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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: January, 2017

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?).

Jan 29, 2017
EPISODE 54: DOUBLE DRAGON (7800)

This week on the podcast, we experience our own days of future past as we leap forward in time to the 7800 era of Atari to check out the 1987 classic DOUBLE DRAGON, a throwback '80's mullet and leg warmers classic. Also, lots of people get punched in the face.

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

Thanks also to bensound.com for the use this week of his song "Funny Song".

Atari Bytes show notes

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown

The Atari Bytes store AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com

The Atari Bytes Patreon Page

Jan 22, 2017
EPISODE 53: SKIING

This week on the podcast, we hit the slopes for a little downhill fun...by which we mean sit in the ski lodge with a hot toddy. Or two.

Activision's 1980 SKIING is our focus. We love us some Activision on the podcast. Does this game make all the gates in record time or is it just one big ugly series of moguls all the way down? Tune in to find out.

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

Atari Bytes show notes

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown

The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com

The Atari Bytes Patreon donation page

Jan 15, 2017
EPISODE 52: ROAD RUNNER

BEEP BEEP!

This week, we take a bird seed break, which should give us just enough time to talk about the 1985 Atari game ROAD RUNNER before the coyote catches us.*

*Kidding. You've seen Looney Tunes, right? No WAY is he going to catch us.**

**Actually, I haven't gotten past level 2, so the coyote does catch us. A LOT.

Discussion topic for the week: Is the Acme Corporation really just the 1940s version of Amazon? I'll expect your five-hundred word essay answers on my desk by Monday morning.

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 store at Zazzle.com

Atari Bytes Patreon page

Jan 8, 2017
EPISODE 51: ADVENTURE

Well, 2017 has firmly affixed itself to our calendars, much like a parasite feeding on our very souls.

So! Do we hide in a carton of ice cream and binge Netflix? Or do we embrace the adventure that life has in store?

Well, we here at Atari Bytes have a compromise. If adventuring outside is too scary...just play this week's game -  Atari's 1980 legend ADVENTURE!*

*You can still have the ice cream.

Side note: the artwork on the cartridge is great. That just needed to be said.

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

The Atari Bytes Patreon page

The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com

Jan 1, 2017
EPISODE 50: GALAXIAN

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hey! Wake up. Splash some cold water on your face and drown your hangover in coffee. Then crawl feebly onto the couch to check out this first episode of 2017.

Our focus this month is Atari's 1983 port of the legendary GALAXIAN (legendary mostly in the sense of being the forerunner of the way more popular Galaga). Like the Baby New Year, does this game fills the diaper of our souls with the promise of great things to come or a steamy pile of eight-bit poo?

Now, let's fire up the Atari and get our galaxi-ON!

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

The Atari Bytes store at Zazzle.com

The Atari Bytes Patreon page

The video of that dude making me look bad by getting 99 points in Sky Diver is right here. Grrrrrrr! How I hate that guy!*

*I don't really hate him.**

**Well, maybe a little.

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