
The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast
Video Games
The 2600 Game By Game Podcast will delve into the history, gameplay, and personal stories of every game made for the Atari 2600.
Location:
United States
Description:
The 2600 Game By Game Podcast will delve into the history, gameplay, and personal stories of every game made for the Atari 2600.
Language:
English
Episodes
Big Bird's Egg Catch by Atari
4/30/2025
Welcome back everyone, thanks so much for your patience. Today's episode is the long promised Big Bird's Egg Catch by Atari and CCW, the last such officially released collaboration between the two. I hope that you enjoy it and that it was worth the wait. The next episode will be on Squeeze Box by US Games. If you have any feedback you'd like to submit, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by May 13th. Please put the game title in the email subject, and if you send an audio submission, please put your name in the filename. Also, no need to summarize the game, that's what I'm here for! Thank you as always for listening, it means a lot to me.
Big Bird's Egg Catch on Random Terrain
BBEC on Atarimania
Nik Omarzu article on Digital Press
1983 Atari Showcase Video
Big Bird on Atari Protos
Big Bird prototypes on Atari Compendium
Video Game Update December 1983
AA May 2 1983 prototype thread by WickeyColumbus
AA June 1 1983 prototype thread by ieure
AA thread with CCW game joystick hacks
Duration:01:11:50
Merry Christmas 2024
12/22/2024
Hello everyone, I want to thank you for your love and continued support over these last few difficult years for me. I'm feeling a bit more hopeful for the new year. I hope that you are all doing well and enjoying the holiday season so far. I hope this episode will help give you some extra (or any) Christmas spirit like it did for me. I love you all very much and I am so glad you are here. Merry Christmas!
The background music is from Mr Snooze on Youtube, and includes tracks from Kevin MacLeod, Audionautix, and Twin Musicom, among others.
The vintage wrapping paper photo is from Atomic_Redhead
Duration:01:06:43
Porky's by 20th Century Fox
10/27/2024
Welcome back to the show, glad to finally get this out, which is the episode about Porky's from 20th Century Fox. Did you know it's based on a movie? It's true! I do hope you enjoy the episode, and I always appreciate your continued patience with me. I think from now on I will give a feedback due date and let the episode fall where it falls. If I want to do something seems easier than if I need to do something, if that makes sense. I would love to get back to every 2 weeks, but that just isn't in the cards right now. Thank you all so much for sticking with me through all of this!
The next episode will be about Big Bird's Egg Catch from Atari, the final released Children's Television Workshop and Atari joint. But fear not, there's plenty of prototypes from this pairing to talk about. Stop groaning! If you would like to submit written or audio feedback, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by November 6, EOD. No need to summarize the game, that as always is my job, just tell me what you think of it or if you have a memory associated with it (now or then). Also, if you send an audio file, please put your name in the filename and the game title in the subject line. It makes it easier to find later on. Once again, I love you all and I thank you for listening.
Please donate to my Extra Life campaign here!
Atari 50 & Recharged Humble Bundle
Tarzan Prototype article by Kevin Bunch
Porky's on Random Terrain
Porky's on Atarimania
Porky's Easter Eggs on Atari Compendium
Randall Hyde's web site
Record World magazine, September 1981
LA Times article about Music Promoters and mob ties, March 1986
Porky's Entry in US Copyright Office
2nd Porky's Entry in USCO
Dunhill Electronics Entry on USCO
H & L Schwartz Inc., American Videogame Leasing Entry on USCO
Duration:01:07:13
Dragonstomper by Starpath
5/19/2024
I am so sorry it's taking me so long to get episodes out. It seems like it's one step up, two steps back. I am trying to fix it. Despite that, the new episode featuring Dragonstomper by Starpath (formerly Arcadia) is now available. I hope you enjoy it. Coming up next will be Porky's by 20th Century Fox. I have some stuff coming up, so please get me your feedback by June 5th. You can send that to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com. Once again, I am grateful to all of you for sticking with me and being patient. I love you all and I am very lucky to have you!
