In this episode, we take a shot at playing the light gun game Crossbow and say, “shuriken” (sure-I-can ☺) to reviewing the budget game Ninja.
Show Notes
News
-
The UnoCart,
pre-orders
thread at AtariAge forums -
Geek.com’s
review of Breakout, Jamie Lendino’s new book about Atari 8-bits -
KanexPro
Composite/ S-video to 4K HDMI Converter -
ABBUC 2017
Software Contest -
Homebrew Heroes: Facebook group
and Facebook page -
Kieren’s “Laird’s Lair” YouTube
channel - Larry Bundy Jr’s YouTube channel
-
video review of
the book The Story Of The Commodore Amiga In Pixels
Crossbow
- Published by
- Atari Corp (1988)
- Developed by
- Sculptured Software
Info:
Downloads:
Where to Buy:
Other reviews:
Ninja
- Published by
- Mastertronic (1986)
- Developed by
- Sculptured Software
- Steve Coleman (programming)
- Rob Hubbard (music)
Info and Downloads:
Other reviews:
Source:: Review Episode 8
Review Episode 7
In Episode 7, we’ll have a lip-smacking review of Food Fight and we’ll put our lives on the line for you by participating in the deadly budget game Death Race!.
Show Notes
News
-
Atari 5200 Podcast
- latest episode: “Star Raiders” - Wapniak 2017
-
Blade Runner 2049 second trailer
(note: not for kids) -
WiFi232 adapter
-
Video of Bosconian homebrew gameplay
-
Fragmare’s YouTube channel of video game music covers
-
The XL BOSS review, Analog Computing issue 25
- The A-Z of Atari 8-bit Games ebook
-
The Retro Show,
Sat. Sept. 9th, 2017, Luton, England - Easy to Learn, Hard to Master - The Fate of Atari
-
8 Bit Weapon
(Michelle aka ComputeHer
is ½ of this band) has a new album:
“DLC the OST”
(Downloadable content, the original soundtrack)
- This episodes title graphic was created by Artist John Von Neumann. Many thanks for the use of it.
Food Fight
- Published by
- Atari Corp (1987)
- Developed by
- John Sanderson, General Computer Corporation (GCC)
Info:
-
Giant Bomb’s description of Food Fight (arcade)
-
American Classic Arcade Museum: interview with Jonathan Hurd,
creator of arcade Food Fight
(snapshot at Internet Archive’s “Wayback Machine”) -
Retro Gamer issue 135
includes a “Making of Food Fight” article -
Atari 7800 “Food Fight“, as a
Nintendo-on-a-Chip port
,
for the original Atari Flashback”
Downloads:
Where to Buy:
Other reviews:
-
High Retro Game Lord video review
(Atari XE) -
Atari 7800 Game by Game podcast
(Atari 7800) -
No Quarter podcast
(arcade) -
Press Continue podcast
(arcade)
Death Race
- Published by
- Atlantis Software (1987)
- Developed by
- Simon Leck
Info and Downloads:
Other reviews:
-
Atari Cave review of Atari 8-bit “Death Race”
-
Review of arcade “Turbo” at MobyGames
-
Reviews of ColecoVision “Turbo” at MobyGames
-
Review of Intellivision “Turbo” at MobyGames
-
Atari 2600 Game by Game podcast review of “Turbo” prototype
-
“Atari 8-bit vs Arcade - Part 13”
Source:: Review Episode 7
Review Episode 6
This episode we hop into our Valkyrie space fighter and shoot up some Jaggie saucers to review LucasFilm’s,
“Rescue on Fractalus!” and we’ll go full tilt on one of Kieren’s budget game, “Advanced Pinball Simulator”.
