2020 Christmas Memories!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa! Whatever you celebrate, I hope that you all have a wonderful time at the end of this weird year. I am hopeful for the future and I hope that for you as well. We have some newcomers sharing memories with us, and some very touching stories as well. I hope that you will enjoy the show, Sarah and I enjoyed making it for you. I am grateful to all of you for listening to this show and I wish you nothing but the best for the new year.

Epcot Candlelight Processional from 2019

Give The Kids The World Village Night of a Million Lights

Amoeba Jump Hack, Santa Jump, for the Atari 2600

Mean Santa for Colecovision

Lynxmas 2020 Game Jam on Atari Age

CX 2696, Asterix!

Thank you for listening to the final game for this year, Asterix by Atari. It's basically the same as Taz, but Taz actually appears later in the part number order, and we'll get to that game next year. Coming up on January 13th is Tooth Protectors by DSD/Camelot. If you have any feedback for Tooth Protectors, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by January 10th. also, the Christmas episode is coming up fast! if you have any kind of holiday or birthday video game memories or whatever, please send them to me by December 13th. Enjoy the holidays the best you can, and I thank you very much for listening.

Steve Woita's web page

Steve Woita's media appearances

Asterix on Atari Protos

Asterix NTSC thread on Atari Age

Who got this Asterix thread on Atari Age

Atari Spot's NTSC Asterix Twitter thread

Atari Archive release dates by Kevin Bunch

The Official Asterix site

CM-008, Cakewalk!

Hi there! This week we are taking a look at a game that kind of involves my profession, Cakewalk by Commavid. Spoilers, I hate making cakes. But I think I have a fun episode for you, Mrs. Ferguson the Librarian is back, and be sure to stay tuned at the end for some really filthy bloopers. Don't worry, I bleeped them. Bleep bloop! Next up is the last game this year, another super rare one, Asterix by Atari. It's loosely based on the French comic series of the same name. I'll tell you all about it in two weeks, so if you have any feedback for Asterix, please get it to me by November 29th. You can send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com. You can also send me some holiday or even birthday video game memories for the Christmas show,  I would like to have those in by December 13th Jim. Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends, please stay safe. I thank you for listening.

You can still donate to my Extra-Life campaign here! Thank you!

Cakewalk on Random Terrain

Cakewalk on Atari Protos

Cakewalk Review, Video Games Player magazine Nov 1983

Columbia House Video Game Flyers on Digital Press

Gameliner Magazine October 1983 on Atari Compendium

Interview with Jan Hermanns, Blinky Goes Up

I was delighted when Jan Hermanns agreed to speak with me for the podcast about his terrific game Blinky Goes Up. We talk about programming the game, Jan's artwork and other hobbies, and also a tantalizingly half finished game that he has! I really enjoyed talking with him and I hope you will give the interview a listen and try Blinky Goes Up if you haven't already. Thanks for listening!

Jan Hermanns's artwork on Instagram

Jan's new site for Blinky Goes Up

Blinky Goes Up by Jan Hermanns!

It's a homebrew episode this week, featuring the absolutely wonderful Blinky Goes Up by Jan Hermanns. I'm sorry about the lack of homebrews lately, I was working on my list recently and I put more in to be covered in the coming months. I also interviewed Jan and had a great time talking with him, you can find that interview here when I post it, which should be soon. Next up is the autobiographical Cakewalk, by Commavid. If you have any thoughts or feedback on the game, please send them to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by November 15th. you don't need to tell me how to play the game, I will have already told you, so just tell me what your feelings are for the game. Thanks for listening!

Jan Hermanns' Blinky Goes Up site (archived)

The new Blinky site, with the source code

Atari Age Blinky thread

Atari Age Super Mario Goes Up thread

Blinky Goes Up at Videogame Homebrew

Blinky stream on Zero Page Homebrew

Blinky Goes Up speedrun by CAKmusic

Blinky Goes Up perfect game by Excaliburxx7

Buy Blinky Goes Up on the Atari Age Store

Minigame-Compo web site

Super Mario on the TI-84 calculator

AP-2007, Kyphus!

