The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast

Hey everyone! Time to check into the hotel room and turn on the... oh, wait a minute. Wrong Spectravision. This episode deals with the other Spectravision's games China Syndrome and The Challenge of Nexar, both of which you'd think would be under the Ch section in a list of Atari 2600 games, but NOOooooooooooo. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the episode. Next time I'll be talking at length I'm sure about the Atari game E.T., by the inimitable Howard Scott Warshaw. Please try to get me your feedback by the end of the day on October 18th, I am really trying hard not to procrastinate. So of course now I'm putting it on you. :D And as always you can send that feedback to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you so much for listening!

Pertinent Links

Early Spectravision catalog - China Syndrome
Scott Stilphen's interview with David Lubar 
Random Terrain's Challenge of Nexar section 
Data Age Mindscape record on Youtube
Throwback Network on Facebook
Short, inconclusive AA thread about China Syndrome
Atari 2800 Challenge of Nexar on Atarimania
Colecovisions podcast!
The SNES Podcast Facebook page - contact Greg if you're interested in being a co-host
Rob O'Hara's podcasts
Holiday Special podcast on Facebook - please go and like the page!
The Classic Gaming Bookcast by Chris Federico

Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
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Hi everyone, sorry for the delay once again. This week it's Bugs and Journey Escape by Data Age, both are pretty decent games in my opinion. I hope you like them too! Next time I'll be looking at China Syndrome and the Challenge of Nexar by Spectravideo/-vision. I haven't tried these yet so I won't say anything. If you have any thoughts about the games, or any I've already covered (check out Jose's spreadsheet below!), please send them to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. You can always see what's coming up in the future by checking the calendar over on the blog page, which you may be on right now. Thanks very much for your continued patience and for listening!

Pertinent Links

Random Terrain - Bugs
Random Terrain - Journey Escape
Bob Rice interview by Lord Karnage (Part 3 of 4, Rice talks about Journey Escape)
J. Ray Dettling interview in Electronic Fun magazine 
Stanley Mouse Studios website
Journey talks about Journey Escape on MTV
Journey Escape commercial
Journey on KLOV
No Swear Gamer 194 - Bugs!
No Swear Gamer 195 - Journey Escape!
Ken Love's Data Age thread on Atari Age
Atari Lynx Game by Game Podcast, hosted by Christian!


Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
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Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
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Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!

Today I look at one of the most popular Atari 2600 games (and I can say 2600 because it came out after the rebranding), River Raid! Extra special thanks to Carol Shaw and Ralph Merkle for their help with this episode, and to Willie, ArKay, Captain Bob, and Mike at the Atari 5200 Super Podcast for their help as well, even though I screwed that up slightly (more details in the episode). Please go and check out the Atari 5200 Super Podcast if you don't already listen, and please check out their Facebook page at the link above!

Coming up next week is Bugs and Journey Escape by Data Age. Thanks to Wade's (from Inverse Atascii) suggestion, I now have a calendar to your right (unless you're on a mobile phone, then all bets are off). As long as I remember to keep it updated, you can check there for all the upcoming shows and see when they will be published. If you'd like to send your thoughts on Bugs and/or Journey Escape, or any other game I've covered so far, please send it to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you so much for listening!

Links of No Return

Interview with Carol Shaw by Benj Edwards
Interview with Carol Shaw in Electronic Fun Sept. 1983
The No Swear Gamer 192 - River Raid!
River Raid on SNES
Air Fox Lite on iTunes
Scramble on KLOV
Ed Kelly's BETAR web site
Atari Phoenix poster
Billboard Magazine archive


Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
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Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!

OH HEY. Today we conclude the Swordquest series talking about Waterworld and Airworld, and the ill-fated Swordquest contest. I thought I would be glad to be done, but it made me sad. But wait, next time I'll be talking about River Raid by carol Shaw, only from Activision! This is a big favorite, so I'm anticipating some feedback. You can send that right over to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. I'll also be doing some other games later on. I am tired. Procrastination only hurts yourself folks.