Show Notes
News
- “Atari 8-bit Vs. Arcade” videos
- Kieren’s “A-Z of Atari 2600 Games: Volume 1” book, at Amazon US and Amazon UK
- video tutorial on the AtariMax Max Flash Cart
- “Let’s Go Dizzy! The Story of the Oliver Twins” book
- Jaguar Sector III & Lynx Sector groups on Facebook
- Sacramento Indie Arcade, April 8th, West Sacramento, CA
- pro(c) ATARI magazine, issue 11 (h/t The Real Bounty Bob)
- Tape Preservation Project, at atari.area
- “A8CAS” project at SourceForge
- “Keep those XL’s/XE’s humming” (home of “WAV2CAS”, “CAS2WAV”, and “XEX2CAS”) at Ernest R. Schreurs’ website
Rescue on Fractalus!
- Published by
- Atari Corp (1987)
- Epyx (1984, US) & Activision (1985, UK)
- Developed by
-
Lucasfilm Ltd.
- David Fox (programmer)
- Loren Carpenter (programmer)
- Charlie Kellner (graphics)
- Gary Winnick (graphics)
- James St. Louis (graphics)
- Douglas “Crock” Crockford (graphics)
- Peter Langston (sound, and team lead)
- Charlie “Dragon” Kellner (sound)
-
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Info:
-
Rescue on Fractalus!:
- “Rescue on Fractalus!” entry at MobyGames
- “Rescue on Fractalus!” (XE Cart) entry at AtariMania
- “Rescue on Fractalus!” (Epyx (US) disk) entry at AtariMania
- “Rescue on Fractalus!” (Activision (UK) disk & tape) entry at AtariMania
- “Behind Jaggi Lines” entry at AtariMania
- “BALLBLAZER and Rescue on Fractalus! The Lucasfilm Computer Division Games Project is born - A very brief personal history”, at Peter Langston’s website
- Atari/Lucasfilm Games Press Kit, at Peter Langston’s website
- “Rescue on Fractalus! video from 1984 press conference”, at David Fox’s website
- “Tomorrow’s Promise” article at ElectronDance website
- “Changing Lives: David Fox” interview (part 1) & “Changing Lives: David Fox” interview (part 2), at ElectronDance website
- “Atari Unveils Lucasfilm Games - Star Wars company touts ‘edge of the art’ sound, graphics” InfoWorld article (June 4, 1984), at Google Books
- “The Making of Rescue on Fractalus!” Retro Gamer article (November 2007), at David Fox’s website (PDF)
- Review of “Rescue on Fractalus!” at Super Adventures in Gaming (2013)
- Fractals and fractal landscapes:
- Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Lucasfilm Computer Division, LucasFilm Games / LucasArts:
- Miscellanea:
- Legacy:
Downloads:
Where to Buy:
Other reviews:
Advanced Pinball Simulator
- Published by
- Codemasters (1989)
- Developed by
- The Oliver Twins: Philip & Andrew Oliver (designers)
- Hassan Mehmet (Atari code)
- Terry Lloyd (Atari graphics)
- David Dunn (Atari sound)
Info and Downloads:
- “Advanced Pinball Simulator” entry at AtariMania
- “Advanced Pinball Simulator” info & story at Oliver Twins’ website
Other reviews:
- review of various ports of “Advanced Pinball Simulator”
- “Advanced Pinball Simulator”, Amstrad CPC reviews, at MobyGames
- “Advanced Pinball Simulator”, ZX Spectrum reviews, at MobyGames
- “Advanced Pinball Simulator”, Commodore 64 reviews, at MobyGames
Source:: Review Episode 6
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Review Episode 5
Just in time for winter here in the northern hemisphere, we’re reviewing Summer Games! So grab your sunscreen, power up your
Atari, and on your mark… get set… go!
Show Notes
News
- ExtraLife
- Man vs Snake
- Ultimate Cart
- Ten Pence Arcade podcast
- Art of Atari
- Atari 5200 Podcast
- Rebooteroids for Jaguar
- 2016 ABBUC Software Contest
- SillyVenture
- Bally Alley Astrocast podcast
Summer Games
- Published by
- Atari Corp (1988)
- Epyx (1984, US) & US Gold (1984, UK)
- Developed by
-
Epyx Inc.
- Scott Nelson
- Stephen Landrum
- Erin Murphy
- Jon Leupp
- Stephen Mudry
- Randy Glover
- Brian McGhie
-
Epyx Inc.