Hi everyone, today we are looking at an unfinished prototype by Apollo called Kyphus. It's not really playable, but there is some interesting stuff to go into. And I apologize for posting the wrong date for feedback on Facebook and Twitter, if you didn't get your feedback in for Kyphus because of that I'm sorry. Please do send it next time if you can. The next game is the homebrew Blinky Goes Up by Jan Hermanns. Blinky is so cute! If you have feedback for this game, you can send it to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by end of the day November 1st. That is the correct date. Thank you so much for listening, please stay safe and I'll see you soon. 

Atari Protos - Kyphus

Kyphus on Atari Compendium

Kyphus on Atarimania

Cash Foley blog about MicroGraphicImage

Bad Game Hall of Fame - Spelunker

Tim Martin's Enlightened Technology page

Atari Age thread showing Kyphus prototype

Atari Age Kyphus Artwork thread

Atari Age Fixing ET thread

Recompile's Fixing ET web page

Atari Age thread on 7800 Difficulty switches

Eugenio's Nazca line photos 

CX2695, Xevious!

Hi there! This week's game is the unreleased prototype for Xevious, by Atari. I think Tod Frye did a great job on this, it's a shame that it didn't come out at the time. Coming up next on the show is the prototype game Kyphus by Apollo. After I put it on the list however, I discovered that it's not really a playable game. But it does have a part number assigned to it, and you know the law around these parts. If you want to take a look at it and send me some feedback about it, please send it to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net by end of the day October 18th. Thank you so much for listening, I hope that you are all well and safe.

Xevious on KLOV

Xevious on Atari Protos

1983 Atari Consumer Division In House Promo

Atari Xevious Promo film

Tod Frye interview on Arcade Attack podcast

Tod Frye interview on Antic podcast

Atari Age thread with original and fixed January 1984 Xevious rom

Atari Age thread about Zeviouz homebrew

Please donate to my Extra Life Campaign if you can. For the kids!

MT 5663, Lock 'n' Chase!

Hi there, thanks once again for your patience (I thought I was done saying that, apparently I have more work to do). This week I am covering Lock 'n' Chase by M Network, which is a Pac-Man wannabe that doesn't quite get there for me. The prototype for Xevious by Atari is coming up next, and I'm going to try to stay on schedule despite this week's show being late. If you have any feedback for Xevious, please send it to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by 6 PM EST on October 6th. You can get a copy of the Xevious rom here. Once again, thanks for your patience and especially thank you for listening. Please be kind to one another.

Lock n Chase on Random Terrain

October 1982 Video Game Update newsletter on Atari Compendium

Fall 1982 Video Games Player magazine on Archive.org

Lock n Chase for Intellivision by Blue Sky Rangers

Taito Lock n Chase on KLOV

Lock n Chase demo cart on Atarimania

Little Secrets by Brian Erickson

11012, Bank Heist!

This week we go back to the 20th Century Fox catalog to take a look at Bank Heist. It's a simple looking game but a lot of fun to play! I hope you enjoy the episode. Next up will be Lock n Chase by M Network. If you have any feedback for Lock n Chase, please send it to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by end of the day September 20th to be included in the show. I hope you all are staying safe and are doing well. Those of you with children, I wish you the best with whatever schooling your kids are experiencing. Thank you for listening!

Bank Heist on Random Terrain

Video Game Update August 1983 at Atari Compendium

1982 20th Century Fox Press Kit on Atarimania

Bank Heist on Atarimania (prototype manual)

Bank Heist TAS by Gordon Taylor

Bank Heist Easter eggs and bugs on Atari Compendium

Curt Vendel Interview part 1 on Into The Vertical Blank

Curt Vendel Interview part 2 on Into The Vertical Blank

Curt Vendel Memorial Fund

 

AR 4302, Party Mix!

In this episode I finally take a look at the Starpath game Party Mix, which may be one of the first collections of mini games in a video game. It is a rare 4 player paddle game at the late date of Fall 1983, but it has its usual Starpath polish. I hope you enjoy listening. Next up will be Bank Heist by 20th Century Fox, and hopefully it will be released in two weeks. If you have feedback for Bank Heist, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by end of day September 5th. Thank you so much for your patience, and for listening.

