Antic The Atari 8-bit Podcast

Bill Stealey, co-founder of MicroProse Software Bill Stealey was co-founder of MicroProse Software, with Sid Meier. They started the company in 1982, and Stealey ran the company until it was sold to Spectrum Holobyte in 1993. MicroProse specialized in flight simulation and war games — the company's games for the Atari 8-bit computers include F-15 Strike Eagle, Hellcat Ace, Kennedy Approach, Silent Service, Solo Flight, Spitfire Ace, Chopper Rescue, Crusade in Europe, and Floyd of the Jungle. This interview took place on January 3, 2017. Teaser quote: "He learned a new technique so he made a flight simulator out of it. And Solo Flight beat out Fight Simulator that year at Handleman." Video version of this interview: https://youtu.be/VFDKbseZrlY Bill on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ZoomieWildBill Wikipedia On Bill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Stealey Wikipedia on MicroProse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroProse MicroProse Software at AtariMania  The Digital Antiquarian on MicroProse 

Dan Corona, Atari Engineering Manager Dan Corona was Atari employee #9 — staring in 1972, where he remained until the Tramiel takeover in 1984. Dan was Engineering Manager, and worked in many divisions: coin-op, pinball, handheld games, and consumer.  This interview took place on November 29, 2016. Teaser quote: "It pretty much killed the company. You know, you can't continue building the same thing over and over again and not create anything new."

Steve Ahlstrom: SynFile+ and PaperClip Steve Ahlstrom was half of The 4th Works, with Dan Moore. Together they programmed SynFile+, which was published by Synapse; and PaperClip, published by Batteries Included. The team also created BackTalk, a telecommunications program; and Sherlock, a disk sector editor utility. This interview took place on October 4, 2016. Teaser quote: "What's weird is, every now and then -- and this is, what, 40 years later -- I still get a random e-mail asking me for support for Sherlock or for SynFile, which is kind of strange." ANTIC interview with Ron Luks ANTIC interview Gary Yost Inverse ATASCII on SynFile+: https://inverseatascii.info/2014/12/16/s1e6-synapse-synfile/

Ben Smith, Atari sales and service This interview is part of the set of interviews we’ve done where we talk to many of the people still out there providing hardware, software, and/or support for our favorite computer.  This interview is with Ben Smith, of Bravo Sierra Computers.  As you will hear during the interview, Ben has been in the business of selling, servicing and supporting Atari items for about 32 years as of the recording of this episode.  I hope you find this interview interesting and let Ben know that you appreciate all he has done and continues to do for the Atari community. This interview took place on March 26, 2016. Links: Bravo Sierra Computers - http://www.aracnet.com/~atari/ http://www.atari.org  

Wynn Smith, Mosaic Electronics Wynn Smith was co-founder of Mosaic Electronics, a company that produced memory upgrade cards for the Atari 400 and 800 computers, as well as the Commodore 64 and VIC-20. He started at Tektronix, where be wrote code for the OEM graphics division at the age of 17. After Mosaic, he worked on memory upgrades for Intel. This interview took place on December 27, 2016. "It became obvious to me that if you put the wrong boards in the wrong order, not only do they not work, but there's a danger of blowing out some chips." Mosaic memory board flyer AtariMania list of Mosaic Electronics games VintageTEK Tektronix museum: http://www.vintagetek.org

In this episode of Antic the Atari 8-bit podcast... 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 What we’ve been up to Bard Ermentrout’s disks Virtuoso Play Mode Sampler - Virtuoso Play Mode Sampler on Atari 8-Bit Kyroflux - http://www.kryoflux.com/ C64 microfiler + cross-compiled version Harry Stewart’s printouts: Atari PILOT Source Code , Atari PILOT II Source Code, Atari 400/800 Shepardson Contracted Math Package, Atari WSFN Source Code, Atari 400/800 Operating System Source Code Bill Wilkinson Articles - Atari Optimized Systems Software - Scans And Pictures Eaten By A Grue podcast - http://monsterfeet.com/grue/ Amiga video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws3DJF7MbMU News Megaoids Released - posted by peteym5 (Peter Meyer) on Atari Age Laser Blast X at Video 61 - http://members.tcq.n...deo61/main.html MAD