Dragonstomper on Random Terrain
Stephen Landrum on Moby Games
Stephen Landrum: From Arcadia to Epyx by Sean Wheatley
Arcadia Promo Video
Arcadia Commercial featuring Andy Breyer
Dragonstomper Guide by Grimlick
No Swear Gamer complete Dragonstomper game #1 (kills dragon, spoilers)
No Swear Gamer Complete Dragonstomper game #2
Stella Gets A New Brain 2.0 on Internet Archive
Apologies to Liam Lynch
Duration:01:37:57
Alpha Beam with Ernie by Atari
2/7/2024
Hello, once again I apologize for the episode being late. Sarah came up with a new way for me to try doing the podcast that I think will be better, I talk about it in this episode. Which is all about Alpha Beam with Ernie, an Atari and Children's Computer Workshop joint. Thank you once again to Preston Stuart for answering a few questions that I had about this game. Coming up next will be Dragonstomper by Starpath, so if you have any thoughts about this game, please sned them to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by February 13th. Thank you all for being such lovely and supportive friends, and extra special thanks to Sarah, truly without whom this podcast would have been done a long time ago. And as always, thank you for listening.
Alpha Beam on Random Terrain
Alpha Beam on Atari Protos
CCW game series announced in Atari Age magazine
1983 Atari Showcase video
Preston Stuart interview, Electronic Fun March 1983
Ernie on Muppet Wiki
Sesame Street episode 1, November 1969
Into The Vertical Blank tests Alpha Beam on a 2600+
Atari Age thread with Joystick conversions of SS/CCW games
My interview with Papa Pete and Jeff
Duration:01:15:18
Frogger II - Threedeep! by Parker Brothers
1/10/2024
Happy New Year! Thank you so much for welcoming me back to the podcasting world so warmly, I am very grateful to all of you. The first game for 2024 is Frogger II - Threedeep! by Parker Brothers. What does this game have to do with a barn in Maine? oh, you are gonna find out, believe me. Next up on the show will be Alpha Beam with Ernie by Atari and CTW. If you have any feedback for this game, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by January 22nd, to be included in the show. Thank you for listening!
Frogger II on Random Terrain
Mark Lesser's web site
Interview with Mark Lesser by Scott Stilphen
Article on early handheld games by Glenn Derene
NHL '94 article by Eddie Makuch
Frogger II on Atari Protos
Gamma Attack disassembly by Dennis Debro
DOS and Don'ts Newsletter
Duration:01:21:43
Merry Christmas 2023
12/24/2023
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you enjoy the episode, thank you for sending your Christmas related feedback to us. I wish you all health, happiness, and love this Christmas and all throughout the year. Thank you so much for your support, love, and understanding, and I thank you for listening.
Duration:01:15:14
Gamma Attack by Gammation
12/13/2023
Hi. I know, it's been awhile. How have you been? Anyway, I hope you are amenable to a new episode of my podcast. It's all about the Gammation game Gamma Attack. Lots of interesting goings-on with this game, I hope you'll give it a chance and enjoy. I am taking submissions for the Christmas episode! I know it's kind of late, I'm sorry about that. In the episode the deadline for submissions is December 16. Right now Sarah is very sick and I have no idea when the actual episode is going to come out. Let's say the 20th is the deadline. If Sarah and I are able to record together or not, I'll do my best to get everyone in the show. Thanks so much everyone, I am grateful to you and your patience, and for sticking around. I love you.
Gammation web site on Wayback Machine from 2008
Gamma Attack discovery thread on Atari Age
Gamma Attack eBay Auction article on Joystiq by Griffin McElroy
Gamma Attack eBay Auction article on MTV by Jason Cipriano
Gamma Attack overview on Racketboy
Gamma Attack $500,000 eBay Auction
Gamma Attack history video by Retro Game On
Duration:01:31:33
Pitfall II by Activision
1/29/2023
AB-035, Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns! 1
Happy New Year! If I can still say that when it's almost Groundhog Day. I hit a snag right out of the gate, which seems to be typical now. But, Pitfall II by Activision is finally available, and it's a doozy. The part about the game and its history etc. is twice as long as it usually is, I had a lot of fun researching this game. And of course, playing it. It's one of my favorites. I hope that you enjoy the episode. Coming up next is the super rare game Gamma Attack, by a tiny company called Gammation. Not as much history on this one, but what I've seen so far is very interesting. if you have any thoughts on this game, or even if you have a copy, I would love to hear about it. Please send them to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by February 7th. Thanks so much for your patience, and thank you as always for listening.
