Let ye who is without Sin-istar, cast the first pod.

Well, fortunately for us, we DO have this episode's game SINISTAR, the 1984 Atari 2600 port prototype of the arcade game.

Is the game a heavenly delight or sinfully awful? Count your luck stars and join us.

Bad Poetry Corner: THE SINN SISTERS HOST A BRUNCH

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com to find out more about ATARI BYTES, my other podcast IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN and about books I've written, including "2nd Duck on the RIght & Other Very Short Stories". 

Support the show at patreon.com 

The 5200 love-fest continues in 305 with QIX. This 1982 puzzling, strategizing, flashy lights game is a keeper...of addictive frustrations.

SHORT STORY: QIX-SAND

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme.

Head to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for info about ATARI BYTES, IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN and about books by ME, like 2nd Duck on the Right & Other Very Short Stories".

Support the show at patreon.com!

In episode 304, you're joining the podcast at an historic moment...the debut of our brand-new (refurbished) ATARI 5200 CONSOLE (Thanks, Jose!)

We launch into the stratospheric heights of new game possiblities by falling into the dungeon, the SPACE DUNGEON, to be specific. The 1983 Taito arcade port is my focus in this one...until my cameraman wrestles away control of both joysticks from his old man. Kids, man.

SHORT STORY: HOME SWEET HOME

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Support the show here at patreon.com

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop for info about ATARI BYTES, my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, and about books written BY ME, like 2nd DUCK ON THE RIGHT & OTHER VERY SHORT STORIES.

Throw this ATARI BYTES episode on the junk heap. Episode 303 is going to the SCRAPYARD DOG (For the 7800, Atari, 1990).

Is this game doggone fun or just one for the dogs?

SHORT STORY - BAD POETRY CORNER: DOGGED

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Support the show at patreon.com

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has all the info you need about ATARI BYTES, my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN and also about books that I've written! Which you can own very your, uh, very own! Including 2nd DUCK ON THE RIGHT AND OTHER VERY SHORT STORIES.

WE'RE BACK, BABIES! After a scary week while my computer was in the computer hospital getting a hard drive transplant and other upgrades, we're back!

And that's not the only reason we're flying high! In 302, we're playing SUPER HUEY for the 7800. Was it worth the wait for this episode? Now boarding to find out...

Short Story: SUPER, HUEY

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop for info about this show, ATARI BYTES, about my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN and about books I've written that you CAN OWN! Like 2nd DUCK ON THE RIGHT AND OTHER VERY SHORT STORIES.

Support the show at patreon.com here.

Do you remember the 1970's cartoon "Gilligan's Planet", where the castaways travel from the island to outer space? No? Well, you should. It was...something.

The 7800 game BALLBLAZER, which we played in episode 301, is a little like that. It's like transporting a soccer game from the stadium to space. "Ted Lasso" in an astronaut helmet maybe. So, is the game a ball or should all copies be set ablaze? Listen to find out! (To the extent my opinion means anything.)

Short Story: WHEN BLAZER MET SLACKS: CRIMES OF FASHION

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has info about ATARI BYTES here, about my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here, and books I've written like 2ND DUCK ON THE RIGHT & OTHER VERY SHORT STORIES here. 

Support the show on patreon.com and get bonus STUFF!

ATARI BYTES is 300 episodes old! If it were years, we'd be older than America! ATARI BYTES deserves some respect as the country's elder. I'm going to stop paying taxes.

We're taking a break from the video games and story-fying to play a good, old-fashioned video game. This time, it's Buffalo Games' 2021 SPACE INVADERS: THE BOARD GAME. But is this board game boring? Tune in to find out.

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

THanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. 

Head over to the website here for info about this show, ATARI BYTES, my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, and info about books I've written, like 2nd Duck on the Right and Other Very Short Stories.

Support the podcast on patreon.com. 

So, I think I've only had to re-record ATARI BYTES 299, featuring ASSAULT from 1983, once due to technical glitches. But I've seen enough science fiction to know I could be caught in some sort of time loop. This could be my 8,000th recording. Is the game worth eternity in this one moment? Well, it was made by a company called Bomb. Hmmm.

Short Story: A Salt Story

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has info about this show ATARI BYTES here, about my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here and about books I've written, like 2nd Dog on the Right & Other Very Short Stories here. 

Support the show at patreon.com 

The Moon God gets a bad rap. 

Sure, in QUEST FOR QUINTANA ROO, the 1984 game from Sunrise Software, the Moon God wants to kill you. But, I mean, in the game you are plundering the Moon God's ancient temple. 

On the upside, all this unpleasantness did bring about episode 298 of ATARI BYTES!

Bad Poetry Corner: The Quest Chooses Us

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.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you need to be for show notes for this show ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has all sorts of info about my books! Go pick one! Thanks!

Head over to patreon.com to support the show and get access to special stuff!

Any old show could give you mutants, but how many can offer you COMMUNIST mutants? 2021 had Covid spinoffs, insurrections and climate upheavals. 2022 has communist mutants. Seems about right.

In episode 297, we played the 1982 weirdly named Starpath game COMMUNIST MUTANTS FROM SPACE. Because with a title like that, how could we not?