Olympic Events:
Downloads:
- Atari Corp 1988 cart version, at AtariMania
- Epyx 1984 disk version, at AtariMania
- “Ultimate Cart User’s Thread” at AtariAge
- Disk version, hacked for AtariMax MaxFlash cart
Where to Buy:
Other reviews:
- 2600 Game by Game Podcast - Summer & Winter Games
- 7800 Game by Game Podcast - Ep. 13 Summer Games & Super Huey
- ANTIC Podcast Interview 24 - Michael Katz (oversaw release of Summer Games & others)
Source:: Review Episode 5
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Review Episode 4
In our first interview episode, David sits down with homebrew creator, tep392 (AKA: Perry Thuente) to discuss his latest creation, Pac-Man Arcade. Hear how he was able to make such a spot on version of the classic arcade game and get some early insite into some of his upcoming projects.
Show Notes
News
- The (new) Atari 5200 Podcast; David a co-host
- Nir Dary’s YouTube channel
- Atari Party 2016; hosted by Bill
- REVIVAL Solstice Retro Event 2016; hosted by Kieren
- “Atari 8-bit vs Arcade” YouTube video playlist
- Retro Gamer magazine (Beyond Games discussed in issue 160)
- Atari Blast (previously GTIA Blast) released
Pac-Man Arcade
- Published by
- Perry “TEP392” Thuente - Atari 8-bit homebrew cart, 2012
- AtariAge - Atari 5200 cart, 2012
- Developed by
- Atari Inc. - original 1983 Ms. Pac-Man game
- Perry Thuente, with contributions from MrFish and others - Pac-Man Arcade hack
- Based on NAMCO’s 1980 arcade game
Where to Buy:
Links:
- AtariAge forum thread with info and for ordering
- Atari XEGS Cart by Cart podcast interview episode with Perry Thuente
- Pac-Man Dossier at GamaSutra
- Ms. Pac-Man Wikipedia article
Other reviews:
- Atari Inc’s 8-bit Pac-Man
- Atari Inc’s 2600 Pac-Man
- Atari Inc’s 8-bit Ms. Pac-Man
- Atari Inc’s 2600 Ms. Pac-Man
- Atari Corp’s 7800 Ms. Pac-Man
Pac-Man (mini review)
- Published by Atari Inc., 1982
- Developer Joe Hellesen
- Based on NAMCO’s 1980 arcade game
Links
Donkey Kong
- Published by Atari Inc., 1983 & Atari Corp., 1988
- Developed by Landon Dyer (code & graphics), Brad Fuller (sound), Atari Inc.
- Based on Nintendo’s 1981 arcade game
Where to buy:
- BEST Electronics:
- Original release: $13 (cart only) or $18
- XEGS re-release: $30 (cart only) or $45
- B&C ComputerVisions: $20 (cart only)
- EBay - $12-15 up to $85!
Links:
- AtariMania entry for Atari 8-bit Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong (video game) article at Wikipedia
- Donkey Kong (character) article at Wikipedia
- About Atari 8-bit Donkey Kong easter egg
- The King of Kong article at Wikipedia
- Landon Dyer’s blog at DadHacker.com
- “Donkey Kong and Me” post on Landon’s blog
- Source code to Atari 8-bit Donkey Kong
- ANTIC podcast interview with Landon Dyer
- Videogame Music Preservation Foundation wiki entry on Brad Fuller
- Brad Fuller’s website
- ANTIC podcast interview with Brad Fuller
Other reviews:
- Arcade Games part 5
- 8-bit vs Arcade part 5
- 2600 Game by Game Podcast
- 7800 Game by Game Podcast
- Colecovisions Podcast
Warhawk
- Published by Firebird, 1986
- Developed by Andrew Betts (code), Rob Hubbard (music)
Links:
- AtariMania entry for Warhawk
- Wikipedia article on Telecomsoft (owner of Firebird, etc.)
- Mobygames article on Star Force
- Hubbard talking about composing Commodore 64 Commando music (Bedrooms to Billionaires clip)
180!
