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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: February, 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?).

Feb 28, 2016
EPISODE 6: CIRCUS ATARI

OH, THE CLOWN-MANITY! In this 1980 Atari game, clown after clown face-plants under the Big Top trying to bounce off a trampoline onto a teeter-totter. After then leaping from the teeter-totter and popping some balloons, you, player, are supposed to catch them. But you can't. Because you stink at this game. Or maybe...it's serial clown murder. Either way, this is good, family, slaughter-fun. Pass the circus peanuts and let's do this.

WARNING: At about the ten minute-thirty-eight-second mark, I more or less spoil the ending to Stephen King's DARK TOWER novel series. It seemed like a good idea at the time. You might want to skip from about 10:37 to 10:47. Sorry.

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

 

Feb 21, 2016
EPISODE 5: DEMONS TO DIAMONDS

The carnival is in town! The majesty of the Ferris wheel. The roar of the ferocious lions. The siren call of demons from the underworld enticing you to play their game. If you do, you're off on a hellish roller coaster of demons that mock, diamonds that bounce and skulls with post-nasal drip. What in the world is going on here? Put down that corn dog and help us figure it out.

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

 

Feb 14, 2016
EPISODE 4: RIVER RAID

Episode 4 is up! Old Man River, that Old Man River...He says, "Keep the noise down!" What noise? EXPLOSIONS! This week's game is the 1982 Activision game RIVER RAID. It has jets. It has helicopters and fuel depots. Boats and bridges all over the place. And they're all blowing up...Thanks to you. I've been playing Atari games for 30+ years, but I've only had this one about a week. AND IT'S AWESOME. Where has this thing been all my life? And yet, such is the nature of this podcast that we have to ask, "Sure, blowing up stuff is fun, but WHY?" And so we do. Take your Dramamine and hop aboard.

Feb 7, 2016
EPISODE 3: OUTLAW

If your knowledge of the Old West comes primarily from "Back to the Future III", then this is the episode for you. OUTLAW is our game; the game where gunslingers rule the town...unless there's a stagecoach or a cactus blocking their path. This 1978 Atari game promises players they "can become expert gunslingers during these games". Go head to head and leave your opponent in the dust. Throw in a sarsaparilla six-pack and shine my spurs and I am all in.

Music provided by Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com via creative commons license.

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