Hanan Samara: Jumbo Jet Pilot and Jinn Genie Hanan Samara was a programmer at Thorn EMI, where her work included programming the game Jumbo Jet Pilot. Later she founded Dalali Software, a company that specialized in converting games to various computer platforms. There she created the Atari computer game Jinn Genie. This interview took place on November 13, 2017. Her husband, Chris James, can be heard in the background, and is the subject of my next interview. Teaser quote: "We just had to reall...
Jan 26, 2018•24 min
Geoffrey Card, kid game reviewer In my interview with Orson Scott Card, he mentioned that his son, Geoffrey, helped him review Atari games — thoroughly playing games, then providing a sort of executive summary for his dad, who then wrote about the games for Compute! magazine. I thought it would be fun to get Geoffrey's perspective about that time. This interview took place on January 19, 2018. Teaser quote: "One of the interesting, great things about that era was the fact that somebody could sit...
Jan 23, 2018•34 min
Orson Scott Card, Compute! Books Orson Scott Card is a Hugo Award winning, best-selling science fiction author, perhaps best known for his 1985 novel, Ender's Game. But we're not here to talk about that — because for about nine months, Orson Scott Card was an editor at Compute! Books, where we worked on several books about the Atari 8-bit and other computer platforms. His work appears in Compute!'s Third Book of Atari and Compute!'s Second Book of Atari Graphics. He also wrote extensively for Co...
Jan 18, 2018•1 hr 6 min
Maurice Molyneaux, Atari animation guru Maurice Molyneaux was a game artist, Atari graphics animator, and writer. He wrote articles for Video Games & Computer Entertainment Magazine and A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing Magazine, and wrote "The Animation Stand" column for ST-Log magazine. He created many animations primarily using MovieMaker, an animation program for the Atari published by Reston Publishing. This interview took place on November 20, 2017. Teaser quote: "[Lee Pappas] said 'Oh, we get th...
Jan 07, 2018•1 hr 3 min
In this episode of ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Computer Podcast: In this 2017 year-end episode, we get a surprise visit from our international correspondent, Nir Dary, we hear about Kevin's dream find, and we unwrap our surprise Christmas gifts from Nir Dary. Nir Dary tells us about his visit to SilliVenture. (It's a whole lot of Nir Dary!) Plus all the Atari 8-bit news that we could find. Happy New Year! READY! Recurring Links Floppy Days Podcast AtariArchives.org AtariMagazines.com Kevin's Book "Ter...
Jan 01, 2018•1 hr 14 min
Databar OSCAR This is a story about the rise and fall of a compter peripheral and the company behind it. The company was Databar, and the product was called OSCAR, which was short for Optical SCAnning Reader. In 1983, it wasn't easy to get inexpensive software for your home computer. Floppy disks were expensive. Modems were slow and expensive. You could get software in magazines — a variety of computer magazines offered computer program listings that you could type in. You might spend hours labo...
Dec 16, 2017•1 hr 9 min
Robert Jaeger, Montezuma's Revenge Robert Jaeger is best known in the Atari community as the programmer of the popular game Montezuma's Revenge, which was published by Parker Brothers in 1984. He also programmed Chomper, published by MMG Micro Software; and Pinhead, published by Robert's own company, Utopia Software. This interview took place on December 2, 2017. Digital Press interview with Robert Montezuma's Revenge group on Facebook AtariMania's list of Robert's games Gary Walton interview Wi...
Dec 13, 2017•50 min
Tay Vaughan, Atari Connection and Antic magazines Tay Vaughan used Atari computers in his school for maritime skills and as a marine surveyor. He was featured in that capacity in a 1983 Atari catalog "Atari Home Computers — The Next Generation." Next, he was hired by Atari and was an editor of The Atari Connection magazine, where he wrote the Bits & Pieces column. Later, Tay was senior editor at Antic magazine, and he edited the book The Best of Atari Software, published by Consumer's Guide....
Dec 10, 2017•30 min
Linda Schreiber: T.H.E.S.I.S. Software and author Linda Watson-Call is better known to Atari users as Linda Schreiber, which was her name at that time. Linda was the founder of T.H.E.S.I.S. Software, an educational software publisher for the Atari 8-bit and Apple II computers. The company was best known for her game, Big Math Attack. She wrote several books about the Atari 8-bit computers: Atari Programming with 55 Programs, Advanced Programming Techniques for your Atari, and Atari Fun & Gam...
Dec 07, 2017•40 min
Richard Taylor, Digital Devices Corporation Richard Taylor was an employee of Digital Devices Corporation. DDC built a number of adapters for the Atari 8-bit computers — it's most well-known product was probably APE-FACE, an inexpensive ($90) device that connected the Atari's SIO port to standard parallel printers. The company's other products included UPRINT, a printing buffer; and the Ape-Link Serial Peripheral Input/Output Expansion Cable. Richard's job? He said in an AtariAge message board m...
