In this short summer bonus episode, Steve explores what he thinks is the exact moment Nintendo beat everyone and and won the video game war. I imagine, it's not exactly what you expect.
Into the Vertical Blank: Generation Atari - Season 2 Episode 7 : Emits a shower of sparks: How we stopped playing soccer and started playing Atari (along with Pele) In this episode, Steve and Jeff cover Pele’s Soccer for the Atari 2600, and the cultural as well as business atmosphere surrounding the game. This game fit perfectly into the summer episode slot as Soccer in the USA is mostly a summer sport, but also because Pele’s Soccer for the Atari 2600 was one of the first games to include a fir...
This is a rebroadcast of the the story 'Claw Hammer' from season 1, episode 2. specially for father's day.
In this episode, Steve and Jeff have a frank discussion about what they collect and why they collect Atari. Also includes a couple segments from Steve's "Fultonbot's Atari Quest" blog series, as well as an impromptu live remote visit to their favorite retro game store.
In this epiosde of Into The Vertical Blank: Generation Atari, Steve and Jeff celebrate the magazine that started it all. The first publicaion in the USA that was strictly devoted to video and electronic games. The brothers bring you two stories of thos glories magazine, each featuring a different issue of that impacted their childhood in a remarkable way. Digital Press Landing pages for Electonic Games Magazine Scanned Issues http://www.digitpress.com/library/magazines/electronic_games/electroni...
What were some of hidden factors that led to the fall of Atari and the golden age of classic video game consoles? Did the world at large really understand video games at all? In this episode we set out to prove, through the lens of some truly awful products and ideas, that the industry might have killed itself. The back pages and new products sections of Electronic Games magazine in 1982 and 1983 were filled with all sorts of products, services and offers that were dubious at best, and possibly,...
Steve and Jeff provide two new stories about wanting to work for, with, or somehow adjacent to classic Atari. The pair also answer feedback, to explain recent Irata, and give some responses to their favorite podcasts. Tony Longworth’s incredibly melodic industrial grunge track “Into the Vertical Blank” again accompanies this episode, along with original music and audio productions from the Fulton Brothers. Tony Longworth’s Music: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/TonyLongworth The Atari 2600 Game ...
This week we are inspired by one of our all-time a favorite podcasts This American Life. Taking a cue from Ira Glass’s often copied, but never duplicated style, we have collected three new stories on single topic: Going Going, Gone. Our first “Going” story from myself, Steve, called “Surprise Box” is about a seaside arcade that is destined to close forever. Our next “going” story S from Jeff called “The Magic Basement” is about a certain retail establishment that is now on its last legs, but sti...
This week, 8bitjeff gets into a some awesome listener feedback and provides some of his own for the Atari 5200 Podcast. First up some questions and answers for Tony Longworth, who’s Into The Vertical Blank song gets its own full length airing in the episode. Next up is an incredible story by Bill Lange about his father, his childhood, Christmas and Lionel Trains. To finish off the episode, Jeff provides instant feedback to the 5200 Podcast on their most recent episode about Star Wars games for t...
In this first episode of season 2 the Fulton’s dive into a mystery: Why hasn’t Atari’s magnificent 1983 game “Food Fight” appeared any of their retro game collections? Where has it is gone? Episode features an in-depth interview with the fabulous Jonathan Hurd, creator on the Food Fight arcade game for GCC and Atari. Atari 2015 IP Catalog: http://news.calyptus.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Atari-IPs-Sept15.pdf Atari Production Numbers Memo: http://www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf Atari Va...
In this Bonus podcast between Season 1 and Season 2, Steve takes his family to the Retro City Festival in Pomona, CA . Mild, family friendly hijinks ensue.
In this season 1 finale, the Fulton brothers discuss the early years of Atari and Christmas, culminating in a Christmas story that ties a bow on a few of the previous stories and themes from this season. There are also some surprises, weird occurances, and awkwardness. Lots and lots of awkwardness. What were you expecting? Some Images To Illustrate The Podcast Probably the first ad we ever saw in Electronic Games magazine from November 1981 The Amazing "Train Tables" in the Sears Catalog The onl...
S1:E9: The Weird Family Thanksgiving In the Vertical Blank In the penultimate episode of season one of Into The Vertical Blank, travel back to Thanksgiving holidays of the past to find out how pop culture, games and Atari fit into The Vertical Blank. This episode features a story by Steve Fulton named "The Weird Family" and Story by Jeff Fulton named "4 Days In November" Notes: See images mentiiend inpodcast here: http://www.8bitrocket.com/2018/11/21/s1e9-the-weird-family-thanksgiving-in-the-ver...
