dauber

After his whirlwind trip to exotic Milwaukee, Sean is back with episode 34, talking about the much-loved and highly sought-after multicart for the ProSystem. (Want to make an easy $20? Sell Sean yours!) http://homebrew78.fab4it.com/media/hbh_episode_034.mp3

Episode 74 - Midwest Gaming Classic 2018 - is available now! That rough, ragged trip down I-94 brings forth some thoughts and interviews from one of the biggest gaming conventions in the country. If this doesn't get you excited for what will be happening again in about 51 weeks, then...we dunno, maybe something else will?? (Please note: the interviews conducted in this episode are edited for time and content; full-length versions will be available for download/streaming, but as of right now, they're not. Keep watching the skis! Uhh.....skies.) http://fab4it.com/piefactory/audio/PFP_Episode074.mp3

Here are the thoughts on Midwest Gaming Classic I posted on my Facebook wall... First off, just to get this out of the way...Billy Mitchell was there despite the bombshell that happened just a few days earlier. Personally I think the video evidence against his Donkey Kong scores is pretty damning, but at the same time, I got to talk with him for the second time. We didn't talk anything about the big stink. But the feeling I got from him was not at all that of an egotist that the Billy-bashers love to condemn. Instead, in our short talk he was very respectful and had kind words for the gaming community in general. Whatever YOU think of him, that's your opinion, and I respect that, but from my experiences, he seems to be a cool guy. And when I talked to him at MGC, he certainly was a class act. But I am NOT getting involved in the pro-Billy / anti-Billy wars. Now that that's out of the way...some overall thoughts in general... My primary goals: 1) get a working Commodore 64, 2) get at least two homebrews from Packrat Games, 3) get the three books I brought signed by the authors, and 4) get the two Activision games I brought signed by the developers. Success on 1, 2, and 3. Secondary goal: get a trackball for Atari 2600/7800 that will work with the trackball hacks. Not a success. MGC this year afforded me my third time getting to chat with Walter Aldro Day Jr. I first met him at Galloping Ghost in 2015, and again at Underground Retrocade in 2016. All three times I got to talk to him, one thought went through my mind: "Wow, what a nice guy." Always a pleasure to talk with Walter; and it was an honor to have him walk by our table when I was doing my world record attempt on the Atari 7800 homebrew b*nQ, the late Ken Siders' interpretation of Q*bert. Speaking of Q*bert...a pleasure as usual to see Jeffrey Lee, a true gentleman with some amazing creativity. And I know I'm a jerk for saying this, but one of the highlights of the weekend was watching James White rage-quit Faster Harder More Challenging Q*bert. Jim, I know you're a serious gamer, and you've always been good to me, but man...I'm sorry, I got a good laugh out of that. No offense meant! Speaking of Atari 7800...some of you might have seen my desperate post asking if anybody going to the show had a 7800 power supply to either lend or sell. When I was setting up my side of the table, I plugged everything in, turned everything on, except...the 7800 wouldn't power up. After trying a few troubleshooting steps, it fired up!....and then *poof!* out again. Thanks to my friend and longtime podcast supporter Keith Sheehan for lending his power supply! (BTW, I DID get my power supply working...sort of -- the catch was the power supply's cable had to be in JUST the right position.) As we all know, there are people you meet in person who turn out to be absolutely nothing like you imagined. Well...there is one longtime online/podcasting friend I got to meet who turned out to be EXACTLY as I imagined he'd be, and I mean that in the absolute best way possible. It was an honor to finally meet and get to hang out with William Pepper and his family. (And yes, I do hope that Sophie and I can put the bitterness behind us. I'm willing to call it a truce if she is.) Bill's podcast Atari Bytes is very creative: every week he plays an Atari 2600 (or occasionally Atari 7800) game and makes a story out of the game. He also has a very educational monthly podcast called It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown, which focuses on the Peanuts TV specials and feature-length films. And people who follow me on Facebook will see me plug his book In the St. Nick of Time around Thanksgiving -- that's going to be an annual read for me. (Trust me, it's really, really good.) And few things brighten a day more than a conversation with Brian F Colin, who seriously is one of the most entertaining folks you'll ever meet. And one reason I will always be thankful for him: he and Jeff Nauman are the brains behind Rampage, Pigskin 621 AD, and Arch-Rivals (and many other classics)...and in what other video game besides Rampage do you get to eat a toilet? HOW AWESOME IS THAT?! (And yes, I do plan to see the Rampage movie.) Glad to finally get to meet Tim Lapetino in person and have him sign my copy of Art of Atari (an AMAZING coffee table book for fans of any era of Atari). Tim, it was fun talking Chicago stuff with you. (Sorry I kind of cut myself brief, I just didn't want to spend too much time away from our table. ) Also great to get to meet Marty Goldberg, coauthor of Atari: Business is Fun (and many other books yet to be published), a true gentleman who also isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Had a great talk with Tim "Mr. Boomshakalaka!" Kitzrow. To be honest I was not very familiar with him at all before this weekend, but I must say...I'm in awe of his talent. (And he goes to Beatlefest.) And what would a rambling post about Midwest Gaming Classic be without expressing appreciation for the Guys Games and Beer team? Wow. They always have an amazing setup, and they absolutely did not disappoint this year. Tom, Drunken Larry, and company are truly among the nicest people you'll see at this show. They outdid themselves this year with the "Vect-Rex," a modified Vectrex housed in an Omega Race cabinet, with a 19-inch vector monitor and built-in re-sized screen overlays (which, from what Tom tells me, will eventually auto-select!!), and the arcade-sized true full-color Vectrex. Whoa. Honestly, if I weren't going to Midwest Gaming Classic as an exhibitor/vendor, I could spend the entire show just in their room. And of course, I was there with longtime friend Jim Goebel, basically attention-slutting ourselves for Pie Factory Podcast, which we've been doing for three years. (The anniversary is right around now, actually!) I've actually been thinking lately how I really wanted to just put an end to it, at least my involvement, but we have a few changes in mind that will hopefully alleviate my burnout. Plus, we have some pretty amazing news that we'll be sharing in our next episode that just makes me realize...yeah, I need to keep doing this, there's no question about it. So...I think that covers at least some of the experience. Hopefully this year I'll remember to sit down and consider 1) what stuff we brought that we didn't need to, 2) what stuff we didn't bring that we wish we did, and 3) what stuff we need to bring extra of (like, say, an extra Atari 7800 power supply). Infinite thanks and props goes to Gary Heil and Dan Loosen. (Gary - sorry about, uhhh...practically Blues Brothersing the convention center when I arrived!) Dan - third year in a row I saw you around, and we've been FB friends for around a year, and I still haven't said a single word to you in person, but you're doing a hell of a job. I can't imagine the stress you go through every year to get this thing off the ground, especially this year at the Wisconsin Center. You and your hard work are beyond appreciated. That's all for now. I know I'm forgetting some stuff. So sue me. (Wait, actually....no, don't sue me. Lawyers aren't cheap.)