Dec 04, 2017•37 min
Dave Comstock, part 2 A couple of days after our interview, Dave Comstock (who worked at Atari on E.T. Phone Home, Superman III, and Clock & Dagger) e-mailed me saying he had remembered more stories from his Atari days. So we set up a second interview. This interview took place on November 14, 2017. "The project team was actually treated to a meal with Ray Kassar and some other executives in the executive dining room … it was like, one of the fanciest restaurants that you've ever been to." V...
Dec 01, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Dave Comstock: E.T. Phone Home!, Superman III, Cloak & Dagger Dave Comstock worked at Atari from 1980 through 1984, first as a software and hardware tester, then as a programmer. Dave worked on three games for the Atari 8-bit computers: E.T. Phone Home!, Superman III, and Cloak and Dagger. A video version of this interview is also available . This interview took place on November 8, 2017. "He said 'We've got to go out tonight, and it has to be a comedy.' ... He's like, 'I have something to t...
Nov 30, 2017•1 hr 37 min
Sarah Haskell, Computerized Weaving There's a column in the November 1983 issue of Family Computing magazine, by Jon Zonderman: "Home Business — Compute, Control, and Create. A weaver combines the traditional skills of her craft with a computer and reaps more than one reward." The article is about Sarah Haskell, a weaver who used an Atari computer to design patterns for weaving, and also to computer-control her loom. [Excerpts from the article.] My interview with Sarah took place on November 13,...
Nov 27, 2017•33 min
Randall Lockwood, Choose-A-Pooch There's an article in the August 1984 issue of Family Computing magazine, by Bill Camarda — Behind The Screens: Family Dog . It's about Choose-A-Pooch, an Atari computer program created by Dr. Randall Lockwood, to help match people with the breed of dog that will work best in their living situation. I interviewed Dr. Lockwood on November 10, 2017. "Trying to get away from the fact that people were often choosing dogs based more on just appearance, without knowing...
Nov 24, 2017•20 min
Frank Schwartz and Richard Lewis, Virtusonics Last last year, I received a batch of Atari disks. One of the disks was labeled Virtuoso Play Mode Sampler — a music demonstration disk from Virtusonics, a company I had never heard of. Thanks to some old articles in Antic magazine, I learned a bit about the product and the company. In 1985, Nat Friedland first wrote about the Virtuoso software : "Virtuoso is such a unique new approach to musicmaking that it's not easy to describe. ... Virtuoso gives...
Nov 21, 2017•57 min
Paul Wehner, APX Saratoga Paul Wehner created one program for the Atari 8-bit computer, Saratoga, which was published by Atari Program Exchange. The American revolutionary war game first appeared in the fall 1983 APX catalog, where it won second prize in the Entertainment category. This interview took place on October 24, 2017. Paul's game list at AtariMania Saratoga in the fall 1983 APX catalog...
Nov 18, 2017•20 min
Alan Reeve, Reeve Software Alan Reeve is the founder of Reeve Software, a company that stated in 1984, creating software for the Atari 8-bit computers. Reeve Software published a variety of applications including Diamond GOS, News Station and News Station Companion, Publishing Pro, The Business Manager, and Diamond Write. The company's games included Battle Tank, Bomber, Castle Attack, Space Hunt, and Star Intruder. This interview took place on October 14, 2017. Diamond GOS advertisement 1990 An...
Nov 15, 2017•38 min
In this episode of ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Computer Podcast: The artificial intelligence that acts as the hosts of the show laments the lack of Atari goodness this month. Nir Dary avails us of his world travels, this time to the ABBUC meeting. Plus all the Atari news we could find. READY! Recurring Links Floppy Days Podcast AtariArchives.org AtariMagazines.com Kevin's Book "Terrible Nerd" New Atari books scans at archive.org ANTIC feedback at AtariAge Atari interview discussion thread on AtariAge ...
Nov 12, 2017•59 min
Guy Ferrante, S&S Wholesalers and Star BBS Guy Ferrante worked for S&S Wholesalers, a Miami Florida-based computer mail order company, where he was in charge of creating magazine advertisements and managing the warehouse. He also ran Star BBS, a bulletin board system based in South Florida, for 11 years. This interview took place on August 25, 2017. "There's merchandise all over the place. I can't even walk in there. I'm stepping on the merchandise. ... And I said, 'Sandy, what's going o...
Nov 09, 2017•36 min
Ben Heck - Internet Celebrity and Console Modder Benjamin J. Heckendorn (aka Ben Heck) is an American console modder and Internet celebrity. He is the star of element14's The Ben Heck Show, a popular online TV program. It also turns out that he grew up with the Atari 8-bit line of computers and has built a couple of mods involving the Atari line. This interview took place on April 13, 2017. Book: "Hacking Video Game Consoles: Turn Your Old Video Game Systems Into Awesome New Portables" - https:/...