Goodbye Utterance. :(

Waterlogged Links

Swordquest Revisited site by Scott Stilphen
Waterworld Archive of Adventure
Michael Rideout interview by John Hardie
John Michael Battaglia's Atari page (he wrote the Waterworld manual, which I forgot to mention in the show)
Airworld Parts list memo
Atari Age magazine 9/10-1983
Videogame Illustrated Magazine April 1983 (I read this wrong, the article had June listed as the release for Waterworld, not April like I thought. I'm dumb)
Me and Zerbe on the Youtubes
Retro League Patreon page
Retro League Forums. Sign up! All the cool kids are doing it
SNES Podcast Facebook page. Contact them about the SNES Draft!
Bally Alley (Bally Astrocade site)
Orphaned Games & Computer Systems - contains pages about the Emerson Arcadia, APF MP-1000, and the Video Brain computer.

Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
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My YouTube channel, for whatever reason
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Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!

HOWDY HOWDY HOWDY. Today I am covering three very good M Network games, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Kool-Aid Man, and Super Challenge Baseball. I had the great privilege of communicating with the developers of the latter two games, Stephen Tatsumi, Jane Terjung, and Ken Smith. My thanks go to them, and also to Paul Nurminen for getting me in touch with Ken Smith. Thank you all!

Next episode I will conclude the Swordquest series with Waterworld and Airworld (which is made of air, HAR HAR). Upcoming games will include River Raid by Activision; Bugs and Journey Escape by Data Age; China Syndrome and Challenge of Nexar by Spectravision; E.T. by Atari; Turmoil and Fantastic Voyage by 20th Century Fox; Name This Game and Towering Inferno by US Games; Music Machine by Sparrow and Glib by Selchow and Wrighter; and Ms. Pac-Man and Centipede by Atari. If you have any thoughts or memories of these games or any I've already covered, please send them along to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you all so much for listening!

Pertinent Links

1983 article mentioning Kool Aid Man
Steve Tatsumi's company Elide Books
Jane Terjung's web site
Buy Jane & Steve's book Baby's First Year
No Swear Gamer 183 - Kool Aid Man!
Play Winterbells online! DO IT!
Download Bell Hopper, 2600 Winterbells demake. Really fun!
Atari 5200 Super Podcast - Defender
Pie Factory Podcast Episode 12 - Home Consoles
Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast Episode 1
Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
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Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!

Well hi! I learned a very important lesson this week. I finished the research for the Xonox games Chuck Norris Superkicks and Artillery Duel on Sunday, way before I usually do. So of course, I have problem after problem while recording and editing, so that means procrastination is always worth it! Also, ambigram. Next time I'l be discussing Rocky and Bullwinkle (not released), Kool Aid Man, and Super Challenge Football, all by M Network. For the rest of this year, I'll be covering the following games: Swordquest Waterworld and Swordquest Airworld (vapourware) by Atari;  River Raid by Activision; Bugs and Journey Escape by Data Age; China Syndrome and Challenge of Nexar by Spectravision; E.T. by Atari; Turmoil and Fantastic Voyage by 20th Century Fox; Name This Game and Towering Inferno by US Games; Music Machine by Sparrow and Glib by Selchow and Wrighter; and Ms. Pac-Man and Centipede by Atari. If you have any thoughts or memories of these games or any I've already covered, please send them along to me at 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you all so much for listening!

Pertinent Links

News about Xevious prototype on Atari Age (with rom downloads)
Xonox press kit on Atarimania
Chuck Norris Superkicks bug page at 2600 Connection
AA thread with Chuck Norris/Hercules ad
May 1983 Arcade Express newsletter
Artillery Duel/Super Kung Fu label (different artwork)
Solar Defense on Atarimania
Atari Jaguar GBG Podcast by Shinto!
Shinto's GBG Podcast Information hub
Amigos Podcast, Everything about the Amiga Computer
No Swear Gamer Patreon page
2 Dudes and a NES Patreon page
Toys r Us Report Patreon page
Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
Facebook page
Twitter page
Google + page
My YouTube channel, for whatever reason
Blog page
Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!

