Atari Adventure Square

Saw Carpenter's The Thing at the movies when it came out.
Terrific stunner that was way ahead of the gore/splooshy horror trend that would eventually come about, springing out of the slasher genre like Freddy Krueger's hand out of a narcoleptic victim's chest.
 
And ooh yeah, great chest scene in The Thing.
 
The movie went over like gangbusters with us teens. That night with the crowd hollering and hooting along with the movie's expert pacing, Carpenter had won his bet to make an edgy and unfilmable story come to life and entertain like nothing else.
Unfortunately, while the gross-out was cool for young folks, movie sales in the 80s weren't aimed at this market, and the older crowds harrumphed or ignored the call.
 
It was a bet indeed. And this fave director of mine remained sore about it for years.
Too bad he wasn't there when we rewatched this classic over and over again, on VHS and whenever cable was hip enough to air it.
He woulda loved our continual amazement at the greatness in every frame of its run.
 
it remains to this day a perfect movie, for mostly the reasons in the article you posted, Rick.
That thumping, low ebb soundtrack, that claustrophopic environment, that terrific cast, those crazyfying effects that might make you insane if you think about such creatures too long.
 
Rob Bottin emerged an effects god out of this.
Fangoria magazine fed us the skinny on upcoming fantastical features to keep an eye on.
This movie was highly anticipated as a result, from it readers.
 
ah man, what a time that was
 
Things are just as cool today, only different.
Pacing ourselves through effects tidbits from Fangoria, knowing Carpenter's craftsman reputation and Russel's hero presence would make this high adventure.
It all led to one night of explosive joy.
 
To me, that is what The Thing is all about.
 
One of my top movies, as well.

Good reads!
 
While cabinet titles explored trends and advances in technologies and increased bit range, their initial appeal got stomped by the next Big Thing (until our terrific cycle of retro appreciation evened the perspective and allowed us to appreciate everything on its own terms, outside the 80s vision).
But Pinball is forever.
 
It sure has dwindled in production, but I hope it never fades, cuz it's the basic arcade gaming experience that ties the experience of life as a gamer.
I'm sure most arcade gamer folks' first quarter was plunked inside a pinball coin box - and we were hooked!
 
Well, maybe not if you got into it around the Pac years, cuz that attract mode sure did attract.
 
But yeah, a lotta pinball flippin' fun was had around here!

For as long as I can remember I've always believed that RCA's CED players and movies were good.  Not great mind you but OK.  For those that think I'm crazy, and you are probably right, the time the CED came out there really was no Dolby Surround Sound available for the home market in my area.  We had simple, monaural (or mono if you prefer), video equipment.  So having movies that could play in Stereo sound when you didn't have the stereo equipment to play it on didn't matter much.  Once my family moved on to VHS it was the same thing; stereo sound didn't matter as long as the sound was easy to hear without having to crank the volume up on the TV...and there were some cheap knock-off pre-recorded tapes where the audio was horrible and something that stereo sound could not help.
 
Sorry...got a bit side tracked.  The CED format always fascinated me because of how it worked.  I had more fun watching the player take the discs, play them, watch the stylus sweep across the disc, and the disc get returned back to the caddy and the door close.  I don't know how many times we had to replace the loading/unloading belts on the SJT models.  And me being only 8-years old I was not afraid to take the top off to find out how to do it myself since the only dealer in the area stopped messing with the format altogether.
 
As a YouTuber I enjoy watching videos on older technology that was either a part of my childhood or I missed completely.  I had little idea that a similar CED format was on the market...only in Japan.  It never ceases to amaze me how things America invented and developed Japan has always tried to perfect similar ideas.  And the CED format was not safe either.  Nothing against Japan as it is one location I would love to visit but the one CED-like player I watched in the video I am about to share here took the CED format and improved it.  Seriously, the machine in this video is pretty neat.  
 

 
The fun stuff about the machine starts around 11:00 in.  But watch how the National machine loads and unloads these movie discs...it's very cool!  

From Brett Weiss' blog:
 
http://www.brettweisswords.com/2017/02/pinball-books-worth-reading_16.html

Good work!
The neon future envisioned by the design style of the arcade era lends itself well to cool abstractions and ideas.
 
I love this style to bits!
(bits? yeah? yesyesyes?)

These titles look great and a great addition to the 2600 library.
 
Yeah, not being able to save on older games like these makes them time-prohibitive for gameplay.
Same with Riddle of the Sphinx for me, which I love but am unable to commit an entire afternoon like back in the day.
That's why the first golden cart Zelda was so wonderful, and made the NES a strong contender in the next-gen console wars.
 
Promo time:
That's why our Atari Adventure kingdom offers a full-range of RPG experiences at a low starting time rate of 2 minutes!
Come and discover the Random Game 3 possibilities (and frustrations!) for more commited play!
Open 24/7!
 
