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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: May, 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?).

May 28, 2017

EPISODE 70 invites you to be a star and to get your RAID on! STAR RAIDERS is here!

This 1982 Atari game was the first to utilize the space-age video touch pad peripheral. It was also the last. That may give you a clue how this game is going to go.

Speaking of firsts doubling as lasts, listen to this episode closely for the first appearance of my wife - Mrs. Bytes - on the show. She was thrilled to do it...so thrilled that this will also probably be her last appearance.

Yes, sir, this episode is one for the record books. Join us, won't you?

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 and links.

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show!

Support the show on the Atari Bytes Patreon page.

Cool shirts! Cool mugs! Cool stuff of other kinds! AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com

May 21, 2017

What's in a name? Exactly what you'd expect when the name is a title like the 1979 Atari game CANYON BOMBER. What's that about? Well, there's these canyons....and you bomb them. Truth in advertising!

Find some sandbags to hide behind, then join us. It'll be a blast!

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

Atari Bytes show notes and more.

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - a show for all your Snoopy needs.

Check out cool mugs, shirts and more at the AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com

Support the show at our Patreon page here.

May 14, 2017

One day at the Atari Labs in the 1970s, they looked at Breakout and said, "Yeah, this is pretty good. But we can make it better. We have the technology. We can make the paddle smaller. The balls bouncier. The colors colorier. And we can make 'colorier' a word too. We're Atari and there is zero chance we'll implode in a video game crash just a few years hence."

The result of this bravado was 1980(?)'s Atari game SUPER BREAKOUT. Is the game indeed super? Well, no. No, it's not. Spoilers hurt sometimes.

But this episode definitely is SUPER. I'm wearing the cape and codpiece to prove it.

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

Atari Bytes show notes and more

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show!

Cool shirts, mugs and more at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com!

Consider supporting the show financially on our Patreon page.

May 7, 2017

We're back!

After an unplanned week off at the exotic locale of my local hospital, ATARI BYTES is back. And we promise you, this episode is worth the wait!

First, we talk about the 1982 Atari legend SWORDQUEST: EARTHWORLD, the first in a famously unfinished series of games and pack-in comics at the center of a contest that also went unfinished, courtesy of the video game crash. 

Then, after the game stuff, you can hear my conversation with Chad Bowers and Chris Sims. (Thanks again, guys!) They are well-known comics writers on a lot of big things - Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, to name but a few - and are now writing an all-new SWORDQUEST - inspired comic series for Dynamite Entertainment. Preview issue Zero just dropped on May 3 at the sweet, low, retro price of twenty-five cents!

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

Atari Bytes show notes, episodes, links and more.

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - my other show!

Consider support the show financially at our Patreon page...here!

Check out cool "Go Play Some Old Games, They've Missed You" shirts and mugs and more cool stuff at Zazzle.com, AB_Pod_Store

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