Task: Watch the “Stella at 20” Atari 2600 Retrospective Needed: Web Browser Time: 1-3 hours (or more) Introduction The Atari 2600 was launched in 1977 and enjoyed many years of success. For its 20th anniversary in 1997, a group of former Atari employees got together
Read morePlay a New First Person Shooter on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Play a New First Person Shooter on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Web Browser, emulator, or real hardware with SD card device Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Castle Wolfenstein (3D) and Doom were my first experiences with first person shooters (FPS). I also loved Rise
Read moreExplore Mandelbrot Set Fractals on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Mandelbrot Set Fractals on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Web Browser, Emulator Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I have been a fan of fractals since I discovered them in college. I even wrote some software for exploring the fractal features of DNA sequences when
Read morePlay Seven Forgotten Atari 8-Bit Computer Gaming Classics (30-60 mins)
Task: Play Seven Forgotten Atari 8-Bit Computer Gaming Classics Needed: Web Browser, Emulator Time: 30-60 mins Introduction One of my favorite things to do is to play an Atari 8-bit game I have never played before. Benj Edwards reviews seven classics in this PC Magazine
Read moreCelebrate Christmas with the ‘A Very Retro Computer Yule Log with Atari 8-Bits’ Video (8 hours)
Task: Celebrate Christmas with the ‘A Very Retro Computer Yule Log with Atari 8-Bits’ Video Needed: Web Browser Time: 8 hours (or less!) Introduction A modern Christmas internet tradition is to play Yule Log videos on your computer or TV to help set the mood
Read morePrint Atari 8-Bit Computer Text and Graphics to a Modern Printer Using FujiNet (15-30 mins)
Task: Print Atari 8-Bit Computer Text and Graphics to a Modern Printer Using FujiNet Needed: Atari 8-Bit Computer, FujiNet, Web Browser Time: 15-30 mins Introduction Printing text and graphics to an Atari-compatible printer is certainly possible assuming you have a functioning printer with paper and
Read moreListen to Atari 8-Bit Computer Chiptunes (10-15 minutes)
Task: Listen to Atari 8-Bit Computer Chiptunes Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Sound on the Atari 8-bit computers was produced using the Pokey chip which output four channels each with a square waveform. Emulators of the Pokey chip have allowed modern Atari sound
Read moreTry an Atari 815 Disk Drive using the Altirra 8-Bit Emulator (10-15 mins)
Task: Try an Atari 815 Disk Drive using the Altirra 8-Bit Emulator Needed: Altirra Emulator Time: 10-15 mins Introduction The Atari 815 dual disk drive was developed for release in 1980 but never made it to market. The 815 featured two single-sided and double-density drives
Read morePlay Gold Rush! from Compute! Magazine on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Play Gold Rush from Compute! Magazine on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Web Browser, Emulator, and/or Floppy Disk Time: 10-15 mins Introduction It was common in the early 1980s to get software by typing in program listings from magazines like Antic or Compute!. This
Read moreTry the PILOT Programming Language for the Atari 8-Bit Computers (15-60 mins)
Task: Try the PILOT Programming Language for the Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web Browser, Emulator, and/or PILOT Cartridge Time: 15-60 mins Introduction I received the Atari Programming Inquiry, Learning, or Teaching (PILOT) programming language cartridge for Christmas in 1983 or 1984 and absolutely loved it.
Read morePurchase a New 4-in-1 OSS Programming Language Cartridge for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase a New 4-in-1 OSS Programming Language Cartridge for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Web Browser Time: 5-10 mins Introduction Optimized Systems Software (OSS) made the best programming languages for the Atari 8-bit computers in the early 1980s. Some of their products included BASIC
Read morePlay Prince of Persia on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (30-60 mins)
Task: Play Prince of Persia on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Altirra emulator or Atari 8-bit computer with 128K of RAM Time: 30-60 mins Introduction Prince of Persia is a platformer game developed and released for the Apple II in 1989. It was soon after
Read moreExplore the 8-Bit and More YouTube Channel (30-60 mins)
Task: Explore the 8-Bit and More YouTube Channel Needed: Web Browser Time: 30-60 mins Introduction I love watching YouTube videos when I am learning a new Atari 8-bit programming trick or hardware mod. There are so many awesome YouTube channels out there for the Atari.
