Antic The Atari 8-bit Podcast

Randall Lockwood, Choose-A-Pooch   There's an article in the August 1984 issue of Family Computing magazine, by Bill Camarda — Behind The Screens: Family Dog. It's about Choose-A-Pooch, an Atari computer program created by Dr. Randall Lockwood, to help match people with the breed of dog that will work best in their living situation.   I interviewed Dr. Lockwood on November 10, 2017.   "Trying to get away from the fact that people were often choosing dogs based more on just appearance, without knowing that much about the breed."   Family Dog article in Family Computing magazine   Randall Lockwood bio   Bid-A-Wee Animal Shelter

Frank Schwartz and Richard Lewis, Virtusonics   Last last year, I received a batch of Atari disks. One of the disks was labeled Virtuoso Play Mode Sampler — a music demonstration disk from Virtusonics, a company I had never heard of.   Thanks to some old articles in Antic magazine, I learned a bit about the product and the company. In 1985, Nat Friedland first wrote about the Virtuoso software: "Virtuoso is such a unique new approach to musicmaking that it's not easy to describe. ... Virtuoso gives you a user-friendly method of tapping the extremely fast and powerful changes that a computer can control in every aspect of music performance. It bypasses the limits of traditional musical notation and uses an almost self-explanatory color graphic display that delivers mathematical insights into the structure of music. ... In technical terms, Virtuoso is a sound generator that produces four voices from the POKEY chip. You can make instant real-time changes in the voices in any of six parameters. Four computers run

Paul Wehner, APX Saratoga   Paul Wehner created one program for the Atari 8-bit computer, Saratoga, which was published by Atari Program Exchange. The American revolutionary war game first appeared in the fall 1983 APX catalog, where it won second prize in the Entertainment category.   This interview took place on October 24, 2017.   Paul's game list at AtariMania   Saratoga in the fall 1983 APX catalog

Alan Reeve, Reeve Software   Alan Reeve is the founder of Reeve Software, a company that stated in 1984, creating software for the Atari 8-bit computers. Reeve Software published a variety of applications including Diamond GOS, News Station and News Station Companion, Publishing Pro, The Business Manager, and Diamond Write. The company's games included Battle Tank, Bomber, Castle Attack, Space Hunt, and Star Intruder.   This interview took place on October 14, 2017.   Diamond GOS advertisement   1990 Antic magazine interview with Alan, and part 2   Antic magazine review of Diamond GOS   AtariMania's list of Reeve applications   AtariMania's list of Reeve games   ReeveSoft current web site   ReeveSoft corporate history

In this episode of ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Computer Podcast:  The artificial intelligence that acts as the hosts of the show laments the lack of Atari goodness this month.  Nir Dary avails us of his world travels, this time to the ABBUC meeting.  Plus all the Atari news we could find. READY! Recurring Links Floppy Days Podcast AtariArchives.org AtariMagazines.com Kevin’s Book “Terrible Nerd” New Atari books scans at archive.org ANTIC feedback at AtariAge Atari interview discussion thread on AtariAge ANTIC Facebook Page AHCS Eaten By a Grue   What we’ve been up to Tandy Assembly - http://www.tandyassembly.com Portland Retro Gaming Expo - http://retrogamingexpo.com/ Ted Nelson Junk Mail project https://archive.org/details/tednelsonjunkmail Donate to Ted Nelson project at: https://paypal.me/Savetz Interview Discussion Stewart Cheifet interview with Atari content on Floppy Days Podcast - http://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-78-interview-with-stewart-chefeit-computer-chronicles News Atari 800xl clear cas

Guy Ferrante, S&S Wholesalers and Star BBS   Guy Ferrante worked for S&S Wholesalers, a Miami Florida-based computer mail order company, where he was in charge of creating magazine advertisements and managing the warehouse. He also ran Star BBS, a bulletin board system based in South Florida, for 11 years.   This interview took place on August 25, 2017.   "There's merchandise all over the place. I can't even walk in there. I'm stepping on the merchandise. ... And I said, 'Sandy, what's going on here?' He says, 'Guy, the advertisement was a success, I need you here full time.'"   S&S Wholesalers ad in July 1986 Antic magazine   S&S Wholesalers ad in June 1987 A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing magazine   Tom Hunt interview

Ben Heck - Internet Celebrity and Console Modder Benjamin J. Heckendorn (aka Ben Heck) is an American console modder and Internet celebrity. He is the star of element14's The Ben Heck Show, a popular online TV program.  It also turns out that he grew up with the Atari 8-bit line of computers and has built a couple of mods involving the Atari line. This interview took place on April 13, 2017. Book: “Hacking Video Game Consoles: Turn Your Old Video Game Systems Into Awesome New Portables” - https://www.benheck.com/hacking-videogame-consoles/ https://www.benheck.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/thebenheckshow https://www.element14.com/community/community/experts/benheck Atari 800 XE Laptop - https://www.benheck.com/atari-800-xe-laptop/ Second Atari 800 Laptop - https://www.benheck.com/atari-800-laptop-2/ Ben’s Atari 800 Games - https://www.benheck.com/download-my-atari-800-games/

