In 1982, movie-goers were embracing a new, post-apocalyptic, motorcycle and explosion fueled popcorn movie. What was it? That’s right: Road Warrior. But a few people misread their ticket stubs and wandered into the 20th Century Fox motorcycle and explosion-fueled popcorn movie MEGA FORCE. Make that a very few people. Well, one, actually. The film’s star Barry Bostwick’s mother, we think. Few people know Barry’s mom was a huge Atari fan too, so the 1982 game MEGA FORCE, and by extension episode 129 of Atari Bytes, was born. The game is mostly notable for blowing up a young... Read More

This week in episode 128 of ATARI BYTES, it’s the Three Little Pigs (curly) tale LIKE NEVER BEFORE. We’re playing the 1982 Konami/Stern Electronics game POOYAN. That means “pig” in Japanese. See, you learned something. Congratulations, you! Mama Pig is on the rampage. Not in Rampage, mind you, though the idea of a giant pig smashing buildings is a good one. The wolves have taken her little piglets. This aggression will not stand. Join her as she takes down each and every Canus Lupus with her trusty bow. How a pig shoots an arrow with hooves is not for mere mortals like... Read More

Now that the sun has set on our trip to the gaming past/future during Intellivision month and my Sears Tele-Games is back in it’s lonely, dusty corner (to be fair, most corners in my house are dusty), we return to the present in episode 127 with the Activision (squee!) title FREEWAY from 1981. What could be better than getting out on the highway for a little road trip? Well, mowing down some poultry while you’re at it, of course! But in this game, you get to channel your inner birdie, playing as the Gallus gallus domesticus trying to cross the road. Thing is, ten lanes of traffic don’t... Read More

In episode 126, Intellivision Month comes to an end. *SOB* Does the epic conclusion of this Atari Bytes experiment bowl a strike or land in the gutter? The question is apt, because this week we’re playing SUPER VIDEO ARCADE BOWLING from Mattel, 1980. After we enjoy some pin action and virtual chili cheese fries, we enjoy this week’s story inspired by the game featuring the first appearance of BOBBY PINS: GALACTIC BOWLER. So refill your beverage, disinfect your rental shoes and chalk your palms. IT’S TIME TO BOWL! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use... Read More

The grassy outfield. The roar of the crowd. I’ve got my cap and cup. Put me in, Coach. I’m ready to game! Take me out to the ball game. Take me out to the…game room? Intellivision month continues on Atari Bytes episode 125 with Mattel’s Major League Baseball (aka “Super Video Arcade Baseball”, aka “Big League Baseball”, aka just, you know, “Baseball”) It’s a dandy 1979 title even my dad would play when I was a kid.  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Take... Read More

This is a month of fond and not so fond farewells. In IS THIS GOODBYE, CHARLIE BROWN? from 1983, Mr. VanPelt has been transferred so Linus and Lucy have to move away! Will Charlie Brown get over the loss of his best friend? What will become of Linus’s blanket? Will Charlie Brown follow through on the promise Peppermint Patty made for him to take her out to forget about his loss? Or will he leave her on the porch? In episode ten of THE CHARLIE BROWN & SNOOPY SHOW, also from 1983, in a not-so-fond farewell, Lucy kicks Linus out of the house! Lucy herself is kicked off the baseball team!... Read More

Intellivision Month continues on episode 124 with ASTROSMASH, which, contrary to what you might think, does NOT include the Hulk in an astronaut suit smashing lunar modules.  The 1981 Mattel game is like a cross between Asteroids and Space Invaders, taking elements from both – especially the laser blasts. Why would they do this? And what is motivating the laser battery commander (aka you) to act? Not to give anything away, but we think it’s the NEED TO DANCE! What do we mean by that? Listen to find out! Here’s the Atari Times article comparing Atari and Intellivison. Here’s... Read More

Order up! Ever go to a burger joint expecting the familiar, tasty bacon double with crispy onion rings you love, only to find out they’ve changed the menu to some sort of tofurky burger or something? Then you’re all worried, but discover it’s pretty tasty too? Episode 123 is kind of like that. This month, our nice Atari 2600, story-based podcast has been overrun by Intelevision bandits. They even ate all my onion rings!  Now, every Sunday in June, we’re featuring an Intelevision title. We kick things off with the iconic BURGERTIME from Bally Midway. Compared to the Atari... Read More

The star power driving the nuclear fission that is this week’s episode, 122, of the podcast is off the (radiation) charts There’s me, of course. But we’ve also got Jane Fonda! Michael Douglas! Jack Lemmon! Oh, and some super naughty Muppets! Okay, technically, none of those people is on the show. They’re all in the 1979 movie China Syndrome. A “China syndrome” is a theory that an exploding nuclear reactor could punch a hole through the Earth from North America to China. This theory inspired the 1982 Spectravision game of the same name. Because there’s... Read More

In space, can anyone hear you fall into a cavern? The 1982 Games by Apollo shooter with the most Five-PM-On-A-Friday-Trying-To-Get-Out-Of-The-Office title ever, SPACE CAVERN is our focus this week in episode 121.  Where is this cavern? Is it just floating in space? Is that even possible? Instead, is it on a planet and, if so, shouldn’t the game be called “Planet Cavern” or maybe just “Cavern”? What is an electrosauri? Why does it want to kill us? All these questions (and more) will be answered in this week’s story (or not).* *Which is to say, probably no questions... Read More