Pitfall 2 on Random Terrain
Pitfall 2 on Atari Protos
David Crane interview by Scott Stilphen
DPC Chip patent
Explanation of DPC chip by David Crane on Atari Compendium
Atari Compendium article about "Super Chips," including the DPC chip
UK Activision Fun Club Newsletter Summer 1984 from Atari Compendium
Pitfall 2 patch
Pitfall 2 patch accompanying letter
Get MattBuc's repro Pitfall 2 patch here!
Pitfall! Masked Menace Mess
Pitfall! Raiders of the Lost Shark
Pitfall 2 The Lost Caverns on KLOV
Pitfall 2 Arcade playthrough by Old Classic Retrogaming
Super Pitfall 30th Anniversary Edition NES patch
Chris and Adam's Pitfall articles on Orphaned Games
Duration:02:34:29
Mean Santa by Tim Duarte and John K Harvey
1/8/2023
Boy oh boy, it's been a rough year. This episode featuring Mean Santa by Tim Duarte and John K. Harvey almost didn't come out for Christmas. I am truly very sorry about how this year has gone, I need to change a lot of behaviors in the coming year. Regardless of what holiday (if any) you celebrate, I hope it is was a joyous and peaceful time. I am grateful to and for all of you and I do not deserve you. I will see you in 2023 where we will start the year with Pitfall II by Activision. Thank you for listening.
The Mean Santa Journey on Experienca Odyssey
ROM and Source Code for Free on Atari Age
2600 Connection Issue 100 thread
2600 Connection Mean Santa Sales Announcement on the Wayback Machine
Original YouTube video of game footage, posted August 10 2009
Tim Duarte's web page
John K. Harvey's web page via Wayback Machine
Order Mean Santa from Tim Duarte
Willie! plays Mean Santa on the Odyssey 2
Duration:01:02:21
Merry Christmas 2022
12/23/2022
It's been a bad year for me and podcasting, I'm sorry I haven't put that much out this year. I also have not been looking forward to Christmas, but today with the help of a friend, I got a boost of Christmas spirit! I'm going to try and extend it through next year the best I can. Thank you for sticking with me for so long. I love you all and I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons. Thank you for listening 💗💚
Duration:01:06:38
Gauntlet by Answer Software
11/16/2022
Welcome to the show! In this episode I will tell you what I know about Gauntlet by Answer Software. Other than how to play, it's not much; although I am very confident in telling you that this is NOT a port of the Atari arcade game Gauntlet. I can also tell you that despite what you read on the internet, the arcade Gauntlet was partially inspired by the 8 bit computer game Dandy, written by John Palevich. It was not inspired by Atari's console game Dark Chambers, which came out 3 years after Gauntlet. Dark Chambers was also inspired by Dandy. With that pedantry out of the way, I do hope you enjoy the episode. Coming up next is the last game for the year, Mean Santa, a homebrew game designed by Tim Duarte (founder of the 2600 Connection newsletter), and programmed by John K Harvey. The rom has been released for free, and you can get it here if you'd like to try it out. If you'd like to send feedback containing your thoughts on the game and not how to play it, which I cover every episode, please send them to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by November 28th. I will post an updated list of upcoming games to your right (if you're not on a phone) very soon. To all who celebrate American Thanksgiving, I wish you a safe and healthy-ish holiday. I am very thankful for all of you, and I thank you for listening.
You can donate to my Extra Life campaign until December 31st!
Gauntlet on Atari Age
Gauntlet on Random Terrain
Answer Software catalog on Atarimania
April 1983 Video Game Update newsletter on Atari Compendium
Al Backiel's writeup on the PGP-1 on Digital Press
Gauntlet thread on Atari Age
Duration:01:02:31
Master Builder by Spectravideo
11/2/2022
I am back this week to discuss a Spectravideo game, after 7 years! This game is called Master Builder, and I really hope you enjoy the episode. Coming up next will be Gauntlet by Answer Software. If you have thoughts on Gauntlet, you can send them to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com. Please just tell me your thoughts, I'll take care of the rest. The last game for the year is Mean Santa by John Harvey and Tim Duarte. If you have feedback for Mean Santa, I'll need it by November 28th. Finally, if you have any video game Christmas memories (it doesn't need to be Atari 2600, but please keep it to video games), I will be doing another Christmas show this year, provided I get enough submissions. Please get those to me by December 16th. Tune in to YouTube this weekend at 8 pm on November 4 and 5 to watch me play games badly for Extra Life. I don't know why you would want to watch that, but I'm glad you do.