Jim Schuyler, Founder of DesignWare   Jim Schuyler was Founder of DesignWare. Founded in 1980, Designware created educational software that was published by other companies — including SRA, Xerox, and Spinnaker — as well as software that it published under its own label. Designware's titles included Creature Creator, Grammar Examiner, Mission: Algebra, Spellicopter, and Trap-a-Zoid, among others. Jim programmed Story Machine himself, which was published by Spinnaker Software. Designware was acquired by PeachTree in 1984.   In preparation for this interview, Jim wrote a seven-part article on his blog about DesignWare's pre-history, story, and legacy.    This interview took place on September 11, 2017. In it, we discuss Peter Rosenthal, David Seuss, and Bill Bowman, all of whom I previously interviewed.    The intro and outro music is Confusion Reigns, composed by Jim Schuyler.    A video version of this interview is also available.    Peter Rosenthal interview   David Seuss interview   Bill Bowman interview

Dan Pinal: Alternate Reality - The Dungeon, Atari Graphics and Arcade Game Design   Dan Pinal contributed to the book Atari Graphics and Arcade Game Design, with Jeff Stanton, a book published by Arrays in 1984. He was one of the programmers of Alternate Reality - The Dungeon, which was published by Datasoft in 1987. He also created the game Stargate Courier, published by COSMI; and worked on the Atari port of Goonies for Datasoft.   This interview took place on September 1, 2017.   "They said, 'How long?' and we said '18 months.' And they said ‘We can’t wait that long to put something out.'"   AtariMania's list of Dan Pinal software   Atari Graphics and Arcade Game Design at at Atari Archives   Atari Graphics and Arcade Game Design at Internet Archive

In this episode of ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Computer Podcast:  Victor Marland of the Ten Pence Arcade Podcast joins us over Kevin’s pancake breakfast, Bill Kendrick reviews Tempest Elite, and we discuss Tinkle Pit and Uncle Poo.  Plus all the Atari news we could find. READY! Recurring Links Floppy Days Podcast AtariArchives.org AtariMagazines.com Kevin’s Book “Terrible Nerd” New Atari books scans at archive.org ANTIC feedback at AtariAge Atari interview discussion thread on AtariAge ANTIC Facebook Page AHCS Eaten By a Grue   What we’ve been up to VCFMW - http://vcfmw.org/ Ted Nelson’s junk mail archiving - https://archive.org/details/tednelsonjunkmail News In-store Demonstration Program - blog post by Bill Lange - http://atari8bitads.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-store-demonstration-program.html user TCH successfully closed a 1050 troubleshooting thread that he started in early 2008 - http://forums.atari.org/read.php3?num=4&id=2411&thread=2098 Atari-themed Sunnyvale apartments purchased for $15.7 millio

Dan Reinhart, Yahtman   Dan Reinhart published one program for the Atari 8-bit computers: Yahtman, a Yahtzee-style game that was published by Atari Program Exchange. Yahtman first appeared in the winter 1982-1983 APX catalog.   This interview took place on August 28, 2017. In it, we discuss Paul Cubbage, whom I previously interviewed.   "Paul [Cubbage] had said, 'You know, you have good potential at this sort of thing but you really need to choose: are you going to keep building earth movers and equipment? Or do you want to live in programming and doing games?' ... And as it turns out, I chickened out."   Download Yahtman from Atarimania   Yahtman in the winter 1982-1983 APX catalog   Paul Cubbage interview

David Seuss, co-founder of Spinnaker Software   This interview is with David Seuss, co-founder of Spinnaker Software. Spinnaker was one of the first companies to focus exclusively on educational software. Spinnaker's software line-up included Snooper Troops, Delta Drawing, FaceMaker, Adventure Creator, In Search of the Most Amazing Thing, KinderComp, and many other titles.   This interview took place on September 11, 2017.   Teaser quotes:   "We invented the educational software market. It really didn't exist until we came along."   "We were making out first packaging run, we're just so excited, and all the packages melted! Oh no."   Interview with Bill Bowman, Spinnaker CEO

Hal Glicksman, Datamost   Hal Glicksman was head of the book division at Datamost.   In two years from 1982 to 1984, Datamost was one of largest publishers of computer books. In 1983 alone, Datamost published over 40 titles and shipped 100,000 books per month. Their Atari books included Atari Roots, Kids and the Atari, ABCs of Atari Computers, and The Elementary Atari. Hal himself wrote The Musical Atari, Games Ataris Play, and The Musical Commodore.    Datamost also published software: the company's Atari software titles included Cohen's Towers, Cosmic Tunnels, Jet Boot Jack, Mr. Robot and His Robot Factory, and The Tail of Beta Lyrae.   This interview took place on April 7, 2017 for me; April 8 for him in France.   "It was a second career for me. I was the oldest person there, older than the boss by 10 years, almost. And for me to be able to get in with all these young people and learn — I mean, I wasn't as fast as any of them but, just to hold up my own."   A video version of this interview is available.  

