The Atari XEGS Cart by Cart Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Welcome to the first Episode of the Atari XEGS Cart by Cart Podcast. In Episode Zero we will focus on the Atari XE Game System Console. We will learn about the hosts and get up to speed on the XEGS technical Specifications. Come join Bill, David, and Michael and find out why we love the XEGS. Show Notes

Other ports/reviews:
• Video Game Console Library
• Wikipedia
• Classic Home Video Games Museum
• The Centre for Computing History
• ANTIC Magazine "First Look Inside the XE Game System"

Where to buy:
• B & C ComputerVisions
• Online Auctions (ebay.com / ShopGoodwill.com)
• Amazon: Amazon.com
• Eight Bit Fix
• Best Electronics (Sold out but keep looking)

Things to consider getting for your XEGS:
• BEST Electronics "BEST XE Touch" keyboard retrofit
• Installation guide

Emulators:
• atari800 - open source for Linux, Windows, Mac OS X & more
• Atari800Win PLUs - based on atari800, with Windows-specific features
• Altirra - Windows emulator with lots of debugging/etc. Very popular with coders
• Atari++ - originally a fork of atari800. Available for Linux and Windows
• Colleen - based on atari800. Available for Android devices
• PC Xformer - MSDOS/Windows emulator from the early 1990s
• Apple iOS device - Your iOS device needs to be jailbroken. You can use via DOSPad
• MESS(Multi Emulator Super System) which is part of the MAME project
• Browser based via Utilized by Internet Archive's Historical Software Archive (via JSMESS)

In our first review episode, we review EA’s Archon to find out if the game is good or evil. Then we set our sights on the XEGS packaged light gun game, Bug Hunt. We also have user submision from Shinto, the host of the The Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast and Kieran Hawkin introduces his new UK Budget Games segment. This time he reviews Fruit Machine Simulator and puts in his two pence on our two featured games. Show Notes Archon: The Dark and the Light Other reviews & references:

• ANTIC interview with Jon Freeman, Free Fall Associates
• Free Fall Associates interview with Jon Freeman & Anne Westfall
• The Digital Antiquarian: Free Fall, Part 1: Archon
• Grognardia: Interview with Paul Reiche III
• Game Manual
• Wikipedia articles:
  Archon
  Free Fall Associates
• Atarimania entries:
  XEGS cart (1987)
  XL disk (1983)
• 8bit Rocket (Jeff Fulton):
  The 8-bit Game: Digesting Archon - An article on game design using Atari 8-bit Archon as the model

Other ports:

• Archon was ported to the Apple II, Commodore 64, Amiga, IBM PC, Apple Macintosh, NES, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and PC-88
• Archon II: Adept - 1984 sequel for Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. Unfortunately, was never released on cartridge
• Archon Ultra - 1994 remake for MSDOS, by Free Fall Assoc (published by SSI)
• The Unholy War - 1998 spiritual successor by Paul Reiche III for PlayStation, by Toys for Bob (published by Crystal Dynamics)
• Kombat Chess - mini-game (similar to Archon) within 2004’s Mortal Kombat: Deception for PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and PSP
• Archon: Conquest - 2009 iPhone remake, by React Games. Licensed by Free Fall. Available today, via App Store!
• Archon: Classic - 2010 Windows remake, by React Games. Available today, via Steam!

Where to buy:

• Best Electronics - USD $34.95 (XE Cart)
• B&C Computer Visions - USD $29.95 (XE Cart)
• Ebay
• Cartrige - $59.95 buy it now (from B&C), plus various sales in Europe (EUR 18.90 (~$21) to EUR 38.00 (~$42)) (2016-01-16)
• Disk - ~$75 loose, ~$128 sealed, up to ~$200 sealed (2016-01-16)

Information Sources:

