popeal

Absolutly nostalgia plays into it, but... like someone said before, the games were simple, but challenging. You don't need a lot of flash and animation to make a game great. It's all about the gameplay, and lots of Atari 2600 games had that. Plus... it's the best damn joystick! Other systems back in that time had awkward controls, and they weren't reliable. I still have the original joysticks from when I first got my Atari in 1979, and it still works great! Try that with some of today's controllers... Al

Ooooh! "Cloak & Baloney"! Didn't something happen after the 52nd level? Wasn't there some government recipe for the best baloney sandwich, and if I'm not mistaken, the feds didn't want it to leak out?

Ah, well, it might not have anything to do with Atari at all, but nonetheless, still a good topic... at least it's not a whole deal about hating Nintendo again... lol Anyways, listening to a couple things right now - John Digweed "San Francisco" ..then switch it off with: Dashboard Confessional "The Swiss Army Romance" Well, how about (to make it more Atari related) what music do you listen to when you turn down the TV (or monitor speakers) while playing Atari? ...for some reason, for me it's anything by Modest Mouse, but who knows when that will change again? Have a good one! Al

Good to see that I wasn't the only one that did that, too! lol Al

Great topic! Here are my favorites: Pitfall II Moon Patrol Vanguard He-Man and The Masters of The Universe ...and the samples from Yars' Revenge and Pac-Man (because they still use them in ads for that 'video game' noise) Al

Sega was great - but I don't think they'll make another console for a very long while. Every time they made a console, they either made bad decisions or just got beat by the competition. They were making more money with the software anyways, so... I think they are doing the smart thing - spread all the good games to all the other systems so no one is deprived... But, as long as they, and other companies, make great games, who cares what system it's on? Games are games. Al

Jah, Well, with the band that mixes it up, I suggest a little Candira... they mix up the hardcore, funk, jazz, rap... it's all in the mix there as well... give it a shot if you haven't already. Al

Wasn't there some audio cassettes that came with the game? I can remember seeing this a long time ago... wasn't there three different audio cassettes that you can have for this game? Al

Always gotta be Demon Attack. I love that game! Al

I always wondered why Atari was the best - the founder was an Aquarius, just like me (my birthday is on the 6th!)! Nolan, if you're reading this somehow, thanks for all the childhood fun, and the continued fun that I still enjoy with Atari! Al

i've been saying that for years! change the background to black, have one red, and one blue, have the speed increased, and if there was any way to get the intro from 'adventures of tron' into that as well.... that would be sweet.... al

hmmm... never knew you can play it with paddles, either. you really do learn something new every day! anyways, i like using the joystick for the game, and like it better than the original intellivision version - that damn disk dial deal for that game always screwed me up, especially if i hit the pad the wrong way... the joystick reigned for it! have a good one! al

For me, it's usually Ms Pac-Man, Pitfall II, Masters of the Universe (was a big He-Man fan back in the day, although, I love the Intellivision version better), and Asteroids. Al

The moonshine in an Atari cartridge case... looks like a cool 'juicebox' to me... screw Hi-C, I want some moonshine! Al

Every once in a while, I'll have my column 'Video Game Nostalgia 101' over at Blowout Magazine (www.blowoutmagazine.com), where I do themed video game write-ups - last one was about wrestling, and I did cover Atari 2600 in there.... I wish it wasn't taken down just yet though... Oh well, I'll let you all know when something else is up. Al Also - on a side note - my web page is finally up and running! www.bulletproofpopemobile.com - please check it out.

I think you can still order them at Radio Shack - they should have some kiosk where you can order video games, and they still, if I remember, have Atari 2600 merch, as well as games.... Al www.blowoutmagazine.com www.jasonalex.com www.bulletproofpopemobile.com

....I understood it when he said "Debbie Dabiez Eiiis." ha ha ha ha! Al

One thing that Nintendo hasn't gotten right with their Game Boy.... BACKLIGHT, BACKLIGHT, BACKLIGHT!!!!! I know they had a backlit Game Boy in Japan, but for the US, they thought we wanted color... giving us Game Boy color... :sigh:... and, they still didn't get it right with Game Boy Advance. A shame, because it's a nice little machine... Now, for the Namco Museum for GBA - my major gripe? When you play Galaxian and Galaga - you have to bust your eyeballs to see everything! Too small! Only real playable games, in my opinion, are Pole Position and Dig Dug. Ms Pac-Man is somewhat playable - full screen is horrid, and at times the scroll screen gets annoying (but, better than not seeing anything).... Read my review of this game at www.jasonalex.com (had to promote, sorry!) But... the new Namco collection out for PS2 - good stuff...

It was funny the first time I saw it posted on here, and still funny now! Thanks for reposting it! Now I have to bookmark it... Al www.blowoutmagazine.com www.jasonalex.com www.bulletproofpopemobile.com

I can see Australia wanting to have the censored copies, seeing that they banned the game there... but, if there is an edited version, imagine the exports of the original version of that game to there.... Al

God, I think the playing Atari 2600 and eating at once contributed to my weight problem! lol But, as a kid, it was always Fritos, sometimes Doritos, Dominos Pizza, and if we had any, Twinkies. But, nowadays, it's usally just a piece of pizza and a Newcastle. But... now I have a craving for Twinkies... lol Al www.blowoutmagazine.com www.jasonalex.com www.bulletproofpopemobile.com

I remember that skit! I haven't seen that one in ages! Is there any way I can download that somewhere? That was one of the funniest old skits I've seen... that, and the whole Buckwheat getting shot deal - I remember there were fake news breaks throught the program giving the status of Buckwheat.... great stuff! Al www.blowoutmagazine.com www.jasonalex.com www.bulletproofpopemobile.com

Ms. Pac-Man is my favorite game - hands down. ...and for the Futureama episode - the funniest thing I have ever seen! Al www.blowoutmagazine.com www.jasonalex.com www.bulletproofpopemobile.com

Well, my parent's didn't like it either... but, after a while when they saw how enthused I was and that it wasn't just a passing hobby, they sort of accepted it - my mom likes some of the old games (she's a die-hard Tetris fan for the NES & Game Boy), and when I have Asteroids in the 'ol Atari 2600, my dad will sit and play, and brag about a high score he had (then, he gets pissed when I beat him.... lol). It takes time with all things. Just hope that they'll come around before they throw them out and you out when you least expect them to (trust me, I've had those threats... lol)... Until then, best of luck with converting them! Al www.blowoutmagazine.com (read my wrestling video game article) www.jasonalex.com (read my reviews on GTA3 and Namco Museum) www.bulletproofpopemobile.com (coming january 30, 2002 - hardcore/punk site - if you are in a band and has some music that wants reviewed, or you want a print zine reviewed, send me an e-mail at XalpopeX@aol.com , and I'll send you the info!) P.S. : Sorry for the shameless self-promotion... have to get my plugs in somehow... lol

Nah, you didn't kill the topic - someone like what I wrote, as well as other things on the page. Can't get upset about that at all. But, for anyone else who hasn't checked it out, please do so at Blowout Magazine (www.blowoutmagazine.com), and check out my video game reviews at JasonAlex.com (www.jasonalex.com), and... be on the lookout for my hardcore/punk webzine Bulletproof Popemobile (www.bulletproofpopemobile.com) coming with a relaunch January 30... if anyone is in a band (I like any music, so I'll review anything), or has a print zine, e-mail me at XalpopeX@aol.com abd I'll send you the infor on where to send everything. Ok... enough of my shameless self promotion... lol Al