 1982 Atari game was the first to utilize the space-age video touch pad peripheral. It was also the last. That may give you a clue how this game is going to go. Speaking of firsts doubling as lasts, listen to this episode closely for the first appearance of my wife - Mrs. Bytes - on the show. She was thrilled to do it...so thrilled that this will also probably be her last appearance. Yes, sir, this episode is one for the record books. Join us, won't you? My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Reformat" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes and links. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Support the show on the Atari Bytes Patreon page. Cool shirts! Cool mugs! Cool stuff of other kinds! AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com

What's in a name? Exactly what you'd expect when the name is a title like the 1979 Atari game CANYON BOMBER. What's that about? Well, there's these canyons....and you bomb them. Truth in advertising! Find some sandbags to hide behind, then join us. It'll be a blast! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Take a Chance" and "Reformat". Atari Bytes show notes and more. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - a show for all your Snoopy needs. Check out cool mugs, shirts and more at the AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com Support the show at our Patreon page here.

One day at the Atari Labs in the 1970s, they looked at Breakout and said, "Yeah, this is pretty good. But we can make it better. We have the technology. We can make the paddle smaller. The balls bouncier. The colors colorier. And we can make 'colorier' a word too. We're Atari and there is zero chance we'll implode in a video game crash just a few years hence." The result of this bravado was 1980(?)'s Atari game SUPER BREAKOUT. Is the game indeed super? Well, no. No, it's not. Spoilers hurt sometimes. But this episode definitely is SUPER. I'm wearing the cape and codpiece to prove it. 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! Cool shirts, mugs and more at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com! Consider supporting the show financially on our Patreon page.

We're back! After an unplanned week off at the exotic locale of my local hospital, ATARI BYTES is back. And we promise you, this episode is worth the wait! First, we talk about the 1982 Atari legend SWORDQUEST: EARTHWORLD, the first in a famously unfinished series of games and pack-in comics at the center of a contest that also went unfinished, courtesy of the video game crash. Then, after the game stuff, you can hear my conversation with Chad Bowers and Chris Sims. (Thanks again, guys!) They are well-known comics writers on a lot of big things - Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, to name but a few - and are now writing an all-new SWORDQUEST - inspired comic series for Dynamite Entertainment. Preview issue Zero just dropped on May 3 at the sweet, low, retro price of twenty-five cents! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "The Curtain Rises". Atari Bytes show notes, episodes, links and more. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - my other show! Consider support the show financially at our Patreon page...here! Check out cool "Go Play Some Old Games, They've Missed You" shirts and mugs and more cool stuff at Zazzle.com, AB_Pod_Store

On episode 66 of ATARI BYTES, we're gonna BREAK...OUT. Mighty mighty. Gonna let it all hang out... And by IT, we mean the 1978 Atari original BREAKOUT. It's a game about smashing bricks and...well, smashing more bricks. And providing the ying to our gaming yang, we also have a Lego correspondent in the studio giving a play-by-play of his assembly of a stack of Lego bricks into...well, you'll just have to listen to find out. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take Chance". Atari Bytes show notes, links and more. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Check out cool Atari Bytes stuff you can own at Zazzle.com Consider supporting the show financially at our Patreon page.

Join us for episode 65 featuring the debut of what we expect will become a recurring segment on the show: Conversation Bytes! Our guinea pig guest for this new interview segment is Scott Rhoades, fiction author and longtime writer of technical manuals - including manuals for games like BasketBrawl and Shanghai on the Atari 7800 and the Lynx during a stint with Atari in the 1980s and '90s. Thanks for chatting with me, Scott! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Reformat" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes links, show notes and more can be found here! It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown show notes, episodes and more are here. Consider helping the show out financially on our Patreon here. Check out cool mugs, shirts and more in our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store.

See the flag. Capture the flag. It's all in the name. Our subject this week is: FLAG CAPTURE, a flag-ship game (see what I did there?) for Atari, being one of the first eleven games released in 1978. You and an opponent race across the field of play, striving to be the first to "capture" the "flag" and which point...well, not much happens. Is this a pirate game? I don't know, but it sure feels like a pirate game. Jolly Roger and all that? Mostly, I just want an excuse to wear an eye patch and say "arr" a lot. As if anyone needs an excuse for that sexy and totally not annoying behavior. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance." Atari Bytes episodes and show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Check out mugs and shirts and more at Zazzle.com Consider supporting the show financially at Patreon.com...Thanks in advance!

