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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: 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?).

Dec 25, 2016
EPISODE 49: THE CHRISMYSTERY EPISODE

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.

Dec 18, 2016
EPISODE 48: STAR WARS: JEDI ARENA

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!

Dec 11, 2016
EPISODE  47: SKY DIVER

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

Dec 4, 2016
EPISODE 46: SPACE INVADERS

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

Nov 27, 2016
EPISODE 45: TOWERING INFERNO

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

Nov 20, 2016
EPISODE 44: AIR SEA BATTLE

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

 

Nov 13, 2016
EPISODE 43: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

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)

Nov 6, 2016
EPISODE 42: MEGAMANIA

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)

Oct 30, 2016
EPISODE 41: HAUNTED HOUSE

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

 

 

Oct 23, 2016
EPISODE 40: M*A*S*H

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

 

 

Oct 16, 2016
EPISODE 39: G.I. JOE: COBRA STRIKE

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

 

Oct 9, 2016
EPISODE 38: DONKEY KONG JUNIOR

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

Oct 2, 2016
EPISODE 37: DONKEY KONG

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.

Sep 25, 2016
EPISODE 36: DEFENDER

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

 

 

Sep 18, 2016
EPISODE 35: OINK!

"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

 

Sep 11, 2016
EPISODE 34: REALSPORTS FOOTBALL

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".

Sep 4, 2016
EPISODE 33: OTHELLO

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".

 

Aug 28, 2016
EPISODE 32: PITFALL II: LOST CAVERNS

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."

Aug 21, 2016
EPISODE 31: FROGGER

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".

 

 

Aug 14, 2016
EPISODE 30: POPEYE

I'm strong to the finish, 'cause I eats me spinach*, I'm Bill the Podcaster Man!

*Seriously, I do. Raw even.

This week's game is the 1983 Parker Brothers adventure POPEYE. While Olive Oil wears her hearts on her sleeve - and mostly just throws them at her beloved, Popeye is busy running from deck to deck on a ship trying to beat up Bluto/Brutus (which name you refer to Popeye's nemesis by really depends on your age) because...reasons. Sure, the message that disagreements can be solved with your fists is probably troubling, but, the game is a decent romp. Grab a can of the green stuff (We mean spinach. We're old school. No kale for us.) and climb aboard. Adventure, ahoy!

Atari Bytes

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown

Atari Bytes Patreon

Zazzle.com store at AB_Pod_Store

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

 9fkvdj4v

Aug 7, 2016
EPISODE 29: JUNGLE HUNT

This week, Sir Dudley Dashly swings from vine to vine across the jungle, colliding violently with Pitfall Harry and sending both of them to the hospital with concussions.

If only! That's just my dream premise for Pitfall III.

Instead, we're taking a look at the 1983 game from Atari, JUNGLE HUNT. Vicious vines. Cruel crocs. Belligerent boulders. Savage, uh, savages. Will Sir Dudley Dashly ever see Lady Penelope again? Well, we don't want to spoil anything, but we'd like to point out they never made Jungle Hunt II.

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

Atari Bytes Patreon

The Atari Bytes Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store

Jul 31, 2016
EPISODE 28: ATLANTIS

This week, we go above and beyond by going under the sea to defend the lost city of Atlantis from annihilation by the Gorgons. Make your old high school Greek mythology teacher stop regretting her life choices and actually use some of that stuff she taught you.

Who knew the Loch Ness Monster could kick butt so righteously? * And Not-Dead Elvis is deadly on the sentry post.**

*The Loch Ness Monster does not actually appear in this game.

**Him either.***

***OR DO THEY?

 

Atari Bytes

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown

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

The Atari Bytes Patreon page.

Get cool Atari Bytes stuff at Zazzle.com - AB_Pod_Store

 

Jul 24, 2016
EPISODE 27: STAR TREK: STRATEGIC OPERATIONS SIMULATOR

This week on the podcast, we boldly bravely cluelessly go where no one has gone before!

That's right, in honor of the new Trek film out this summer, Star Trek: Beyond, we slingshot around the sun to go back in time to 1983 and check out the Sega game STAR TREK: STRATEGIC OPERATIONS SIMULATOR. So beam yourself up to this episode and enjoy it at warp factor 10.*

*I'm stopping here to avoid any more Trek references. It's the logical thing to do. (Darn it!)

Bill Kendrick's XEGS Podcast Atari Party

The Atari Bytes Patreon Page

The Atari Bytes store on Zazzle.com

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

 

9fkvdj4v

Jul 17, 2016
EPISODE 26: GHOSTBUSTERS

We came. We saw. We kicked its...Well, you know.

In 1984, GHOSTBUSTERS left an indelible, Mr. Stay Pufft-sized, footprint on comedy/adventure movies. With the new 2016 Ghostbusters finally out, this seemed like a good time to revisit the 1985 Activision take on the Ghostbusters universe. Does the game live up to the film? To find out, who you gonna call?

PODCASTERS!

(The management requests that you please don't slime the podcasters)

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

The Atari Party is happening July 30! Book your trip now.

Atari Bytes

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown

The AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com

The Atari Bytes Patreon page

 

Jul 10, 2016
EPISODE 25: BURGERTIME

BURGERTIME was one of my favorite video games as a kid...when it was on the Intellivision.

But no matter! Atari Burgertime is cool too! Homicidal human-sized hot dogs, massive walking eggs and severely erect breadsticks want to kill our man Chef Peter Pepper, apparently, because he keeps walking all over the giant hamburgers this restaurant serves. As the chef, armed only with a pepper shaker and, we're guessing, clogged arteries, you have to dodge the junk food and stay alive long enough to finish building your hamburgers. It's DELICIOUS fun!

Bill Kendrick's Atari Party

Atari Bytes website

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown

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

The Atari Bytes Patreon page

Get cool Atari Bytes stuff at Zazzle.com

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