Atari Bytes

Looney Tunes fans rejoice! In episode 251 of ATARI BYTES, we're playing Atari's 1983 offering TAZ, featuring the tornadic glutton, the Tasmanian Devil. Whether you think the game is brilliant or garbage or brilliant garbage, nothing compares to one particular line in the instruction manual. I promise you this line has never appeared before or since. I won't spoil it here. Tune in to experience the awesomeness! This week's short story: BAD POETRY CORNER: I'M SO FULL 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 for all your needs as they relate to me. The ATARI BYTES page over there has social media, info, and episodes here and for my other podcast IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.  The website also has info about books I've written on this page, including links to just some of the places you can order them.  If you subscribe to the show as a

MMMMMMMMM! There's some tasty gaming going on in ATARI BYTES ep 250. MMMMMMMMM! as in "M NETWORK" that is! We're playing the 1982 flight simulator AIR RAIDERS. Is the game a dogfight utopia or just a dog? This week's short story: CORPORATE AIR RAIDERS 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 has show notes, episodes, social media for this show ATARI BYTES here and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.  Check out the website here for info and links to some places you can get my books, including MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Please consider subscribing to the show on patreon.com at the ATARI BYTES page here. You might get episodes EARLY. Maybe even BonUS content! Madness!

Episode 249 of ATARI BYTES is going to the dogs.  We're playing powerhouse gaming publisher Purina's maze game... Hold on...*checks notes* Yep, PURINA. Ok...see, in 1983 Purina ran a deal where you could send in proofs of purchase (kids, go ask your parents) from bags of dog food and get an Atari game called CHASE THE CHUCK WAGON. Spectravision did the programming. Such as it is. But we'll get into that. WOOF! This week's short story: CHUCK WAGON, THE ANACHRONISTIC COWBOY 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 show notes, social media and episodes 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 of the places you can buy them here.  Consider su

I know Halloween is coming, but after all the chaos of this year, politically, culturally and pandemically, it would be great if the game in episode 248 is a quiet, relaxing affair. Let's see...what have we got this time? THE EARTH DIES SCREAMING, 20th Century Fox, 1983. Well, crap.  This week's short story: ALL OVER BUT THE SCREAMING 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. You can find show notes, episodes, social media and more for this show ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here on the website www.carnivalofgleecreations.com  The website also has information about books I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS, and links to a few of the places you can order them. Go now and check them out! Become a patreon subscriber on patreon.com and you could get access to episodes EARLY! Maybe ev

Episode 247 revs its podcast engine to soar over the pond of other podcasts, leaving them in the dust as we fly down the dirt roads of the Internet. Yee-haaaah! From 1984, we're playing Atari's developed, but unreleased, DUKES OF HAZZARD, inspired by the classic TV show "I Love Lucy".  Just kidding. Or am I? Tune in to find out. This week's short story: THE DUKES OF HAZARDS 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 show notes, social media, episode links for ATARI BYTES here and for my other podcast, IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.  The website also has info about books that I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS, and links to just a few of the places you can order them.  Support the show by becoming a patron on www.patreon.com and you could get episodes earl

In episode 246 of ATARI BYTES, that wascally wabbit is up to his old tricks...rejecting junk food for carrots. how un-American! We're playing Atari's 1983 unreleased game BUGS BUNNY. I don't know what bugs the bunny, but will this game bug you? This week's short story: DANGLING A CARROT  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Pinball Spring", "Take a Chance" and "Reformat".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has info, show notes, episodes and more about ATARI BYTES here and for my monthly show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has info and about books I've written and links to some of the places you can find them, including MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Supporting the show on the ATARI BYTES on www.patreon.com could get you access to episodes EARLY and even BONUS CONTENT. Hippity-hop!

ATARI BYTES episode 245 is a bounty of riches we, much like Robin Hood, bestow upon you, the poor listener. We're so sorry.  Just kidding! But you will indeed be Merry Men (and Women!) as we play the 1983 Xonox game ROBIN HOOD. Then we go all medieval on an original short story titled "ROB 'N' HOOD".  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat". Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for many things, including show notes and episodes of ATARI BYTES here and the same stuff for my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has info about books I've written and links to just a few of the places you can order them.  Support the show by subscribing on the ATARI BYTES patreon.com page here. Subscribing could get you access to episodes EARLY and maybe even BONUS content beyond the regular episodes!

