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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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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?).

Dec 29, 2019

So.

For the last episode in 2018,  I reviewed a video game-related movie (Megaforce). This year, I fully intended to do that again, but after playing the game "Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes", I decided instead to go with one of its inspirations, the 1978 disaster parody "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes".  It's a...comedy?....about ordinary tomatoes that mutate and go aroud killing people. Also, there's the San Diego Chicken. And a song about puberty.  Yep. 

I couldn't keep all this fun for myself. Sean and Jim from the "Pie Factory" podcast are in the studio to talk about the movie too! Don't worry, I unlocked the door and let them out when it was over.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for episode links, social media and info about ATARI BYTES, my other monthly show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN. 

The website also has info about my books MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS and the holiday-themed IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME. Links to some of the places to order them too!

Support Atari Bytes financially by subscribing on Patreon.com here.

Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games. They've Missed You" shirts and mugs at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com.

Dec 22, 2019

Like the mud and slush stuck to the runners of Santa's sleigh, episode 204 glides onto your podcast rooftops. No game this week, but plenty of nog-worthy fun! Our short story is: TINY TIM'S ATARI DREAMS.

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat", "Pinball Spring", Jingle Bells", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", Dance of the Tuba Plum Fairy", and "Oh, Christmas Tree". 

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Email the show at ataribytes2016@gmail.com. Like the show on our Facebook page. Follow the show on Twitter @ataribytes or follow me personally @carnivalofglee. Check out the Instagram too.

Don't forget, you can call the podcast and leave a voicemail at 563-265-1978 and it might get played on the show.

Check out the website www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for info, social media and show links for ATARI BYTES and my monthly discussion and analysis of all things related to the Peanuts comic strip IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.

The website also has info about my books IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS, including some of the places you can order them.

Consider becoming a subscriber to the show on the ATARI BYTES Patreon page. You could get early episodes and BONUS episodes. Thanks!

Pick up "Go play some old games, they've missed you" shirts and mugs at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Dec 15, 2019

Episode 203 comes to you from a galaxy pretty not far away at all.

In honor of the final installment of the most recent Star Wars trilogy coming out, we're playing STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI - DEATH STAR BATTLE, inspired by the final installment of the original film trilogy. Does this 1983 Parker Brothers offering feel the force or does it Jar Jar Binks all over the place?

This week's short story: "Life in Three Parts"

By the way, Henry's on the show this week, but you can't hear him a lot of the time because I couldn't convince him to sit closer to the microphone. Kids, man.

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Find ATARI BYTES show notes, episodes and social media at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com. 

Love Snoopy? Every month on IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, we talk about ALL things in, around, and inspired by the Peanuts comic strip universe.  Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for episodes, show notes and social media. 

Find info and links to some of the places you can order IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

Help keep the lights on at ATARI BYTES studios by becoming a Patreon subscriber. Early access! Bonus content! All the goodness!

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com 

Dec 8, 2019

Do you have any idea how hard it is to put four pairs of tiny boxing gloves on a spider?

We find out this week on episode 202 as we're playing the Activision 1982 title SPIDER FIGHTER. Was designer Larry Miller confessing a phobia with this one? His other titles "Snake Strangler", "Dental Damage", and "When You Have to Give a Speech, Blast Everyone Naked with Your Laser" would seem to suggest yes...

This week's short story: RECLUSE REFORMATION

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.

You can find show notes, social media and all manner of what not for ATARI BYTES here and about my other show, the monthly ode to all things "Peanuts" comics, IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, here.

Your podcast host is an author too. Go here for info and retailer links for MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS and the holiday themed Santa story for adults IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME.

Support the podcast by becoming a subscriber on Patreon.com. Get episodes early! Get BONUS episodes! Thanks!

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts, mugs and what not in the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Dec 1, 2019

You might not know it from the recent self-destruction of Sears & Roebuck, but back in the day Sears was HIP, man. All the best stuff came from Sears.

And then there's SLOTS, the Sears Tele-Games 1979 version of the Atari title SLOT MACHINE. Because there's nothing eight-year-olds like better than casino gambling.

