In episode 304, you’re joining the podcast at an historic moment…the debut of our brand-new (refurbished) ATARI 5200 CONSOLE (Thanks, Jose!) We launch into the stratospheric heights of new game possiblities by falling into the dungeon, the SPACE DUNGEON, to be specific. The 1983 Taito arcade port is my focus in this one…until my cameraman wrestles away control of both joysticks from his old man. Kids, man. SHORT STORY: HOME SWEET HOME Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs, “Take a Chance”, “Reformat” and “Pinball... Read More

Listen, the reality is many of us Peanuts fans are…of a certain age. But guess what, “You Don’t Look 40, Charlie Brown”, so that’s something! This month, we look at that 1990 TV special celebrating 40 years of the strip. Then we look at “The Snoopy Show”, season 2, episode2. We’ve got a “Peanuts by Schulz” episode called “Beauty Contest” and another “Random Strip of the Month”.  Join us…won’t you? Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of “Mining by Moonlight”... Read More

Throw this ATARI BYTES episode on the junk heap. Episode 303 is going to the SCRAPYARD DOG (For the 7800, Atari, 1990). Is this game doggone fun or just one for the dogs? SHORT STORY – BAD POETRY CORNER: DOGGED 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” theme. Support the show at patreon.com www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has all the info you need about ATARI BYTES, my other show IT’S A PODCAST, CHARLIE... Read More

WE’RE BACK, BABIES! After a scary week while my computer was in the computer hospital getting a hard drive transplant and other upgrades, we’re back! And that’s not the only reason we’re flying high! In 302, we’re playing SUPER HUEY for the 7800. Was it worth the wait for this episode? Now boarding to find out… Short Story: SUPER, HUEY 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 theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com... Read More

In episode 71 of IT’S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, all your questions will be answered… …because we’re checking out the five-volume series CHARLIE BROWN’S SUPER BOOKS OF QUESTIONS & ANSWERS and the FIFTEEN volumes of the ‘cyclopedias that followed. Then, once you have your fill of Snoopy-fied knowledge, we take a look at the first episode of THE SNOOPY SHOW, season 2! And, of course, we’ve got a random strip of the month and an episode of “Peanuts by Schulz” called “True or False”.  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for... Read More

Do you remember the 1970’s cartoon “Gilligan’s Planet”, where the castaways travel from the island to outer space? No? Well, you should. It was…something. The 7800 game BALLBLAZER, which we played in episode 301, is a little like that. It’s like transporting a soccer game from the stadium to space. “Ted Lasso” in an astronaut helmet maybe. So, is the game a ball or should all copies be set ablaze? Listen to find out! (To the extent my opinion means anything.) Short Story: WHEN BLAZER MET SLACKS: CRIMES OF FASHION Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com... Read More

ATARI BYTES is 300 episodes old! If it were years, we’d be older than America! ATARI BYTES deserves some respect as the country’s elder. I’m going to stop paying taxes. We’re taking a break from the video games and story-fying to play a good, old-fashioned video game. This time, it’s Buffalo Games’ 2021 SPACE INVADERS: THE BOARD GAME. But is this board game boring? Tune in to find out. Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Reformat”, “Take a Chance” and “Pinball Spring”.  THanks to... Read More

The glow of the Peanuts Universe is a bit dimmer this month in episode 70 of IT’S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN. Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown on TV and film passed away at age 65 after a life full of highs and far two many lows. We take a few minutes this episode to remember him. We also talk about episode 13 of season 1 of Apple TV’s “The Snoopy Show”, enjoy a “Random Strip of the Month”, a “Peanuts by Schulz” episode called “The Last of the Bunch” and many other things not in quotations.  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com... Read More

So, I think I’ve only had to re-record ATARI BYTES 299, featuring ASSAULT from 1983, once due to technical glitches. But I’ve seen enough science fiction to know I could be caught in some sort of time loop. This could be my 8,000th recording. Is the game worth eternity in this one moment? Well, it was made by a company called Bomb. Hmmm. Short Story: A Salt Story Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Take a Chance”, “Pinbal Spring” and “Reformat”. Thanks to Sean Courtney for the “Storytime” theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com... Read More

The Moon God gets a bad rap.  Sure, in QUEST FOR QUINTANA ROO, the 1984 game from Sunrise Software, the Moon God wants to kill you. But, I mean, in the game you are plundering the Moon God’s ancient temple.  On the upside, all this unpleasantness did bring about episode 298 of ATARI BYTES! Bad Poetry Corner: The Quest Chooses Us Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs “Take a Chance”, “Pinball Spring” and “Reformat”.  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the “Storytime” theme. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com... Read More