Short Story: A MUTANT BY ANY OTHER NAME

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.

Check out the ATARI BYTES page at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for more info about this show here and about my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info about books I've written here. 

You can help keep the lights on in the podcast studio by going to the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com here to sign up. 

It's the last episode of 2021! And in honor of our laziness tradition, for the last episode we put away the games and rest our story-thinking brains, and kick back with a movie.

This time, we're watching the 1983....cult?...classic KRULL, which inspired the Atari game eagle-eared listeners will remember we talked about in episode 295 Was KRULL a krully good movie or krully bad? Listen to find out.

And also so I don't have to do as much research  in keeping with tradition, I have a guest for this episode! Screenwriter and patreon supporter Patrick McCarthy joins me for the...fun? Again, listen to find out!

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

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop for stuff about this podcast ATARI BYTES and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.

The website also has info about books I've written like 2nd DUCK ON THE RIGHT & OTHER VERY SHORT STORIES here.

Support the show at patreon.com here. 

ATARI BYTES episode 295 is all about KRULL, Atari's adaptation of the 1983 sci-fi movie...classic?...of the same name. The game, like the movie, has you, the hero, trying to defeat The Beast, with a star-shaped "glaive", save the princess and defend the galaxy. 

So, is this game a five-pointed romp, or a pointless exercise, times five? We'll find out.

Original Short Story: FIRE HORSE

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 where you should go to find info for this show, ATARI BYTES, here and for my other podcast, IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info about books I've written that can be yours for your very own or to give to others! Really! Go here!

Become a patreon.com "Atari Bytes" supporter here and you could get bonus content and other goodness!

Commavid knew what it was doing. I mean, they went out of business, but they knew a good basis for a game.

Cake!

People really only like two things: kittens and cake. I know, people SAY they like other things, but this is actually about it. Unfortunately, "Kitten Walk" doesn't roll of the tongue as easy as "Cakewalk", so Commavid went with that for its 1983 game. And we're playing it in ATARI BYTES episode 294.

Pass a fork!

Short Story: JACK & JILL

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.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has everything you need to know about this show ATARI BYTES here, and about my other show "IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN" here. 

The website also has info about books I've written, like 2nd DUCK ON THE RIGHT AND OTHER VERY SHORT STORIES here, along with links to a few places you can order them. 

Check out the new 2nd DUCK book trailer here - like and share with your friends.

Support the show by subscribing on patreon.com here. 

Birds of a feather listen to podcasts together. Or alone. Whatever. You do you.

In episode 293, from 1982, we're playing one of the few Ultravision titles, CONDOR ATTACK. Does the game soar above the rest, or was I a dodo for playing? 

Here's hoping you don't get dive bombed while listening...

Short Story: ATTACKED

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you need to be for show notes, episodes and more for ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info about books I've written, like 2nd DUCK ON THE RIGHT AND OTHER VERY SHORT STORIES here. 

Support the show by subscribing at whatever level works for you at patreon.com here. 

Whoaaaaa!

You're reading this show note (possibly) on Halloween, about an episode released on Halloween, featuring a game called "Halloween", inspired by the movie "Halloween". Spooky!

Which is appropriate because in episode 292, we're playing the Wizard Video 1983 title "Halloween". If you enjoy sprite decapitations and 8-bit child murder in a Skittles-colored house, this is the game for you. If not, blame Patreon supporter Patrick McCarthy who suggested this. 

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" theme.

Thanks to Sean Courtney for "Storytime" theme. 

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you need to be for all the info and notes you could ever want for this podcast ATARI BYTES here and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info about books that I've written, including the brand new (very) short story collection 2nd DUCK ON THE RIGHT here. 

You can support the show by subscribing on the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com here and may be get episodes early and even bonus content! Thanks!

I LOVE TRASH! ANYTHING FUNNY AND GAMEY AND PODCASTY! OH, I LOVE TRASH...PODCASTS!

In episode 291, can you tell me how to get to podcast street? We're playing the 1983 educational title SESAME STREET: OSCAR'S TRASH RACE. Oh, yes. We are.

Bad Poetry Corner: GROUCH POTATO - A POEM

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.

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

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you should go for info and show notes and episodes for ATARI BYTES here and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info and links to buy my books, like HELL'S CEREAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES. 

Support the show on the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com. Thanks!

Pass the Pepto!* I mean joystick! 

*This episode sponsored by Pepto-Bismol**

**We wish.

In episode 290, we're playing the Parker Brothers 1984 title MONTEZUMA'S REVENGE, where you race through gloomy caverns, dodging skulls, snakes, spiders, treacherous drops and lava. All to make your way to the toilet. Sorry! Make your way to the treasure room.  May all your TP be encrusted with rhinestones. 

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" and "Jason Sez Stuff" themes. 

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop for this podcast ATARI BYTES here and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info and links to some places you can buy my books, including HELL'S CERAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES.

Support the show on the Atari Bytes page on patreon.com here. 

