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: April, 2019

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?).

Apr 28, 2019

Formula One is our focus this week. 

That's right! Grecian Formula One, that liquid warrior against grey hair rides in on a wave of faux-youthful delusion and -

Whoops! Wait! Formula one RACE cars...

*Puts on a hat. Reminds Grecian Formula we are still looking for sponsors.*

We're actually playing Activision's 1982 race car effort GRAND PRIX. Is it grand? Is it prix? Join us before the checkered flag drops...

This week's short story: Once More 'Round the Track

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

Thanks to Mike Mann for the Mad Mike Hughes theme.

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme

Atari Bytes show notes and more

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

AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com 

Support the show financially on the Atari Bytes page on Patreon

Apr 21, 2019

Quiet! I'm sleeping!

A week out from Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee and I am STILL tired. But it's a good tired. Had a great time playing a few games, reconnecting with friends and fans old and new, and, of course, talking about this podcast and the Misery Banana book. 

This episode has my exhausted reactions to the weekend AND you get to hear my audio journal entries recorded at various times throughout the weekend. 

All right. Well, much like the lady with the tail who came over to say "hi" and then abruptly bolted, I'll end these show notes here. Where do I sign up for MGC 2020?

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

Thanks to Mike Mann for the "Mad Mike Hughes" update theme.

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Atari Bytes - show notes, episodes, etc.

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

Pick up Atari Bytes shorts and more in the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Please consider support the podcast financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page here.

Misery Banana: Very Short Stories Inspired by Old Games and Odd Thoughts is for sale many places. Here's one.

In the St. Nick of Time

Apr 14, 2019

In 1983, Sega said, "We took a shot at creating a 3-D looking game for the arcade. Congo Bongo looks amazing."

"We took a shot," some staffer said. "But it really doesn't look that great."

"We should now adapt that for the home console," the powers-that-be said. "It will look even better."

"It will look even worse," the staffer said and was summarily fired.

Okay, that's not exactly how it happened, but it might as well have. 

Well, if Gilligan can spend all those years lovin' on his coconuts. We can spend one episode. 

This week's short story is: "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts...But is That All There is to Life?"

Con-Go? Bon-Go!

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

Atari Bytes show notes, episodes and what not...

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

Thanks to Mike Mann for the Mad Mike Hughes theme

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime Theme

Support the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page here.

Pick up Atari Bytes merch at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

You can pick up Misery Banana: Very Short Stories Inspired by Old Games and Odd Thoughts in many places. Here's one of them!

Apr 7, 2019

Episode 167 finds us revisiting an old gaming friend sporting a slightly more youthful facelift. Or something. We're playing the 1984 MILLIPEDE which was pretty fun...when it was called CENTIPEDE. 

"Centi" means hundred. "Milli" means Vanilli's disgraced music fraud partner. 

Whoops! I meant "milli" means "thousand". At this rate, I would expect the next title in the "pede" franchise will be Gazilipede or maybe Bazillipede. I'd play those. 

This week's short story is: "Untitled Diploda-Based Comedy Pilot Pitch Meeting".

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, etc.

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

Thanks to Mike Mann for the "Mad Mike Hughes Theme"

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Support the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page here.

Zazzle.com - pick up Atari Bytes merch here.

Misery Banana: Very Short Stories Inspired by Old Games and Odd Thoughts

1