Party Mix on Random Terrain

November 1983 Video Game Update newsletter

Party Mix on Atarimania

Dennis Caswell's archived web site

Dennis Caswell's book Phlogiston at Floating Bridge Press

Dennis Caswell interview by Mat Allen

Dan Kitchen interview on the SNES Podcast, part 1

Dan Kitchen interview on the SNES Podcast, part 2

Mattbuc's eBay page

03207, Moonsweeper!

Hi there, thanks for sticking with me through all of this, I hope you all are well. This episode is about the Imagic game Moonsweeper, by programmer extraordinaire, Bob Smith. If you haven't already checked the game out, I hope you will after listening. Next up will be Party Mix by Starpath. If you have any feedback for Party Mix, please get it to me by Sunday the 12th. Send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com. I am shooting for the episode to be out on the 15th, but please keep in mind that may change. Please stay safe, and I thank you for listening.

How to donate to Black Lives Matter
Covid-19 relief charities

Moonsweeper on Random Terrain
Numb Thumb News Vol. 2 1983
Numb Thumb interview with Bob Smith
Imagic Catalog 1983
Bob Smith ANTIC interview by Kay Savetz
Michael Becker interview by Scott Stilphen
Edladdin Controllers
Atari2600/7800: a visual compendium by Bitmap Books

Interview with Steve Cartwright

Hello friends, this is a rare interview edition of the show, in which I talk to Steve Cartwright about his career. We talk about his time at Activision, Accolade, and Electronic Arts, as well as what he's doing now and even touch on some of his hobbies. It was an honor and a privilege to talk to Steve, and I thank him very much for speaking with me. I hope that you enjoy it and I thank you for listening.

Steve Cartwright's web site
Steve Cartwright's YouTube channel

AX-031, Frostbite!

Thanks so much for tuning into the show, this is a very special episode featuring Frostbite by the great Steve Cartwright. It also marks the release of a heretofore unknown work in progress prototype of Frostbite called Iceman, which you can find in the links below. Please listen to the episode for the whole 22 year journey of Iceman! Steve Cartwright was gracious enough to do a phone interview with me as well, that will be coming up in the feed very soon.

Next up is Moonsweeper by Imagic, which was done by another great programmer, Bob Smith. Please send your feedback on Moonsweeper to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by May 17th to be included in the show. Thank you again for listening, and huge thanks to Curt, Rob, Dennis and GlitchCat7 for helping me get Iceman to you.

Iceman prototype ROM
Steve Cartwright's web site
Steve Cartwright interview by Pretty Old Pixel
Steve Cartwright interview by Baixa Definicao
Steve Cartwright on Retrogaming with Racketboy Podcast
Steve Cartwright with Garry Kitchen and David Crane at CGE 2010
Steve Cartwright's YouTube page
Activisions newsletter Fall 1983
Activision patch on Digital Press
...and the accompanying letter
My original Usenet post about the Iceman prototype
Dennis Debro's Frostbite Disassmbly
Atarius Maximus' Frostbite Hacks
GlithCat7's amazing Frostbite playthrough
GlitchCat7 on Twitch
Waveback Podcast - Waveback Awards
Waveback Overplay

CX 2694, Pole Position!

Hello there, I hope that you all are safe and sane during this weird and difficult time. Today's episode is about Pole Position, the Namco arcade game that was ported to various Atari systems by General Computer Corp. (GCC if you're nasty). Coming up next is the wonderful Frostbite, by Activision's Steve Cartwright. If you have any thoughts on Frostbite (and I know that you do), please send them to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by the end of the day on May 3rd. Thank you so much for listening and please take care of yourselves, I love you all!


Pole Position on KLOV
Pole Position on Random Terrain
Pole Position on Atari Protos
Pole Position on Atarimania
Betty Ryan Tylko profile on Atari Women
Atari Age thread about GCC credits
Atari Age thread, Undocumented Pole Position loaner cart
Atari Age thread - Pole Positn orange end label
1983 Atari Booth at CES video
Terry Hoff's web site
Marc Ericksen's web site
John Mattos' web site
Nerd Lunch Atari 2600 Retrospective
Batteries Not Included on Amazon
Imperial Scrolls of Honor Podcast
Nerd Noise Radio podcast

Bonus Track - Concert Ticket Stubs

Hi there! I hope very much that you all are staying home when you can and staying safe. For the first time in a loooong time, I have a Bonus Track for you. In this episode I go through my concert ticket stubs that I saved (most of them from before my twenties), and talk about each show, if I remember anything about it. There's some fun stories in there that I hope you will like. Thanks to Sean and Lisa for the inspiration, there's an Autobiography of a Schnook episode where the two of them talk about the concerts they went to in 2019. As always, please take care of yourselves and thank you for listening.

