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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: September, 2019

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?).

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

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