Ahh! Baseball! The smell of the grassy outfield and the dusty infield. Does Atari's 1978 appeal to the Louisville Slugger in all of us score a HOME RUN or is it the sporting equivalent of AMIDAR? (We're never going to forgive that game for wasting our time.) Head down to your digital ballpark and find out! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes and episodes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Check out cool Atari Bytes mugs, shirts and more at Zazzle.com Consider supporting the show financially at Patreon.com

We're taking another spin through the time vortex and jumping out in the era of the Atari 7800 this week to play the 1986 iconic Atari game ROBOTRON 2084. If you're one of the few who hasn't heard of or played this legendary game, this might help: just imagine this is an even MORE dystopian version of the world set out in George Orwell's novel 1984. It's no surprise that Orwell might be interested in writing about robots. Orwell, famously, was a cyborg novelist.* *That might not be accurate.** **But how cool would that be???? My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Take a Chance", and "Reformat". Atari Bytes show notes and episodes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Please consider supporting the show on our Patreon page! Also check out cool "Go play some old games" shirts and more at our Zazzle.com store, AB_Pod_Store

So, what do we get in Atari's 1978 adventure game SPACE WAR? There's space. There's war. Sort of. Tune in to find out just what we mean by that! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Find awesome "Go Play Some Old Games" shirts, mugs and more at our store on Zazzle.com Consider supporting the show financially on our Patreon page.

For all you haters who think video games rot the mushy brains of impressionable youth, the 1978 Atari game BRAIN GAMES is for you. It's like a console version of the classic handheld games Simon and Merlin without the portability. Or the bright colors. Or the fun. Doing its part to foster a generation of drug free, sex free, non-fun-having gamers, playing BRAIN GAMES is like being the 1980s teen our parents dreamed of all over again! Sorry for all the thoughtless Wargames: Dead Code spoilers this week! You've been warned. (Settle down, you've never heard of that movie before now either.) 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 It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes store AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com Contribute financially at our Patreon Page.

I wear my sunglasses at night. This made it a bit difficult to play this week's game NIGHT DRIVER, the 1980 game from Atari. I pretty much crashed into everything, then just reset the game and pretty much acted as if nothing happened. It's kind of like what Congress does. Put on your sunglasses and hop into the driver's seat. Atari Bytes episodes and show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon page where you can help support the show. Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games" shirts and more at Zazzle.com AB_Pod_Store Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance".

WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN... Seriously. Do it. Do it now. Okay, sit down, you look ridiculous. This week on the podcast, we have a 1983 Parker Bros. game about looting ancient Egyptian ruler King Tut's tomb. The game is called TUTANKHAM, and is apparently so good, you won't have time to put the last "en" on the name before you must rush off to play it. Do we agree? More importantly, what stories has the mysterious ancient tomb left to tell? 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 and episodes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon donation page The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com AB_Pod_Store - new t-shirts and mugs! The Nerdist Weird Al Yankovic interview The History of Digital Games by Andrew Williams

We wondered why one reviewer declared that the best thing about Mythicon's 1983 game STAR FOX, the intended first in a series of games, was that Mythicon didn't make any more games in that series. Now we know. This space adventure(?) has something to do with recuing mysterious space-y energy crystals, which might just be Walter White's blue meth, for all we learn from the game, from some vague enemy race. Sound fun? No, really. Does it? Well, a bad day of Atari is still better than a good day at work. Right? And if work is bad too, maybe this good (?) episode will get you through it. My 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 episodes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store - now with new shirts and mugs! The Atari Bytes Patreon page - help support us financially!

We love us some Activision on the podcast, so doing the 1982 high-flying adventure CHOPPER COMMAND was a no-brainer. But is this helicopter game hella-good? Will the Sun God Helios be favored or displeased by all the heli-stuff that isn't him? So many questions. Also, we shoot things with lasers. Go find an air sick bag and join us! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance", and "Pinball Spring". It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Atari Bytes The Atari Bytes page on Zazzle.com for cool shirts and mugs and stuff The Atari Bytes Patreon page