Lee Konowe, American Software Club   Lee Konowe was founder of American Software Club, a mail-order software company. American Software Club sold software for CP/M, Atari 8-bit, TRS-80, Apple II, IBM PC, Commodore 64, and other platforms. It started out with a sort of Columbia House "software of the month" model, where you automatically received a "choice of the month" software package each month — which you could keep and pay for, or return at no cost. Later the company switched to a more traditional mail order catalog model.   The company was founded around June 1981. In an article about software clubs in InfoWorld magazine, the company said it had about 2,000 members by the end of its first month. By February 1983 it claimed 10,000 members, and by September of that year had 15,000 members.   This interview took place on June 7 2017 for me, and June 8 for Lee in New Zealand.   A video version of this interview is also available.   "Very quickly it occurred to me that there was a need to put people who were

Patricia Mitchell, Thorn EMI   Patricia Mitchell started at Thorn EMI in 1981.  She worked in the home computer software division, evaluating software that had been submitted by programmers.    Thorn EMI published many games for the Atari 8-bit computers, including River Rescue, Carnival Massacre, Orc Attack, Kickback, Submarine Commander, Computer War, and Jumbo Jet Pilot.   Later she worked at Virgin Games.   This interview took place on April 27, 2017.   In it, we talk a little about about Steve Green. Steve bought Patricia's old Atari computer on eBay, which included pre-production versions of five Thorn EMI games. Steve made ROM dumps of those games and uploaded them to Internet Archive.    A video version of this interview is available.   "One of the most embarrassing things for the management at the time was they turned down a game that was submitted that was called Elite ... It was the first 3-D graphics that were rendered in wireframe."   Steve Green’s ROM dumps: River Rescue Pre-Production Orc Attac

James Burton, APX Drawit   James Burton published one program for the Atari 8-bit computers: Drawit, a graphics utility that was published by Atari Program Exchange. It first appeared in the summer 1983 APX catalog, where it was awarded first prize in the personal development category.     This interview took place on August 24, 2017.   "Many hours. Many, many hours. Late at night, don;t want to go to sleep. Just plugging at the computer."   Drawit in the summer 1983 APX catalog   Download Drawit from AtariMania

Lance Leventhal, Author of Assembly Language Books   Lance Leventhal wrote 25 computer books, spanning 1978 through 1992. His books include  6502 Assembly Language Programming, 6502 Assembly Language Subroutines, Z80 Assembly Language Programming, Z80 Assembly Language Subroutines, 6800 Assembly Language Programming, 6809 Assembly Language Programming, and Why Do You Need a Personal Computer?   This interview took place on August 25, 2017.   "Be careful about avoiding sidetracks. Don't go down them. There's always things you'd like to say and things you'd like to talk about. But they're not central to your topic and you've got to be brutal about not saying them."   Scans of many of Lance's books at Internet Archive

In this episode of ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Computer Podcast: Mike Maginnis of the Open Apple and Drop III Inches podcasts joins the Antic crew and starts a computer war, Nir Dary tells us about disk drive upgrades, we catch up with Curt Vendel about his projects including the 2nd Atari history book, and more Atari news than you can possibly imagine! READY! Recurring Links Floppy Days Podcast AtariArchives.org AtariMagazines.com Kevin’s Book “Terrible Nerd” New Atari books scans at archive.org ANTIC feedback at AtariAge Atari interview discussion thread on AtariAge ANTIC Facebook Page AHCS Eaten By a Grue   What we’ve been up to VCF Midwest - http://vcfmw.org/ SDrive2 - http://atariage.com/forums/topic/262509-sdrive-arm-preorder/page-1 Atari, Inc.: Business is Fun - https://www.amazon.com/Atari-Inc-Business-Curt-Vendel/dp/0985597402 “You Have Died of Dysentery: The creation of The Oregon Trail – the iconic educational game of the 1980s” e-book by R. Philip Bouchard - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B8JMKMC “A

John Skruch, Atarisoft   John Skruch worked at Atari from 1982, under Warner Communications, all through the Tramiel era, until 1998 when the company was owned by JTS.   During that time, he was operations manager for Atarisoft, the arm of Atari that produced software for competing computer systems; software product manager for the 8-bit computer line; and director of licensing. He was involved wth the design and development of the XM301 modem, and the Atari Lynx game system.   This interview took place on March 18, 2017.   "Atari was bleeding. We used to kid that there was a guy who would go up on the roof every day at noon and toss a million dollars off the roof, and come back inside."

Tom Hunt, Closer to Home BBS   Tom Hunt ran an Atari BBS called Closer to Home for 28 years. He also created a variety of utilities for the Atari 8-bit computers, including M.T.O.S. (Multi-Tasking Operating System), and The Armorizer (a file corruption detector). He created several languages including Atari implementations of the Brainfork and Mouse programming languages, and forks of Atari BASIC and Turbo BASIC with various feature additions. He also built a system for porting Inform 5 and Z-Code text adventures to the Atari platform.   This interview took place on August 5, 2017.   "Just as soon as one caller would get off another one would come on. We had so much going on, before the Internet we had worldwide networking — we had message bases, emails, and file mail going around the world to Christchurch, New Zealand and everything. It was just great!"   Tom Hunt Atari memories document