• ANTIC interview with Jon Freeman, Free Fall Associates
Bug Hunt Other reviews & references:
• ANTIC interview with Alan Murphy
• Retro Gaming Roundup interview with Rob Zdybel (& others)
• Atarimania entry
• Game Manual
Where to buy:
• BEST Electronics - USD $12.00 (no box, cart + manual)
• B&C Computer Visions - USD $20.00 (cart only)
• Ebay - USD $39.00, cart + light gun, $2.99 to $29.95 (mostly cart only) (2015-01-16)
• Ebay - Light gun only - $24.99, $26.50, $30.00, and $35.00 (2015-01-16)
Contributor Segments
• Shinto (host of The Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast)
• Budget Games featuring Kieren Hawkin - Review's Fruit Machine Simulator, Archon, & Bug Hunt

In episode 9, we conjure up a magical review while battling evil, in Necromancer, and we strap on jetpacks and blast off to rescues human souls trapped by an alien force in the budget game Excelsor. News

• A new Atari podcast, the Atari Lynx HandyCast, hosted by Mark (@lynxhandycast on Twitter).
• Vintage Computer Festival Northwest
• Atari 1020 plotter (Wikipedia article)
• Lantronix
• SIO2Arduino
• Kong Off 6
• The A-Z of Atari 8-bit Games: Volume 2 Amazon US, Amazon UK
• Stunt Car Racer Atari 8-bit port
• Retro Gamer magazine:
  • #175 with "The Making Of: Dark Chambers"
  • #177 with "The Making Of Venture"
• NOMAM "BASIC 10-Liner Contest"

Necromancer

• Published by
  • Atari Corp (1988)
  • Synapse (1982)
• Developed by
  • Bill Williams
    • ABC TV, Australia, "Good Game" biography of Bill
    • Compuserve Sysop Dick Brudzynski's review of Necromancer
    • "Bill Williams remembered" post, by James Hague (author of Halcyon Days
    • Bill's autobiography, Naked Before God: The Return of a Broken Disciple
    • "Stanley Kubrick is Gone", retrospective by ElectronDance
    • "Bill Williams: The Story of a Life", The Digital Antiquarian

Info:

• Wikipedia article on Necromancer

Downloads:

• Necromancer (XEGS cart) entry at AtariMania
• Necromancer (Synapse disk & tape verson) entry at AtariMania

Where to Buy:

• B & C ComputerVisions
• BEST Electronics

Other Reviews and Info:

• AtariMania AtariHQ Videogame Critic

Excelsor

• Published by
  • Players (1986)
• Developed by
  • Keith "Howlin' Mad" Harvey

Info and Downloads:

• Excelsor at AtariMania

Other Reviews and Info:

• Highretrogamelord video review

In episode 10, we’ll put on the gloves and get in the ring to go toe to toe with Accolade’s boxing game, Fight Night, and although revenge is sweet, will Jeff Minter’s Revenge II, a follow up to Revenge of the Mutant Camels, be a tasty treat? News

• Ben Heckendorn's (aka BenHeck) portable Atari 800 using XEGS internals
  • The Final Project: Atari 800 Handheld - Part 1
  • The Final Project: Atari 800 Portable - Part 2
• The "beyond restoring" restored Atari 800xl project
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
• 8-bit on a Budget at Unbound.com
• Kieren's book A-Z of Atari 8-bit games Volume 3
  • US Link
  • UK Link
• Retro Gamer (Kieren's articles)
  • Issue 179: Ultimate Guide to Pac-Mania
  • Issue 183 History of RealSports
  • Issue 184 Unlicensed To Thrill
  • Retro Gamer (Kieren's articles)
  • Retro Gamer back issues
• New games released recently
  • Culmins
  • Black Bouncy Blob
  • Get Up 2
  • Montezuma’s Revenge hack
  • Baby Berks v2
  • Scramble
  • Also, keep up with the latest homebrew news on Homebrew Heroes
• Update to Rob McMullen's (Of Player/Missile Podcast) Omnivore tool
• Atari 2600 Classic Hoodie
• Men's Atari Retro Gaming Tee on Blue Culture Tees