Oct 22, 2017•29 min
Jim Schuyler, Founder of DesignWare Jim Schuyler was Founder of DesignWare. Founded in 1980, Designware created educational software that was published by other companies — including SRA, Xerox, and Spinnaker — as well as software that it published under its own label. Designware's titles included Creature Creator, Grammar Examiner, Mission: Algebra, Spellicopter, and Trap-a-Zoid, among others. Jim programmed Story Machine himself, which was published by Spinnaker Software. Designware was acquir...
Oct 15, 2017•1 hr 44 min
Dan Pinal: Alternate Reality - The Dungeon, Atari Graphics and Arcade Game Design Dan Pinal contributed to the book Atari Graphics and Arcade Game Design, with Jeff Stanton, a book published by Arrays in 1984. He was one of the programmers of Alternate Reality - The Dungeon, which was published by Datasoft in 1987. He also created the game Stargate Courier, published by COSMI; and worked on the Atari port of Goonies for Datasoft. This interview took place on September 1, 2017. "They said, 'How l...
Oct 12, 2017•30 min
In this episode of ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Computer Podcast: Victor Marland of the Ten Pence Arcade Podcast joins us over Kevin's pancake breakfast, Bill Kendrick reviews Tempest Elite, and we discuss Tinkle Pit and Uncle Poo. Plus all the Atari news we could find. READY! Recurring Links Floppy Days Podcast AtariArchives.org AtariMagazines.com Kevin's Book "Terrible Nerd" New Atari books scans at archive.org ANTIC feedback at AtariAge Atari interview discussion thread on AtariAge ANTIC Facebook Pa...
Oct 01, 2017•1 hr 17 min
Dan Reinhart, Yahtman Dan Reinhart published one program for the Atari 8-bit computers: Yahtman, a Yahtzee-style game that was published by Atari Program Exchange. Yahtman first appeared in the winter 1982-1983 APX catalog. This interview took place on August 28, 2017. In it, we discuss Paul Cubbage, whom I previously interviewed. "Paul [Cubbage] had said, 'You know, you have good potential at this sort of thing but you really need to choose: are you going to keep building earth movers and equip...
Sep 28, 2017•38 min
David Seuss, co-founder of Spinnaker Software This interview is with David Seuss, co-founder of Spinnaker Software. Spinnaker was one of the first companies to focus exclusively on educational software. Spinnaker's software line-up included Snooper Troops, Delta Drawing, FaceMaker, Adventure Creator, In Search of the Most Amazing Thing, KinderComp, and many other titles. This interview took place on September 11, 2017. Teaser quotes: "We invented the educational software market. It really didn't...
Sep 23, 2017•55 min
Hal Glicksman, Datamost Hal Glicksman was head of the book division at Datamost. In two years from 1982 to 1984, Datamost was one of largest publishers of computer books. In 1983 alone, Datamost published over 40 titles and shipped 100,000 books per month. Their Atari books included Atari Roots, Kids and the Atari, ABCs of Atari Computers, and The Elementary Atari. Hal himself wrote The Musical Atari, Games Ataris Play, and The Musical Commodore. Datamost also published software: the company's A...
Sep 20, 2017•59 min
Lee Konowe, American Software Club Lee Konowe was founder of American Software Club, a mail-order software company. American Software Club sold software for CP/M, Atari 8-bit, TRS-80, Apple II, IBM PC, Commodore 64, and other platforms. It started out with a sort of Columbia House "software of the month" model, where you automatically received a "choice of the month" software package each month — which you could keep and pay for, or return at no cost. Later the company switched to a more traditi...
Sep 17, 2017•51 min
Patricia Mitchell, Thorn EMI Patricia Mitchell started at Thorn EMI in 1981. She worked in the home computer software division, evaluating software that had been submitted by programmers. Thorn EMI published many games for the Atari 8-bit computers, including River Rescue, Carnival Massacre, Orc Attack, Kickback, Submarine Commander, Computer War, and Jumbo Jet Pilot. Later she worked at Virgin Games. This interview took place on April 27, 2017. In it, we talk a little about about Steve Green. S...
Sep 14, 2017•29 min
James Burton, APX Drawit James Burton published one program for the Atari 8-bit computers: Drawit, a graphics utility that was published by Atari Program Exchange. It first appeared in the summer 1983 APX catalog, where it was awarded first prize in the personal development category. This interview took place on August 24, 2017. "Many hours. Many, many hours. Late at night, don;t want to go to sleep. Just plugging at the computer." Drawit in the summer 1983 APX catalog Download Drawit from Atari...
Sep 11, 2017•30 min
Lance Leventhal, Author of Assembly Language Books Lance Leventhal wrote 25 computer books, spanning 1978 through 1992. His books include 6502 Assembly Language Programming, 6502 Assembly Language Subroutines, Z80 Assembly Language Programming, Z80 Assembly Language Subroutines, 6800 Assembly Language Programming, 6809 Assembly Language Programming, and Why Do You Need a Personal Computer? This interview took place on August 25, 2017. "Be careful about avoiding sidetracks. Don't go down them. Th...
Sep 04, 2017•53 min
