EPISODE 105: STAR VOYAGER

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When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are…though retro gamers get preferential treatment. Am I right???

Well, we wished upon a star and we got episode 105 of Atari Bytes – STAR VOYAGER, the iMagic game from 1982. We wanted to be 6″1″, with a chiseled physique and good cheekbones. But this is a good consolation prize. I’ve still got some Ranch Doritos in the kitchen, so it’s all good.

In STAR VOYAGER, you travel among the stars protecting star ports from the treaty-breaking Zakorans. Be careful, or the only wish you’ll be making is to not have your atoms scattered among the stars. In this month’s story, we imagine Jimminy Cricket in a space helmet singing to space Pinocchio. We might have been heavily medicated when we recorded this.

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

Atari Bytes show notes, episodes, social media and what-not can be found here.

It’s a Podcast, Charlie Brown – Hey! That’s my other show! Get your Snoopy fix! Show notes, episodes and social media links here.

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EPISODE 104: E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL

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If they only knew.

If only Elliott and those soft-hearted scientists knew.

In 1982, extra-terrestrials invaded Earth – by leaving a so-homely-he’s-cute alien being to wander the planet, seeking only to feed his addiction to sugary snacks and flowers. This horror was chronicled by some brave journalist named Steven Spielberg in the documentary “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial”. Our government finally caught the would-be conquerer of Earth. Phew! Crisis averted!

But then…they let him go…

And as a result, a fate worse than the destruction of Earth crashed down on us.

The same year, Atari self-destructed by way of a pretty bad E.T. game that everyone hated, single-handedly destroying the video game industry. Earth went on a-spinnin’, but life as we know it was over.

At least, I think that’s how it happened.

This month, as we mark two years since this podcast launched, episode 104 of ATARI BYTES picks through the wreckage to try and figure out why E.T. was the…man? thing? to  bring Earth to its knees. Why, E.T.? WHY??????

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

Atari Bytes – show notes, episodes, social media links and on and on.

It’s a Podcast, Charlie Brown – Hey! That’s my other show! Here’s the episodes for all your Snoopy and Charlie Brown needs.

Check out “Go play some old games, they’ve missed you” shirts and mugs and more at our Zazzle.com store AB_Pod_Store here.

Please consider helping out with the production costs of this show, by supporting us financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page here. Thanks!

Here’s that Den of Geek interview with Howard Scott Warshaw

Unearthed ‘E.T.’ Atari Games Sell for $108,000 at Auction

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EPISODE 103: MAZE CRAZE

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In 1978, Atari was all set to unleash upon the world another maze game. But then someone said, “We can do better. We can make this maze game something more…something with higher stakes. We can turn an ordinary maze game into a SUPER maze game of chases. We could make this game…a game of COPS AND ROBBERS! We have the technology.”

And MAZE CRAZE was born. And it, in turn, begat this podcast episode a mere forty years after that. Funny how fate works.

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 oh, so much more

It’s a Podcast, Charlie Brown – Hey! That’s my other show. Check out episodes here.

Check out the Atari Bytes shirts and more at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

If you can, please support the production of this podcast on our Patreon page here.

Check out this episode!

EPISODE 102: VANGUARD

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We can thank the 1981 arcade game VANGUARD, and the 1982 Atari port we’re talking about this week, for giving us many firsts: the “continue” feature, four-direction shooting, multi-direction stage scrolling, and invincibility power-ups. 

But can VANGUARD give us the love we so desperately need? 

Failing that, how about egg rolls? I feel like some egg rolls…

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!

The Atari Bytes merchandise store is at AB_Pod_Store on Zazzle.com

Please consider supporting the show financially on our Atari Bytes Patreon page here.

Check out this episode!