Okie Dokie and Stell-A-Sketch by Bob Colbert!

Congratulations to Greg Miller, he is the winner of the Star Raiders contest! Thank you to everyone for entering!

This week I am looking at Okie Dokie and Stell-A-Sketch, both made by Bob Colbert in the late 90s. Check the links below to see how to get these games. In the next episode I am talking about Sorcerer, Firefly, and Starfox by Mythicon; Hangman and Roadrunner by Atari; Threshold and River Patrol by Tigervision; Fast Food and Ram It by Telesys; Brain Games and Frog Pond by Atari, and Megamania and Sky Jinks by Activision. Any feedback you have on these or any games I've already covered can be sent to 2600gamebygame@podcast.net. Thank you so much for listening!

Pert-I-Nent Links

Making Okie Dokie - from Bob Colbert's archived website
Bob Colbert's archived home page (the links for the 2 games still work)
Download Sabotage WIP from Bob Colbert's archived web site
Bob Colbert interview by Michael Thomasson
Okie Dokie registry
Pictures of Stell-A-Sketch/Okie Dokie cassette on Atari Age
Okie Dokie at Hozer Video Games (scroll down)
Okie Dokie at Packrat Video Games
Okie Dokie at Atari Age
The No Swear Gamer Episode 92 - Okie Dokie!
Chris' book Classic Gaming Bookcast on Smashwords;
...on Barnes and Noble;
...on iTunes;
...and on Scribd
Direct download for the Christmas episode 85 (edited on Stitcher)


Mouses!

CX 2660, Star Raiders!

Well hello. Today's episode is about Star Raiders by Atari. Fun game, but I did find some other games in this style to be better (spoilers). You can win a Star Raiders cart with manual, touch pad controller, and overlay! Just send an email with "Star Raiders Contest" in the subject to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net, or check Facebook and Twitter for a pinned post regarding the contest. I will take entries until 11:59 PM EST January 20th. Next week will be Okie Dokie and Stell-A-Sketch by homebrew programmer Bob Colbert. In the following weeks I will be profiling  orcerer, Firefly, and Starfox by Mythicon; Hangman and Roadrunner by Atari; Threshold and River Patrol by Tigervision; Fast Food and Ram It by Telesys; and Brain Games and Frog Pond by Atari. Any feedback you have on these or any games I've already covered can be sent to 2600gamebygame@podcast.net. Thank you so much for listening!
 
Hukka Hukka

Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie! - Star Raiders
The No Swear Gamer Episode 90 - Star Raiders
Player/Missile podcast episode 1 - Star Raiders
Carla Meninsky interview by Will Nicholes
Doug Neubauer's web site
10 most important video games article
Stalking the Retro Episode 69
Quset For The Golden Chalice - Homebrew Coleco version of Adventure!
Atarimax Colecovision Ultimate SD Cartridge
Star Raiders at Atariprotos.com
Blog post with photos about the Sears Video Arcade 2

Star Raiders Unboxing!

I am in the middle of research for this game. You may already know (spoilers) that Star Raiders was packaged with an Atari Force comic, #3 to be exact. I thought I had a copy of this loose, but I actually don't. I opened up the outer Star Raiders box (spoilers again) to get the one out of the game box. Lo and behold, the game box was still sealed shut.

I remember vividly trying to open these glued hang-tab boxes when I was a kid, and failing miserably. Judging by the boxed games I now own, lots of other folks failed as well. So I was actually smart about this, and I asked Sarah if we still had a hair dryer (neither of us use one). She said we did and she asked me what I needed it for. When I told her she suggested a heat gun that she uses for crafting with rubber stamps. She also reassured me that it wouldn't burn the box.

Since the glue that Atari used on these boxes is now akin to cement, I thought this would take a long time. I worked on the hang tab first, and after about two minutes it came up with no trouble.

Again, I was not stupid enough to put my finger in the molten glue (that's two in a row for me, pretty good), but it hardened back up pretty quick, and the strings that lingered after I opened it just broke off. This was actually going to work! I tackled the top flap next, and that took even less time, despite there being more glue (but still only in 2 spots like the hang tab). It probably got the residual heat from the tab too, helping it along.

After waiting for the glue to dry completely (three in a row! Something bad is going to happen), I took out my treasures that were packed up in late 1982. I pulled out the cart first, and the Touch Pad overlay was sticking out of the cartridge cover. I have no idea how it worked itself in there. As you can maybe see in the picture, the cart has a mild case of Actiplaque, even being cooped up in that box all this time. Maybe even because of it, I don't know. You also may recall me talking about the numbers stamped into the end labels of many of the picture label cartridges. It is widely accepted that these numbers denote the week and the year of manufacture. If that is correct, then this cart was manufactured right after Halloween in 1982. I remember buying this game for myself (not this copy, of course), but I don't remember when I bought it. I was working at this time but it may also have been from Christmas/birthday money. I wish I could remember.

