The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast Ferg

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

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

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 💗💚

 

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

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

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