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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: March, 2020

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?).

Mar 29, 2020

So, in 1981, Atari was wanting to do a follow up to the hugely popular ASTEROIDS. What to call it? Asteroids II? Boring. Asteroids Again? Kind of whiny. And it doesn't play up the goal of improving on the original. Asteroids Better? Better what? Asteroids Mediocre?

*sigh*

Kenny from janitorial services walked by with a broom in one hand and a ham sandwich in the other. "Call it 'Asteroids Deluxe', he said and kept on walking.  

And a legend was born, one day to appear in episode 218.

This week's entry in Bad Poetry Corner: ODE TO ASTEROIDS DELUXE

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. 

You can find info, show notes and episode links for ATARI BYTES and the monthly deep dive into the iconic "Peanuts" comic strip and related stuff IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

Become an ATARI BYTES subscriber on Patreon.com and you could get episodes EARLY or maybe even BONUS content!

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs at zazzle.com/ab_pod_store

The website www.carnivalofgleecreations.com also has info and purchase links for books I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Mar 15, 2020

Until now, I think the "newest" Atari game I had talked about on the show was from, like, 1988. Episode 216, though, is breaking new ground...by revisiting old ground. 

In 2007, AtariAge produced ADVENTURE II, a loving tribute to the iconic ADVENTURE as a cartridge you could actually buy and hold in your hands, I, however, played it on the Flashback 9, which came out a couple years ago. Castles! Vaguely (okay, now so vaguely) duck-like dragons! Chalices! It's all here!

This trip through the decades is exhausting. Kick back with my original short story: FATE'S FATE. 

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop shop for ATARI BYTES info, social media, and episode links here. All that same stuff for my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN is there too. What's that? Only the finest (and only the only) monthly podcast devoted to ALL THINGS related to the iconic "Peanuts" comic strip and related properties. (And we do mean "all things".)

Did you know I write books too? I do! Go the website here to find out about those titles and some of the places you can order them, if you're so inclined. Thanks!

Become a subscriber to the show on Patreon.com. Different subscription levels unlock different rewards. Get episodes early! Get bonus episodes! Thanks!

Pick up "Greetings, Fellow Blockheads" shirts and mugs on zazzle.com/ab_pod_store 

Mar 1, 2020

In episode 214: GOLF, we consider Atari's answer to the question: How can we take a game designed for walking around outside in nature and make it less healthy?

We also say goodbye to daredevil Mad Mike Hughes.

This week's short story: PEANUT PUTTER BUTTER

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Find show notes, episode links, social media and more at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com here for ATARI BYTES and here for the monthly devotion to all things in and around the Peanuts comic strip IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.

The webiste also has info about books by William Pepper, including MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Become a subscriber on the ATARI BYTES Patreon page here and help keep the lights on in the studio. 

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs on zazzle.com/ab_pod_store

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