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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: August, 2017

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?).

Aug 27, 2017

A running gag in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" finds the knights riding on imaginary horseback. What does that have to do with JOUST, the 1982 Atari port of the Williams Electronics arcade classic? Absolutely nothing, except that both involve knights. Also, I just realized as I type these notes, the Python story and my backstory for the game both involve catapulting four-legged creatures - cows for them, horses for me. I could be the next generation Python! See ya, suckers!

In JOUST, you are thrust into a world of airborne jousts over fire pits, but that's not the weirdest part: everyone insists on calling the ostrich you ride a buzzard. It's clearly not. Learn your birds, people!

Here are links to the articles I mentioned in the news segment of the episode: Chuck E. Cheese is phasing out its animatronic bands; Atari partners with LGBT Media to Make More Inclusive Games; Kit Kat accused of copying Atari game Breakout; Real life Mario Kart has life in Missouri.

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

Atari Bytes show notes, episodes and so much more here. 

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

Pick up show mugs and shirts at our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store

Support the show financially on our Atari Bytes Patreon page here

Aug 20, 2017

This week on episode 82, like the Phoenix of old, the podcast rises from the ashes, says "Ow! That's hot!", then jumps into the cooling waters of Taito's 1980 classic PHOENIX (well, the 1982 Atari 2600 port anyway) about what happens when the mythological bird from ancient Greece goes bad.

We also say "hi" to Ferg from Atari 2600 Game by Game. A lot.

Oh, and we learn more about sting ray tails than you'd ever want to know. Yes, really.

And when I say "we", I mean it. For this week, the studio is a wee bit crowded...

The Digital Antiquarian article about "Adventure" can be found here.

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

Atari Bytes show notes, episodes and more.

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Check it out here!

Check out sweet, sweet Atari Bytes merch at our AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Support the show financially on our Patreon page here.

Aug 13, 2017

In episode 81, we DIG deep into yet another game and leave no stone, worm, or dog turd unturned until we've DUG up the truth about the 1982 Namco classic DIG DUG. If we hit the center of the Earth, we'll tell Jules Verne you said "hi".

Grab a motor-powered shovel and join us!

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

Atari Bytes show notes and more here.

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey, that's my other show! Find it here!

Support the show on our Patreon page here.

Check out Atari Bytes merchandise in our AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com here.

The Newsweek article about time travel can be found here.

DON'T FORGET TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS SHOW!

Aug 6, 2017

This week on the podcast, we're excited to offer another Conversation Bytes segment. This time, we've got Eoin Marron, the artist drawing the new "Centipede" comic from Dynamite Entertainment. 

Centipede is a classic 1982 arcade shooter and a favorite among Atari fans. The game about a giant, rampaging centipede, angry, jumping spiders, and mushrooms galore already got the comics treatment via a pack-in comic from DC in the '80s. THAT story gave us little Oliver, magic wands and wizards. We don't want to spoil anything for you, but we can assure you the new "Centipede" is NOT your father's (Or brother's. Or your) Centipede comic. Less engaging in whimsical hijinks; more being hell bent on revenge. 

(By the way, you can hear my CENTIPEDE game review and story within the game in episode 11 of this very podcast.)

Thanks again to Eoin Marron for giving me a little of his time. I really enjoyed talking to him. I think you'll enjoy listening. So do that thing right NOW!

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

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

Atari Bytes show notes and more.

Pick up show merchandise in our AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Support the show on our Patreon page here.

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