The Atari Report will cease operations March 1st.

[RJ]

3 hours ago, CPUWIZ said:

In all seriousness though, forget about Cindy, I worked with someone who went to school with Jodie Foster and he would never shut up about it.  People get tired of it and it fires back on you in the end.

Yeah guy you MUST DROP the Cindy Margolis obsession. It's pathetic, weird, & sad TBH. I don't go on & on about how Loni Anderson from TV's "WKRP in Cincinatti" & TV's "MacGyver" Richard Dean Anderson graduated from my high school.

 

Not a good look at all.

[Lord Mushroom]

11 hours ago, BIGHMW said:

I mean when no-talent auto-tuned plastic insincere frauds over the years like Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas, One Direction or BTS get noticed and are put above you and the industry simply throws both you and your legacy under the bus, despite the fact that you have been going at it for longer than these guys were even born, then something's wrong.

The entertainment industry is a young man´s game. To make it as a 56 year old, you have to be very talented and/or very lucky. Almost all old people in the entertainment industry made it when they were young.

 

Maybe a podcast where you mostly ramble about everything that is wrong with the world today could attract a significant audience. It should require little work as well, and be quite fun for you.

[Lord Mushroom]

I have just watched a few seconds from some of your videos, BIGHMW, and I don´t mean to be a dick, but you don´t have what it takes to make it in the entertainment industry. 

 

It is time to wake up and smell the coffee. If you want, you can keep at it for fun, hoping lightning will strike, but don´t expect it to go anywhere.

 

I don´t have what it takes to make it in the entertainment industry either. At least not in front of the camera. 

 

This was an attempt at tough love.

[BIGHMW]

1 hour ago, RJ said:

WHAT OMG 250 I cant afford that I'd have to sell one of my arcade games

 

The only way to make that kinda scratch is to make content for PornHub or XHamster.

I can lower it to 200 if you want. I am defenitely flexible, PM me and it's yours, don't forget, I don't own any packing materials and it does cost to ship so that was why the high price.

[BIGHMW]

56 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said:

I have just watched a few seconds from some of your videos, BIGHMW, and I don´t mean to be a dick, but you don´t have what it takes to make it in the entertainment industry. 

 

It is time to wake up and smell the coffee. If you want, you can keep at it for fun, hoping lightning will strike, but don´t expect it to go anywhere.

 

I don´t have what it takes to make it in the entertainment industry either. At least not in front of the camera. 

 

This was an attempt at tough love.

Did you look at content from all 3 of my channels, because I am more than just the host of the soon-to-be defunct Atari Report.

[BIGHMW]

In this video from 2002 I am the equivalent of Hulk Hogan and Justin Bieber is nothing more than The Rock, boy I'd love to show HIM that I STILL have what it takes in this business, instead of being thrown under the bus like I am today and Hogan was in this video. I WANT MY DUE!!! ONLY if Cindy or Neil themselves say I don't have it will I hang them up and retire for good. Otherwise it's called "unfinished business".

 

But fear not, I wouldn't go as far as to take a hammer to the back of Justin Bieber's head or run him over with a semi like The Hulkster did to The Rock in this video but you can clearly see the frustration that both Hogan and I parallel.

 

Edited February 21, 2022 by BIGHMW

[Keatah]

37 minutes ago, BIGHMW said:

Did you look at content from all 3 of my channels, because I am more than just the host of the soon-to-be defunct Atari Report.

What are the other channels?

[BIGHMW]

Just now, Keatah said:

What are the other channels?

BIGHMW TV https://www.youtube.com/user/BIGHMWOfficial

 

Ray Jackson https://www.youtube.com/c/RayJacksonbighmw

[Leonard Smith]

40 minutes ago, BIGHMW said:

Did you look at content from all 3 of my channels, because I am more than just the host of the soon-to-be defunct Atari Report.

From someone who has no experience in the entertainment business, I will say that you do have a decent newscaster / commericaly voice.  

You might want to look into voiceover work for commercials or games or something?

 

[BIGHMW]

Just now, Leonard Smith said:

From someone who has no experience in the entertainment business, I will say that you do have a decent newscaster / commericaly voice.  

You might want to look into voiceover work for commercials or games or something?

 

Thank you for the compliment, see ladies and gentlemen SOMEONE here knows I have SOME form of talent.