SLOTS is our focus this week in episode 201 and playing it gives you some insight that the harbingers of Sears's future doom were present even in 1979.

THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: "A Place for Everyone and Everyone in Their Place"

*Sorry for the occasional audio drop. Tried to clean them up. Lately, my software seems to be rebeling. Everyone is a critic.

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Info, show links, social media for ATARI BYTES can be found at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com here. Info, show links, and social media for the podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN is here.

Check out Bill's books MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS, as well as the holiday-themed Santa Claus for adults, IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME. 

You can support the show financially by becoming a Patreon subscriber here. Early episdes! BONUS episodes! 

Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games. They've Missed You." shirts and mugs at the Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store. 

Nov 24, 2019

TWO HUNDRED EPISODES!

Yep, two hundred weeks in a row (well, except for that one week I missed in 2017) this dumb show has been burrowing into your brain via your listening holes. 

To celebrate, this week we're taking a break from writing stories and playing video games. Sort of. We're playing a BOARD game! 

What?!?!

I know!

We're playing the 2018 IDW adaption of one of my favorite games: MISSILE COMMAND, now in board game form. Anarchy, I tell you!

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Find show links, info and social media for ATARI BYTES and my other podcast, the monthly ode to all things related to the Peanuts comic strip IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.

It's the holiday season! Time to pick up books for the book lovers in your life. Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for info and links to some of the places you can pick up IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Become a Patreon subscriber on the Atari Bytes page there. Get episodes early! Get bonus content! Do it!

Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games. They've Missed You." mugs and shirts at www.zazzle.com/ab_pod_store 

Nov 17, 2019

"Blueprint" is a process developed in the 1800s to reproduce techical documents, turning them blue in the process.

Coincidentally, the CBS Electronics game "Blueprint" also makes people blue. What about you?

This week's short story: WITNESS TESTIMONY, THE PEOPLE vs. BARNABY BUILDER

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 the "Storytime" theme.

Find links to info, show notes and social media for ATARI BYTES and the monthly tribute to all things "Peanuts" comics IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.

Check info about my books IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS here.

Become a Patreon subscriber here. Early episodes! Bonus episodes!

Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games, They've Missed You." shirts and mugs in the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Nov 3, 2019

Remember how great Sears was?

When I was a kid, Sears Roebuck was THE place to shop. And along with your Toughskins and washer/dryer sets, you could get Atari games cleverly renamed and packaged in boring, generic text labels so that...well, I don't know why exactly.

BUT, thanks to this bit of video shell-gaming,  in episode 197 we get to revisit one of the "original nine" from 1977, COMBAT, only now it's called TANK PLUS. "Plus what?" you ask. Plus FUN, my friend!

This week's short story: Who Will Be Tank's Plus One?

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 "Storytime" theme.

Links to episodes, show notes and social media for ATARI BYTES and my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN can be found at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com. 

Become a financial backer of the podcast by subscribing on the Atari Bytes page on Patreon.com here.

Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games, They've Missed You" stuff at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Check out my collection of short stories MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS or my Santa Claus story for adults IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME

Oct 27, 2019

Episode 196 featuring the 1983 Fox Video Games offering REVENGE OF THE BEEFSTEAK TOMATOES is clearly an allegory for the plight of the American farmer in the 1980s international trade market.

Also, tomatoes are trying to kill you, so maybe the message is: Kids, eat less fruit.

This week's short story: TOMATO PUREE 

Flat Earth Rocketman Measuring Curve of the Unite States

A ROM Has Been Released of Atari's "Pursuit of the Pink Panther"

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you can get info, episode links and social media for this show, ATARI BYTES, and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.

The webiste also has info about my novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, a sort of Santa Claus story for adults and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Pick up "Go play some old games, they've missed you." shirts and mugs at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com.

You can support the show financially by becoming a Patreon subscriber here. Get episodes early! Get bonus episodes!

 

Oct 20, 2019

In episode 195, we're teeing up the golf ball that is the podcast to sink in a hole in one of your earholes. Or maybe both. But we don't want to overreach.

That's right, we're playing MINIATURE GOLF, Atari's 1978 plaintive cry about being out of ideas already. "Weird. I thought they'd come up with more stuff. They had such potential," said the 1970s consumers.