Thank you as always for your kindness, and for listening.
Donate to my Extra Life campaign here!
Master Builder on Random Terrain
Columbia Video Game Club thread on Atari Age
Columbia Video Game Club magazines on Digital Press
Ace Moon Gaming channel plays Master Builder, very well
Duration:00:59:45
Cookie Monster Munch by Atari
10/20/2022
Long time no see! Today's episode is about the Atari and Children's Computer Workshop collaboration, Cookie Monster Munch. I loved Cookie Monster when I was a kid (I still do), and I also love cookies, but most cookies actually stay in my mouth, unlike some other monsters I could name. I hope that you enjoy the episode and that it was worth waiting for. Next up will be the very rare Master Builder by Spectravideo. Apparently my episodes covering Spectravideo games are also pretty rare. If you have feedback for Master Builder that does not include its history or how to play it, please send it along to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by October 31st. On November 4th and 5th, I will once again be participating in Extra Life, to benefit the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Hopefully I will have my streaming ability together by then. If you would like to donate to the kids, please see the link below. Thank you once again for your patience, and for listening.
Donate to my Extra Life campaign
Cookie Monster Munch on Atari Protos
Cookie Monster Munch on Random Terrain
Gary Stark's web site
Gary Stark's YouTube page
UPI article on CMM by Kenneth Clark, Feb 1983
Sharon Lerner on MuppetWiki
Joystick conversions of Cookie Monster Munch and Big Bird's Egg Catch by Omegamatrix
Duration:01:32:42
AVCStec Challenge by Simon Quernhorst and Paul Slocum
8/7/2022
I say this too much, but I thank you for being patient with me as I navigate through my lovely depression. This long overdue episode features the homebrew game AVCStec Challenge by Simon Quernhorst and Paul Slocum. It's based on the very difficult (to me) Aztec Challenge by Paul Norman, for the Commodore 64. I hope that you enjoy the episode. Next up is Cookie Monster Munch by Atari and the Children's Computer Workshop. Please send any feedback on this or any previous game to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by August 16th. Tell me your thoughts and/or memories of Cookie Monster Munch, I'll take care of the history and gameplay. Take care of yourselves and I thank you so much for listening.
Simon Quernhorst's web site
A-VCS-tec Challenge development page
Announcement thread on Atari Age
AA Title in Development page on Wayback Machine
AA Project of the Month thread
AA Late Development thread
Secret screen on Atari Age
Simon Quernhorst interview on Good Deal Games
Paul Slocum's web site
Tree Wave web site
And/Or Gallery web site
Buy the game on Packrat Video Games
Buy the game on Atari Age
Atari 50th: The Anniversary Celebration
Atari Mania (the game)
Yars Recharged
Limited Run Adventure and Missile Command (both sold out)
Atari 2600 Lego Set
New Howard Scott Warshaw interview by W. Amirul Adlan
Duration:01:12:14
Frogs and Flies by M Network
5/18/2022
On this episode we take a look at the M Network game Frogs and Flies, which was based on the Intellivision game Frog Bog. We also cover programmer extraordinaire Dave Rolfe for the first time, and we even read one of his interesting essays. I hope you enjoy it! Coming up next is A-VCS-tec Challenge, by Simon Quernhorst with music by Paul Slocum. If you would like to try this game out, you can get the rom at Simon's web page. Please send me your feedback for A-VCS-tec Challenge by May 30th, to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com. Thanks so much for listening!
Van Mai story on Video Game History Foundation
Frogs and Flies on Random Terrain
Frogs and Flies on Blue Sky Rangers
Intellivision Frog Bog on Blue Sky Rangers
Frogs by Gremlin on KLOV
Willie! plays Frogs on Arcade USA
Dave Rolfe's website on Wayback Machine
Dave Rolfe interview by Valter Prette
Dave Rolfe interview by Scott Stilphen
Dave Rolfe interview by Michael Thomasson
Star Fire on KLOV
Fire One! on KLOV
Kreepy Krawlers on KLOV
Star Fire 2 prototype on KLOV
Duration:01:05:21
Laser Gates by Imagic
5/8/2022
Hello my friends, thank you once again for your patience for this new episode featuring Laser Gates by Imagic. A fun time was had by almost all! Coming up next is Frogs and Flies by M Network. If you have any feedback for Frogs and Flies, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by end of the day on May 17th. I should be able to get it out on time despite this episode being late. Upcoming games include A-VCS-tec Challenge by Simon Quernhorst and Paul Slocum; Cookie Monster Munch by Atari; Master Builder by Spectravideo, and Gauntlet by Answer Software. Thanks so much for listening!