Bruce Frumker: APX Memory Match, Cleveland Museum of Natural History Bruce Frumker is author of Memory Match, a memory game that was published by Atari Program Exchange. It was first available in the winter 1982-1983 APX catalog. As part of his job at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Bruce created interactive, laser-disc based exhibits that used Atari 8-bit computers. He wrote an article about that project, "An Atari-based Interactive Laser Videodisc System", which appeared in the March 1989 issue of A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing magazine. Bruce was also co-founder of the Atari Computer Enthusiasts of Cleveland. This interview took place on September 15, 2016. "...Sounds really Rube Goldberg, but the thing worked and it produced a series of exhibits that visitors enjoyed ... all controlled by the Atari." Memory Match in the winter 1982-1983 APX catalog Memory Match at AtariMania Bruce's Laserdisc article in A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing

Steve Panak, Game Reviewer Steve Panak was a prolific writer of Atari computer game reviews. He wrote the Panak Strikes! column in A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing magazine, and also wrote reviews for Antic magazine and ST-Log magazine. This interview took place on November 28, 2016. "Companies were just sending me games to review there at the end, so I was just getting buried in games."

Bev and Bryan Wilkinson, Optimized Systems Software Bev and Bryan Wilkinson were part of Optimized Systems Software, the company that brought DOS XL, Mac/65, Action!, BASIC XL, BASIC XE, and other products to Atari computer users.  Bill Wilkinson was founder of OSS. Bev was his wife, and Bryan his son. I interviewed Bill in December, 2014, and he died in November 2015. As a small family-owned business, Bev and Bryan were involved with the day-to-day running of the company.  This interview took place on September 25, 2016 in my dining room in Portland, Oregon.  "And Bill would carry these tomes, books to the bathroom with him, and he'd read these books in the bathroom. I said 'Why are you doing that in the bathroom?' He said, 'It's the only room in the house that has a lock on the door.'" Photos, brochures, and art from OSS: https://archive.org/details/OptimizedSystemsSoftware Complete collection of Bill Wilkinson articles: https://archive.org/details/BillWilkinsonArticles Bill Wilkinson interview Steven Law

Dale Lemke, Compu-Cable Systems Dale Lemke is founder of Compu-Cable Systems, a company that created the SpectraView and SpectraView II Graphic Generator Cartridge, information display systems for use by television stations and cable companies, which ran on Atari 8-bit computers.  The company is still in business: today it is called Display Systems International, it specializes in character generators and television program listings. This interview took place October 18, 2016. "We had an Atari in Trump's Castle in New Jersey for a while ... We had an Atari in Museum of History in Chicago — they were using it with their ticket kiosks." YouTube demo of SpectraView II cart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cAlaGUoYNI AtariAge discussions of SpectraView II:  1   2 Display Systems International: http:/www.displaysystemsintl.com

Paul Berker: Adventure in Time and Birth of the Phoenix Paul Berker was a programmer for Phoenix Software, where he coded Birth of the Phoenix and Adventure In Time, which were both released for the Apple II and Atari 8-bit computers; and Queen of Phobos, which was released on the Apple II only.  This interview took place on September 30, 2016. After the interview, Paul sent me several floppy disks with the Apple II and Atari source code for Birth of the Phoenix and Adventure In Time.  "Got an advance of like $2,000, and spent it all just acquiring an Atari 800 with two floppy drives..." Source code courtesy of Paul Video version of this interview: https://youtu.be/0kXWKV1mpiY AtariMania's list of Phoenix Software games Gaming After 40 Walkthough of Birth of The Phoenix Paul's web site: http://slasherworld.com

Charles Clinton Charles Clinton was a contractor who worked on AtariLab, which was developed at Swarthmore College.  This interview took place on August 14, 2016 at Vintage Computer Festival West XI. In it, we discuss Priscilla Laws, whom I previously interviewed. Priscilla Laws interview

Paula Polley, Copywriter Paula Polley started at Atari in 1982, where she worked as a copywriter. She wrote marketing for product boxes and wrote for Atari Connection magazine. This interview took place on August 14, 2016 at Vintage Computer Festival West XI.

Carl Moser and JR Hall, Eastern House Software Carl Moser and JR Hall were founders of Eastern House Software, the company that created several products for Atari 8-bit users, including Monkey Wrench and Monkey Wrench II, and the KISS word processor. They also created the MAE assembler/software development system, which was available for Commodore PET, Apple //, Atari 8-bit, and other computers. This interview took place on October 17, 2016. Teaser quote: (Carl) "JR and I would work — we was working at AT&T a regular day, then we'd probably work 'til 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, then get up, go to work the next morning." Universal 6502 Memory Test in issue 1 of Compute! magazine Eastern House Software Advertisement Eastern House Software - product catalog Eastern House Software - dealer brochure