Read moreWatch “The Magic Room” Documentary about the Atari Summer Camp (30-60 mins)
Task: Watch “The Magic Room” Documentary about the Atari Summer Camp Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction Atari ran several summer computer camps during the early 1980s and produced a documentary featuring kids at the first one. There are three versions of the film
Read moreDiagnose and Fix an Atari 1050 Disk Drive (30-60 mins)
Task: Diagnose and Fix an Atari 1050 Disk Drive Needed: 1050 Disk Drive Time: 30-60 mins Introduction Everyone hates that dreaded moment when an Atari disk drive won’t boot. Fortunately, there are a number of common issues which are relatively easy to address. I finally
Read morePurchase and Boot an Atari 576NUC+ 8-Bit Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase and Boot an Atari 576NUC+ 8-Bit Computer Needed: web browser, composite video cable, PS2 keyboard Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Several industrious folks have been building Atari 8-bit computers in small modern footprints. These feature new circuit boards with original Atari chips. One of
Read moreRead the Book “Once Upon Atari” by Howard Scott Warshaw (6-8 hours)
Task: Read the Book “Once Upon Atari” by Howard Scott Warshaw Needed: The Book Time: 6-8 hours Introduction I have previously posted about the video “Once Upon Atari” which documents some of the history and culture of Atari in the early days. The video is
Read morePurchase a New Dust Cover for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer or Video Game Console (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a New Dust Cover for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer or Video Game Console Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I still have my original faux leather dust cover for my Atari 800. These are nice because they keep dust and debris out,
Read moreExplore FlashJazzCat’s YouTube Channel for Videos about Atari 8-Bit Computer Hardware and Modifications (1-2 hours)
Task: Explore FlashJazzCat’s YouTube Channel for Videos about Atari 8-Bit Computer Hardware and Modifications Needed: Web Browser Time: 1-2 hours (or more!) Introduction One of the most prolific Atari 8-bit computer YouTubers is Jonathan Halliday (aka FlashJazzCat or FJC) who has produced dozens of videos
Read moreLearn to Pass Parameters to Procedures in FastBasic (15-30 mins)
Task: Learn to Pass Parameters to Procedures in FastBasic Needed: Web Browser, Altirra Emulator Time: 15-30 mins Introduction I have previously posted and introduction to a modern BASIC for Atari 8-bit computers called FastBasic. One of the nice features of FastBasic is the ability to
Read morePlay MP3 and WAV Files on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using FujiConvert (10-15 mins)
Task: Play MP3 and WAV Files on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using FujiConvert Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I recently ran across the FujiConvert web tool that converts modern sound files (e.g. MP3 and WAV) to executables which can be booted on an
Read moreFlash the Firmware of Your RetroTINK (10-15 mins)
Task: Flash the Firmware of Your RetroTINK Needed: Web Browser, RetroTINK Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I am a big fan of the RetroTINK device for converting composite or S-Video from your Atari 8-bit computer to HDMI for display on an LED monitor or TV. This
Read moreExplore the Atari 400/800 Home Computer System Technical Reference Notes (1-2 hours)
Task: Explore the Atari 8-Bit Home Computer System Technical Reference Notes Needed: Web Browser Time: 1-2 hours Introduction When the Atari 400 and 800 home computers were released in 1979 they were a closed system. Atari imagined a monopoly on games and software for the
Read moreExplore Atari 8-Bit ATR Disk Images Using a Web Browser (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Atari 8-Bit ATR Disk Images Using a Web Browser Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction Original Atari 8-bit computer floppy disks can be imaged and saved to a modern PC for archiving, editing, running on an emulator, or used to write new
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