While you gulp down the last of the pumpkin pie, give episode 320 a listen. We're clowning around with one of Audacity Games' 2021 debuts CIRCUS CONVOY. Does the game barrel down the highway of fun? Or does it stall out in a ditch somewhere?
BAD POETRY CORNER: OVER THE BIG TOP
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
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As a kid in the arcade, I found Sega's 1983 title CONGO BONGO...interesting. So, of course, when I got hold of a copy of the game for the 5200, I had to try it.
And now in episode 319, I have. That's a thing I've done. What did I think? Well, you'll have to listen and find out.
SHORT STORY: THE BONGO BASTARDS
https://incompetech.com/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.
On this Halloween Eve...eve, we've got an awesome treat. No, not candy. No, not money. No, not world peace in our time.
Look, it's another podcast episode, ok? Episode 318 is MIDNIGHT MUTANTS for the 7800. Is it a tasty confection or a bitter pill? And why is Grampa Munster here?!?!
Bad Poetry Corner: MIDNIGHT MUTANTS - A POEM
Into the Vertical Blank: Atari in the Wild piece about Airlock
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime Theme".
Support the Show at patreon.com here.
www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you need to go for all things related to ATARI BYTES, my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN and about books I've written that you can possess.
In 1982, did Data Age got a LOCK on the submarine adventure genre? Or does this game suck the AIR out of gaming fun?
We're playing AIRLOCK. Well, mostly we're cursing AIRLOCK.
There's a nice story though...
SHORT STORY: AIRLOCKED AND LOADED - A STEVE STETSON, 1980's SUPERSPY ADVENTURE
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
With the game NO ESCAPE!, episode 316 is escapist fun you can't escape from! Well, you could just not listen, I suppose. But you wouldn't do that, would you? Would you?!?!?
We're playing this 1983 title from iMagic. Goddesses! Guys named Jason! Getting stoned! It's all here!
Original Short Story from Me: Yourself and Nowhere to Go From There - A Play
So. Many. Exclamation. Points.
Thanks to Sean Courtey for the "Storytime" theme.
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Beep! Beep! Move it...to episode 315 of ATARI BYTES!
We're playing CommaVid's unreleased 1983 title RUSH HOUR. Honk if you love games!
Bad Poetry Corner: GET OUT OF MY WAY!
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
Go to the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com to support this show here.
This episode croaks on arrival.
In 314, we're "playing" (Sort of) CommaVid's unreleased demo for something maybe called FROG that the programmer dug out of an old box after twenty years and chucked out to the masses without a care...much like this podcast is produced.
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
Support the show at the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com here. Supporters get stuff!
Does episode of 313 get a strong hold on your heart as we play Commavid's 1983 space game STRONGHOLD? Listen and decide for yourself!
Original Short Story: THE INEVITABILITY OF HISTORY
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
In episode 312, we've got tunnel vision, focused only on bringing you a doozy of an episode!
This time, it's the 1983 CBS Electronics game TUNNEL RUNNER, a ground-breaking, immersive 4D experience. Okay, actually, they call it it 3D. We added the fourth D for "DAMN!"
Original Short Story: TUNNEL VISION
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
Support the show at the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com here, and you could get perks!
Call the Orkin man!
(Gratuitous Orkin Man shout out. Send me a check.)
In episode 311, I'm sorry to tell you, you've got termites.
And not just any termites. Giant, space-faring, killer nest-building termites. It's COSMIC SWARM, the 1982 title from CommaVid. Termites all over the darn place. And you, friend, must destroy them.
Fight that creepy crawling feeling you're experiencing right now thinking about giant bugs and get to work.
Bad Poetry Corner: BATTERED BY THE COSMIC SWARM
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
Support the show at patreon.com here.
Episode 310 is going to the dogs...er, rabbits. We're playing Apollo's 1982 title WABBIT for the 2600. The bunnies are on a fluffy rampage!
So grab your carrots...er, joysticks and join us!
This episode's original short story: THE CABAL
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
Support the show at the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com and get...stuff!
In ATARI BYTES 309, I hear voices.
This is nothing new, but this time, I know the voices are coming from outside my own head. Probably.
We're closing out Intellivision Month on the podcast by playing the 1982 Mattel title "Space Spartans" with - holy crap! - the "Intellivoice" voice synthesizer module. Is the game fun? Who cares! There's a robotic voice emanating from my blocky, outdated gaming console!
Short Story: WHAT'S THE POINT?
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme.
Support the show on the ATARI BYTES page at patreon.com.
Episode 308 of ATARI BYTES is a blast!
A GAS blast, specifically!
It's true! In SPACE HAWK, your gas is the only thing that can save the universe. Tell you significant other to stop complaining.
The 1982 Mattel title SPACE HAWK is for the Intellivision console. Why an Intellivision game on an Atari-based podcast? Well, it's our annual INTELLIVISION MONTH! If you have thoughts about this title or Intellivision, send them to me. If you're blasting gas, keep it to yourself.
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.
Does the 1983 nuclear terrorism game COUNTERMEASURE for the 5200 measure up to the quality you've come to expect from this podcast?
Counter point: Don't sweat it. The podcast is free.
Short Story: MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE...TO THE BONE
Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
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 Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
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 Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme.
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 Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
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 Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
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 Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme.
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 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.
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 Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.
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 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 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!
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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 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.
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!
www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop for stuff about this podcast ATARI BYTES and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.
Support the show at patreon.com here.