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 What we’ve been up to 40 Great Flight Simulator Adventures - https://www.flightsimbooks.com/40gfsa/ Atari PILOT Source Code Nir Dary’s “Modern Atari 8bit Computer” channel on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmzjD_biYJ5hQf-MoK9Ztcw Atari Macro Assembler with Program Text Editor - http://mixinc.net/atari/amac.htm Atariteca - Giann Velasquez M - “Top seven upgrades for Atari computers” - http://atariteca.blogspot.pe/2016/10/siete-mejores-upgrades-para.html Randy’s presentation on modern upgrades at VCFMW 11 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNTiEZl30Fg Ultimate Cart runs by Santosp (Panagiotis Santos) VideoGames Hardware Handbook Volume 2 Revised Edition, 1977 to 2001, The Game Machine Collector’s Manual, From the Creators of Retro Gamer News Retrochallenge 20

Rodnay Zaks, Founder of Sybex Books Rodnay Zaks was the founder of computer book publisher Sybex Books, and is author of many classic computer programming books, including 6502 Applications (1979), Programming the 6502, Advanced 6502 Programming, and 6502 Games. He also wrote or co-wrote Programming the Z80, Programming the 6809, Your First Apple II Program, Programming the Apple II in Assembly Language, and other books. This interview took place on October 14, 2016. Rodnay on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodnay_Zaks Teaser quotes: "The first 5,000 books sold out, mail order, within a few days. So it was clear that there was more interest than we anticipated." "She said, 'There is a computer in this machine?' I said 'Yes.' And she went out screaming and never returned."

Thom Graziano, CompuClub  Thom Graziano was founder of CompuClub, an Atari mail-order company and retail store based in Massachusetts. The company began in 1983 and closed in 1986. CompuClub ran full-page advertisements in the Atari magazines with the headline "The Greatest Atari of All Time." For a $5 annual membership, you could become a CompuClub member, which got you a subscription to their newsletter and access to their catalog of Atari software at "at least 25% below retail." The company only sold programs for the Atari computers — first, the 8-bits and later, the ST line. This interview took place on October 13, 2016. Teaser quote: "The Department of Defense was sending Atari software to schools all over the world ... I tried to be very up-front and very honest with them." CompuClub newsletters: http://www.digitpress.com/library/newsletters/compuclub/ CompuClub ad CompuClub catalogs

Kris Meier, CompuTalk BBS sysop Kris Meier was sysop of CompuTalk BBS, a popular six-line BBS based in Texas that ran off off six Atari 800 computers.  In this interview, I read from the article "CompuTalk: Texas-Sized BBS" by Gregg Pearlman, which ran in the August 1987 issue of Antic magazine.  This interview took place on October 6, 2016. In it, we discuss Tom Hudson, whom I previously interviewed. "What? An Atari computer did this? Yeah. An Atari computer did this." CompuTalk: Texas-Sized BBS CompuTalk gets Antic magazine award: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v7n1/awards.html CompuTalk mention in The North Texan, fall 1988: http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc119047/m1/5/ CompuTalk article in Longview News-Journal, July 7, 1985: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/209903449/ Tom Hudson on CompuTalk: http://analog.klanky.com/funstuff.htm Antic interview with Tom Hudson

Brian Lee, Synapse and Broderbund Brian Lee started at clothing retailer The Gap, where he used Atari computers for expense control and store operations. He was Vice President of Product Development at Synapse Software from 1982 through 1985, where he managed the Syn line of business software, and programmed SynTrend. Next he was Director of Acquisition at Br0derbund from 1984 to 1985. This interview took place on September 30, 2016. In it, we discuss Mike Silva, whom I previously interviewed. "So he sat nervously with $30,000 in stacked, bound $100 bills in his jacket pockets, for the entire flight over from Japan." Brian's web site: http://www.brianleeresume.com Filling the GAP article in Antic magazine: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v2n3/fillingthegap.html Mike Silva interview: http://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/antic-interview-170-mike-silva-syncalc Inverse ATASCII podcast on SynTrend: https://inverseatascii.info/2016/10/16/s3e02-synapse-syntrend-synstat-syngraph-supplement/

Harry McCracken, Technology Journalist Harry McCracken is a technology journalist — he's technology editor at Fast Company magazine. He cut his teeth on the TRS-80 and Atari 400 computers, including writing for Creative Computing magazine, and creating a game that he wanted to publish with Atari Program Exchange, but didn't finish.  This interview took place on September 27, 2016. Harry on Twitter: https://twitter.com/harrymccracken "...fact about the Atari 400 was that it had maybe the worst keyboard in the history of computing. ... Oddly enough I don't remember having trouble with the keyboard, maybe because when you're programming, it is, generally speaking, not about the speed at which you type."