Lords and ladies! The dragon XONOX did in the year of our lord 1983, gift upon the gaming kingdom SIR LANCELOT. And now  in episode 244, we knights of the podcast realm, must evaluate its worth. Also, we gather in the great hall to hear the royal storyteller share another glorious tale. This one is titled KNIGHT AND DAY. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".   Music: Marked by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. The website www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has info, show notes, and links to this show ATARI BYTES here and to my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here, The website also has info and links to just some places you can order books I've written for your very own, including MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Support the show by becoming a subscri

Covid. Deaths. Hurricanes. Wildfires. Murder Hornets. Near misses with asteroids. And now, 2020 brings down upon us the worst of all...DEMON ATTACK! Okay, actually 1982 brought this and it's an Atari game courtesy of iMagic. It's our topic on episode 243 of the podcast. No podcasters were possessed by actual demons in the making of this episode. ...Or were they???? This week's short story: KING DEMON ATTACKS Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for show notes, social media, episodes and more for ATARI BYTES here and for my monthly ode to all things "Peanuts" IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has information and links to some places you can buy books written by me, including MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. You can support the show by subscribing on the Atari Bytes page on

Sometimes, you're so excited about an Atari game, only to get shafted. Then there's episode 242 featuring 1984 Activision mine rescue adventure H.E.R.O. We still get shafted...But in a good way!  This week's short story: We Do Need Another Hero Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. Go to www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for show notes, social media, and episodes for ATARI BYTES here and the same stuff for IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website is also the place to go for info about my books like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS, and links to some places to buy them.  Support the show by subscribing on the ATARI BYTES page on www.patreon.com here. You could get episodes early and bonus content!  

ATARI BYTES episode 241... In 1983, Twentieth Century Fox developed a prototype for "Revenge of the Apes" which BORE NO RESEMBLANCE TO the movie franchise "Planet of the Apes" *eye-crossing wink wink* Then someone shoved it into a box for some alligator-based game and forgot about it for twenty years when it was rediscovered. This is not unlike the premise for the "Planet of the Apes" movie, actually. Don't shove me in a box. This week's short story: PLANET OR WING IT Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Pinball Spring" and "Take a Chance". Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has info, episodes and social media for this show ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has info and links to some places you can 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

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

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!

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 

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?

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

If Kermit the Frog and Michigan J. Frog from Looney Tunes were amphibian stars, episode 235 of ATARI BYTES features that frog who desperately wanted to be in show business, but never caught a break. We're playing FROG POND, Atari's 1982 game for kids that never got released. Sorry, froggie.  This week's short story: POND-CAST 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 links, social media and show notes for this show, ATARI BYTES, and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN.  The website also has info and links to some of the places you can order my books, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Subscribe to the show on patreon.com and you could get episodes early! Or maybe even BONUS CONTENT! Go do that thing here.  Zazzle.com has "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts at mu

This week in episode 234 of ATARI BYTES, it's clear Atari in 1989 was really out there. How else to explain the premise of FATAL RUN: a scared, sick and dying world waits desperately for the delivery of a vaccine that will save them. I mean, how crazy is that?!?! This week's short story: VACCINE VALENTINE 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. You can find ATARI BYTES show notes, episodes, social media and many other what nots at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com The same can be said for my other podcast IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has information about my books, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS, and links to some of the places you can buy them.  You can support the show by subscribing on Patreon.com. You could get episodes early and bonus content. Thanks! "Go play some old games. They've missed you." s

As the once mighty ship 2600 slipped beneath the waves of the gaming ocean, Atari tossed out a few last games for the iconic, but now obsolete, system. Episode 233's game is one of them. We're playing DOUBLE DUNK, a 1989 basketball game; one of only two basketball games Atari made, evidently. Is it clear from playing this game why that might be? Or did Atari miss it's b-ball calling the way I miss most three-pointers? This week's short story: DAN DUNK AND THE DETERMINED DOUGHNUT 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 show notes, info and social media for ATARI BYTES here and my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has information and links to some of the places where you can buy my books, like IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME and MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. Become

ATARI BYTES episode 232 CRACKPOTS from Activision (1983) is a cracking good time. Pot is optional.  This week's short story: BEAT DOWN IN PRIME TIME 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 has all the info, episodes, social media and more for ATARI BYTES here and for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. The website also has info and links to some places you can order my books like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS here. Subscribe to the show on Patreon.com and you could get early access to episodes and bonus content. Go here to do that thing. www.zazzle.com/ab_pod_store has all the "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs you could ever need.