S1:E8: The Bronze Age of Arcade Video Games In this episode Steve and Jeff discuss their favorite games and memories of the Bronze Age of arcade video games, a period that spans 1971 (pong) to 1978 (Space Invaders). The pair talk about what was special about those games, and why they matter today. Also included: new music by Jeff, Atari Haiku, a remix by Jeff, and brand-new story by Steve named “Sharpshooter”. Games Mentioned Pac-Man 256: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F86_pplPreo Bard’s Tale 4...
This episode takes a slightly more personal turn as twin brother hosts Jeff and Steve Fulton tell stories and relive memories of playing together in both analog and digital ways in the 1970’s. The episode includes an original non-fiction story by Steve Fulton titled “Big Mouse And Little Mouse 1.0”. (Remaster adds a section to this story). This episode also features an interview with Jamie Lendino about his book “Adventure: The Atari VCS At The Dawn Of Console Gaming”. Show Notes Extreme Tech We...
The only thing from the 80's that could rival our love for Atari was our love for punk rock and new wave, and especially, our favorite band: The Alarm. In 1987 those two things combined in an unexpected way. So unexpected in fact, that we were only able to fully understand impact of those two world's clashing more than 30 years later. This episode documents that journey to understanding. In 1987 we gave up the "Little Blue Desktop " of Atari 800 DOS for the Little Green Desktop of the Atari 520 ...
I nto the Vertical Blank - Generation Atari: Season 1, Episode 5. All Appointments Life (Asteroids Part 2 ) This is the second episode where we will be covering the game Asteroids in story and discussion form. We have a story from 8bitjeff, and also very nice contributions Shinto, and Jim Fullerton. The discussion dives into versions of Asteroids (and clones) after the arcade 2600, 5200 and Vectrex. These the Atari 7800, ST, Lynx, and various versions released for more modern hardware. All music...
Into The Vertical Blank: Generation Atari Season 1, Episode 4: Escape To The Asteroids Zone Part 1. In Part One of our two-part extravaganza, we delve into the that game forms the backdrop of The Vertical Blank: Asteroids. We discuss our experiences with Atari’s best selling coin-op and discover why this game, in particular, means so much to us. This episode includes a story written by Steve Fulton named, appropriately enough, “Escape To The Asteroids Zone” Show Notes The intro music and many, b...
Into The Vertical Blank: Generation Atari Season 1, Episode 3: Atari Nerd In this episode we dig up one of our first podcasts from December 2008, which is one of the first Atari dedicated podcasts ever recorded. This low-fi descent into the aughties, complete with bad mics, driving noise, and half-baked ideas is where we began. It’s also a bit prophetic about Atari in 2018. We also have a couple short nonfiction pieces by Steve Fulton, a collection update from Jeff, and more. Our next episode wi...
Into the Vertical Blank: Growing Up Atari. Season 1 Episode 2: “A hole burned In my Pocket: Toys R Us And The Atari 7800". What was the “game cage”? What does it mean to “disconnect” while being “connected”? “Can a hole really be burned in your pocket?” In this episode, the brothers focus on the now closing Toys R Us, not with a history, but with some personal stories, a visit to a closing store, a play session of 7800 games, and a discussion of what the Vertical Blank generation or Generation A...
Into The Vertical Blank: Growing Up Atari Season 1 Episode 1 – All The Scan Lines Have Been Written In this, the real premiere episode, the boys pull out all the production stops to bring some much needed levity and interludes to a game playing session and discussion on modern releases for the Atari 8-bit computers. Games discussed and Played: Stunt Car Racer, Bosconian, Time Pilot, X:8, Crazy cat and more. Show notes and links: Also, be sure to check out the Inverse ATASCII Atari 8bit and now S...
8bitrocket’s Into The Vertical Blank, Growing Up Atari Ep: 0 This is the test episode of the Into The Vertical Blank, Growing Up Atari. In it, 8bit Jeff (Jeff Fulton from 8bitrocket.com) tries out and reviews 5 Atari XL/XE Cartridges (probably won’t work on a 400 or 800) that he recently purchased from Video 61. This is a very extended version of what was originally going to be a short user submitted addition to the Antic Atari 8bit Podcast. Extra Show notes for 8bitrocket.com’s New Podcast sect...