(p.s. Don't feed the dragons)

These titles look great and a great addition to the 2600 library.
 
Yeah, not being able to save on older games like these makes them time-prohibitive for gameplay.
Same with Riddle of the Sphinx for me, which I love but am unable to commit an entire afternoon like back in the day.
That's why the first golden cart Zelda was so wonderful, and made the NES a strong contender in the next-gen console wars.
 
Promo time:
That's why our Atari Adventure kingdom offers a full-range of RPG experiences at a low starting time rate of 2 minutes!
Come and discover the Random Game 3 possibilities (and frustrations!) for more commited play!
Open 24/7!
 
(p.s. Don't feed the dragons)

Hi guys,
 
I thought I would share some of the work I did while I was in college from '09 to '13.  Atari stuff, and video games in general, played a huge role in my homework.  I was taking Web Design and Interactive Media - Associate's Degree but was often asked why I didn't take game design.  I never thought about it really and was not aware of the game design program offered until I was already half-way through the program.  All work was done while I was learning Photoshop.
 
So...I will share one I did for my FB cover art first.  Others may not be video game related and I'm not sure where this post should be so I put it here.
 

 
I'll post more as I find them.

Adventure.  Best game on 2600 period for me. 

Saw Carpenter's The Thing at the movies when it came out.
Terrific stunner that was way ahead of the gore/splooshy horror trend that would eventually come about, springing out of the slasher genre like Freddy Krueger's hand out of a narcoleptic victim's chest.
 
And ooh yeah, great chest scene in The Thing.
 
The movie went over like gangbusters with us teens. That night with the crowd hollering and hooting along with the movie's expert pacing, Carpenter had won his bet to make an edgy and unfilmable story come to life and entertain like nothing else.
Unfortunately, while the gross-out was cool for young folks, movie sales in the 80s weren't aimed at this market, and the older crowds harrumphed or ignored the call.
 
It was a bet indeed. And this fave director of mine remained sore about it for years.
Too bad he wasn't there when we rewatched this classic over and over again, on VHS and whenever cable was hip enough to air it.
He woulda loved our continual amazement at the greatness in every frame of its run.
 
it remains to this day a perfect movie, for mostly the reasons in the article you posted, Rick.
That thumping, low ebb soundtrack, that claustrophopic environment, that terrific cast, those crazyfying effects that might make you insane if you think about such creatures too long.
 
Rob Bottin emerged an effects god out of this.
Fangoria magazine fed us the skinny on upcoming fantastical features to keep an eye on.
This movie was highly anticipated as a result, from it readers.
 
ah man, what a time that was
 
Things are just as cool today, only different.
Pacing ourselves through effects tidbits from Fangoria, knowing Carpenter's craftsman reputation and Russel's hero presence would make this high adventure.
It all led to one night of explosive joy.
 
To me, that is what The Thing is all about.
 
One of my top movies, as well.

Saw Carpenter's The Thing at the movies when it came out.
Terrific stunner that was way ahead of the gore/splooshy horror trend that would eventually come about, springing out of the slasher genre like Freddy Krueger's hand out of a narcoleptic victim's chest.
 
And ooh yeah, great chest scene in The Thing.
 
The movie went over like gangbusters with us teens. That night with the crowd hollering and hooting along with the movie's expert pacing, Carpenter had won his bet to make an edgy and unfilmable story come to life and entertain like nothing else.
Unfortunately, while the gross-out was cool for young folks, movie sales in the 80s weren't aimed at this market, and the older crowds harrumphed or ignored the call.
 
It was a bet indeed. And this fave director of mine remained sore about it for years.
Too bad he wasn't there when we rewatched this classic over and over again, on VHS and whenever cable was hip enough to air it.
He woulda loved our continual amazement at the greatness in every frame of its run.
 
it remains to this day a perfect movie, for mostly the reasons in the article you posted, Rick.
That thumping, low ebb soundtrack, that claustrophopic environment, that terrific cast, those crazyfying effects that might make you insane if you think about such creatures too long.
 
Rob Bottin emerged an effects god out of this.
Fangoria magazine fed us the skinny on upcoming fantastical features to keep an eye on.
This movie was highly anticipated as a result, from it readers.
 
ah man, what a time that was
 
Things are just as cool today, only different.
Pacing ourselves through effects tidbits from Fangoria, knowing Carpenter's craftsman reputation and Russel's hero presence would make this high adventure.
It all led to one night of explosive joy.
 
To me, that is what The Thing is all about.
 
One of my top movies, as well.

Saw Carpenter's The Thing at the movies when it came out.
Terrific stunner that was way ahead of the gore/splooshy horror trend that would eventually come about, springing out of the slasher genre like Freddy Krueger's hand out of a narcoleptic victim's chest.
 