Autobiography of a Schnook Podcast

CA 283, Z-Tack!

Hi there, I hope that you are all safe and staying home if you can. I know in many cases that is more difficult, a lot of my friends have to work from home while home schooling their kids, which I imagine is a lot. We will get through this! One thing that may or may not help with that is Z-Tack by Bomb, the super rare ripoff of a PAL game called Base Attack. I was kind of surprised that I got so much feedback for this game, thank you so much. Next time I'll be covering a big game, Pole Position by Atari. If you have any thoughts on this game, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by April 12th. I think there will be a lot of feedback for that one too. As always, I thank you so much for listening and I wish you all health and happiness.

Z-Tack on Random Terrain
Atari Age thread on Bomb and Bondwell
Wilson Oyama's Z-Tack high score video
Perry Rhodan thread on Atari Age
Perry Rhodan Manifest B picture
ITT Cosmic Town

99005, Robin Hood!

Thank you all once again for your patience! Today's episode is about Robin Hood by Xonox. Xonox seems to be a company that people are split on, so tune in to see how it goes for Robin Hood. Next up is Z-Tack by Bomb. Please send me your feedback by March 29th to be included in the show. I will supply all the info about the game, you tell me your thoughts. Please. Stay safe out there everyone, I wish you all the best and I thank you for listening.

Robin Hood on Random Terrain
Thread on Atari Age by Arthur Krewat from Computer Magic
Computer Magic entry on GDRI website
No Swear Gamer 276 - Robin Hood 
No Swear Gamer Robin Hood Gameplay

VC 1012, M.A.D.!

What, me worry? Not when I have M.A.D. from U.S.Games as this episode's game! Hoo boy. I hope you enjoy the episode. Next up is Robin Hood by Xonox. If you have any feedback for that game, please send it to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by March 8th. Thanks so much for listening!

M.A.D. on Random Terrain
John Hall's website
Interview with John Hall by Sean Fitzgerald 
No Swear Gamer 426 - M.A.D.
No Swear Gamer M.A.D. gameplay footage
Get Matt's Repro Freeway patch on eBay

CX 2692, Moon Patrol!

This episode is all about the Irem arcade game Moon Patrol, ported by Atari via GCC. Thanks for your patience regarding the release of this episode. I had a bit of an emotional setback in January and I'm trying to fight my way out of it. M.A.D. by US Games will be the next game I'm covering, so if you have any feedback for the game please send it to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by end of day 23 February. Thank you for listening!

Moon Patrol on Random Terrain
Moon Patrol on KLOV
Moon Patrol on Atari Protos
The Zorfon Mystery by Rob Wanenchak
Mark Ackerman's web site
Atari Age Moon Patrol title screen glitch
Get Matt's Repro Freeway patch on eBay

AZ 030, The Activision Decathlon!

Welcome back to the show! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays, now we're back to playing Atari 2600 games every two weeks until I screw something up. The first game of 2020 is the Activision Decathlon by the amazing David Crane. I hope you enjoy the show. Next up will be Moon Patrol by Atari, so if you have any feedback on that game, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by the end of the day 26th January. Thanks so much for listening!

Brand new Discord server! Why
Decathlon on Random Terrain
David Crane article by Tony Tyler, Big K magazine April 1984
David Crane article by Colin Calvert, Hi-Res magazine January 1984
From the Digital Press Activision Patch page:
Decathlon Bronze patch
Letter with Bronze patch
Decathlon Silver patch
Letter with Silver patch
Decathlon Gold patch
Letter with Gold patch
Atari Age Decathlon with Driving controller thread
Atari Age Decathlon Training Suit thread
Decathlon glove on Atarimania
Bugler's Dream by Leo Arnaud