Hi everyone, thank you very much once again for your patience. This episode features Mondo Pong, INV+, and Oystron, all late 90s homebrew games (for the most part). Thank you to INV programmer Erik Mooney for contributing an audio submission detailing his programming work on the game. Next time I'll be discussing Chuck Norris Superkicks and Artillery Duel by Xonox. Upcoming episodes will include the unreleased Rocky and Bullwinkle, Kool-Aid Man, and Super Challenge Football, all by M Network; Swordquest Waterworld and Swordquest Airworld (which is basically what that game is made of) by Atari; River Raid by Activision; Bugs and Journey Escape by Data Age; and China Syndrome and the Challenge of Nexar by Spectravideo. Feedback for any of these games or any game I've already covered can be sent to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you so much for listening!

Pertinent Links

Erik Mooney's web site (has a few 2600 tech demos)
StellaList Archives
Picture of the StellaList award plaque
INV+ Source Code on Atari Age
Oystron page on the Wayback Machine
XYPE home page
The No Swear Gamer 174 - Oystron! 
Atari Age thread on Oystron
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
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My YouTube channel, for whatever reason
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Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!

Hi everyone, this episode featuring Vanguard and Phoenix is SUPER LATE and I apologize. My sister  and her family are all moved in in TN and Sarah's sister and her family are in their new home in Maine, with their big items coming next week. As I stated in the episode I recorded what seems like months ago, the next episode featuring Oystron, INV and Mondo Pong by Piero Cavina will be released on July 15. Upcoming episodes will include Chuck Norris Superkicks and Artillery Duel by Xonox; Rocky and Bullwinkle (unreleased), Kool-Aid Man, and Super Challenge Football by M Network; and Swordquest Waterworld and Swordquest Airworld (vaporware) by Atari. If you have any feedback for any of these games or any I've already covered (see the link for Jose's amazing spreadsheet for my show), send it to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you for listening, and thank you again for your understanding and support.

Pertinent Links

KLOV - Vanguard
KLOV - Phoenix
No Swear Gamer 42 - Vanguard
Ralph McQuarrie Star Wars concept art
Vanguard 531 explanation in Atari Age magazine
Vanguard easter Eggs/Bugs on 2600 Connection
Michael Feinstein's blog (last entry 2011)
NetSeer site (John Mracek's current company)
Rob Fulop interview by Scott Stilphen
Newspaper report on Atari-Imagic lawsuit
Infoworld article on the same lawsuit

Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
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My YouTube channel, for whatever reason
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Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!

This is a short special episode about my visit to Crabtowne USA. If you don't know, it's a restaurant with an arcade that has over 100 classic arcade and pinball games. Nothing earth shaking, but I thought it might be fun to talk about. Thank you for listening everyone!

Crabtowne USA web site
DMV Pinball League
Layout of Crabtowne arcade from 2011 (layout is different now, some different games too)


Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
Facebook page
Twitter page
Google + page
My YouTube channel, for whatever reason
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Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!

Hello everyone, I do apologize for the wait once again. The episode 100 contest has been extended until episode 102, so please get your entries in to win the Atari 2600 with a bunch of games to me by June 16th. Today's episode is all about Shootin' Gallery and Riddle of the Sphinx, both by Imagic. Next time I will be covering Phoenix and Vanguard by Atari. In the coming weeks I will be looking at Oystron, INV and INV+, and Mondo Pong, all of which are homebrews by Piero Cavina; Chuck Norris Superkicks and Artillery Duel by Xonox; Rocky and Bullwinkle (unreleased), Kool-Aid Man, and Super Challenge Football by M Network; and Swordquest Waterworld and Swordquest Airworld (vaporware) by Atari. If you have any feedback for any of these games or any I've already covered (see the link for Jose's amazing spreadsheet for my show), send it to 2600gamebygame@comcast.net. Thank you for listening!

Pertinent Sphinx

Michael Becker interview by Valter Prette
How to Beat the Home Video Games - Riddle of the Sphinx
RotS Contest - Bob Smith and Charles Compton picture
Chris ++ article on Riddle of the Sphinx
Geeky Antics home page

Check out Jose's awesome spreadsheet for the list of games I've already done, with links to the episodes! Thank you Jose!
Proud member of the Throwback Network!
Proud member of the Retro Junkies Network!
Facebook page
Twitter page
Google + page
My YouTube channel, for whatever reason
Blog page
Listen to the show on Stitcher!
Subscribe to the show on iTunes, and leave a review! Reviews are nice!
Can't get enough Ferg in your ears? Check out the Intarivisions podcast...
...and Please Stand By!