And ooh yeah, great chest scene in The Thing.
 
The movie went over like gangbusters with us teens. That night with the crowd hollering and hooting along with the movie's expert pacing, Carpenter had won his bet to make an edgy and unfilmable story come to life and entertain like nothing else.
Unfortunately, while the gross-out was cool for young folks, movie sales in the 80s weren't aimed at this market, and the older crowds harrumphed or ignored the call.
 
It was a bet indeed. And this fave director of mine remained sore about it for years.
Too bad he wasn't there when we rewatched this classic over and over again, on VHS and whenever cable was hip enough to air it.
He woulda loved our continual amazement at the greatness in every frame of its run.
 
it remains to this day a perfect movie, for mostly the reasons in the article you posted, Rick.
That thumping, low ebb soundtrack, that claustrophopic environment, that terrific cast, those crazyfying effects that might make you insane if you think about such creatures too long.
 
Rob Bottin emerged an effects god out of this.
Fangoria magazine fed us the skinny on upcoming fantastical features to keep an eye on.
This movie was highly anticipated as a result, from it readers.
 
ah man, what a time that was
 
Things are just as cool today, only different.
Pacing ourselves through effects tidbits from Fangoria, knowing Carpenter's craftsman reputation and Russel's hero presence would make this high adventure.
It all led to one night of explosive joy.
 
To me, that is what The Thing is all about.
 
One of my top movies, as well.

I was just reading this article:
 
http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2017/6-reasons-why-the-thing-is-a-masterpiece-of-horror-cinema/
 
I had no idea the film was hated originally and got such bad reviews.  All I know was that teenage me LOVED this movie.  I've said it before that this is my all-time favorite horror film. 
 
Anyone else here love this film?
 
One thing I will say -- it's probably been a good 30 years since I've watched it again.  Maybe my memory isn't that good.  I'm going to try to watch it again now as an older person and see if it holds up.  Who is with me on this? 
 
 

I love this.
Reminds me of an era that brought industrial music into my life (and a whole lotta cool people along the way).
Bands like Einstuerzende Neubauten, Bauhaus, Front 242 and, eventually, Nine Inch Nails (which seemed to bring it all back to this side of the Atlantic), all of whom matched my steam engine trudging forward attitude - at the time.
 
The music, like the people, faded away into memories as pathways are wont to do.
 
It's good to get that sense of retro energy back with Welle Erdball.
Yeah, those SID sounds reverberate the electronic youth we all once had as a living experience - and still hold today within our same beating hearts (even if the engine now trudges at a more 'deliberate' pace).
 
yup
love it

I love this.
Reminds me of an era that brought industrial music into my life (and a whole lotta cool people along the way).
Bands like Einstuerzende Neubauten, Bauhaus, Front 242 and, eventually, Nine Inch Nails (which seemed to bring it all back to this side of the Atlantic), all of whom matched my steam engine trudging forward attitude - at the time.
 
The music, like the people, faded away into memories as pathways are wont to do.
 
It's good to get that sense of retro energy back with Welle Erdball.
Yeah, those SID sounds reverberate the electronic youth we all once had as a living experience - and still hold today within our same beating hearts (even if the engine now trudges at a more 'deliberate' pace).
 
yup
love it

Love this version, it speaks to me lately more than ever. In these hectic times I find it soothing to listen to. 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b1OwCG8WN8&app=desktop

I like the music of Welle Erdball. They call the C64 a band member and have an own sound and  aesthetic appeal. Here are some songs and appearences:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCNbnUXW9JA
A live appearence. VERY good!
 

A song called Deutsche Liebe
 

Liebe der 3. Art
 

Schweben, Fliegen, Fallen
 

1000 Engel
 

Arbeit adelt

Loved your review and truly agree with your rating, NSG.
This one meant a lot to me back in my whippersnapper-cube days and as a grown square today.
 
Yeah, played it daily, along with some of my top ten for quick star-mastery starship captain action and bird-plane-man-hero picking up bridge pieces (coincidence? I think not).
Adventure has always been the most satisfying, in random mode.
 
Just like life, you never know where the things you need are, or if they are out of your reach for good.
You get a hold of that special thing which will bring you closer to your goals, only to have unstoppable forces bear down on you and either stop you cold, or rob you blind (or both).
 
But once you get ahead and can open the right doors, even lock up your feared flying klepto away for good, stop feeding the ducks with a healthy dose of swordplay, and then find that shiny cup of life - its very magical essence flashing unlike anything else around you - well then, you are just a step away from your reward as the game offers a pleasant techno-rave and ends the struggle with the promise of a happy ending, the moment the Magic Chalice is brought through the Golden gates.
 