Red rover, red rover... Bubblegum, bubblegum, in a dish... Olly olly oxen free... So, at some point in the early 1980s, someone had the idea to turn the perennial children's backyard pastime, good ol' hide and seek, into a two-dimensional, piexelated video game. SNEAK 'N PEEK, 1982, from U.S. Games Corporation, was the result. How'd that work out? About as well as you'd expect. But we played it anyway. Also, the junior podcaster, Henry, is along for the ride to help us through this nonsense as only he can. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes store (AB_Pod_Store) at Zazzle.com The Atari Bytes Patreon page

This week on the podcast, we experience our own days of future past as we leap forward in time to the 7800 era of Atari to check out the 1987 classic DOUBLE DRAGON, a throwback '80's mullet and leg warmers classic. Also, lots of people get punched in the face. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Thanks also to bensound.com for the use this week of his song "Funny Song". Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes store AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com The Atari Bytes Patreon Page

This week on the podcast, we hit the slopes for a little downhill fun...by which we mean sit in the ski lodge with a hot toddy. Or two. Activision's 1980 SKIING is our focus. We love us some Activision on the podcast. Does this game make all the gates in record time or is it just one big ugly series of moguls all the way down? Tune in to find out. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring", "Take a Chance", "Killers" and "Volatile Reaction". Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com The Atari Bytes Patreon donation page

BEEP BEEP! This week, we take a bird seed break, which should give us just enough time to talk about the 1985 Atari game ROAD RUNNER before the coyote catches us.* *Kidding. You've seen Looney Tunes, right? No WAY is he going to catch us.** **Actually, I haven't gotten past level 2, so the coyote does catch us. A LOT. Discussion topic for the week: Is the Acme Corporation really just the 1940s version of Amazon? I'll expect your five-hundred word essay answers on my desk by Monday morning. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com Atari Bytes Patreon page

Well, 2017 has firmly affixed itself to our calendars, much like a parasite feeding on our very souls. So! Do we hide in a carton of ice cream and binge Netflix? Or do we embrace the adventure that life has in store? Well, we here at Atari Bytes have a compromise. If adventuring outside is too scary...just play this week's game - Atari's 1980 legend ADVENTURE!* *You can still have the ice cream. Side note: the artwork on the cartridge is great. That just needed to be said. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon page The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hey! Wake up. Splash some cold water on your face and drown your hangover in coffee. Then crawl feebly onto the couch to check out this first episode of 2017. Our focus this month is Atari's 1983 port of the legendary GALAXIAN (legendary mostly in the sense of being the forerunner of the way more popular Galaga). Like the Baby New Year, does this game fills the diaper of our souls with the promise of great things to come or a steamy pile of eight-bit poo? Now, let's fire up the Atari and get our galaxi-ON! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance." Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com The Atari Bytes Patreon page The video of that dude making me look bad by getting 99 points in Sky Diver is right here. Grrrrrrr! How I hate that guy!* *I don't really hate him.** **Well, maybe a little.

It's Christmas Day! Merry Christmas! (If you're listening to this in, like, June, then, um, happy Tuesday or whatever.) Here's a brand new, shiny yuletide package of pod-goodness from me to you. And maybe, just maybe, if I've been a good little podcaster, there'll be a new game under my audio tree. But what game will it be....? It's a Chrismystery! So ignore your relatives for thirty-eight minutes or so and come find out! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon page The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com Check out my year in review at my blog. It's GOODNIGHT, 2016! presented in the style of "Goodnight, Moon". Here's an Amazon link to Bill's novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, but you can get it wherever you like to get books.

This week, episode 48 of the podcast is going to the dark side. In fairness, it wasn't a long journey given life in late 2016. But it's all good because we're celebrating the release of STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE by playing the 1983 Parker Brothers game STAR WARS: JEDI ARENA. You versus a fellow Jedi in a fast-moving battle of light saber on light saber action. If this is not the droid game you're looking for...moving along. But not until after you listen to this episode. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Reformat", and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon page The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com Bill's novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME makes a great gift! Could even be a stocking stuffer!