It's Monday! And when a new episode of Pie Factory Podcast comes out on a Monday, it means Monday's FUNday, Charlie Brown! In their last episode before Midwest Gaming Classic, Jim and Sean discuss, well...two arcade games and reveal a common theme. Duh. If you're in Milwaukee, come to MGC and see us in the vendor hall. (Or at least visit the statue of The Fonz.) http://www.fab4it.com/piefactory/audio/PFP_Episode073.mp3

I had a couple in the past. One I sold, the other I accidentally fried while trying to install the pause button mod. But I love that little model because it's so compact. And, you can remove the AV cable without opening the case! Hard to not love that little model. And since...others are posting these pictures...unfortunately, this was AFTER I fried the pictured Jr. (And I have since traded the 5200!)

After giving in to burnout, Sean returns with an on-topic episode (#33) with variations on a driving game, a tragic rarity for the Atari 7800. http://homebrew78.fab4it.com/media/hbh_episode_033.mp3

'm looking for feedback for future episodes of the Atari 7800 Homebrew Podcast (you can find it on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or use this feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/homebrew78) What are your thoughts on... ...Panda Racer (http://atariage.com/forums/topic/241208-my-yech-racing-demo/?do=findComment&comment=3398794) and Rider of the Night (http://atariage.com/forums/topic/249131-rider-of-the-night/page-2#entry3484126)? These games will be covered on Episode 33. Deadline is 11:59pm CDT on Wednesday, April 4. Mind you, I will take feedback *after* that as well, but if you want to be sure that it will be addressed in episode 33, I'll need it by Wednesday night. ...Cuttle Cart 2? Deadline for feedback is 11:59pm CDT on Wednesday, April 18. ...The Journey of Snail? Deadline for feedback is 11:59pm CDT on Wednesday, May 2. You can also e-mail text or audio to homebrew78 -at- fab4it -dot- com. Comments are welcome any time, including after the deadlines; any feedback from after the deadlines will simply be addressed during a later episode.

Just every two weeks. Heck, we used to do Pie Factory every week!

So...my "burnout" episode is out as of yesterday. I'd love to hear your thoughts. (And upon listening back, I noticed that I really need to stop saying "what happens is" and variations on same.) I don't know what to think about the final result though. http://fab4it.com/homebrew78/media/hbh_burnout_01.mp3

*bump

So it's come to this...Sean and Jim have released twelve episodes six times. SIX TIMES. Can they do it a seventh time? Stick around for episode 84 and find out! In the mean time, here's episode 72, examining works by Konami and Bally Midway. http://fab4it.com/piefactory/audio/PFP_Episode072.mp3

This will be my third consecutive year. (Went back in 2006, when it was only $10 admission. ) Traditionally I've bought two homebrews from Packrat Games. (Most of their stuff is only $15!) In 2016 I bought This Planet Sucks and Explosive Diarrhea for the 2600. Last year I bought Muncher and Jammed, also for the 2600. I'm hoping to continue that tradition, especially now that I'm back in the Vectrex world.

