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ATARI BYTES

Remember those great Atari 2600 games? I have fond memories of playing classics like Pitfall or Yar's Revenge or River Raid. In this podcast, I take another look at the games, but as a writer, not a gamer. When I think of these games now, I see writing prompts; taking inspiration from the game plots or maybe even the titles to create original short stories. But this isn't simply fan fiction. The stories, more often than not, spin-off into some weird places in all kinds of genres. Sometimes funny, occasionally serious, always unique.
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Now displaying: March, 2016

Remember those great Atari 2600 games? Sure, they were fun to play, but didn't you ever wonder why they sent a plumber to take out Donkey Kong? What Yar was seeking revenge against? What the Defender was defending or why those robots went Berserk? Me too! ATARI BYTES is a game review podcast like no other. We review not just the game play, but the STORY within these classic games. We take a BYTE out of the story (get it?) and see if that story BYTES us back (now do you get it?).

Mar 27, 2016
EPISODE 10: ASTEROIDS

In Cosmic Space Patrol, "roid rage isn't a failing, it's a job requirement.

On a routine patrol, your ship is beset by a monster asteroid storm. Even armed with photon torpedoes and hyperdrive, will you have the quick reflexes to survive?

Well, no. You only get so many ships and the game will end eventually. But in the meantime, you've got a job to do. Cosmic Space Patrol is a cruel mistress, but she's the only one for you. Why is that? Well, that's the story within the game part and we have thoughts. If we didn't, this would be a really short episode. 

Be vigilant, Space Cadet.

Here's more info about Bill Kendrick's Atari Party

Here's the link to the Ms. Pac-Man article I talked about in the show. Click Me.

My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance."

Mar 20, 2016
EPISODE 9: SUPERMAN

IT'S A BIRD! IT'S A PLANE! IT'S A PODCASTER! Er, I mean, IT'S SUPERMAN!

That's an easy mistake to make.

This week's game is the 1979 Atari game Superman. Will Superman defeat Lex Luthor? Will he save Lois Lane from the evil (?) helicopter? Or will he be left powerless by the kryptonite satellites?

There's a whole lot of plot in this game - and the story within an Atari game is this podcast's KRYPTONITE (See what I did there? That's why I have a show.) Join me, won't you? Metropolis needs us.

The songs you hear in the show - "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring" - are courtesy of creative commons license from Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com

Find out more about the Atari Party at http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/atariparty/

 

Mar 13, 2016
EPISODE 8: MS. PAC-MAN

Why send a Pac-MAN to do a job when Ms. Pac-Man can do it so much better? Episode 8's game is Atari's 1982 version of Arcade legend MS. PAC-MAN. The gameplay does not disappoint. It looks and sounds about as close to the arcade version as you could get. Sure, the artwork in the manual has Ms. Pac-Man wearing thigh high boots and crimson lipstick, but, then, so am I.

Ahem.

As always, we'll go beyond the fun of merely playing to dig into the story within the game. Is Ms. Pac-Man looking to pick up where Pac-Man left off? Is she looking for revenge? Is she totally unrelated to Pac-Man an just shares a name because "Pac-Man" is as common a name in their universe as "Smith" is in ours?

So many questions. You just better listen.

The songs you hear in the show - "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring" -are courtesy of creative commons license from Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com

Find out more about the Atari Party at http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/atariparty/

Check out the XEGS Cart by Cart Podcast at http://www.xegs8bit.com

 

 

 

Mar 6, 2016
EPISODE 7: PAC-MAN

Feeling a little warm? Aching for an adrenalin rush? Does the echoing siren call of wanna-wanna-wanna drone in your brain?

YOU'VE GOT PAC-MAN FEVER, BABY! And this week on the podcast, so do we.  This 1981 Atari version of the iconic arcade classic is the focus of our story-telling gamer scrutiny.

For more about the movie "Pac-Man: Come Out to Play" from Australian filmmakers Fury Fingers, talked about in this episode, go to www.ausretrogamer.com/fury-fingers-pac-man-come-out-to-play

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for the use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring".

 

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