The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 62 - Magicard and Video Life by CommaVid Jun 04, 2014

Show notes

This week's episode is about the CommaVid carts Magicard and Video Life. It was a tough one, I really don't possess a basic understanding of programming (Magicard) or elementary science (Video Life), not to mention that I was off for three weeks and was out of the habit of my usual procrastination, which turned it into unusual procrastination. I hope that you will forgive me and enjoy the episode anyway, I did get some good feedback which as always saves the show. Next week I'll be talking about Submarine Commander and Video Pinball by Atari. Video Pinball is one of my favorites. Upcoming games include Cross Force and Tape Worm by Spectravision; Word Zapper and Commando Raid by US Games; Asteroids and Berzerk by Atari; Mousetrap by Coleco and Ladybug by John Champeau, and Blackjack, Casino, and Slot Machine by Atari. Any thoughts or memories that you have about any of these games or any of the games I've already covered can be sent to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thanks for your patience and for listening! Pertinent Links CommaVid Story on Digital Press Irwin Gaines magazine article John Bronstein's Atari 2600 reverse engineering contraption Magicard manual (PDF) Chess rematch with Rick from the Intellivisionaries Willie's Flashback 4 contest video Next Level Video Games in Blackwood, NJ Magicard program binaries on Atari Age

Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 61 - Thunderground and Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator by Sega May 14, 2014

Show notes

This week I talk about two more of Sega's Atari 2600 games, Thunderground and Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator. I found both of them to be fun to play. Next episode will not be out until June 4, I am taking a few weeks off. That will be MagiCard and Video Life by CommaVid. The MagiCard manual is horribly long and complicated, so the extra time will be nice. Upcoming games include Submarine Commander and Video Pinball by Atari; Cross Force and Tape Worm by Spectravision; Word Zapper and Commando Raid by US Games; Asteroids and Berzerk by Atari; and Mousetrap by Coleco and Ladybug by John Champeau. I'm including this homebrew (first one!) because it was slated to be released by Coleco but wasn't, and Champeau later released a great port of the game. So if you have any stories or memories of any of these games, please send them to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you everyone, have a great Memorial Day if you're in the US and I'll see you in June! Highly Illogical Links June 1983 Videogaming Illustrated Star Trek article Star Trek at KLOV Borderline at KLOV Classic Console Gamernews Now You're Playing With Podcast The Intellivisionaries Podcast Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie - Star Trek Pixa on the iTunes Store Thunderground manual from 2600 Connection (.PDF) Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 60 - Pac-Man by Atari May 07, 2014

Show notes

This week is all about Pac-Man by Atari. Got a ton of feedback and audio submissions, so you are in for a treat! Next week I will be looking at Thunderground and Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator by Sega. I'll get to CommaVid eventually. Thank you everyone, hope you enjoy the show. Thanks for listening! Pac-Links Pac-Man on KLOV Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie: Pac-Man Pac-Man schematic (for fun) 2600 Connection Pac-Man Easter Eggs (check here for bug videos) Nukey Shay's Pac-Man 8K on Atari Age Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 59 - Title Match Pro Wrestling and Skate Boardin' by Absolute Apr 30, 2014

Show notes

This week I look at half of the Absolute Entertainment games, Title Match Pro Wrestling and Skateboardin.' Next week on the show I will be covering Pac-Man! A very polarizing game for sure. I already have quite a few emails for that show, I would love to hear what you think (and thought!) about this game. In the coming weeks I'll be doing MagiCard and Video Life by CommaVid; Submarine Commander and Video Pinball by Atari; Thunderground and Star Trek by Sega; Asteroids and Berzerk by Atari; Cross Force and Tapeworm by Spectravision, and Word Zapper and Commando Raid by US Games. I would love to hear your thoughts on these games or any of the games I've already covered; please send them in text or mp3 form to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you for listening! Pertinent Links Interview with Alex DeMeo on 2600 Connection Skateboardin' map on Atarimania Earl Green's post about the Alamagordo excavation

Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 58 - Codebreaker, Flag Capture, and Video Chess by Atari Apr 24, 2014

Show notes

This week I stupidly cover 3 Atari games, Codebreaker, Flag Capture and Video Chess. Stupidly only because it was Easter and I was more busy than I've ever been. Sometimes 3 in a show is a necessary evil. Next week I'll be delving into Title Match Pro Wrestling and Skateboardin' by Absolute. Upcoming games include Pac-Man by Atari; Magicard and Video Life by CommaVid; Submarine Commander and Video Pinball by Atari; Thunderground and Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator by Sega; Asteroids and Berzerk by Atari (if that show isn't close to 90 minutes with feedback then I'm doing something wrong); and Cross Force and Tapeworm by Spectravision. If you have any stories or memories of any of these games that you would like to share, please send them to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. This of course is not a guarantee that I will read it on the correct show, as I am wont to overlook them sometimes. I just realized I forgot to read Jeff's email this week, I apologize to Jeff and I will read them on next week's show. I hate it when I do that. Thanks for listening everyone. Pertinent Links Venetian Blinds by Activision on Atari Protos site Computer Chess by Atari on Atari Protos site Win a free game on the Retro Junkies Forum! Willie's Video for the Retro Junkies 5000 likes contest! Intellivision vs. Atari VCS Chess! Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 57 - Gyruss and James Bond 007 by Parker Bros. Apr 16, 2014