I imagine I'll spend most of my time at the table. (That is, assuming we HAVE one - we started making arrangements months ago but still haven't gotten our confirmation...)

Surprised not to see anything about this! I'll be there representing Pie Factory Podcast. Last I heard they're putting us in the vendor hall, so this will be interesting! I'll also have a 7800 on hand in case anybody wants to try out some homebrews or a couple of Edladdin controllers. My wife and I are arriving Friday night but I'll only actually be at the show on Saturday and Sunday. Hoping to walk away with a Commodore 64!

In episode 32, Sean explores zen and the art of automatonic feline location. Also featured: an unfinished homebrew game. http://homebrew78.fab4it.com/media/hbh_episode_032.mp3

BTW, Inky from AtariAge and I had a chat with Ryan Burger shortly before the first issue came out. He's looking for authors. If you want to contribute to the magazine, please let him know. I think he'll pay for the work.

Jim and Sean were getting lazy and restless with episode 71, so they did what anybody else would do: invite two guests to join them and do all the dirty work. Enjoy this special foursome as they present their intercourse on Contra and Ikari Warriors. http://fab4it.com/piefactory/audio/PFP_Episode071.mp3

Good thing I live about seven miles nearly due east of his store. It was an eBay auction...realized after I paid that it was Scott Stilphen! Heard Ferg mention him a lot. And it comes with the multicart. Probably will get the Mateos cart for it too.

All of us at The Atari 7800 Homebrew Podcast feel really bad about the last episode being late, so we give you this one early! For episode 31 we give you GroovyWasp's Bee!...no, wait....GroovyBee's Wasp! http://homebrew78.fab4it.com/media/hbh_episode_031.mp3

Small update AND I'M FREAKING EXCITED!!!!!

UPDATE: robotfindskitten will NOT be covered in the next episode, but in the one after that. If you want your feedback for RFK addressed in the designated episode, the deadline will be 11:59PM CST March 7.

Music is my first love, actually. One day in 1988 when I was home alone during summer vacation between 8th grade and high school, I got bored. Some kids when they get bored start drinking or doing drugs. Me?? I found a guitar instruction booklet from the '60s, so I grabbed that and an acoustic guitar my dad had and taught myself to play. So I'd play on my dad's guitar and my brother's electric. Got a Korean-made Fender Squier II Stratocaster as a HS graduation present in 1992 -- it's a cheap-o model, but IMHO, plays and sounds just as good as a "real" Strat. I have a Gibson Epiphone PR350-12 acoustic 12-string I got as a birthday present that same year. When my wife and I got married, a lot of guests gave us cash (we never once thought of presents or a wedding registry!), and at my wife's (!!!) suggestion, we took some of that cash and got a CD burner (a new thing then), a DVD player, and a Fender bass. Another cheap bass -- a Fender Squier P-Bass. Interestingly, my wife never actually plays it. She tried a few times but didn't dig. I play it though. And when my wife and I were part of a pick-up band that opened for Peter Tork in 2013, this happened to the bass. Anyhoo...my dream guitar from the moment I first played a guitar....its looks and its sound...the Rickenbacker 360 12-string. I tried one in a store...wow. A friend let me try his out....WHOA!!! Summer of 2013..my wife and I were vacationing in San Francisco. We stopped into Haight Ashbury Music Center. Above their counter is a wall full of various Rickenbacker guitars. I had just started a new job earlier that year after six months of unemployment. While I was drooling over those Rics, my wife said it looked like the price tag on one of the 370s said $1200. She looked at me and said, "You know, you have a job now! Just sayin'." I asked the guy behind the counter if I could check it out. He handed me the guitar. Price: $3200. (The font on the price tag made it look like $1200 from a distance.) Uhhhh...no, thanks. But I kept what my wife said in mind. When we got home I went on Guitar Center's web site, did a search for used guitars, and learned that they have an interest-free financing program. So for a much more reasonable price, I ended up with this beauty: I also play a bit of piano and blues harp.

Ahhh..forgot the link! http://rfk7800.sourceforge.net/ It's....bizarre-ish. Based on a silly Linux terminal game.

Holy cripes...next episode is due out this coming weekend and I haven't asked for feedback! So....here goes: I'm looking for feedback one or two future episodes of the Atari 7800 Homebrew Podcast (you can find it on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or use this feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/homebrew78) What are your thoughts on Wasp!? This game will be covered on Episode 31. Deadline is 11:59pm CST on Wednesday, February 21. Mind you, I will take feedback *after* that as well, but if you want to be sure that it will be addressed in episode 31, I'll need it by Wednesday night. Aaaand...while I'm at it...how about robotfindskitten? (Yeah, that's going WAY back!) I haven't decided if I'll cover this one in episode 31 or 32 yet though. You can also e-mail text or audio to homebrew78 -at- fab4it -dot- com. Comments are welcome any time, including after the deadlines; any feedback from after the deadlines will simply be addressed during a later episode.

Thanks a million, Rick!