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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: May, 2016

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?).

May 29, 2016
EPISODE 19: BERZERK

This game is so crazy, it needed to employ a "z" in the name, instead of the ordinary "s". Emotionless robots and maniacal, smiling evil-doers seek to destroy you. It's much like American politics. But unlike in politics where only the third rail is a dangerous place to be., in this game, the very walls that imprison you are electrified. And fighting to get out will make you...well, you know.

Bill Kendrick's Atari Party

The Wallpaper Cave has some cool Atari wallpapers.

Like my words, but can't stand my voice. I blog too! (Occasionally) Check out a new post here.

Like my words and my voice, but not so darn often. Then check out my monthly podcast It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown.

Support us at our Patreon page or by shopping at our Zazzle Store.

May 22, 2016
EPISODE 18: PITFALL!

The exclamation point in the game title is well deserved! This week on the podcast, we look at Pitfall!, a 1982 game from legendary game designer Activision!  Awesome! (I just can't stop with the exclamation points!)

This game is all about quicksand and alligators and swinging from tree to tree like Tarzan. Grab your pith helmet, loin cloth and joystick and jump into this high-flying jungle adventure. The treasure is just waiting for you!

Here's the interview with Pitfall! game designer David Crane at Arcade Attack.

Bill Kendrick's (XEGS Podcast) Atari Party info.

Show music - "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring" - was provided courtesy of creative commons license from Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com

Support the show at our Patreon page.

Get cool stuff at our Zazzle.com AB_Pod_Store

Not sick of my voice yet? Check out my other show. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown.

 

May 15, 2016
EPISODE 17: SNOOPY & THE RED BARON

Good grief! This week's episode is Atari's 1983 game SNOOPY & THE RED BARON! High flying adventure with Snoopy AND seemingly endless machine gun fire? I'll drink (root beer) to that!

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

You can support the show at Patreon and Zazzle.

Check out my other show: It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown

 

May 8, 2016
EPISODE 16: WARLORDS

This week's game is Atari's 1981 classic: WARLORDS. And this week's theme is ...family.

Parents, man.

You and your brothers are goofing around, innocently catapaulting fireballs at each other when your dad, ruler of the land, gets in your face being all kingly and banishes you to the forbidden lands. But you guys get bored easy so you each pick a corner to barricade yourselves in and fling lightning balls at each other. King Dad always warned if you didn't stop you'd end up imprisoned in endless battle for all eternity inside an Atari game cartridge. But what do parents know? The 'rents are so stupid.

Or ARE they?

Bill Kendrick's Atari Party.

The Atari Bytes Zazzle store AB_Pod_Store

The Atari Bytes Patreon page.

My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for Creative Commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring".

 

 

May 1, 2016
EPISODE 15: BARNSTORMING

If you think a "barnstormer" is what a stormtrooper becomes after leaving the Empire to work a moisture farm on Tatooine, you need to listen to this episode.

This week's game is BARNSTORMING. Activision goes down on the farm and up in the air all at once in this 1982 plane-flying adventure. Test your reflexes and your nerves as you maneuver your bi-plane over windmills and through barns, all the while asking yourself: "Why am I doing this?" And then you smash into the south end of a north-flying goose. It's kind of like life, really.

Want to know more about the Atari Party? Go here.

The Atari Bytes Patreon page.

Get AB stuff at Zazzle.

 

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