In ATARI BYTES episode 289, the unicorns are chasing the centaurs across the grassy knolls that dot Mt. Olympus; winged gods soar above, inspiring the mortals...and probably impregnating them occasionally.

Not really. We're playing MINES OF MINOS, from CommaVid, 1982. It's all maze, no minotaurs. You can put away your ball of thread. Or not. Something's gotta keep you in your seat. 

Short Story: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE MERELY HERE

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" and "Jason Sez Stuff" themes.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you need to be for show notes and more for ATARI BYTES here and for my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.

The website also has info about my books, including HELL'S CEREAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES here. 

Support the show on the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com here. 

Play a space game requiring super technical, minor adjustments to thrust vectors and yaw?

More like YAWN, amirite?

In 288, we're playing Activision's (squee!) 1983 space shuttle simulator SPACE SHUTTLE: A JOURNEY INTO SPACE. Instead of, we suppose, a journey into the local supermarket. The game is a technical marvel. But is it fun? Is it really even a game? Let's discuss.

This week's short story: RICH WHITE GUYS CONQUER THE MARTIANS

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" and "Jason Sez Stuff" themes.

https://www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you should go for info and links to this show ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.

The website also has info and links to a few places you can buy books, including HELL'S CEREAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES. 

Support the show by subscribing on the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com here!

Belgian listeners! Episode 287 is for you!

On this episode of ATARI BYTES, we're playing the 1982 Coleco game SMURFS: RESCUE IN GARGAMEL'S CASTLE. The game features those super annoying beloved blue cartoon characters the SMURFS! And we're terribly sorry about that. Can you ever smurf us? Hey! watch the smurfin' language! There are smurfettes present!

This week's short story: ROYAL RODENT RIDDER

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" and "Jason Sez Stuff" themes.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you should go for show notes, episodes and more for this show ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info and links to some of the places you can by books by me! For example, HELL'S CEREAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES. 

You can support ATARI BYTES at patreon.com. Thanks!

Our Olympic fever shows no sign of breaking. The mercury has shot out the top of the thermometer, splattering all over this week's episode. 

In 286 of ATARI BYTES, we're playing VIDEO OLYMPICS, one of Atari's 1977 "original nine" games. There's very little actual Olympic content. But that's okay because I have very little actual Olympic skill.

This week's short story: MOUNT OLYMPUS FIVE & DIME

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" and "Jason Sez Stuff" themes.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you should go for info, episodes and more for this show ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info about my books! Including links to some places you can order them, should you so decide. Books like HELL'S CEREAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES could be yours!

You can support the show on the ATARI BYTES Patreon page here. Thanks!

In ATARI BYTES episode 285, we're playing the David Crane (squee!) 1983 Activision (squee!) title DECATHLON in honor of the increasingly misnamed 2020 Olympics!

With ten events, is this game ten times the fun? We've got our tank top and tight shorts and are ready to find out.

Bad Poetry Corner: DEAD CAT LON

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime and Jason Sez Stuff themes.

Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for info, show notes and links for this show ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website is also your stop for info and links you can pick up books I've written, like HELL'S CEREAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES. 

Support the show at whatever level you're comfortable on the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com here. Thanks!

Episode 284 of ATARI BYTES gets its groove ON with the 1982 Sega port of ZAXXON!

(That's a terrible set up. But the episode is good. I promise. Probably. Maybe. Look, just listen, please. )

This week's short story: ZACH'S ON

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" and "Jason Sez Stuff" themes.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you should go for info, show notes and links for ATARI BYTES here and for my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website also has info and links to some places you can order my books, like HELL'S CEREAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES. 

You can support the show by donating on the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com here. 

Intellivision Month 2021 concludes this month in ATARI BYTES episode 283. We're playing TRON DEADLY DISCS, inspired by the "cult classic" movie. It's a collision of cult classic movie and cult classic podcast! (I might be delusional.)

This week's short story: DEADLY DISCS - A STEVE STETSON, 1980s SUPERSPY, ADVENTURE

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" and "Jason Sez Stuff" themes.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you need to be for info, links, notes, etc. for this show ATARI BYTES here and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. 

The website is also the place to find info and links to some places to buy my books! For example, HELL'S CEREAL - VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES. 

Support the show on the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com!

INTELLIVISION MONTH 2021 barrels forward on ATARI BYTES 282.

Much as we do with the twisty maze that is life, we're winding our way through the twisty maze of Mattel's 1982 Intellivision offering NIGHT STALKER, a/k/a the 2600 game "Dark Cavern". (spoiler!) 

But...are you stalking the bats/spiders/robots. Or...are they stalking YOU? More importantly, who keeps dropping all these guns all over? Seems like very poor gun safety. So many questions.

BAD POETRY CORNER: NIGHTY NIGHT, STALKER 

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" and "Jason Sez Stuff" themes.

The "Jason Sez Stuff" guy gives a tour of his "office". 

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has all the info about this show ATARI BYTES here and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.

The website also has info and links to some places to order my books, like HELL'S CEREAL: VERY SHORT STORIES FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL SYLLABLES. 

Support ATARI BYTES on patreon.com. Help keep the lights on! I don't want to fall down...