Episode 284 of ATARI BYTES gets its groove ON with the 1982 Sega port of ZAXXON! (That’s a terrible set up. But the episode is good. I promise. Probably. Maybe. Look, just listen, please. ) This week’s short story: ZACH’S ON 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” and “Jason Sez Stuff” themes. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you should go for info, show notes and links for ATARI... Read More

Intellivision Month 2021 concludes this month in ATARI BYTES episode 283. We’re playing TRON DEADLY DISCS, inspired by the “cult classic” movie. It’s a collision of cult classic movie and cult classic podcast! (I might be delusional.) This week’s short story: DEADLY DISCS – A STEVE STETSON, 1980s SUPERSPY, ADVENTURE Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creation commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Take a Chance” and “Pinball Spring”. Thanks to Sean Courtney for the “Storytime” and “Jason Sez Stuff”... Read More

INTELLIVISION MONTH 2021 barrels forward on ATARI BYTES 282. Much as we do with the twisty maze that is life, we’re winding our way through the twisty maze of Mattel’s 1982 Intellivision offering NIGHT STALKER, a/k/a the 2600 game “Dark Cavern”. (spoiler!)  But…are you stalking the bats/spiders/robots. Or…are they stalking YOU? More importantly, who keeps dropping all these guns all over? Seems like very poor gun safety. So many questions. BAD POETRY CORNER: NIGHTY NIGHT, STALKER  Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs... Read More

IT’S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN episode 62 offers up shocks – Schulz wasn’t a one-comic man in the ’50s! He also did, with Jim Sasseville, the sport-themed gag panels “It’s Only a Game”. The scandal! Tearful goodbyes – episode 6 of “The Snoopy Show” is the S1 finale! And the makings of an international incident – Author/publisher/”peanuts nerd” Nat Gertler tells us why we should hate Canada. As if we needed another reason! (Kidding!) And, of course, there’s another “Peanuts by Schulz” episode review and... Read More

You’re gliding along peacefully, when suddenly your periscope shoots upward. Through the murky depths you are shocked to see rocketing toward you… ATARI BYTES episode 281! Intellivision Month continues this week with Mattel’s 1982 nautical adventure SUB HUNT. Is it a thrilling submarine simulator or a soul-crushingly boring, slow-paced game bogged down by an overly dense manual? Gee, I dunno… This week’s short story: Bad Poetry Corner – Floaters and Sinkers Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Take a Chance”,... Read More

INTELLIVISION MONTH 2021 has arrived in episode 280 of ATARI BYTES! *Deafening cheers erupt* **Also an angry stampede out the door by some Atari purists** We kick things off with Mattel’s 1981 title STAR STRIKE, which may or may not be inspired by Star Wars; which is true of much of life really. That’s why I dress as an Ewok much of the time. Can anyone recommend a good conditioner? This week’s short story: Star Strike Celebrity Bowling Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Take a Chance” and “Pinball... Read More

Doing something a little different this week in ATARI BYTES episode 279. Setting aside the games (Wait! Come back!) to share some thoughts I had while working a booth at a recent convention to promote the show and my books. In short, I noticed Atari did not have a huge presence, nor indeed did very much from before the 1980s. What gives? Could it be Atari is TOO OLD to be pop culture anymore?  Whoa. Let’s talk about it.  We’ll also read entries from the Pac-Man-story-t-shirt-giveaway I did at that con. This week’s short story: Bad Poetry Corner: ONE GROUP, MANY FANDOMS Thanks... Read More

Take a deep breath. Smell that? That’s episode 278’s equine-filled game. On this week’s ATARI BYTES, we’re playing the 1980 horse-racing game, STEEPLECHASE.  Jockey your way to this episode and mount your steed. This week’s short story: STEEPLECAUGHT 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 “Storytime” and “Jason Sez Stuff” themes. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com is where you need to be for... Read More

What’s that in your teeth? Why, it’s another episode of ATARI BYTES! In episode 277, we take a huge, wet bite out of TOOTH PROTECTORS and let juices drip down our chin. This is the Johnson & Johnson (yes, the one-shot vaccine people) 1983 mail order, promo game. Instead of saving planets, shooting monsters or winning races, the goal is good oral hygiene. What kid doesn’t love that?!?! This week’s short story: THE PARABLE OF THE SUGAR BUGS Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Take a Chance”, “Reformat”... Read More

Can’t get enough Peanuts on TV, in newsprint, comic books, phone apps, museums, collectibles and underwear? I feel you. And so did record publishers in the late seventies and eighties when “Charlie Brown Read-Along Records” debuted. We talk about them this month! We also talk about “The Snoopy Show” season 1, episode 5, a “Peanuts by Schulz” episode called “Technical Difficulties” AND another “Random Strip of the Month”.  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Mining by Moonlight”... Read More