- Published by Mastertronic, 1986
- Developed by Binary Design:
- David Forward (code)
- Steve Pickford & Jeremy Pickford (graphics)
- Jason C. Brooke (music)
Links:
Source:: Review Episode 4
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Interview Episode 1
In our first interview episode, David sits down with homebrew creator, tep392 (AKA: Perry Thuente) to discuss his latest creation, Pac-Man Arcade. Hear how he was able to make such a spot on version of the classic arcade game and get some early insite into some of his upcoming projects.
Show Notes
New Theme Song
- Software
Remixes at Bandcamp - ComputeHer
- (She’s also part of 8 Bit Weapon)
Links
Source:: Interview Episode 1
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Episode 3
In Episode 3, we find out if the Choplifter! will be an uplifting experience, and we break out our loupe and peer into Crystal Castles to see if it’s a cut above. Also, Kieren Hawken is back but this time he’ll be bringing with him some of that British class live to our little show. This time we’ll all review two budget titles, L.A. SWAT and Yogi Bear & Friends in The Greed Monster.
Show Notes
New Theme Song
- Software
Remixes at Bandcamp - ComputeHer
- (She’s also part of 8 Bit Weapon)
News
- Kieren’s hosting “Revival” in July in Walsall, UK
- Bill’s hosting “Atari Party” in July in Davis, California, USA
- Kieren’s “Laird’s Lair” channel, with lots of new stuff
- Fusion Retro Books, working on The Story Of The Atari ST In Pixels, may make an 8-bit one if there’s interest
- The Atari XEGS Cart by Cart Podcast is now part of the Throwback Network
- Glen Planamento confirms The Ultimate Cart (SD multicart) works on Atari 400/800 ( video)
- Rob “VectorGamer”‘s TheRetrocade YouTube channel
- “bad-ass custom dust covers” thread on AtariAge
- Artcade by Bitmap Books is out ( review on YouTube)
- Photos from Sacramento Indie Arcade 2016 (Bill and others were there with Ataris)
- Search Google to learn about McWill’s Lynx LCD upgrade
- Player/Missile Podcast is sorta back from hiatus
- ANTIC: The Atari 8-bit Podcast has been posting tons of interviews; check them out!
- Eight Bit Fix (Atari repair and sales) is selling new Atari 8-bit carts: Mr. Do! (new), Blaster (new), Space Harrier (homebrew port), Bruce Lee, and MIDIMaze (prototype)
- The next RetroGamer magazine will have an “Ultimate Guide to Mr. Do!“, by Kieren
- Kickstarter for The Mastertronic Archives book
Choplifter!
- Published by Atari Corp., 1988
- Developed by Steve Aguirre, Sculptured Software
- Based on 1982 Brøderbund Software original, by Dan Gorlin
Links:
Other reviews:
The Atari 7800 Game By Game Podcast, Episode 10 — Choplifter! & Karateka- Arcade Games episode 14
- ANTIC Podcast interview with Doug Carlston, Brøderbund
Crystal Castles
- Published by Atari Corp., 1988
- Developed by The Software Factory
- Based on Atari Inc. unreleased 1984 prototype, by Paul Metz and William Jahnke
Where to buy:
- B&C ComputerVisions (1984 prototype): $30
Information Sources:
- Crystal Castles Wikipedia article
- Michael Current’s A History of Tramel Technology / Atari
- Crystal Castles at Atarimania
- Paul Metz: 12/21/1961-8/27/2011
- Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest 7800 game
- GDC Video: Making the Atari coin-op classic Crystal Castles
Other reviews:
- No Quarter Podcast, episode 26 (arcade version)
- Arcade Games, part 13
- AtariProtos review of 1984 prototype
L.A. SWAT
- Published by Mastertronic, 1986
- Developed by Randy Platt, Sculptured Software
Information Sources:
Other reviews:
Yogi Bear & Friends in The Greed Monster
- Published by Hi-Tec Software, 1990
- Developed by Russell Knight (code) & Rich Morton (graphics), PAL Developments
Information Sources:
Other reviews:
- ZX Spectrum Yogi Bear… review by Crash magazine
- ZX Spectrum Yogi Bear… review by Your Sinclair magazine
- Amstrad CPC Yogi Bear… review
- Yogi Bear… at Moby Games
Source:: Episode 3
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Episode 2
In Episode 2, we take to the skies with Blue Max, then dive down to the sewers to join the Mario Brothers. We also touch on Joust and Zaxxon, two games that share many similarities to our featured reviews. Kieren Hawken gives his two pence on Budget Titles, and we finally get to our user feedback.