Fight Night

• Publisher by
  • Accolade in US / US Gold in UK (1985)
  • Atari (1987)
• Developed by
  • Concept: Sydney Development Corperation
  • Atari version: Distinctive Software Inc.
  • Programmer: Amory Wong (Ace of Aces fame)
  • Sound & Music: Gail Bergen
  • Graphics: Ron Panthaky
  • XEGS Cartridge: Sculptured Software
  • Credited on AtariMania, but not in-game: Chuck Peavey (Dark Chambers, One-on-One, etc. fame)
Info:
• Wikipedia article on Fight Night
Downloads:
• Atari XEGS Cartridge
• Accolade Disk
• US Gold Disk
Where to Buy:
• B & C ComputerVision (ebay site)
• Best Electronics
• Bravo Sierra Computers
Other Reviews and Info:
• AtariMania
• 7800 Game by Game Podcast, episode 20
• Classic Gaming Quarterly magazine has an interview with Amory Wong
• ANTIC Podcast Interview Episode 14 talks with Chuck Peavey
• Giant Bomb (Gameplay Images)

Revenge II

• Publisher by
  • Mastertronic
• Developed by
  • Steven A. Riding for Icon Design
Downloads:
• AtariMania

In episode 11, we go isometric when we review two games with similar angles. First, we'll pump you up with Airball and then see if the budget game Head over Heels is something to flip over. News

• Benjamin Smith from Bravo Sierra Computers is pretty sick with stage 4 kidney failure so let's give him our support
• Seattle Retro-Computing Society
• 8-bit on a Budget at Unbound.com
• The UNO Cart
• The sad passing of Ben Daglish: (31 July 1966 – 1 October 2018) - English composer and musician and well known for his contributions to chiptune music
• Ben Daglish Wiki page
• Ben Daglish on POKEY Heroes

Airball

• Publisher by
  • 1987 (Microdeal), 1988 (Atari)
• Developed by
  • John Sanderson on LinkedIn
  • MicroDeal U.S.A
Info:
• Wikipedia article on Fight Night
Downloads:
• Atari XEGS Cartridge
• Accolade Disk
• US Gold Disk
Where to Buy:
• B&C ComputerVision (ebay site)
• Best Electronics
• Bravo Sierra Computers
Other Reviews and Info:
• AtariMania
• 7800 Game by Game Podcast, episode 20
• Classic Gaming Quarterly magazine has an interview with Amory Wong
• ANTIC Podcast Interview Episode 14 talks with Chuck Peavey
• Giant Bomb (Gameplay Images)

Head Over Heels

• Publisher by
  • Mastertronic
• Developed by
  • Steven A. Riding for Icon Design
Downloads:
• AtariMania

In episode 12, we feature two space behemoth themed games. First we rumble with the side scrolling Thunderfox and then snake our way through an exhaust port in the budget game Sidewinder II. News

• Kong Off 7
• The demise of the Retro Junkies Network
• Getting connected to IRATA.ONLINE
• The SDrive-Max floppy/Casette emulator using the Arduino UNO
  • Creators webiste
  • Atari Age forum discussion
  • SIO bus fix
• Fort Apocalypse source code

Thunderfox

• Publisher by
  • Atari USA(1988) and UK(1987)
• Developed by
  • Noel Daniel
  • Orall Cornellius (Sound) of Aztec Design
Downloads:
• Atari (USA) at Atarimania
• Atari (UK) at Atarimania
Where to Buy:
• Video 61
Other Reviews and Info:
• AtariMania gave it a 5/10 with 31 votes

Sidewinder II

• Publisher by
  • Virgin Mastertronic (UK)
• Developed by
  • Arena Developments
    • Anthony J. Wilson
    • Russell Knight
    • Orall Cornellius (sound)
Downloads:
• AtariMania

In episode 13, we have a “Dandy” of a show where we crawl through two dungeon based shooters. First, we review the XEGS game, Dark Chambers. Then we pit it against the 8-bit arcade version of Gauntlet. Who will be victorious? News

• Gauntlet hack from Dark Chambers for the Atari 2600 (CDS Game)
• Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show
• Gauntlet revisited by creator Ed Logg (Speaks at GDC 12) on YouTube
• “Dandy”
  • Source code on Git (Multiple languages)
  • John Palevich: Dandy and Deep Blue C Compiler (Antic Podcast Interview 164)
  • Magical Fairy Force, for the 5200, on Atari Age forum thread(Thesis)
• Lotharek's Incognito board for the Atari 800 (Limited release)
• Dorky's Arcade (Tacoma, Wa, USA)

