Atari Bytes

Way back in episode 12, we covered the Atari 2600 classic POLE POSITION. Now that you've been circling the block in your Formula I racer all this time, we're finally ready in episode 90 to hit the track (or should I say tracks? There's FOUR of them this time.) again in the Atari 7800 ProSystem pack-in game POLE POSITION II from Namco, 1983.* *If you need to make a potty stop first, I totally understand. Get me a Snickers while you're in the gas station.* *This week's episode sponsored by M&M Mars** **No, it's not. I can dream though. Here's the TV Guide article about the blue sky rangers I talked about in the show. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat", and "Pinball Spring".  Atari Bytes episodes, show notes and more here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Pick up Atari Bytes shirts, mugs, stickers, mouse pad, whatever, here at our AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com Please consider supporting the show financially so

Last week on the podcast, in KEYSTONE KAPERS, our beat consisted of the back alleys and mean streets of Keystone where Harry Hooligan made his mischief. This week, in Spectravision's 1983 adventure PLANET PATROL, our beat is, well, the whole darn planet. It's like when, after the sitcom "Gilligan's Island" ended, the castaways ended up in the cartoon "Gilligan's Planet". Yeah. Exactly like that.  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 so much, much more here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Pick up cool merchandise at our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store here. Support the podcast financially here on Patreon. Here's the Mental Floss article about the popularity of retro gaming we talked about in the show.

Leapin' Lizards!  Sorry, that's Annie. Is there an Annie Atari game? Anyway, leapin' leprechauns! In the 1983 Activision (We love us some Activision on the podcast) game KEYSTONE KAPERS, Harry Hooligan is on the loose, plundering Southwick's. Arguably, the store deserves it, given it leaves huge bags of money sitting all over the sales floor, but Keystone Kelly, finest kop on the force, is determined to bring in his man. The keystone kops are an elite law enforcement unit here to protect you from villainy, even if they can't spell very well. So, slap on the thumb cuffs and then use one of your free fingers to hit "play" on this crime-busting episode! 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 more here! It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Pick up Atari Bytes mugs and shirts and such on Zazzle.com AB_Pod_Store here. Support the show financially if you can on Patreo

This week's episode drops on September 24, which is also the birthdate of Muppet creator Jim Henson (9/24/36 - 5/16/90) and is dedicated to his memory. Doctor Who, Star Wars, Peanuts and Muppets pretty much sum up my childhood preoccupations (with a sprinkle of "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Superfriends" for color) The game we're playing this week is the 1982 Atari children's title (the last of the line) PIGS IN SPACE, based on the recurring sketch from the 1970's iconic series THE MUPPET SHOW. And really, for one price of admission, you're getting THREE games in one! The crew of the Swinetrek - Captain Link Hogthrob, first mate Miss Piggy, and Dr. Strangepork - are here to save the universe from ridiculousness. Lord knows somebody should.  It's time to start the music, it's time to light the lights. it's time to get things started on the ol' podcast tonight! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of this songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes show notes a

You barely have time to adjust your athletic supporter before ATARI BYTES episode 86: SUPER CHALLENGE FOOTBALL is thrust upon us. Is this game super and/or a challenge? Discuss. In this week's story, this rag-tag team just needs some 21st century motivation... The articles we referenced this week: Monopoly in the Park ; Atari Planned to incorporate ColecoVision in 1983 My 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 so much more here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown! - Hey! That's my other show! Pick up Atari Bytes gear in our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store here. Support the show at our Patreon page here. 

Quick! Name every pool/billiards - related movie you can! There's "The Hustler", "The Color of Money", and, uh, there's a great pool scene in "The Cat From Outer Space" (What's that, you ask? The title says it all. Go check it out. Sandy Duncan and Ken Berry at their finest. Trust me.) And, of course, the game of pool reduced River City to a radioactive, rubble-strewn Hellscape in "The Music Man". So with that pop culture pedigree, we couldn't resist checking out iMagic's 1982 TRICK SHOT this week for the show. Does the game scratch on the break or bank the eight ball to glory? Chalk up your cues and come join us to find out! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".  Atari Bytes episodes, show notes and much more here! It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Support the show financially at our Patreon page here! Check out Atari Bytes mugs and shirts here, our AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com And don't forget

Classic '80s detective series "Magnum P.I." was supposed to end ****SPOILER HORN FOR THIRTY YEAR OLD SHOW**** with Magnum dying from multiple gunshot wounds, the last shot of the episode being Magnum walking up to the pearly gates with a contented smile on his face. That finale was actually aired. But then CBS convinced Tom Selleck to return to the show and Magnum survived. What does any of this have to do with this week's game, the 1986 Atari space odyssey SOLARIS? Absolutely nothing. Except for this. SOLARIS was a follow up to STAR RAIDERS that came out in 1986, the dregs of Atari's end of days - it was about as dead as Magnum on that ER exam table - just before the NES really started to stomp all over all other gaming consoles. SOLARIS allowed Atari, instead of dying, to sit up once more and gasp, "I want a pint of stout". Seriously, you need to go find "Magnum, P.I." on Netflix. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring"

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

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.

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!

