ATARI BYTES – Details, episodes & analysis

Happy holidays!

ATARI BYTES returns from hiatus with episode 331, the annual holiday special. We take a break from games and story writing to catch up on some movies. And we've made it all the way to 1985! So that movie-catching is coming along great!

Earlier this year, we played the Sesame Street inspired game "Cookie Monster Munch", so it seemed like we should do a Sesame Street inspired movie. So, from 1985, we've got FOLLOW THAT BIRD. Big Bird has moved away! Oh no! What is the gang going to do?!?!

Take a break from the relatives and give a listen! 

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Hidden Agenda", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring".

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

Support the show at patreon.com

carnivalofgleecreations.com

We're getting down to the last few days of tax time in America as this episode goes out. Why not relieve some of that mathematical stress with a podcast! In 330, we're playing the 1982 game TAX AVOIDERS, the intense adventure of tax sheltered investments. 

Then once you've listened to this episode...go back and listen to some of the other 329 - for the first time! Or again! - because ATARI BYTES is taking a little hiatus. But keep is in your feed and hearts. We'll be back!

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs Reformat, Pinball Spring, Take a Chance of Hidden Agenda. 

Support the show at patreon.com

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for info about the podcast, about IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, and books by me that can belong to you.

D20 or Die!

Ok, look.

It's the holiday season. And while we all try to be good, if you're like me, you stumble a bit. We probably all deserve a bit of coal in our holiday stockings. Just think of episode 321 as your penance before the Big Guy brings your presents.

This episode, we're talking about the 1982 Hanna-Barbera animated special "Christmas Comes to Pacland". Yep, that's a thing HB made. Must have lost a bet.

And now it's a thing for us to talk about.

So, let's get it over with. 

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.

Check out www.carnivalofgleecreations.com for all you podcast needs to ATARI BYTES, IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN and info about books written by ME and can be owned by YOU, like IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME.

Support the show at patreon.com here. 

As Intellivision Month draws to a close in episode 231, prepare to be swept off your feet by the enchanting tale of "Beauty & the Beast"! Soak up that Disney Magic!

*checks notes*

Sorry, not the Disney movie. Okay, we cover the times fairy tale from....

*squints at some scribbles in notes*

Sorry again. Actually, we're playing iMagic's 1982 game "Beauty & the Beast" which seems to bear no relation to either of these two. The real question, though: is this game a BEAUTY or a BEAST?!?!?

THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: QUARANTINE'S MONSTER - A Bad Poetry Corner Haiku-Off.

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 is your one stop for ATARI BYTES episodes, social medial and more. While you're there, check out IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, a monthly show dedicated to all things in and around the iconic "Peanuts" comic strip. 

The website also has information about books I've written and links to some of the places from which you can order them. 

Subscribe to ATARI BYTES on Patreon.com and you could get access to episodes early! You could even get bonus content!

Get "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs at www.zazzle.com/ab_pod_store

Intellivision month rolls on in episode 230 like a poker chip off the chest of a gambler who has passed out after a sound thrashing by Lady Luck.

We're playing Mattel's LAS VEGAS POKER & BLACKJACK from 1979. What are the odds that this is a good episode? Well, we're keeping our cards close to our vest. We've managed to bluff our way through 230 episodes so far...

THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS ISN'T GOING TO CLEAN ITSELF

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.

You can find ATARI BYTES show notes, social media and episodes here and for the monthly IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, dedicated to all things Snoopy and "Peanuts" here at www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

The website also has info about books I've written and links to some of the places you can buy them. 

Subscribe to the ATARI BYTES Patreon project at patreon.com and you could get access to episodes early! And BONUS content!

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs at www.zazzle.com/ab_pod_store. 

Intellivision Month continues in episode 229 with SPACE BATTLE, Mattel, 1979. In this era of social distancing, "space" is a concept we know well. "Battle" is, unfortunately, something we've seen all too much of.

SO, take a break with some games and stories. This week's original short story is: BAD POETRY CORNER: SPACE BATTLE

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.

You can fine ATARI BYTES show notes, social media and episode links here. The same stuff can be found for my other show IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here. www.carnivalofgleecreations.com 

Subscribe to ATARI BYTES on Patreon.com and you could get episodes early and maybe even get bonus content. 

The website also has info about books I've written and links to some of the places to buy them, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs at www.zazzle.com/ab_pod_store.

Any old episode could give you swords.

Any old episode could give you serpents.

But this week in episode 228, to launch INTELLIVISION MONTH 2020, we're giving you SWORDS AND SERPENTS.  I know! How can we afford such generosity?

Does this 1982 iMagic sword and sorcery (and serpent) title win the treasure or deserve to die in a fireball? 

THIS WEEK'S SHORT STORY: STUCK

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". 

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "Storytime" theme.

www.carnivalofgleecreations.com has show notes, episodes, social media and more for ATARI BYTES here and for the monthly podcast dedicated to all things Charles Schulz and the iconic comic strip "Peanuts" IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLE BROWN here.

The website also has info about books I've written, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS here.

Become a subscriber to the podcast on Patreon.com and you could get access to episodes EARLY. You could even get bonus content. 

Check out "Go Play Some Old Games. They've Missed You." shirts and mugs in the ATARI BYTES store on zazzle.com.

ATARI BYTES episode 227 explores a concept many of us in this pandemical age in which we live may have forgotten: commuting from one place to another. That place, specifically, is outer space. We're guessing social distancing is a bit easier up there. And if you sneeze, you just splatter the inside of your own helmet instead of the other commuters.

We're playing Activision's 1984 ode to the soul-crushing time-suck that is the commute: COSMIC COMMUTER. Whatever else can be said, at least we know the experience will be...stellar.

This week's short story: THE COMMUTANTS

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.

You can find ATARI BYTES show notes, social media, episodes and more here on www.carnivalofgleecreations.com and the same stuff for my other podcast, IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." mugs and shirts at www.zazzle.com/ab_pod_store 

Become a subscriber to ATARI BYTES on the Patreon.com page. If you do, you could get episodes early! Even BONUS CONTENT! The commute over to Patreon is totally worth it!

Please consider picking up one of my books, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS or the novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME. The website has info and links to some places you can do that.

The game this week on ATARI BYTES is an unreleased prototype. The episode is not.

Or is it?

We're playing COMBAT TWO, announced by Atari in 1982 for a 1984 release that never happened. Yet, here it is.

Maybe the show has never happened either. Maybe I never happened. Or you. Maybe everything is an illusion.

Anyway...happy listening!

This week's short story: COMBAT, COMBAT EVERYWHERE

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 has info, show notes, episodes and more for this show, ATARI BYTES, here and for my monthly podcast IT'S  A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN here.

The website also has info and links to some places to order my books, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS. 

Support the show by becoming an ATARI BYTES subscriber on Patreon.com. Get episodes early! Get BONUS content!

Pick up "Go play some old games. They've missed you." shirts and mugs at www.zazzle.com/ab_pod_store

On ATARI BYTES episode 225, we've got no time for losers...'cause we are the CHAMPIONS!

...of the World!

Or at least CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER from Atari, 1980.

Grab your cleats and some of those long socks and join us on the field.

This week in Bad Poetry Corner: a smattering of "champion" inspired haiku.

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat". 

Thanks to Sean Courtney for the Storytime theme.

You can find episodes, notes, info for ATARI BYTES here and for IT'S A PODCAST, CHARLIE BROWN, a monthly deep dive into all things related to the iconic "Peanuts" strip here.

The website also has info about books I've written and some places you can get them, like MISERY BANANA: VERY SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY OLD GAMES AND ODD THOUGHTS.

Become a subscriber to the show here at Patreon.com. You could get episodes early and even maybe some bonus content!