Dark Chambers

• Publisher by
  • Atari (USA) - 1988
• Developed by Sculptured Software
  • Chuck Peavey
Downloads:
• Cartridge

Gauntlet

• Publisher by
  • Mindscape (US) - 1988
  • US Gold (UK) & Kixx (US Gold Budget label) - 1987
• Developed by Gremlin Graphics
  • Bob Armour (programmer)
  • Bill Allen( Additional programming & sound)
  • Kevin Bulmer (Graphics)
  • Ben Daglish (Music)
Downloads:
• Disk (Mindscape version)

In Episode 14, we serve up a bit of surf and turf. First we put everything at “steak” by entering the BattleZone. Then find out if the submarine simulator GATO is a fresh catch? News

• #FujiNet: Atari 8-bit Network Adapter
• Irata.online: A PLATO based online system
• NovaWolf
• Portland Retro Gaming Convention
• Old School Gamer electroic magazine

BattleZone

• Publisher by
  • Atari (USA) - 1987
• Developed by Ken Rose @ Atari, Inc.
Downloads:
• Cartridge

GATO

• Publisher by
  • Atari (USA) - 1987
• Developed by James Yee of Xanth F/X
Downloads:
• Cartridge

In Episode 15, we take to the skies during WWII and battle the Axis powers to become the Ace of Aces. Then the federation needs you once again to take out the invading Zylon Empire in Star Raiders II. News

• Going forward, we're omitting the “Where to Buy” section from our reviews

Ace of Aces

• Publisher by
  • Atari (USA) - 1987
• Developed by Accolade
• ANTIC Podcast Episode featuring Aric Wilmunder (Star Raiders II)
• Kevin P. Pickell
Downloads:
• Cartridge
• Disk

Star Raiders II

• Publisher by
  • Atari (USA) - 1987
• Developed by Atari
• Gary Stark
• Bruce Poehlman
• Robert Vieira (Sound)
Downloads:
• Cartridge
• Disk
• The Last Starfigher (Disk)
• Unfinished Star Raiders II by Aric Wilmunder
External Interview:
• ANTIC Podcast Episode featuring Aric Wilmunder (Star Raiders II)

In Episode 16, we have a band of Brøderbund brothers. First, we put on our gi's with glee to storm the warlord Akuma's castle to save the beautiful princess Mariko in Karateka. Then it's time to dig into the puzzling platformer to find some gold with Lode Runner. News

• VisCool's discussion about his work on updating Raster Music Tracker
• Books
  • "The Making of Karateka: Journals 1982-1985" by Jordan Mechner (ISBN-13: 978-1480297234)
  • "The Making of Prince of Persia: Journals 1985 - 1993" by Jordan Mechner (ISBN-13: 978-0578627311)
  • "Sid Meier's Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games" (ISBN-13: 978-1324005872)
  • "ONCE UPON ATARI: How I made history by killing an industry" by Howard Scott Warshaw (ISBN-13: 978-1324005872)
• Atari Accessories
  • Ultimate Atari Video upgrade
  • Atari Computer and Console Covers
• Other Recomended Listening
  • Our Fake History Podcast
  • History Of Japan by Bill Wurtz

Karateka

• Publisher by
  • Atari (USA) - 1988
• Developed by
  • Jordan Mechner (Original game creator) for Brøderbund Software
  • Robert Cook (Atari conversion) from Sculptured Software
  • Francis Mechner (Music)
• Downloads:
  • Cartridge or Disk

Lode Runner

• Publisher by
  • Atari (USA) - 1987
• Developed by Atari
  • Douglas E. Smith (Original game creator) for Brøderbund Software
  • Chuck Peavey (Atari Convesaion)
• Downloads:
  • Cartridge or Disk
External Interview:
• ANTIC podcast Interview Episode 14 featuring Chuck Peavey