Show notes

This week's episode deals with Gyruss and James Bond 007 by Parker Brothers. Upcoming games include Codebreaker, Flag Capture & Video Chess by Atari; Skateboardin' and Title Match Pro Wrestling by Activision; Pac-Man by Atari; MagiCard and Video Life by CommaVid (tentatively); Submarine Commander and Video Pinball by Atari; and Thunderground and Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator by Sega. Send me your memories of these games or any games I've already covered to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you for listening everyone. This episode is dedicated to the memory of fellow video game podcaster Kevin Cronin. Pertinent Links Gyruss on KLOV Alternate James Bond 007 artwork on Atarimania (scroll to the bottom) GoFundMe donation page for Kevin Cronin Video Game Rescue podcast James Bond movie intros, featuring the red swirly thing, which now looks like a gun barrel. I am a dope. Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie - Gyruss Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 56 - Suicide Mission and Killer Satellites by Starpath Apr 09, 2014

Show notes

Back to the wonderful Supercharger for two more of its games, Suicide Mission and Killer Satellites. I forgot to mention in the show that the Prototype version of Suicide Mission, Meteoroids, has a similar descending note scale like the arcade version of Asteroids. You can hear that in the sound clip I played in that section (it speeds up as there are fewer meteoroids onscreen). The released version only has 2 of these notes, and it sounds really weird. Next week on the show I'll be yakking about Gyruss and James Bond 007 by Parker Brothers. Upcoming games include Codebreaker, Flag Capture and Video Chess by Atari; Title Match Pro Wrestling and Skateboardin' by Absolute; Pac-Man by Atari; Magicard and Video Life by CommaVid, and Submarine Commander (Sears exclusive) and Video Pinball by Atari. You can send me your stories or memories of any of these game or any of the games I've already covered to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you so much for listening! Pertinent Links Intellivision vs. Atari II: Electric Boogaloo - Checkers! Steve Hales interview in Halcyon Days by James Hague Steve Hales' Igor Software Labs web site Kevin Norman's Science Wiz web site Suicide Mission at Atari Protos web site Favorite Atari 2660 Games of Willie - Killer Satellites! Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie - Suicide Mission! Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 55 - Surround and Hunt & Score by Atari Apr 02, 2014

Show notes

This week's episode is a little dry, it features the Atari games Surround and Hunt 'n' Score (aka A Game Of Concentration). What this episode lacks in gameplay makes up in audio submissions! I wasn't expecting much feedback this week, but I did get some, which included audio from Shinto and Rob O'Hara. I really appreciate everyone that sends feedback, especially those who take the time to actually record it. I am trying to do that more myself for other podcasts, even though I think my voice sounds worse on other podcasts than it does on mine. Anyway, next week I'll be looking at the Starpath games ("tapes" would be an acceptable term for these, and only these) Suicide Mission and Killer Satellites. Upcoming games include James Bond 007 and Gyruss by Parker Brothers; Codebreaker, Flag Capture & Video Chess by Atari; Title Match Pro Wrestling and Skateboardin' by Absolute, Pac-Man by Atari, and Magicard and Video Life by CommaVid. You can send your feedback for these games or any game I've already covered to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Than you for listening everyone! Pertinent Links Al Backiel interview with Alan Miller (contains a picture of Larry Wagner's launch title list) Dominos on KLOV Blockade on KLOV Favorite Atari 2600 Games of FocusRS - Surround Hunt 'n' Score bitmaps from the manual Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 54 - Fast Eddie and Deadly Duck by 20th Century Fox Mar 26, 2014

Show notes

This week I look at Fast Eddie and Deadly Duck by 20th Century Fox, makers of fine films and video games. Next week it's back to the early days of Atari with Surround and Hunt 'n' Score, aka A Game of Concentration. Upcoming games include Suicide Mission and Killer Satellites by Starpath; James Bond 007 and Gyruss by Parker Brothers; Codebreaker, Flag Capture & Video Chess by Atari; Title Match Pro Wrestling and Skateboardin' by Absolute, and a big one, Pac-Man by Atari. That one should generate some discussion. Send me feedback, including your memories and opinions of these games and any of the games I've covered so far to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thanks everyone! Pertinent Links Interview with Mark Turmell, I Am Entertainment magazine Deadly Duck manual cover (blecch) Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Episode 53 - Othello and RealSports Baseball by Atari Mar 19, 2014

Show notes

This week I talk about Othello and RealSports Baseball, the latter being the first silver label game that I'm discussing! Rick from the Intellivisionaries Podcast and I pitted our respective consoles against each other in Reversi/Othello, which you can watch on Youtube via the link below. Special thanks to Rick for suggesting this, and also for recording it and hosting it on the Intellivisionaries Youtube page! Next week I'll be talking about Fast Eddie and Deadly Duck by Sirius/20th Century Fox. Upcoming games include Surround and A Game of Concentration (AKA Hunt 'n' Score) by Atari; Suicide Mission and Killer Satellites by Starpath; James Bond 007 and Gyruss by Parker Brothers; Codebreaker, Flag Capture & Video Chess by Atari; and Title Match Pro Wrestling and Skateboardin' by Absolute. You can send your thoughts and memories of these games or any games I've already covered to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Your submissions are what make this show fun! Thank you everyone! Pertinent Links Atari 2600 vs. Intellivision: Reversi vs. Othello LONG Ed Logg interview (PDF download) Atari Protos RealSports baseball page Atari Museum page on the Atari 2600 Jr. RealSports Baseball commercial with Billy Martin Proud member of the Throwback Network! Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network! Facebook page Twitter page Blog page Listen to the show on the Retro Junkies website!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected