The Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

It's rare, it's controversial, and it completes the Jaguar picture. Atari's JaguarCD peripheral saw limited release after numerous delays, but was packed with a remarkable audio visualization feature called the Virtual Light Machine, and bundled with a non-trivial percentage of the Jaguar's total commercial CD library.

In this episode, we dig through the development timeline both for the hardware itself as well as the Virtual Light Machine, go into perhaps a bit too much detail regarding the 81 VLM effects, marvel at Edge Magazine's JaguarCD coverage, talk about the Tempest 2000 Soundtrack CD also included in the box, and cover the separate-but-necessary MemoryTrack cartridge and it lofty ambitions for game data storage.

Also included is feedback from Troff, Graymane Shadow, Editorb, and Aritheus! All that plus Storytime can be found in this slow-loading installment of the Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast.

Full shownotes can be found at https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/19767-33-jaguarcd-and-vlm-and-memorytrack-and-tempest-2000-soundtrack/

Next up: Blue Lightning!

Wait, another Atari game compilation? Is there anything to distinguish Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration from all those that came before? Is it worth our time and money? Do these people even get why we so love Atari? Tempest 2000 answers these questions for us: "YES! YES! YES!"

This deep dive into Atari 50 walks through the entire experience, not just Jaguar, but reviewing "reimagined," analyzing arcade games, perusing the platforms, and tackling the timeline. Some bugs are found, sure, but also a few delightful surprises.

Also included is feedback from Richard, Nick, and Editorb!

Full show notes are available at https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/18634-s03-atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration/

Next up: JaguarCD and Virtual Light Machine! 

Hop in your favorite (better make that "favourite") European rally car and "terra up de firma" in Power Drive Rally! We explore company histories and the development of the game, dig into the game modes, and marvel at the attention to detail. In the co-driver's seat we've got sound effects and music, reviews from around the world, and Betteridge's Law of Headlines.

As if that weren't enough, there's also feedback from Björn, Trevor, Roberth, Keith, Randal, Derek, Lee, Gummy Bear, doctorclu, TrekMD, and Arethius!

All that and more, including storytime, can be found in this long yet info-packed episode.

Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-15228-25-power-drive-rally/

Next episode: I-War!

Enter the Great Tile Flipping Festival to challenge King Fluffy and the citizens of the planet Phromaj in the Jaguar puzzle game FlipOut! Game designer Dr. Conrad Barski provides valuable historical context as we learn about the game's development, then explore the levels, dig into the depths of alien mischief, and check out numerous magazine reviews.

Also included is feedback from Roberth, Derek, Randal, Björn, RD, Dr. Clu, Arethius, and TrekMD!

Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-14980-24-flipout/

Coming up in the next episode: Power Drive Rally

Form a line at the bottom of Boot Hill and wait to be waved in to the disturbing fun of Cannon Fodder! In this episode, we learn a bit about Sensible Software, how this game ended up on the Jaguar, and how this version differs from the many other ports. We check out numerous reviews from both sides of the Atlantic, propose an alternate control scheme (with the benefit of hindsight), ponder the highly-questionable ESRB rating, and analyze the infamous theme song.

Also included is feedback from Gerald, Philip the Whovian, Derek, Roberth Anthony Martinez Rivero, RD, Bryce, Simon, Arethius, Lost Dragon, and TrekMD!

Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-14706-23-cannon-fodder/

Next episode: Flip Out!

We're blasting space pirates and naming planets with Hover Strike! Learn about the game's roots, the development staff, the many cheat codes, and the Jaguar Development Standards in this action-packed and texture-mapped episode.

Stick around for some awesome feedback from Björn, Arethius, Christopher (aka MightyFrog), and TrekMD!

Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-14622-22-hover-strike/

Coming up next episode: Cannon Fodder!

You could say it's the best American football game on the Jaguar, but is that saying much? Find out in this episode, along with the id Software connection, a Super Bowl prediction, and what the heck this game has to do with a distant-future generational starship.

Also included is feedback from Kevin, some storytime, and a couple surprises. Hopefully not the terrible kind of surprises.

Full show notes are available at https://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-14557-21-troy-aikman-nfl-football/

The next episode returns to Jaguar first-party titles with Hover Strike!

Experience "the real simulator" with Pinball Fantasies on the Atari Jaguar. In this episode, you'll hear company histories, rules of the four pinball tables, lots of tunes, highly contradictory reviews, some questionable adjective use, and the surprising high score holder for the Stones 'n' Bones table on Shinto's cartridge.

Also in this episode is feedback from Randal, Louis, and Janitor Sean!

Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-14511-20-pinball-fantasies/

Coming up next episode: Troy Aikman NFL Football!

Double the dragons, double the fun? Find out in this episode, where we go through the inspiration and history behind the one-on-one fighting game Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls. We analyze the characters, find surprising gameplay factors, and go off in search of the elusive Shadow Master Code.

Also included is feedback from Lost Dragon, Lee, Randal, Matt, and Kevin Manne, plus a BBC Breakfast surprise from Philip the Whovian!

Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-14311-19-double-dragon-v-the-shadow-falls/

Coming up next episode: Pinball Fantasies!

Visit the violent future of faux football in this fierce battle which is best against your buddies. Learn about the game's surprising evolution, company histories, and the rules of the game (or lack thereof).

Get some wisdom from John Madden, a bizarre audio glitch, and practical use of the word "fisticuffs."

Also included is feedback from BTB, Björn, Michael, Doctor Clu, Lost Dragon, Arethius, Liam, and Gray Defender!

Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-14204-18-brutal-sports-football/

Coming up next episode: Double Dragon V!