Info

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.
RSS Feed
2023
December
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: Page 1

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?).

Dec 17, 2017

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 a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Get your Snoopy fix here.

Zazzle.com - Get cool mugs, shirts, totes and more at my Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store

Patreon - please consider financially support the show on our Atari Bytes page here

My holiday novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME is still available. In fact, you can get this Santa Claus story for adult anytime! Click here for one of the places you can do that.

0 Comments
Adding comments is not available at this time.