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 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
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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 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.
Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs on zazzle.com/ab_pod_store
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 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 devoted to ALL THINGS related to the iconic "Peanuts" comic strip and related properties. (And we do mean "all things".)
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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 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.
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.
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