Yes, this tiny but epic victory will always be worth the journey of switching on and resetting yourself back into the ride.
It's a perfect simulacrum for existence itself, therefore I will always be an Adventure Square, whether I'm typing on a keyboard, riding the subway, or gazing at the stars.
 
I'm sure there are many Pitfall Harrys out there. I've met some and they are fantastically cool.
But they are (and have to be) always on the move. And they know where they are going, where things are.
I have been known to just sit there and sigh as one of the dragons (usually Rhindle, who does lots of cardio) gulps me up and also sits there, slowly digesting me, or simply relaxing on a full stomach after a hard day's chase.
 
Sure, we got the magic to reset the entire kingdom back to life.
But sometimes a good sit is worth a thousand snores.
 
ehh...what was I talking about?
Oh yeah, thanks for spreading the word, NSG.
 
Also makes sense to observe that Zelda took the mantle for the next gamer set who liked their adventurin' a bit more spritey.
I was mesmerized by its ride, when I got the chance to travel this other kingdom.
And its success as a franchise brings me such joy (even though I haven't caught up with the many releases) because it means we are not alone in adopting a view of life as an adventure to conquer.
And as such, it makes this big old randomized world a bit cozier, in shared like-mindedness.
 
Everybody play a Game 3 today, and find your Chalice.

Hi Guys!
 
My first video is now live!  It can be watched here in a blog posting or on my YouTube Channel.  I hope you enjoy it!
 
http://forums.atari.io/index.php/blog/8/entry-68-december-2016-pick-ups-episode-1/
 

 
Feedback is appreciated and welcomed.  Thanks for watching.

This is great!
 
So good to see pac gags after all these years.

Atari's Night Driver was actually a knockoff of Dr-Ing. Reiner Foerst's Nurburgring 1, as was Ted Michon's Night Racer.  Here's more info about them:
 
http://jalopnik.com/5906386/meet-the-doctor-engineer-who-basically-invented-the-modern-racing-game
 
http://weltenschule.de/vgames/Nuerburg/Nuerburgring.html
 
http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=night-racer-sit-down-model&page=detail&id=1393

Love seeing this homage to our grand-daddy console!
Makes sense to call back to the early years of driving sims with a visual reminder of where it all started.
Although the true originator of Atari driving was Night Driver, and its ingenious use of basic graphics and the natural feel of the paddle controller for steering made it a Four-Star game in that first landing of the VCS and its carts in the household.
Anybody could pick it up and start driving in an instant (and instantly start crashing with the sensitive steering) and it made for addictive gameplay.
Night Driver was the best example of why one should own an Atari VCS, next to Space Invaders.
Few people recognized the brillance of Adventure or Superman (their loss! my turn!).
 
But it makes sense to pay respect to Pole Position in this case.
Makes the evolution point more clearly by skipping the primal step (and its arcade originator and name are staples of gaming history, in general).
 
Also, I find it cool this pic involuntarily(?) pays homage to that familiar cathode ray tube apparatus which became part of our family, as well.

Love seeing this homage to our grand-daddy console!
Makes sense to call back to the early years of driving sims with a visual reminder of where it all started.
Although the true originator of Atari driving was Night Driver, and its ingenious use of basic graphics and the natural feel of the paddle controller for steering made it a Four-Star game in that first landing of the VCS and its carts in the household.
Anybody could pick it up and start driving in an instant (and instantly start crashing with the sensitive steering) and it made for addictive gameplay.
Night Driver was the best example of why one should own an Atari VCS, next to Space Invaders.
Few people recognized the brillance of Adventure or Superman (their loss! my turn!).
 
But it makes sense to pay respect to Pole Position in this case.
Makes the evolution point more clearly by skipping the primal step (and its arcade originator and name are staples of gaming history, in general).
 
Also, I find it cool this pic involuntarily(?) pays homage to that familiar cathode ray tube apparatus which became part of our family, as well.

Love seeing this homage to our grand-daddy console!
Makes sense to call back to the early years of driving sims with a visual reminder of where it all started.
Although the true originator of Atari driving was Night Driver, and its ingenious use of basic graphics and the natural feel of the paddle controller for steering made it a Four-Star game in that first landing of the VCS and its carts in the household.
Anybody could pick it up and start driving in an instant (and instantly start crashing with the sensitive steering) and it made for addictive gameplay.
Night Driver was the best example of why one should own an Atari VCS, next to Space Invaders.
Few people recognized the brillance of Adventure or Superman (their loss! my turn!).
 
But it makes sense to pay respect to Pole Position in this case.
Makes the evolution point more clearly by skipping the primal step (and its arcade originator and name are staples of gaming history, in general).
 
Also, I find it cool this pic involuntarily(?) pays homage to that familiar cathode ray tube apparatus which became part of our family, as well.