Atari XP preorders
Limited Run Atari preorders (only 1000 of each will be made, I said 1500 in the show because I can no longer read)
Laser Gates on Random Terrain
Laser Gates (Innerspace) on Atari Protos
Innerspace on Atarimania
My email interview with Dan Oliver
Is Laser Gates Inner Space? Atari Age thread
Dan Oliver's Waterbug Design site on Wayback Machine
Just Kidding Imagic segment, 1983
Laser Gates review by Phil Wiswell Jan 1 1984
Duration:01:05:47
Sesame Street Cartridges Contest Winners!
5/4/2022
Hello my friends, I was not feeling well last night so I went back to bed. The Laser Gates episode won't be out today, but I wanted to let you know the winners of the contest that my buddy Richard so kindly sponsored. Please give a listen to see if you won a set of Sesame Street carts, and congrats to the winners. Thanks to everyone who entered, and I thank you all for listening.
Duration:00:02:09
Private Eye by Activision
4/20/2022
In this episode I look at the Activision game Private Eye, by Bob Whitehead. I hadn't put any time into this game before, and I couldn't put enough time into it for the podcast, but I did enjoy it and hope to come back to it. Next up will be Laser Gates by Imagic. If you have feedback for the game that you'd like to hear on the show, please send it to 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by May 2nd. Thank you all very much for your kind words about my return, it means a lot to me. i appreciate you all hanging in there. and as always, thank you for listening.
Sesame Street games contest!
Private Eye on Random Terrain
Interview with Bob Whitehead by Scott Stilphen
Private Eye patch
Rawson Stovall review Feb 10 1984
Michael Blanchet review Oct 24 1984
Private Eye maps by Stan on Electric Frankfurter
Duration:01:15:01
Oscar's Trash Race by Atari
4/6/2022
Welcome back to the podcast everyone! I hope you all are well, and I very much appreciate all the kind words and patience. Today we start the 5 digit Atari part numbers with Oscar's Trash Race, a product of Atari and the Children's Computer Workshop, a tiny little division of Sesame Street. This is the first in a series, so there's lots to talk about. I hope that you enjoy it. Coming up in 2 weeks is Private Eye by Activision. If you have feedback for Private Eye that does not include the Hall and Oates song, please send it to me at 2600gamebygame@gmail.com by April 18th. Please make sure you listen to the end of the podcast for a very special Sesame Street game related contest, sponsored by friend of the podcast Richard Grounds. Thanks Richard! I'll post a separate entry for the contest in a few days, but you can send your entry as soon as you hear the episode. Once again, thank you for your patience, your kindness, and of course, for listening. Extra special thanks to my beautiful wife Sarah for getting this ball rolling again. 💖
Oscar's Trash Race on Random Terrain
Oscar's Trash Race on Atari Protos
Oscar's Trash Race on Atarimania
Children's Computer Workshop on Muppet Wiki
CGE 2012 Atari Programmers panel
Preston Stuart interview, Electronic Fun with Computers and Games March 1983, page 40
Atari Age "Loaner Cartridge" thread, shows perhaps final version of Oscar
AA OTR 10-20-82 WIP thread OMGWTFBBQ
AA OTR 3-30-83 WIP thread
1983 CES Atari 2600 Video
OTR Prototype pictures on Atari Compendium
Unreleased static screen version pictures on Atari Compendium
Posts from Guy Hutchinson's Big Bird Bridge blog about Sesame Place:
The Computer Gallery
Games at the Computer Gallery
Computer Gallery game photos
Computer Campus
Detail from Computer Gallery computers
Closeup of Computer Gallery age logo
Sesame Place (Images of Modern America) by Guy Hutchinson on Amazon
Duration:01:56:26