This week's short story: MINIATURE DEATH 

*Producer's Note: This week's recording was overrun with audio drops. Don't know why. Tried to clean it up as best I could, but if it sounds incoherent in places, just assume it's a technical issue, not the failings of your host. Please.

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

ATARI BYTES show notes, episodes, social media and more at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN is a monthly show about all things in and around the "Peanuts" universe. Find out more here.

Pick up "Go play some old games, they've missed you" shirts and mugs at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com 

You can become a Patreon subscriber and get access to bonus content by going to the Atari Bytes Patreon page here. 

Find out here about my books IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS

Oct 13, 2019

Don't stop believin'...it's episode 194 of ATARI BYTES!

Drive one of your Cars to your game console and Wham your cartridge in. Don't get distracted by the Eagles above or Hall & Oats bringing you chicken nuggets and Oreo Speedwagons. We're playing JOURNEY ESCAPE, a 1982 game inspired by the artwork on Journey's album of the same name. Because apparently in 1982, Atari was doing lots of coke.*

*Kidding.**

**It was probably heroin.

This week's short story is: IT'S THE JOURNEY. NOT THE DESTINATION

Atari Brings Back Centipede, Asteroids & More in Exclusive Arace1Up Deal

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 the "Storytime" theme.

ATARI BYTES info, episode links, social media can all be found at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN is my other show; a monthly excursion ito all things Peanuts. Find out more here.

Support ATARI BYTES by becoming a Patreon subscriber here. Bonus episodes! Early episodes! Madness!

Find out about books I've written like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS here.

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." stuff at the AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com

Oct 6, 2019

Cogito ergo sum.

I think, therefore I am.

Cogito ergo playsumhuhhhh????

I think no one knows what this game is; does it exist?

In episode 193, we're playing AUTO RACING, which despite hold it in my hand, seems to not exist if the Internet is to be believed. But I played it...I think I played it...does anyone else see the walls melting?

This week's bad poetry corner: OTTO RACING

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. 

Find show notes, social media and show info for ATARI BYTES and IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com

At the website books and publications page, you can also find out about my publications like IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Support ATARI BYTES at Patreon to unlock early access to episodes and BONUS episodes here. 

You can get "Go play some old games, they've missed you." shirts, mugs and more at AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com

Sep 29, 2019

This week on the show, you have two jobs.

You must hunt.

You must score.

That's because we're playing Atari's 1978 Concentration, Memory, Memory Match, A Game of Concentration...fine, let's call it HUNT & SCORE. You might remember that as being part of the second wave of new titles from Atari.

But hopefully that's not all you remember, because you'll need a steel-trap mind to line up these pairs and crush the computer with infinite (not infinite; not in 1978) memory. 

This week's short story: NO MATCH FOR ME

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".

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Find episodes, social media links for this show, ATARI BYTES, and the monthly IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, about all things related to the inconic "Peanuts" strip at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com

I'm a writer too. Find info about and links to some of the places you can pick up my books at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com

Support the show ATARI BYTES on Patreon.com and get access to episodes early or even get bonus episodes.

Pick us "Go play some old games, they've missed you" shirts at mugs at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

The Far Side could be coming to the Internet

"We're Going to Slam a Spacecraft Into an Asteroid to Try to Deflect It"

"When We used to Storm Area 51 at the Arcade"

Sep 22, 2019

Episode 191 is right up your alley...if you're a cold-hearted criminal - possibly with an eye patch, but that may be optional - or a federal agent with a chronic inability to avoid the short straw for assignments.

From 1982, we're playing Spectravision's GANGSTER ALLEY. Join me as we power through my personal game cartridge's attempts to sabotage the episode. Grrrrr, technology! *shakes fist at the sky dramatically*

This week's short story is: FAMILY TERROR, I MEAN FUN

"Lost in the Time Vortex: The American Cult of Doctor Who"

Water Found on a Potentially Life-Friendly Planet

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Find links to episodes, social media and other info about ATARI BYTES and my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN at my website www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

Find links to pick up my books IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com

Support the podcast on the ATARI BYTES Patreon page here.

Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games, They've Missed You" merchandise at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Sep 15, 2019

In 1982, there was an epidemic of sides splitting at CBS Electronics due to all the laughing. What was so funny? The programmers were handed a new arcade game to adapt for the Atari.

"Tell me again what it's called," one giggling programmer said, gasping for breath.

"It's called GORF," the other shrieked, wiping mirthful tears from his eyes.

This week's game in episode 190 is the space shooter with the dumb name: GORF. Part Space Invaders, part Galaxian...all fun? We shall see.

This week's short story/bad poetry corner entry: THE FINAL MOMENT BEFORE OBLIVION OR WHATEVER ACTUALLY COMES NEXT

New York Daily News piece about the "new" Jim Henson project 'A Tale of Sand'.

The Game Console: A Photographic History From Atari to Xbox

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Find out more about ATARI BYTES and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN including links to show notes, episodes and social media at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com

Find out more about my books MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS and IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com too. Here's one of the places you can order MISERY BANANA.

Pick up shirts and mugs at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

You can support ATARI BYTES financially on the Atari Bytes page on Patreon.com

 

Sep 8, 2019

Remember "Happy Days", the feel good 1970s show about a bunch of teens in 1950s Milwaukee? In the show, break-out popular hoodlum character Fonzie had cut ties with his old gang of trouble-makers "The Falcons". 

DESERT FALCON, the 1987 Atari game that is the focus of episode 189 has absolutely nothing to do with that. But it's fun to remember such a good show isn't it?

This week's short story is titled: DISPENSE WITH 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 Update" theme.

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Find show notes ("Atari Bytes" AND "It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown"), social media, and info about books I've written at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com

Support the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page. New tiers are up there, so this is a good time to subscribe!

Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games, They've Missed You" merchandise at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS is a book that can be yours in print and ebook. Here's one of the places you can get it.

Sep 1, 2019

We're not sure, but we're guessing that in 1978 at Atari HQ, game designer Warren Robinette won an office pool. The bet was who could come up with a game that matched it's title close enough that the boss would take it, but still had really nothing to do with it. SLOT RACERS, a game that has "cars" in it, but are not slot cars, nor are they racing, was the result. 

In keeping with that spirit, this week's short story in episode 188 is SLOTTED, really has very little to do with the game we're talking about. 

START YOUR ENGINES! You know, if you want. Really doesn't matter.

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.

Find links to episodes, show notes, social media and more for ATARI BYTES and my other podcast IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com. 

You can support the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page here. 

Pick up "Go Play Some Old Games, They've Missed You" shirts and mugs at the AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com.

Check out MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS, my short story collection in print and ebook wherever you like to order books. Find out more about that and my other works at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com

Aug 25, 2019

You know, we here at ATARI BYTES are tired of hearing people whine about video games dumbing down generations and making kids illiterate. We happen to think there's lots of educational value to be had and these games are designed by sharp literate people with impeccable language and spelling skills. Just consider the game in episode 187: WIZARD OF WOR.

Uh. Never mind.

 But does the dubious spelling belie a great game? Joyne usss to fynd owt.

This week's short story: THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF WAR 

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. 

You can find links to social media, show notes, info about my other podcast IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

Check out my short story collection MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. You can get it wherever you like to order books. Some of those ebook and print book order links and more info on that and other books can be found at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com

Pick up "Go play some old games, they've missed you." shirts and mugs at Zazzle.com/ab_pod__store 

Support the show financially as part of our patreon project on the Atari Bytes Patreon page at patreon.com

 

Aug 18, 2019

In episode 186, we're playing FLASH GORDON, the 1983 Twentieth Century Fox game inspired by the golden age comic book character. Flash Gordon is a blow-dried, blonde, muscular polo-playing-space-football-astronaut.

Who says video games aren't relatable to our real lives?

This week's short story is: WHY IS EVERYONE FLASHING GORDON?

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Find links to show notes, episodes, social media and books written by ME at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

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

Please consider supporting the show financially as part of the Patreon project here. 

Check out my short story collection in print and ebook wherever you like to order books. It's MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Here's one of the places you can get it.

