Summer Special - Favorite Childhood Toys OTHER Than the Atari 2600

Hi everybody, I feel a little guilty about not having an episode this week. This one is not about the 2600 though; rather, it's about the other toys I had and enjoyed as a kid. I don't necessarily think of the 2600 as a toy, but it was the last toy-like thing that I remember getting. I was 11 when I got it and was 8 months away from Middle School, which changed a lot of things for me. I was also a year from my first job as a paperboy, so I had cash in my pocket for the first time. I would either save up for an Atari cartridge or blow it at an arcade, I don't remember buying toys. Not until my 20s at least, which you'll hear about soon on the Retro Junkies Mini episode I did. I hope you like this episode, but I won't blame you for skipping it. Don't forget, next week we'll be taking a trip to the Atari Casino with Blackjack, uh, Casino, and Slot Machine. If you have any feedback you can send it to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thanks everyone, enjoy the week and I'll see you on the 23rd!

Pivot Pool
Video of Pivot Pool
Earthquake Tower record
Earthquake Tower (with action photo!)
PlaySkool Holiday Inn set
Lego Swiss Villa set
Video of Swiss Villa by a collector
Mego Batman figures
Mego Magnetic Batman figure commercial
Atari Touch Me on KLOV
Police ripoff Simon commercial
More weird Simon commercials
Electronic Quarterback Android app!
Electronic Quarterback at Handheld Museum
Electronic Quarterback hilarious commercial
World of 2-XL
Play 2-XL online! It's awesome!
1978 2-XL commercial

2459, Mouse Trap, and 2463, Lady Bug!

Hello dere. This week I'm profiling a Coleco game, Mouse Trap, and what was supposed to be a Coleco game, Lady Bug. Lady Bug is actually a home brew done by Champ Games/John Champeau, it was never released by Coleco back in the 80s despite being advertised and given a part number. See, vaporware has been around forever! I am spending a few days next week with my dad who is visiting from Arizona, so the show will resume on July 23rd with Blackjack, Casino, and Slot Machine by Atari. If you have any feedback for any of these games, or for any games I've already covered, I would love to read or play it on the show! Just send it to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Enjoy your Cow Appreciation Day and I'll see you on July 23rd. Thanks for listening!

Pertinent Links

Mouse Trap on KLOV
Lady Bug on KLOV
Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie! Mouse Trap
Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie! Lady Bug
How To Beat The Home Video Games - Mouse Trap
Interview with John Champeau by Scott Stilphen
Champ Games fan page
Interview with John Champeau from the Champ Games fan page
Order Lady Bug from the Atari Age store
Nathan Strum's CheepTech web site
Henry Will's PM Lessons Learned Podcast

CX 2649, Asteroids, and CX 2650, Berzerk!

This week's episode is about Asteroids and Berzerk, two great early arcade ports for the 2600. Big thanks once again to Willie Culver for sponsoring the contest for this episode, where he gave away an Atari Flashback 4! Willie is a great guy, make sure you watch him on Youtube at Arcade USA or listen to the Colecovisions podcast and the upcoming Channel F Files! As I say in the show, I should have split these games up to make it a little easier on me, but then the Swordquest games wouldn't have been on the same show, and that seems wrong. So it works out. I'm still editing, but I think this may be the longest episode yet. In the future I may do more single-game shows for games I think will garner a lot of feedback. Next week I'll be talking about Mousetrap by Coleco and Ladybug by John Champeau. I'm hoping my copy of Ladybug is here soon! In future episodes I'll be doing Blackjack, Casino, Slot Machine, Yar's Revenge and Haunted House by Atari; Grand Prix and Barnstorming by Activision; Death Trap and London Blitz by Avalon Hill; and Swordquest: Earthworld and Swordquest: Fireworld by Atari. Send your feedback in any shape or size to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you everyone for listening!

Pertinent Links

Asteroids on KLOV
Berzerk on KLOV
Photo of Atari Asteroids tournament machine
Willie's Asteroids video
Willie's Berzerk video
Willie's contest winner video! Thanks Willie!
How to Beat the Home Video Games: Berzerk
How to Beat the Home Video Games: Asteroids
Kid Stuff Asteroids Album

VC 1003, Word Zapper, and VC 1004, Commando Raid!

Hi there! This week I discuss Word Zapper and Commando Raid by US Games. Next week is a big one, Asteroids and Berzerk, both by Atari. Upcoming games include Mousetrap by Coleco and Ladybug by John Champeau, Blackjack, Casino, Slot Machine, Yar's Revenge and Haunted House by Atari; Grand Prix and Barnstorming by Activision; and Death Trap and London Blitz by Avalon Hill. If you have any feedback for any of these games or any of the games I've already covered, please send it to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Don't forget to guess Willie's combined score on Asteroids and Berzerk to win an Atari Flashback 4! Go to Arcade USA and watch the video, then leave your score there in the comments or on my Facebook page. Thanks for listening!

Pertinent Links

Henry Will IV's blog page
Amiga Power Play Arcade series on Atari Protos
Willie's Commando Raid video

SA-203, Cross Force, and SA-204, Tape Worm!

This is the second Spectravision show I've done, this time featuring the games Cross Force and Tape Worm. If you don't know Spectravision, try these games out, I think you will enjoy them. Next week on the show I'll be looking at Word Zapper and Commando Raid by US Games. Upcoming games include Asteroids and Berzerk by Atari; Mousetrap by Coleco and Ladybug by John Champeau, Blackjack, Casino, Slot Machine, Yar's Revenge and Haunted House by Atari; and Grand Prix and Barnstorming by Activision. If you have any feedback for these or any of the games I've covered so far, send it to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you so much for listening, see you next time!

Pertinent Links

Willie's Atari Flashback 4 contest video for episode 66
Willie's Cross Force video
Willie's Tape Worm video
How to Beat the Home Video Games: Tape Worm
Submarine Commander on Atari Protos site
Phenomenal Phil the No Swear Gamer on Youtube
Nibbler on KLOV

CX 2647, Submarine Commander, and CX 2648, Video Pinball!

This episode is about Submarine Commander (the last Sears exclusive on this show), and one of my childhood favorites, Video Pinball (both by Atari). Be sure to stick around to hear me ramble for quite some time about playing pinball as a kid. Next week I'll be talking about Cross Force and Tapeworm by Spectravision. Upcoming games include Word Zapper and Commando Raid by US Games; Asteroids and Berzerk by Atari; Mousetrap by Coleco and Ladybug by John Champeau, Blackjack, Casino, and Slot Machine by Atari; and Yar's Revenge and Haunted House, also by Atari. Send your feedback on these games or any game I've already covered to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net, and I'll read or play it on the show. Thanks for listening everyone, see you next week.

Pertinent Links

Matt Hubbard's This Day in Science Fiction blog
Marilyn Churchill's Mystic Heroine Adventures web site
Sea Wolf on KLOV
Sea Wolf II on KLOV
Video Pinball on KLOV
Atari Video Pinball console
Willie's Video Pinball video
Willie's Submarine Commander video
People Playing Atari - Video Pinball
Derp.

CM001, Magicard, and CM002, Video Life!

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

003-01, Thunderground, and 004-01, Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator!

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)

CX 2646, Pac-Man!

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

AG 041, Title Match Pro Wrestling, and AG 042, Skateboardin'

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