Info

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.
RSS Feed
2023
December
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: August, 2020

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 30, 2020

Gyrus, with one "s", is a ridge on the surface of the brain. Or at least it will be, until this week's ATARI BYTES episode 240 BLOWS YOUR MIND! ...to the tune of Tocata and Fugue in D Minor.

We're playing Parker Brothers' 1983 port of GYRUSS. The extra "S" is for "SPIFFY"! Maybe. You don't know. 

This week's short story: TOPPER CAN'T SPIN

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.

The website www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has social media, info and episode links for ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.

The website also has info about books I've written like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS and links to some places to buy them. 

You can support the show by becoming a subscriber on the ATARI BYTES page on patreon.com. Depending on the level you subscribe at, you could get episodes early! Or maybe BONUS CONTENT! Or help program the show!

 

Aug 23, 2020

ATARI BYTES episode 239 has the weight of the world on its shoulders. Bet you wish you'd worked out a little more, huh?

We're playing Atari's 1982 ode to the law of attraction (in physics, not a dating app): GRAVITAR. Ignore the gravity of this situation at your peril.

This week's short story:  USING YOUR HEAD

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.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is your one stop-shop for info, social media and episodes for ATARI BYTES here, as well as my monthly deep-dive into the "Peanuts" comic and related stuff IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.

The website also has links and info to some of the books I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

You can subscribe to the show on patreon.com and possibly get access to episodes EARLY or even get BONUS CONTENT. It's true!

Aug 16, 2020

Stressed out worrying about how your kids are going to get educated this fall? We've got you covered!

In episode 238, we're playing one of the original nine from 1977 FUN WITH NUMBERS, a game that does away with that pesky fun part to focus on the exciting world of math. (Accountants rejoice!). No virus-filled schools or boring video conferencing necessary. Pants are optional. 

This week's Bad Poetry Corner: NUMBERS ARE DUMB

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.

Find show notes, episodes and more on the ATARI BYTES page of www.carnivalofgleecreations.com and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.

The website also has info and links to some places to buy my books, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Support the show by becoming a subscriber on the ATARI BYTES page at patreon.com 

Aug 9, 2020

Is that an icicle in your pocket or you just playing a super chilly game?

This week in episode 237 of ATARI BYTES, we've got the1983 Activision game FROSTBITE. Will it get a frosty reception? Does the game bite? Or will the whole experience be a winter wonderland?

This week's short story: THE COLD SHOULDER

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.

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

The website also has info about books I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. 

You can subscribe to the show on patreon.com and perhaps get access to episodes EARLY! Or get BONUS CONTENT! Now those shivers are excitement, aren't they?

Aug 2, 2020

With all the stress and worry in the world right now, it'd be great in ATARI BYTES episode 236 to play a relaxing little game. Maybe "Concentration" or "Surround". Something low stress. Let's see what we've got...

*Reads production notes*

FRONT LINE...Coleco 1984...Soldiers. Jungle warfare. Tanks. Anti-tank missiles....

Well, crap. 

I'll be over here in a fetal position. 

This week's short story: CONSTANTLY ON THE FRONT LINE, SO DAMN EXHAUSTING - BAD POETRY CORNER

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

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. 

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

The website also has information about and links to some places to buy books that I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Support the show by becoming a subscriber on patreon.com. Get episodes early! Get bonus content!

"Invisible Zeppelin" is a weekly "audio sitcom" from Nat Gertler and aboutcomics.com  Episode 5 just came out and was written by me! I had a lot of fun doing it and I hope you'll check it out. Go find it on the podcatcher of your choice or at the website here.

1