[Leonard Smith]

1 minute ago, BIGHMW said:

Thank you for the compliment, see ladies and gentlemen SOMEONE here knows I have SOME form of talent.

There's also a time and place for venting your frustrations too.

Just some professional advice -- consider cutting down on airing your personal life and feelings about the industry.  
This stuff stays out there and any potential employer will find it and use it against you.

Just my two cents.  
 

[Lord Mushroom]

36 minutes ago, BIGHMW said:

Did you look at content from all 3 of my channels, because I am more than just the host of the soon-to-be defunct Atari Report.

No, I had just seen a couple of videos from Atari Report and Ray Jackson.

 

I just saw a few more videos, and read in the description that you are mentally disabled. I didn´t know that. That makes your accomplishments a lot more impressive.

 

I have heard a little bit of the songs of S.M.F., and as far as I can tell (I am no expert on heavy metal), it is good. 

 

I am just saying don´t go broke trying to make it in the entertainment industry. It is very difficult to make it in that industry even when you are young. But if you like doing it, keep doing it. Just keep the budget low. 

 

I am sorry I was so harsh.

[Keatah]

Good evening everybody! On this edition of The Atari Report we continue a week-long tribute with this true-to-the-letter version of a legendary 1979 rock-blasting Sci-Fi shoot-em-up of an arcade hit.

 

Ladies & Gentlemen! Norbert Kehrer presents... ASTEROIDS EMULATOR!

 

Love it! I just remembered how Apple-esq the graphics are with artifacting turned on in Altirra.

[RJ]

4 hours ago, BIGHMW said:

I can lower it to 200 if you want. I am defenitely flexible, PM me and it's yours, don't forget, I don't own any packing materials and it does cost to ship so that was why the high price.

No can do Chief.

 

List it.

[DavidC]

Hey Ray, man. I just listened to some of your stuff on Soundcloud and it's pretty good! Do you play guitar, or keyboards or anything?  Some of the music 

for the AK47 rap stuff is pretty sweet.  The metal is alright, not my cup of tea I don't like the screaming death metal too much..but it ain't bad!  You definitely write good lyrics. You have a way with words, you can write.  You are a good story teller.  I like it!  The music scene here is Syracuse is shit, nothing but cover

bands. Hardly any original music at all. Good job!

[BIGHMW]

Some rather good news everybody, I just checked the refund status on the IRS website and found out I should get it this coming Thursday or Friday, after H&R Block takes their filing fees out, I should be getting $1,452.00 via direct deposit by the end of this week, but, that still isn't gonna change my mind about The Atari Report. I also talked to my management Len Enders and he says the equivalent of pretty much not trying to revive a dead horse, in other words if the numbers truly aren't there (and they aren't) then it just may be time for me to call it a day at least for that channel on March 1st as scheduled.

 

Besides, that entire refund is probably gonna be blown on getting that new timing belt installed on my 2002 New Beetle so she (the refund) both com-eth, and go-eth.

[MrTrust]

6 hours ago, BIGHMW said:

Thank you for the compliment, see ladies and gentlemen SOMEONE here knows I have SOME form of talent.

 

Talent's not enough, man.  You have to seriously work on a lot if you want a career in broadcasting.  Let's take a look at this audition.

 

 

So, you're in the dark.  You're wearing black against a black background, and your hair is a mess.  I know you're trying to sound enthusiastic, but you're practically shouting at the viewer.  I can see your eyes darting around like you're reading something or paying attention to something off to the side.  Nothing sounds natural or comfortable, and when you smile at the end, you look like you're in a terrorist ransom video.

 

I understand you have limitations, but you've got to work on that presentation.  At least tie your hair back, maybe get a sweater or a quarter-zip sweatshirt or something (do not go with an ill-fitting dress shirt; that'll look worse than a T-shirt).  Work on reading your script so that it doesn't sound like you're reading a script.  If you can't smile on purpose and have it look natural, don't do it.

 

Getting into the review, it's tough to understand what you're saying.  Maybe you should see what resources are available to you to get some speech therapy if you're not doing that already.  You appear to have a fairly pronounced articulation disorder with certain consonants, particularly "s" sounds.  That's not necessarily a deal-breaker in broadcasting, but it is going to hold you back if you don't work on it.  You need to be able to have people clearly understand you.

 

You talk way too fast when you're doing the conversational parts.  Your "I've got to tell you" sounds like "ahgahtehyuh", and you're um-ing and ah-ing all over thr place.  Thus is not something that is going to fly in mainstream broadcasting.  If you can't ad-lib clearly, you need to rehearse what you're going to say.  If you have memory issues that make that difficult, you're going to need to find someone who can help you with that.

 

In terms of writing your own copy, you're not doing yourself any favors by writing clever, tongue-twist-y lines given you speech limitations.  If you have trouble pronouncing s sounds, you should be using words like "asteroids" as little as possible.  The first half of your review has nothing do with the game; it's all about other stuff you did or are going to do on your channels and you're referencing things and people the audience may not be aware of.

 

I'm not saying any of this to be mean or to shit on you, but if you want a job in mainstream broadcasting, you have to present yourself according to mainstream standards.  They're not going to change for you.  Make yourself more presentable.  Figure out what your voice can and cannot do, and work around that.  Seriously look into some kind of voice training and really practice your articulation, reading, and writing.  DON'T put yourself into debt doing any of these things.  You're obviously pretty literate; go to the library and ask for books on public speaking.   See if you can volunteer on a project like Librivox, where they read public domain works for audiobooks, or ask your local SPCA if they need help shooting promos for events or something like that.  Get some experience doing broadcasting work that isn't log rolling on YouTube.  Don't expect to get rich.  

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

?

[+Stephen]

7 hours ago, Leonard Smith said:

From someone who has no experience in the entertainment business, I will say that you do have a decent newscaster / commericaly voice.  

You might want to look into voiceover work for commercials or games or something?

 

I'm always put in the mind of

 

 

[BIGHMW]

53 minutes ago, MrTrust said:

 

Talent's not enough, man.  You have to seriously work on a lot if you want a career in broadcasting.  Let's take a look at this audition.

 

 

So, you're in the dark.  You're wearing black against a black background, and your hair is a mess.  I know you're trying to sound enthusiastic, but you're practically shouting at the viewer.  I can see your eyes darting around like you're reading something or paying attention to something off to the side.  Nothing sounds natural or comfortable, and when you smile at the end, you look like you're in a terrorist ransom video.

 

I understand you have limitations, but you've got to work on that presentation.  At least tie your hair back, maybe get a sweater or a quarter-zip sweatshirt or something (do not go with an ill-fitting dress shirt; that'll look worse than a T-shirt).  Work on reading your script so that it doesn't sound like you're reading a script.  If you can't smile on purpose and have it look natural, don't do it.

 

Getting into the review, it's tough to understand what you're saying.  Maybe you should see what resources are available to you to get some speech therapy if you're not doing that already.  You appear to have a fairly pronounced articulation disorder with certain consonants, particularly "s" sounds.  That's not necessarily a deal-breaker in broadcasting, but it is going to hold you back if you don't work on it.  You need to be able to have people clearly understand you.

 

You talk way too fast when you're doing the conversational parts.  Your "I've got to tell you" sounds like "ahgahtehyuh", and you're um-ing and ah-ing all over thr place.  Thus is not something that is going to fly in mainstream broadcasting.  If you can't ad-lib clearly, you need to rehearse what you're going to say.  If you have memory issues that make that difficult, you're going to need to find someone who can help you with that.

 

In terms of writing your own copy, you're not doing yourself any favors by writing clever, tongue-twist-y lines given you speech limitations.  If you have trouble pronouncing s sounds, you should be using words like "asteroids" as little as possible.  The first half of your review has nothing do with the game; it's all about other stuff you did or are going to do on your channels and you're referencing things and people the audience may not be aware of.

 

I'm not saying any of this to be mean or to shit on you, but if you want a job in mainstream broadcasting, you have to present yourself according to mainstream standards.  They're not going to change for you.  Make yourself more presentable.  Figure out what your voice can and cannot do, and work around that.  Seriously look into some kind of voice training and really practice your articulation, reading, and writing.  DON'T put yourself into debt doing any of these things.  You're obviously pretty literate; go to the library and ask for books on public speaking.   See if you can volunteer on a project like Librivox, where they read public domain works for audiobooks, or ask your local SPCA if they need help shooting promos for events or something like that.  Get some experience doing broadcasting work that isn't log rolling on YouTube.  Don't expect to get rich.  

Hey thank you, I appreciate your honesty as well as your straight-on critique of my work, some things I can definitely work on.

 

As for the speech impediment unfortunately it is permanent and even my manger Len Enders has always noticed I have a severe lisp that could effect the way I pronounce things, especially "s" sounds, this goes way back to my childhood and is an unfortunate thing for me to still have even to this day, but I do appreciate the honesty in your review  

[Lord Mushroom]

I think you would have a higher chance of making it in the entertainment industry if you focus more on doing things behind the scenes due to the speech impediment (although I realize that may have less appeal). I agree that the music to the rap is good (although I am no expert on such), and if it is true what one guy said, your lyrics are good too.

 

Perhaps you should be making songs for other people instead. Maybe you have a nephew, or a cousin has a kid, who would be interested in performing your songs. If people want young fresh-faced performers, give them what they want. You don´t even have to make new songs to start with. Just keep the music to your existing songs, and change the lyrics (in cooperation with the performer) if needed.

 

You could also pitch the best songs to established artists. But talk to friends and/or family who will give you an honest opinion on them, and not just say what they think you want to hear, to make sure the songs you pitch actually are (very) good before pitching them. Established artists are of course much less likely to perform your songs than a relative/friend, but the songs are much more likely to become hits if they do.

 

My oral English is much worse than my written English, and I can´t sing, rap or play an instrument, so I can´t be a performer, but I actually plan on pitching songs to established artists in the future (among many other things).

 

Something you COULD do "in front of the camera" is make a blog about your life. I think there would be a fair amount of people who would be interested in that if done right. It would be a "mentally disabled overcomes challenges and faces setbacks" type of thing. Be careful not to post too angry posts/videos, as that would turn people off. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by Lord Mushroom

[+cvga]

21 hours ago, BIGHMW said:

Some rather good news everybody, I just checked the refund status on the IRS website and found out I should get it this coming Thursday or Friday

That is good. I'm glad you're getting your finances squared away. That's a smart move even if it involved making some tough decisions.

 

Ray, I don't know that anyone is able to make much money being an Atari-celebrity. I will say that I enjoyed your videos. In fact, yours are pretty much the only ones I watch. They are short (generally 5 minutes of less), you show some game play, appear genuinely excited and give your honest opinion. My son and I would sometimes watch and count how many times you would use your favorite tagline of "I gotta tell ya". Probably unintended on your part but that made it fun.

 

You've received a lot of advice so I'll just say focus on what you enjoy doing. You may need to be satisfied that you're having a good time and making people happy without making a bunch of money. Sometimes that's enough. 

 

Congrats on reaching 100 subscribers and I'll be looking forward to the all new "The Atari 5200 Report"

 

 

Edited February 22, 2022 by cvga

[RJ]

Maybe you could take Cindy Margolis to lunch & ask her opinion of this whole matter. Order the biggest thing on the menu & make sure she pays for the entire meal. & have a few drinks while you're at it.

[Leonard Smith]

As a few have already discussed here, there also comes a point where you do have to be honest with yourself and realize that the dream may be over and it's time to move on. 

Regardless of what society tells us (ie:  everyone can do anything if they simply put their mind and best efforts forward, yayyy rainbows and unicorns!), the truth is that barriers exist of all types that no amount of positive thoughts or hard work can overcome.  

The best thing you can do is be true to yourself and realize what you can and cannot do well.  Then focus your efforts on other things that better align with your skills, passions and can translate into more lucrative opportunities.  

[Keatah]

I (obviously) watched an Atari Report vid the other day. The Asteroids Emulator one. I had completely forgotten about it. And with Emulator Altirra having technical improvements since the last time I played it, I was able re-enjoy the game all over again with a (slightly) different perspective and of course the evolution/upgrades in fidelity. How about that? An emulator within and emulator. One host seriously overpowered , the other struggling for cycles.. And neither being able to share resources to balance the load. But. It. Worked.

 

So. To be clear the vid was instrumental in setting up an hour or two of fun again! And it was only a 10-minute clip. That kinda thing doesn't happen with IJH, MJ, or awbacon videos - or any of the formulaic patreonated over-the-top overproduced videos.