Aug 11, 2019

In episode 185, imagine yourself on an early Sunday morning in a crowded, noisy breakfast joint. The scents of coffee and waffles waft through the air. Your arms are pleasingly sticky from syrup residue on the table. What are you doing to pass the time until your twelve egg omelette and bacon with a side of heart attack arrives?

Playing HANGMAN on the placemat of course! And this week, we've got Atari's 1978 placemat-fun-in-a-cartridge answer to the pen and paper icon. You provide your own greasy breakfast meat.

In a fun experiment, this week's short story is provided by friends of the show Dave Ciampa and Greg Klein from the podcast "Ciampa & Klein: The Knight Rider Years". It might be called "Those Are My Alpha-Bits" or maybe it doesn't have a title. Dunno. It's pretty good though.

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 the "Storytime" theme.

Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for more about my podcasts and books!

Pick up Atari Bytes shirts and mugs at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Support the podcast financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon here.

Pick up MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS in e-book and print pretty much wherever you buy books. Here's one such place.

Aug 5, 2019

In 1977, Atari said, "We need a small batch of games to show off this new video console we've got."

Larry Kaplan heard this and was like, "Great! Here's like six of them. Car racing. Skiing. Airplanes. All sorts of stuff."

"But, Larry," Atari said, "we've only got room in the catalog for one more."

Larry grumbled a bit and instead of scrapping his six games, he stuffed them all into one cart, slapped a STREET RACER label on it and went home to dinner.* Before Atari knew it, the misnomer STREET RACE became one of the "original nine" of Atari...and episode 184 of this podcast. 

*We totally made that up. But what if we didn't?

This week's short story: BAD POETRY CORNER: MOVING ON, STANDING STILL

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.

Check out carnivalofgleecreations.com for podcast info, book publishing info and social media links. 

You can pick up MISERY BANANA VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED By OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS in ebook and print many places. Here's one.

Support the show financially on the Patreon page here.

AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com has Atari Bytes mugs and shirts.

Jul 28, 2019

Episode 183 flutters in on cute-as-a-bug little wings with FIRE FLY, a 1983 offering from Mythicon. Is this game where you pilot a metallic humanoid insect in battle against other metallic humanoid insects in exchange for fabulous prizes mere myth? A flat-out con? The bee's knees? What's the buzz around the nectar-filled flowers on this one? Plant your stinger in this episode and find out for yourself.

This week's short story: HELL'S CEREAL

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Atari Bytes show notes and what not here.

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

You can pick up Atari Bytes mugs and shirts at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com.

You can support the show financially on Patreon.com here.

Check out the exclusive collection of short stories from THIS VERY PODCAST wherever you like to order e-books or print books! It's called MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Thanks!

Jul 21, 2019

It's episode 182, in which I lose my title belt and my podcast pants fall down so I'm left in my gaming skivvies. Aren't you glad this is an audio podcast?

This week, we're playing TITLE MATCH PRO WRESTLING, a 1987 entry from Absolute Entertainment. Is it absolutely entertaining? Well, we'll pile drive this sucker to the mat and see if it airplane spins out some fun. Or something.

This week's short story is: "Humble Pie...Er, Cobbler"

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

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Atari Bytes show notes and what not.

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

Pick up Atari Bytes mugs and shirts at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Please consider supporting the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page here.

Hey! I wrote a book! MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS is on sale now wherever you like to order books - e-book or print! Here's one of those places!

Jul 14, 2019

Everything old is new again...even in podcast land. In episode 181, we're going home to episode 8 with MS. PAC-MAN. Sort of...

You see, this week we time travel to Atari's future with the 7800 port of this iconic 1984 title. Do we still like the game in new wintergreen - er, 7800 - flavor? Yes, yes we do. (spoiler) Are we any better at it on the new platform? Well...

This week's short story is: TURN LEFT! NO, RIGHT! NO, LEFT!

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 the "Storytime" theme.

Atari Bytes show notes and what not.

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

Pick up shirts and mugs at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

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

MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS is a book you can own in print or e-book for your very own! You many options to order, including the one at this link!

 

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