We wondered why one reviewer declared that the best thing about Mythicon’s 1983 game STAR FOX, the intended first in a series of games, was that Mythicon didn’t make any more games in that series. Now we know. This space adventure(?) has something to do with recuing mysterious space-y energy crystals, which might just be Walter White’s blue meth, for all we learn from the game, from some vague enemy race. Sound fun? No, really. Does it? Well, a bad day of Atari is still better than a good day at work. Right? And if work is bad too, maybe this good (?) episode will get you through... Read More

Ah, love…life’s sweetest reward. It’s an open smile, on a friendly shore… Wait. That’s “The Love Boat”. Maybe we’ll cover the Peanuts/Love Boat crossover in another episode (we wish). For now, we’re right here in Peanuts Town where love pretty much always goes unrequited, especially for Charlie Brown. And this month’s episodes don’t disappoint. So pull up a heart-shaped box of candy and join us for 1967’s “You’re in Love, Charlie Brown” and, from 2002, “A Charlie Brown Valentine”. This month’s... Read More

We love us some Activision on the podcast, so doing the 1982 high-flying adventure CHOPPER COMMAND was a no-brainer. But is this helicopter game hella-good? Will the Sun God Helios be favored or displeased by all the heli-stuff that isn’t him? So many questions. Also, we shoot things with lasers. Go find an air sick bag and join us! My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Take a Chance”, and “Pinball Spring”. It’s a Podcast, Charlie Brown Atari Bytes The Atari Bytes page on Zazzle.com for... Read More

Red rover, red rover… Bubblegum, bubblegum, in a dish… Olly olly oxen free… So, at some point in the early 1980s, someone had the idea to turn the perennial children’s backyard pastime, good ol’ hide and seek, into a two-dimensional, piexelated video game. SNEAK ‘N PEEK, 1982, from U.S. Games Corporation, was the result. How’d that work out? About as well as you’d expect. But we played it anyway. Also, the junior podcaster, Henry, is along for the ride to help us through this nonsense as only he can. My thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for... Read More

This week on the podcast, we experience our own days of future past as we leap forward in time to the 7800 era of Atari to check out the 1987 classic DOUBLE DRAGON, a throwback ’80’s mullet and leg warmers classic. Also, lots of people get punched in the face. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Take a Chance” and “Pinball Spring”. Thanks also to bensound.com for the use this week of his song “Funny Song”. Atari Bytes show notes It’s a Podcast, Charlie Brown The Atari Bytes... Read More

This week on the podcast, we hit the slopes for a little downhill fun…by which we mean sit in the ski lodge with a hot toddy. Or two. Activision’s 1980 SKIING is our focus. We love us some Activision on the podcast. Does this game make all the gates in record time or is it just one big ugly series of moguls all the way down? Tune in to find out. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Pinball Spring”, “Take a Chance”, “Killers” and “Volatile Reaction”. Atari Bytes show notes It’s... Read More

This month, the podcast is all about muddy messes – both on the motocross track and in the hallowed halls of the presidency. With the American presidential inauguration looming as this episode drops, we check out another installment of “This is America, Charlie Brown” from 1989 called “The Smithsonian and the Presidency”. And we also look at “You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown” because motocross is the sport that’s sweeping the nation…in 1975. Apparently. This month’s “Peanuts by Schulz” short is “Winter Wonderland”. Thanks... Read More

BEEP BEEP! This week, we take a bird seed break, which should give us just enough time to talk about the 1985 Atari game ROAD RUNNER before the coyote catches us.* *Kidding. You’ve seen Looney Tunes, right? No WAY is he going to catch us.** **Actually, I haven’t gotten past level 2, so the coyote does catch us. A LOT. Discussion topic for the week: Is the Acme Corporation really just the 1940s version of Amazon? I’ll expect your five-hundred word essay answers on my desk by Monday morning. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”,... Read More

Well, 2017 has firmly affixed itself to our calendars, much like a parasite feeding on our very souls. So! Do we hide in a carton of ice cream and binge Netflix? Or do we embrace the adventure that life has in store? Well, we here at Atari Bytes have a compromise. If adventuring outside is too scary…just play this week’s game –  Atari’s 1980 legend ADVENTURE!* *You can still have the ice cream. Side note: the artwork on the cartridge is great. That just needed to be said. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”,... Read More

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hey! Wake up. Splash some cold water on your face and drown your hangover in coffee. Then crawl feebly onto the couch to check out this first episode of 2017. Our focus this month is Atari’s 1983 port of the legendary GALAXIAN (legendary mostly in the sense of being the forerunner of the way more popular Galaga). Like the Baby New Year, does this game fills the diaper of our souls with the promise of great things to come or a steamy pile of eight-bit poo? Now, let’s fire up the Atari and get our galaxi-ON! Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons... Read More