There's also the manual (a revision 1, as far as I know there wasn't a revision 2 to fix the Krylon typo), a revision E 1982 catalog (Pac-Man is front and center inside the front cover), and the elusive Atari Force #3. That will be my lunch date tonight at work. And that's why I went to all this trouble, because I don't have a smart phone to look at the comic online. Half of this podcast is analog, as you can see from the notebook in the background. :)

So why did I not make a video of my unboxing? Well, I am not Phil or Willie, both of whom do a wonderful job (check out the links!). I have no idea how to edit video. I know I have a Youtube page, but I doubt I will use it unless I do Extra Life again this year. I have to start remembering to like videos though, especially the ones that Phil and Willie do for my show. Sorry guys.

Finally, even though I don't play video games as much as I collect them, I don't believe in having sealed games. Games are for playing, and I especially love opening these older games. I have a few more unopened 2600 games that I'll be getting to eventually...

AR 4104, Rabbit Transit, & AR 4105, The Official Frogger!

Happy New Year everyone, it is great to be back doing the podcast! This week I cover two Starpath cassette games, Rabbit Transit and the Official Frogger. In my opinion both of them are really fun. Next week I'll be talking about Star Raiders by Atari. In the upcoming weeks I will be discussing Okie Dokie and Stell-A-Sketch by Bob Colbert; Sorcerer, Firefly, and Starfox by Mythicon; Hangman and Roadrunner by Atari; Threshold and River Patrol by Tigervision; and Fast Food and Ram It by Telesys. Any feedback you have on these or any games I've already covered can be sent to 2600gamebygame@podcast.net. Thank you so much for listening!

Auld Links Syne

Frogger at KLOV

Stephen Landrum interview by James Hague

Stephen Landrum article by Sean Wheatley

Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie! The Official Frogger

Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie! Rabbit Transit

Chris Dellorco's web site
Gary Pierazzi's web site

Coin-Op, by Dietmar Bertling (in German)
The No Swear Gamer on Youtube!
Intellivisionaries Q*Bert episode
The Retro League awards results

Toyshop Trouble and Your Christmas Memories!

Merry Christmas everyone! Today's episode is about the homebrew game called Toyshop Trouble, and also your Christmas Atari 2600 memories! I was absolutely not expecting more submissions than last year's Christmas show, thank you so much! I love hearing your memories of the 2600 and the Christmas ones are terrific. The show will return on January 7th with Rabbit Transit and The Official Frogger by Starpath. Upcoming games will include Star Raiders by Atari; Okie Dokie and Stell-A-Sketch by Bob Colbert; Sorcerer, Firefly, and Starfox by Mythicon; and Hangman and Roadrunner by Atari. Any feedback you have on these or any games I've already covered can be sent to 2600gamebygame@podcast.net. Thank you all so much for a wonderful year, and I wish you all Merry Every Holiday!

Buy Toyshop Trouble on Atari Age
Toyshop Trouble Easter Egg
Edladdin Controllers - Get 10% off your order with coupon code FERG
SNES Podcast
Arcade USA, with your host Willie!
Stop it.


You can still donate to the show page at Extra Life, until December 31st!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
Facebook page
Twitter page
Google + page
Blog page
Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!

Bonus episode, Arcade Memories!

This episode was totally unplanned (you can tell by listening) and I lay the blame at the feet of No Quarter podcast. I just wanted to talk about arcade games for a bit, so here it is. I hope you can get some enjoyment out of it. Also, if you have Christmas memories or feedback for Toyshop Trouble, please get it to me by the 19th to be included in the show. You can send it to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thanks everybody, enjoy your week!

The SNES Podcast


You can still donate to the show page at Extra Life, until December 31st!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
Facebook page
Twitter page
Google + page
Blog page
Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!

CX 2659, Raiders of the Lost Ark!

Today I am discussing in horribly long detail Raiders of the Lost Ark by Atari. This is the result of 2 weeks of research and 3 hours of recording, probably the most I've put into a show so far. I really hope you enjoy it and don't get too bored. Once again, your feedback makes the show better and I thank you for that. No show next week due to cookies. The Christmas memories episode will come out the week of Christmas. Additionally I will be looking at the homebrew title Toyshop Trouble, which is really a great game. Unfortunately I don't have the cash to buy this right now, nor would it get here in time if I did. But I need to start covering Christmas games, so I should be able to get this one done in time. Please send me your Atari Christmas memories and any feedback for Toyshop Trouble by December 19th for it to be included in the show. You can send that to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you all so much for listening!