This week on the show, we plummet into the abyss and hope the parachute opens. It's like life, really. Our focus is Atari's 1979 port of the class arcade game SKY DIVER. As you plummet to the ground from a zooming plane hoping to hit the tiny landing pad, you'll wish you had that golden parachute. That's dumb, of course, since a gold parachute would be way too heavy and you'd crash to the ground like a bag of wet sand. Maybe it's best if you just stay in the plane and order another drink. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes notes and episodes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com The Atari Bytes Patreon page Bill's novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME

You know how sometimes people say "this isn't your father's...whatever" to imply that the version of that thing YOU have is way cooler than what YOUR DAD had? Well, this week on the show, we talk about your father's whatever. That sounds weird. I'll explain. The focus this week is Atari's 1980 port of the 1978 arcade classic SPACE INVADERS. When pong clones (soon to be a BBC series starring Tatiana Maslany) killed the video game market in 1977, an invasion of aliens marched in lock-step to bring the market back. SPACE INVADERS became so closely identified with gaming, that the little aliens are still iconic of that era. But what about the game itself? Any good? Why are they invading? What do they want? Why are you the only one that can defend the Earth? So. Many. Questions. Join us, won't you? Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons access to his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Atari Bytes Patreon Page Zazzle.com Atari Bytes store AB_Pod_Store Bill's novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME

This week on Atari Bytes, we're burnin' down the house! Well, burnin' down a skyscraper anyway. Also, technically, we're supposed to be saving the building. Would have been nice to know that sooner. Our focus is the 1982 U.S. Games production TOWERING INFERNO, which may or may not be based on the 1974 classic disaster film "The Towering Inferno". (Pick whichever enhances your enjoyment of the experience.) In the game, you are a firefighter braving relentless flames, going floor-by-floor searching for survivors. I don't want to brag about my firefighting skills, but I'm going to be Mr. January in next year's "shirtless firefighter" calendar. So watch for that! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance." Atari Bytes shownotes Zazzle.com AB_Pod_Store Atari Bytes' Patreon page It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Bill's book IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME

A funny thing happened on the way to the podcast, this week... We intended to do Codebreaker, as announced on the last episode. Turns out, though, that you need keypads to play it. This is a problem inasmuch as I didn't know Atari keypads existed. Fear not! Armed with this knowledge, Codebreaker will appear in a future episode. Instead, we've got one of the original nine Atari games: 1977's AIR SEA BATTLE. This is a good time for a game based on conflict given that November 2016 has seen SO LITTLE conflict in American life. Oh well. It's play time! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Atari Bytes Patreon page Atari Bytes stuff at Zazzle.com Bill's novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME

Adventure has one name and that name is...James Bond. Wait. That's not it. What is it again? *Whip cracks* Oh, right. Adventure has one name and that name is INDIANA JONES. This week, we're off to Cairo as we race Nazis to get to the fabled lost ark first in Atari's 1982 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK adaptation. Also, Henry has a snack. So there's that. Join us if you dare. But fair warning: there will be snakes. Bonus points if you can hear my dog snoring on the audio. (Sorry 'bout that.) My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Zazzle.com store at AB_Pod_Store Atari Bytes Patreon page Amazon link for Bill's novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME (or get it wherever else you choose)

Mega! Mega-mania! it's gonna drive you insane! Not really. if it does, maybe you should dial it back a bit. BUT...the 1982 Activision (we love us some Activision!) game MEGAMANI is tons of crazy fun. (Spoiler: I really like this game.) It's our focus on this meaning-of-life-defining episode 42 (That's for you Douglas Adams fans) and we are crazy excited to get to it. Maniacal even! Join us, won't you? My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes page It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Atari Bytes Patreon page Zazzle.com store - AB_Pod_Store Bill's novel - In the St. Nick of Time (Amazon link; but feel free to order wherever you like)

It's Halloween! (As this episode drops). Here's a little pod-treat for your goodie bags, you little goblins. I'm joined by not one, but TWO, cohosts as both Henry and Sophie light candles and come along on a tour of Zachary Graves' spooky old mansion in Atari's 1981 fright-fest HAUNTED HOUSE. Join us...if you've got the guts. BOO! My 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 It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store Atari Bytes Patreon page

Grab a martini and Radar's teddy bear and come play M*A*S*H! The video game! On your TV!* *You might need to put down either the martini or the bear to hold the joystick. In episode 40, our focus is the 1983 20th Century Fox Video Games edition of the game based on the HUGELY popular show about whacky doctors and nurses plunked down in the army camp 4077 during the Korean War. Plus...We have a special guest. Henry is back! He joins us to share his thoughts about a game set in a war that, historically, means little to him because it happened sixty years ago and he's only seven. But did he like the game? Tune in to find out! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance." Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon page The Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store

Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? G.I. JOE: COBRA STRIKE, the 1983 Parker Brothers Atari game, is here to slither its way into your ear holes. The game finds the evil COBRA organization targeting new Joe recruits with a HUGE laser-shooting and venom dripping snake. As one does. In the game, you are manning the guns to defend the Joes. All of this smacks of bad military strategy to me. Does the plot hold up? We put our forked tongue all over this one to find out. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance." Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon page The Atari Bytes Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store

In "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", Harrison Ford saved his father. Ian Ziering saved his dad David Hasselhoff a bunch of times in those "Sharknado" movies. And now, this week, Donkey Kong Junior steps - make that leaps - up to claim his own place as daddy-saver. Will he do the family proud? If not, there's always "Sharknado IV". Also in the episode: I rap, apparently. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Zazzle.com store at AB_Pod_Store The Atari Bytes Patreon page

Back when this full-grown podcaster was but a wee audio sprout, there were the BIG THREE GAMES that were integral to forming his arcading self: Frogger and Pac-Man were two of them, both of which we have talked about on this show. And now, we look at the third of the triumvirate: DONKEY KONG - Coleco, 1981. Does this port live up to the thrill of the arcade version? Does the story of a little Italian plumber (who, in this game, is actually a carpenter because...reasons) chasing down a homicidal gorilla still hold up? Did it EVER make any sense? These questions and more will be answered this week. So put down your bowl of Crunch Berries and DVD collection of the Donkey Kong cartoon show and join us. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes Show Notes Its a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon Page The Zazzle.com AB_Pod_Store for all your merchandise needs.

Well, we wanted to find signs of alien life, and now we're being conquered by our new alien overlords. Yet another reason why interaction with the outside world is a bad thing. In Atari's 1982 space adventure DEFENDER, you are all that stands between the invading hordes and civilization as we know it. Don't worry! We believe in you!* *Podcaster writes farewell letter to his fellow humanoids.* Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance." Atari Bytes notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Zazzle.com store Atari Bytes Patreon Page

"Animal Farm" was a freakin' petting zoo compared to what's going on in this game. This week's focus is Activision's (!) 1983 game Oink! It's an adaptation of the "Three Little Pigs" story that lets you work out your very understandable porcine hostility in a light-hearted romp where you kill a bunch of pigs with halitosis, apparently. Join us, won't you? My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown Zazzle.com store Our Patreon page

It's autumn and you know what that means. Yep, time to sit on the couch by the fire getting drunk on spiced rum. But autumn also means FOOTBALL! If video games do nothing else, they provide a fine substitution for physical activity outside in the sunshine amongst other humans. This week's game - REALSPORTS FOOTBALL, a 1982 Atari game - is no exception. So, suit up and get out on the field. Let the gridiron smooth out the wrinkles in your athleticism. No need to thank us. Atari Bytes site It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Zazzle.com Atari Bytes store AB_Pod_Store The Atari Bytes Patreon Page My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring".

Atari's 1981 adaptation of the classic board game OTHELLO is our focus this week on the show. Apparently, we were really desperate. This is a fine strategy game, but flipping black or white tiles from one color to the other doesn't exactly scream character and plot. So tune in, if for no other reason than to witness the audio trainwreck. Good luck, me. Atari Bytes show notes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon page Zazzle.com Atari Bytes store AB_Pod_Store My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance".

Pitfall Harry returns! Just when he thought he was out, they pulled him back in..to PITFALL II: LOST CAVERNS, 1984, from Activision. By "they", we mean water, condors, bats, albino scorpions, and many, many caverns to fall into and get lost in. Sounds like a party to me! Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes Patreon page The Atari Bytes Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance."

Little Orphan Annie might say the theme on this week's episode of ATARI BYTES is "Leapin' Lizards!" She'd be wrong, of course. No lizards here, but there are a bunch of frogs! Our game is Parker Brothers' 1982 port of the classic arcade game FROGGER. You can't possibly lick all the frogs in this daring adventure cataloging all the ways to kill a defenseless bit of nature.* But keep on tryin'! This game is more fun than a plate full of chocolate-covered flies. *Seriously. Stop licking frogs. That's gross. "Is Popeye's Nemesis Names Bluto or Brutus?" - The Straight Dope Atari Bytes It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com That Atari Bytes Patreon page My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance".