Into The Vertical Blank

s5:e3  Xenon 2 and the Atari ST Halcyon Days of 1989 Part 1

Steve and Jeff are joined by Tony Longworth to discuss Xenon 2: Megablast for the Atari ST, in the first of a multi-part series on 1989 Atari ST games
Part 2 will be be a discussion of 50+ games from 1989 that Steve and Jeff purchased in the USA and Part 3 will be a survey of some of the hidden gems of the 1989 Atari ST Library

Notes:
Tony’s new album - Godless Universe Random Pain

 https://tonylongworth.bandcamp.com/album/godless-universe-random-pain 

Atari Mania Xenon II

http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-xenon-ii-megablast_10904.html

Mobygames Xenon II

https://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-st/xenon-2-megablast

All music, video production. writing and game play by Jeff Fulton with help from  Steve Fulton unless otherwise noted.

Music : Into the Vertical Blank - Tony Longworth : support Tony's Patreon music https://www.patreon.com/tonylongworth

Theme by Brian TravisTitle: Into The Vertical Blank theme Words & music by Brian Travis (c)(p)2021 Taste This Moment Music ASCAP http://www.briantravisband.com/

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From 2020 for Atari's 50th Anniversary: Our Top-50 Games From Atari.

In this opening episode for season 5, after a tumultuous season 4,  inspired by some feedback, we reaffirm just why we are here and what we mean by “The Vertical blank” and “Generation Atari.

BCB #36 - "The Atari Generation" (Delving "Into the Vertical Blank.")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tRdFWpt3L0&t=1180s

“Video Games For The ‘Basest Instincts Of Man’” 

Jan, 28, 1982 (New York times Subscription required)
Opinion | VIDEO GAMES FOR THE 'BASEST INSTINCTS OF MAN' - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Not mentioned in the episode but a good resource on this subject is “The Atari Age:The Emergence Of Video Games In America” by Michael Newman

All music, video production. writing and game play by Jeff Fulton with help from  Steve Fulton unless otherwise noted.

Music : Into the Vertical Blank - Tony Longworth : support Tony's Patreon music https://www.patreon.com/tonylongworth

Theme by Brian TravisTitle: Into The Vertical Blank theme Words & music by Brian Travis (c)(p)2021 Taste This Moment Music ASCAP http://www.briantravisband.com/

Find us here:

http://intotheverticalblank.com

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/Atari_VB_Pod

Clocking in at almost 3 hours, this episode is a remastered super-cut of Into The Vertical Blank Season 3, Episode #1, #4 and #6 (2020) that cover April 3, 1982: Atari Pac-Man Day and it's lasting effects on the company. Yep, this one is all about Atari VCS Pac-Man, but so much more as well. It features a discussion with the late Curt Vendel, in one of his final interviews, speaking very very passionately about what we all believed to be "Atari's Biggest Mistake".

All music, video production. writing and game play by Jeff Fulton with help from  Steve Fulton unless otherwise noted.
Music by Tony Longworth
Branding by Daryl Litts

Rest In Peace Mr. Vendel, we miss you very much

In this episode, the brothers discuss recent Christmas, the latest Atari recharged  releases and then bring on their brother from another mother (and father) Tony Longworth to discuss the Jeff Minter Classic, LLamatron for the Atari ST.  They also disuss the Jeff Minter Documentary, Heart of Neon, and play a new Tony track made for the film. 

Discussion Video Version: https://youtu.be/D1E45ePl6rU with Music Video by Heart of Neon Film maker, Paul Docherty

Notes: 

Heart of Neon: https://www.heartofneon.com/

Buy a Jeff Minter Game or swag here:  http://www.minotaurproject.co.uk/Minotaur/theshop.php

ST Section of the Llamasoft site: http://www.llamasoftarchive.org/oldsite/llamadloads2.html#AtariST

Atarimania Llamatron Page: http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-llamatron_31157.html

Tony’s LLamatron Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxqqSSUMelI

Recorded, Mixed, Edited and Produced by Steve And Jeff Fulton

Music : Perpetual Darkness - Tony Longworth : You can download this exclusive track by supporting Tony's Patreon music campaign @: https://www.patreon.com/tonylongworth

Theme by Brian TravisTitle: Into The Vertical Blank theme Words & music by Brian Travis (c)(p)2021 Taste This Moment Music ASCAP http://www.briantravisband.com/

Find us here:

http://intotheverticalblank.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/intotheverticalblank

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Atari_VB_Pod

S4:E12 Xmas 1984 : BBS: Demented and Sad, But Social

In  this episode, Steve and Jeff discuss Christmas 1984. Tramiel had purchased Atari but the Fulton brothers were oblivious and just wanted a modem to call BBSs and download public domain software. They also discuss Atari Writer, Printers, Gateway to Apshai, and a few magazines from December of 1984. Steve’s story goes over this time in detail and the events surrounding it. The boys discuss what really happened to the Atari 8bits and video games during the USA Video Game crash during this time period by going through ads from various local newspapers at the time.

Notes

Local Ads on the ITVB site: https://intotheverticalblank.com/2021/12/29/december-1984-computer-and-game-advertisements/

Recorded, Mixed, Edited and Produced by Steve And Jeff Fulton

Music : Oceans of Neon – Tony Longworth :

Patreon: Tony Longworth is creating free music for everyone | Patreon

Theme by Brian TravisTitle: Into The Vertical Blank theme Words & music by Brian Travis (c)(p)2021 Taste This Moment Music ASCAP
http://www.briantravisband.com/

Find us here:

http://intotheverticalblank.com

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Into The Vertical Blank Pod Cast – Twitter
https://twitter.com/Atari_VB_Pod

In this episode Steve and Jeff discuss the Atari ST role-playing games listed in Atarimania.com from 1987, and also briefly go into the 1986 ones they discussed in S4:E10.  They also discuss the latest news that interests them. This all leads into a story by Steve that weaves their home experience growing up with playing a game of Phantasie on the Atari ST. 

Show Notes:

AtariMania Games List

http://www.atarimania.com/pgelstsoft.awp?system=S&type=G&year=1987&genre=4&step=25

Games Discussed in this Episode:

Atari XP : https://atarixp.com/

Champ Games Qix: https://champ.games/qix

Gamestop T-shirts: https://www.gamestop.com/search/?q=Seven%20Squared&prefn1=brand&prefv1=Seven%20Squared

Atari ST Droid Special Edition: https://www.bitmapsoft.co.uk/product/droid-definitive-collection/

Jaguar Kings of Edom: https://songbird-productions.com/product/kings-of-edom/

Credits

Recorded, Mixed, Edited and Produced by Steve And Jeff Fulton

Music : Beneath The Light of a Winter’s Moon– Tony Longworth :

Patreon: Tony Longworth is creating free music for everyone | Patreon

Theme by Brian TravisTitle: Into The Vertical Blank theme Words & music by Brian Travis (c)(p)2021 Taste This Moment Music ASCAP
http://www.briantravisband.com/

Find us here:

http://intotheverticalblank.com

Into the Vertical Blank: Generation Atari | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/intotheverticalblank

Into The Vertical Blank Pod Cast – Twitter
https://twitter.com/Atari_VB_Pod

S4:E10: Atari  ST Games the Early Years

In this Episode, we cover the Atari ST, released in 1985 and what we consider to be the best "launch" titles for the system release in 1985 and 86. Of course these are not necessarily Launch Titles as computers rarely have them, but our favorite early years ST games.
We have gone  through all of the Atari ST games released before 1987 using the excellent atarimaina.com database. We consider the first 18 months of the ST’s life as the launch period before most of the big games started being developed and huge European software houses began to flood the market with games.

This is the list of games we recommend that the new Atari should re-release on a pack for the VCS and re-make as new games if possible. 

We purchased our 520 ST in January of 1987 and had access to most of these titles. It would be another year before we would  start getting a lot of new UK and European games, and we’ll cover those later, but these are what we feel are the best in various genres for the ST during our pivotal move from 8 to 16 bit gaming.  There are more we could add to the list and your list might vary. Let us know if  if we missed any of your favorites.

Recorded, Mixed, Edited and Produced by Steve And Jeff Fulton

Music : Don’t Go Into The Woods – Tony Longworth :

Patreon: Tony Longworth is creating free music for everyone | Patreon

Theme by Brian TravisTitle: Into The Vertical Blank theme Words & music by Brian Travis (c)(p)2021 Taste This Moment Music ASCAP
http://www.briantravisband.com/

Find us here:

http://intotheverticalblank.com

Into the Vertical Blank: Generation Atari | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/intotheverticalblank

Into The Vertical Blank Pod Cast – Twitter
https://twitter.com/Atari_VB_Pod

Notes:

Atarimania,com ST Games Database:
http://www.atarimania.com/pgemainsoft.awp?type=G&system=S

Charley Chuck has been found!  Atari announced recently that there will be a 21st century new console update for the game Food Fight!  In this episode we track down Interview with Andrew Marsh of Mega Cat to talk about their plans for the game, and also about what it means to make “retro” games in the year 2021

Recorded, Mixed, Edited and Produced by Steve And Jeff Fulton

Music : And The Sun Still Shines Above The Clouds - Tony Longworth :
Patreon: Tony Longworth is creating free music for everyone | Patreon

Theme by Brian TravisTitle: Into The Vertical Blank theme Words & music by Brian Travis (c)(p)2021 Taste This Moment Music ASCAPhttp://www.briantravisband.com/

Find us here:

http://intotheverticalblank.com
–Into the Vertical Blank: Generation Atari | Facebook

–Into The Vertical Blank Pod Cast - Twitter

Notes:

News Of Game: 

Atari Announces Modernized Food Fight Remake Featuring Online Multiplayer ... 2021-07-29 (pr-inside.com)

Mega Cat:

Creative First Video Games – Mega Cat Studios

Mega Cat Evercade

Mega Cat Studios 1 - Evercade Info Central

There is new information regarding the whereabouts of one Charlie Chuck, the star of Atari's 1984 coin-op, Food Fight.  We will be revealing what we know and have a special interview in the next episode.  But for now, refresh your memories of the full mystery with a remastered version of the classic lead-off episode from Season 2 of "Into The Vertical Blank": The Disappearance Of Charlie Chuck.

Recorded, Mixed, Edited and Produced by Steve And Jeff Fulton

Branding By Daryl Litts

Additional Music by Tony Longworth

Theme by Brian Travis
Title: Into The Vertical Blank theme Words & music by Brian Travis (c)(p)2021 Taste This Moment Music ASCAP
http://www.briantravisband.com/

Find us here:

http://intotheverticalblank.com

–Into the Vertical Blank: Generation Atari | Facebook

–Into The Vertical Blank Pod Cast