Links! Why'd it have to be Links?

How To Beat The Home Video Games - Raiders of the Lost Ark
ROTLA quick playthrough
Atari ROTLA commercial
Chris++ ROTLA walkthrough
1983 Joystik ROTLA walkthrough
2600 Connection ROTLA Easter eggs and bugs listing
The No Swear Gamer's ROTLA Review
NowGamer article on Howard Scott Warshaw
Jerome Domurat interview by Scott Stilphen
Jerome Domurat's business website 
Edladdin Controllers
Bill Kendrick's New Breed Software page

CA 281, Assault, & CA 282, Great Escape!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, if you celebrate that sort of thing. Thank you for your patience waiting for a new episode, it will be much worse this month. :(  Speaking of new episodes, next week I will be looking at Raiders of the Lost Ark, by Atari. I am very glad that I made that its own show, I already have 12 pages of notes just on the manual and hint sheets! It will probably be a long show, so hopefully that will tide you over for awhile. GET IT, TIDINGS! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Sorry. After Raiders I most likely won't be doing anymore games until 2015, but that is tentative. Also, please send me your Christmas memories by December 19th so I can record the Christmas memories show that weekend. Please don't take me for one of those militant Christmas people, I just didn't get any Hanukkah or Kwanzaa memories last year. If you have some, please send them to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. I hope to get another show's worth of Christmas stories, I think last year's was awesome. Thanks for listening everyone!

PS - By the way, today I discuss the games Assault and Great Escape by Bomb. Talk about your oversights!

Pertinent Links

Intarivisions on Facebook!
UK Bomb magazine ad
Video Color Yamin commercial
Greg's SNES Podcast
Atari Age thread about Bomb and Spectravideo
Assault longplay video (thank goodness)
Stalking the Retro podcast
Toys R Us Report
Retrogaming Roundup 81 (Activision panel starts at 61 minutes in)

AX-015, Chopper Command, & AX-016, Starmaster!

Eh up! Today I discuss Chopper Command and Starmaster, two Activision games that were formerly Atari games. Next week I will be taking off for Thanksgiving, but I will resume the following week with Assault and Great Escape by Bomb. Hopefully that's not prophetic. The following week will be Raiders of the Lost Ark by Atari. After that I will play it by ear, but I will have a Listener Christmas Memories show the week of Christmas. So if you have any Christmas memories, or if you would like to comment on upcoming games or any games I've already covered (the Bomb episode might be a good episode for past game comments). Send it all to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you for listening, and I hope you all have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving! EAT HEAVY

Pertinent Links

Intarivisions Podcast!
Activision 1982 in-house video
Bob Whitehead interview by Scott Stilphen
Chopper Command patch
Chopper Command patch letter
How To Beat The Home Video Games: Chopper Command
The No Swear Gamer: Chopper Command
Alan Miller interview by Al Backiel
Starmaster main patch
Starmaster additional patches
Starmaster patch letter
Starmaster Promotional patch
Starmaster with awesome graphics!
Favorite Atari 2600 Games of Willie! Starmaster
How To Beat The Home Video Games: Starmaster

11005, Mega Force, &11006, Alien!

Hi everyone, this episode is about the 20th Century Fox games Mega Force and Alien, both based on their movies. Congratulations to Matthew Edwards for winning the Strudders' Score contest! Thanks to everyone for participating. Next week I'll be looking at Chopper Command and Starmaster by Activision, then I will be taking the week of Thanksgiving off. The first week of December I will be covering Assault and Great Escape by Bomb, then Raiders of the Lost Ark by Atari. I would like to release another Christmas show on the 24th, but I will need more Christmas memories from you! The whole episode will be your feedback about anything associated with Christmas and the VCS/2600. I did one last year and it was very successful; the reason it is only feedback is because I am very busy in December with Christmas and my birthday, both at home and at work. So if you do have any feedback about any of these games, games I've already covered, or your Christmas memories, please send them to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you so much for listening!

Deeds, not Links

Bryan Cranston in Mega Force commercial! 
Paul Laughton interview on the ANTIC podcast
Doug Neubauer's Wiki
Doug Neubauer interview with James Hague
Doug Neubauer 1986 interview with Lee Pappas
Player/Missile Podcast Star Raiders episode
The No Swear Gamer's Math Gran Prix review
Willie's Arcade USA contest video! Win a Colecovision with 10 games!