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

If you learn only one thing from ATARI BYTES episode 79, let it be this:  Bears who live in crystal castles, shouldn't throw magic gems. Wait. That's not it. Actually, throwing magic gems is exactly what you should do in this 1983 Atari port of the proto-3D arcade adventure game CRYSTAL CASTLES. I mean, how else is Bentley Bear going to defeat the evil witch Berthilda? With an earnest heart-to-heart over steaming lattes?* *I'm totaling waiting for someone to make a steaming latte adventure homebrew game. Why is Bentley the only bear for this job? Did Fozzie, Yogi and Smokey say no? Is crystal really the ideal building material for a castle? So many questions... Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance," "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring". Atari Bytes show notes, episodes and more here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Check it out here! Support the show financially at our Patreon page here. Pick up Atari Bytes merchandise here. Zazzl

EPISODE 78 of the podcast is in the ZONE, baby! Unfortunately, the zone is the BATTLEZONE. So, you know, duck! We are tank-ful for this 1983 Atari port of the 1980 arcade tank shooter. And we know after you listen, you'll give us your TANKS for the episode too! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Reformat" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes show notes and more here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown episodes here. Support the show financially at our Patreon page here. Pick up Atari Bytes merchandise here at Zazzle.com

In episode 77, we find out whether the Pac-Apple falls far from Ghost Tree. Then we gobble it up because....mmm, pac-apples.  We're playing JR. PAC-MAN, the 1984 son-of-a-classic-arcade icon. Does the game surpass it's predecessor? Or is it an embarrassing disappointment to the family? Then we dig into whether Jr. Pac has daddy issues or if he's his own Pac.  Also, we eat some ghosts! And a bicycle! Good times! Join us! 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 and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! This is my other show. Go here and check it out. Check out cool Atari Bytes shirts and more here at Zazzle.com. AB_Pod_Store. Support the show financially on Patreon.

EPISODE 76: SPIDER-MAN swings in on a web to fill your earholes with sticky podcasting fluid. We're playing the 1982 Parker Brothers adventure in honor of SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING being in theaters right now. (As this episode drops.) The Green Goblin has planted a super bomb in the high voltage tower atop a skyscraper. Will Spidey defuse the bombs in time? Will the Green Goblin get away? What exactly does the high voltage tower do? Who should get fired for signing off on the design choice of having a high voltage tower so accessible to people who want to scale it? These questions and more will have you climbing the walls like...well, like you-know-who. 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, links and so much more are here. It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Consider supporting the show financially at our Patreon.com page here. Check out the merchandise in our Zazzle.com stor

EPISODE 74: SKY JINKS. In this 1982 high-flying adventure from Activision, you need cat-like reflexes (though, ironically, felines are notoriously bad pilots. They prefer train travel.) to bank left and right around those pylons while dodging trees and hot-air balloons. Sure, you want to finish the time trials in record time, but, hey, don't let all those fast, high-altitude turns make you queasy or anything... 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! It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show... Consider supporting the show financially on our Patreon page here. You can also find cool Atari Bytes merchandise at our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store.

Did you know that "dogie" as in "Git along, little dogie," is spelled with just one "g" when it's cattle, not with two like in "My doggie just peed on your cat"? Me neither! That's just one of the many things we learn in episode 74 of the podcast where we drive those dogies across the digital prairie in Activision's 1981 tribute to the American cowboy STAMPEDE. So go find your ten-gallon hat and chaps (pants are optional) and join us on the cattle drive! 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 and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - hey, that's my other show! Find cool Atari Bytes and It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown stuff at our Zazzle.com store - AB_Pod_Store Consider supporting the show financially on our Patreon page here.

Episode 73 is a heapin' second helping of River Raid-esque goodness. RIVER RAID II from 1988 takes what we loved about the original Activision legend and overlays an early era flight simulator. Does the game soar or crash and burn? Hmmm. 1980s. Fighter jets screaming overhead, performing death defying maneuvers as the sexy pilots complete their mission while trading witty banter. Does any of that sound familiar? Let's discuss... Here's the article about the true "Age of Aquarius" we talked about in the show. 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 and much, much more! It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey, that's my other show! Find cool mugs and shirts and more at my store AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com You can support the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page.

ATARI BYTES EPISODE 72: CHOPLIFTER! has taken flight! That's two exclamation points already. That means you know the 1987 port of this 1982 Apple game to the Atari 7800 has to be good. Who are the Bungelings? How fast can the delegates run? Who knew the post office could be this exciting? So. Many. Questions. But we're here with the (made up) answers. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Atari Bytes notes, links and more It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show! Support the show on our Patreon page. Get cool Atari Bytes merch at our Zazzle.com page AB_Pod_Store

For Episode 71, ATARI BYTES gets back to nature with an adventure in the animal kingdom - WOMBAT... *Checks Notes* Whoops! I meant, we're playing the 1977 Atari original COMBAT. Tanks! Bi-planes! Jets! Mayhem abounds!* *No wombats were harmed in the production of this episode. 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 links It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - my other show! Consider support the show at our Patreon page here. Cool shirts, mugs and more in our store AB_Pod_Store at Zazzle.com