This month on the podcast, all of the Peanuts secrets are revealed… Okay, not really. But we do have a conversation with Benjamin Clark, curator of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California. Benjamin gives us some insight into the daily life of a curator, how exhibits are put together, and a LOT of exciting things coming up in coming years. I even asked him, as the keeper of all things Peanuts, what is REALLY inside Snoopy’s doghouse. Want to know the answer? Tune in to this episode! We’ve also got one of the few remaining “Charlie Brown... Read More

Are you ready for some football? Well, too bad. This week on episode 155 we’re gonna slam dunk on Kareem Abdul Jabbar as we’re playing Atari BASKETBALL from 1979. Then we’ll celebrate Dr. James Naismith’s creation of the wholesome American game of basketball with some mildly suggestive poetry in the style of Victorian era erotic literature. I’m not slapping the “explicit” tag on this episode, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Take... Read More

Episode 154 fires at you like a cannonball, screaming profanity and peeing itself with fear like a human. That’s right, we’re playing from Atari’s early days the “what the hell, let’s try this” title, the 1978 classic HUMAN CANNONBALL. Those of you who didn’t get enough of your aggressions out by splatting flailing stick figures into the ground in “Circus Atari”, this game is for you. But does this week’s short story land dead center in the water tank or smack the dirt? Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use... Read More

HAPPY NEW YEAR! You could ring in 2019 watching a ball drop, while drenched in expensive champagne and kissing your favorite person. OR… …you could crack open whatever was on sale and come on out to the movies. Tuxedo is optional. This week on episode 153, we’re reviewing the 1982 action hit sort of action-y flop MEGAFORCE. This is the movie which inspired the MEGAFORCE game. (See episode 129). Who is “we”? Well, making his first appearance on ATARI BYTES, it’s FERG! That’s right, Robert Ferguson of the Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast stops by to talk... Read More

Ho – Ho – HO…ly cow! It’s the Christmas episode of ATARI BYTES! In episode 152, we set aside the egg-nog-drenched game console to wish you all a joyous holiday season. To thank you for your support throughout the year, please enjoy the world debut of my original poem ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE ATARI CHRISTMAS. Now go ask Santa to stop using the Pac-Man cart as a coaster for his milk. And the E.T. cartridge is not a cookie plate. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Take a Chance”, “Pinball... Read More

We hope you already peed, because once the cross-country race that is this week’s episode gets going, we’re not stopping. It’s the Activision game ENDURO, from 1983. So, this week’s story probably has something to do with eggplant farming. Racers! Ready! Get set! Listen to 151! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Take a Chance”, “Reformat” and “Pinball Springs”.  Thanks to Mike Mann for his “Mad Mike Hughes” theme. Atari Bytes show notes, social media and more.  It’s a Podcast,... Read More

Good grief, happy holidays, everybody! Episode 32, IT’S CHRISTMASTIME AGAIN, CHARLIE BROWN, was just too darn big for one podcaster, so I called in a partner. Paul Johnson, host of “Total Stickcast” and a new show, “The Happy News Podcast” drops by. Together, we woof, meow, moo, whatever (you’ll get that after this episode) through this story as Christmas commercialism gets revenge on Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty searches for the Christmas sheep within, and – hark! – Sally hears…well, you’ll see. We’ve also got a “Peanuts... Read More

Much like the unnamed karate-practitioner in Broderbund’s 1988 port of KARATEKA for the Atari 7800, my moves are lightning fast and totally ineffectual. But we both look great with bare feet. Bunions are in now, right? Why is Mr. No Name – let’s call him “Ed” – storming the castle of evil warlord Akuma? Why does Akuma leave his doors unlocked? Is the lovely, Princess Mariko longing to be saved by…Ed…or is she doing just fine on her own, thank you? We’ll take a flying drop kick into episode 150, roundhouse the deets on this game and then, as... Read More

Episode 149 offers up GOPHER, a 1982 U.S. Games title for those among us who long to bash in the brains of a furry little creature with a shovel.  In the game, you are a farmer defending your carrot patch from relentless gophers stealing your crop. You are armed with a shovel which you wield with merciless glee. Sometimes you actually use to fill in the holes the gopher leaves, but, mostly, you’re all about the bonking. Who doesn’t love to bonk their pocket gopher now and then? So what’s this week’s story about? I, too, am scared to imagine… Thanks to Kevin McLeod... Read More

What goes better with reheated Thanksgiving leftovers than the disturbing jelled, canned cranberry podcast equivalent ATARI BYTES? If I had to venture a guess, I’d say this week’s episode IS THE SINGLE GREATEST PODCASTING EXPERIENCE YOU WILL EVER HAVE… during the time you listen to this particular podcast.  In episode 148, we’re playing VENTURE, Coleco’s 1982 port of the classic arcade game that I never actually played. Treasure hunters seek their booties in deep, dark dungeons. Meanwhile monsters shake their booties in pursuit of those same hunters.  You’ll... Read More