Show Notes
New Theme Song
- Software
Remixes at Bandcamp - ComputeHer
- (She’s also part of 8 Bit Weapon)
News
Missing Links (Ep 1.: Missile Command)
- 5200 Super Podcast Ep. 1: The Pac(k) Ins
5200 Super Podcast Ep. 3: TrakBallin’ with Centipede and Missile Command
2600 Game by Game Podcast Ep. 49: Dodge ‘Em & Missile Command- Lair (Kieren Hawken)’s
“XE-Lent Arcade Games Part 10” video
Mario Bros.
- Published by Atari, 1988
- Developed by Sculptured Software
Information Sources:
- Mario Bros. (@Wikipedia)
- Mario
Bros.: Classic Arcade Game Video, History & Game Play Overview (@ Arcade
Classics) - Mario
Bros., XEGS version (@ Atarimania) - Sculptured Software (@
Wikipedia)
Other reviews:
Joust
- Developed and published by Atari, 1983
Where to buy:
- BEST Electronics: $21.50, $9.95 cart only
- B&C ComputerVisions: $29.95, $20 cart only
- Bravo Sierra: $20
Information Sources:
Other reviews:
Blue Max
- Original disk version (1983)
- Published by Synapse Software (aka SynSoft in the UK) & U.S. Gold
- Developed by Bob Polin
- XEGS cartridge port (1987)
- Published by Broderbund / Atari
- Developed by Sculptured Software
Where to buy:
- BEST Electronics: $18 loose
- B&C ComputerVisions: $30 (in box), $20 cart only
Information Sources:
- ANTIC VOL. 2, NO. 7 / OCTOBER 1983
- COMPUTE! - Issue 44
- Atari Mania - 7.8/10
- Max - Atari XL/XE - With Runway Glitch and Commentary” (@ YouTube)
- ANTIC Interview w/ Bob Polin (Blue Max developer)
- ANTIC Interview w/ Ihor Wolosenko (co-founder of Synapse)
Zaxxon
- Published by Sega, 1983
- Developed by Ron J. Fortier, Datasoft
- (Disk and tape versions published by Datasoft and others)
Information Sources:
Other reviews:
- Lair, XE-Lent Arcade Games - Part 7
- Atari 5200 SuperPodcast, Ep. 2
- 2600 Game By Game Podcast, Ep. 10
Kieren Hawken on Budget Games
- Joe Blade
- Published by Players, 1988
- Developed by Barry & Brian Southon
- Joe Blade (@ Atarimania)
- BMX Simulator
- Published by Code Masters, 1986
- Developed by Adrian Sheppard (game), David Whittaker (sound/music)
- BMX Simulator (@ Atarimania)
Source:: Episode 2
Episode 1
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:
- Atarimania entries:
- 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
- The 8-bit Game: Digesting Archon - An article on game design using Atari 8-bit Archon as the model
- 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)
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
Source:: Episode 1
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Episode 0
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
- Video Game Console Library
- Wikipedia
- Classic Home Video Games Museum
- The Centre for Computing History
- ANTIC Magazine “First Look Inside the XE Game System”
Other ports/reviews:
- B & C ComputerVisions
- Online Auctions (ebay.com / ShopGoodwill.com)
- Amazon: Amazon.com
- Eight Bit Fix
- Best Electronics (Sold out but keep looking)
Where to buy:
- BEST Electronics “BEST XE Touch” keyboard retrofit
- Installation guide
Things to consider getting for your XEGS:
- 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)
Emulators:
Source:: Episode 0
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


