Task: Purchase a RetroHQ Mega7800 Controller Adapter for Atari 7800 Needed: Web browser, Sega Genesis Controller Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction The Atari 7800 was an awesome game console that, had it been released earlier instead of the 5200, could have dominated the market. One of
Read morePurchase an Atari 2600+ (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase an Atari 2600+ Needed: Web browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction The recent history of the company called Atari is one many of us choose to ignore due to poor decisions about what products to develop and market. However, the recent release of a
Read morePurchase a RetroHQ GameDrive SD Card Device for the Atari 7800 (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase a RetroHQ GameDrive SD Card Device for the Atari 7800 Needed: Web browser, Atari 7800 Console Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the Atari 7800 game console that should have been the successor to the Atari 2600. RetroHQ has developed
Read morePurchase a Synthcart for the Atari 2600 (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase a Synthcart for the Atari 2600 Needed: Web browser, Atari 2600 console, two keyboard controllers Time: 5-10 mins Introduction One of the earliest homebrew cartridges for the Atari 2600 I can recall being offered for sale at Atari Age is the Synthcart by
Read moreExplore the Atari FTP Archive (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore the Atari FTP Archive Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 mins or more Introduction Google is my favorite way to find files for my Atari 8-bit computers and consoles. However, there is something to be said for browsing archives of Atari-related material. I always
Read moreRead the Book “6502 Assembly-Language Programming” by Chrisopher Lampton (3-6 hours)
Task: Read the Book “6502 Assembly-Language Programming for Apple Commodore, and Atari Computers” by Chrisopher Lampton Needed: Web browser for purchase Time: 3-6 hours or more Introduction I love programming in assembly language because you are right on the metal telling the computer hardware what
Read moreRead the Second Edition of the Book “Breakout” by Jamie Lendino (3-6 hours)
Task: Read the Second Edition of the Book “Breakout: How Atari 8-Bit Computer Defined a Generation” by Jamie Lendino Needed: Web browser for purchase Time: 3-6 hours or more Introduction I love both old and new books about Atari. I particularly enjoyed Jamie Lendino‘s book
Read moreExplore ChatGPT for Augmenting Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Hobby (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore ChatGPT for Augmenting Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Hobby Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Chatbots have been around for a long time as early artificial intelligence (AI) researchers and programmers sought to develop apps that could carry out a conversation. I have
Read moreListen to The 8-Bit Files Podcast (1-2 hours)
Task: Listen to The 8-Bit Files Podcast Needed: Web browser or podcast app Time: about an hour per episode Introduction I love listening to retrocomputing podcasts. The good news is that new podcasts are being launched regularly so we never have to go without something
Read moreBuild Your Own AtariLab (1-2 hours)
Task: Build your own AtariLab Needed: Arduino UNO, Arduino IDE software, Jumper wires, Breadboard, Arduino Sensor Kit Time: about 1-2 hours with all components ready Introduction I have previously posted about the wonderful AtariLab kits that made it possible to conduct experiments through light and
Read moreAugment an Atari 8-Bit Computer Program with an LED Array Connected Through the Joystick Port (1-2 hours)
Task: Augment an Atari 8-Bit Computer Program with an LED Array Connected Through the Joystick Port Needed: Arduino UNO, Arduino IDE software, Atari joystick, Jumper wires, Breadboard, Atari XL computer, LED Array Time: about 1-2 hours with all components ready Introduction The goal of this
Read moreExplore the Goto 10 RetroComputing Website (1 hour)
Task: Explore the Goto 10 RetroComputing Website Needed: Web browser Time: One hour or more Introduction I always get excited when there is a new Atari podcast, web page, or resource to explore. I highly recommend take some time to explore and read the Goto
Read moreUse an Arduino to Read Digital Output from an Atari 8-Bit Computer Joystick Port (1-2 hours)
Task: Use an Arduino to Read Digital Output from an Atari 8-Bit Computer Joystick Port Needed: Arduino UNO, Arduino IDE software, Atari joystick, Jumper wires, Breadboard, 10k ohm resistor, Atari XL computer Time: about 1-2 hours with all components ready Introduction In a previous post,
Read moreControl a Servo Motor With a Joystick from Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using an Arduino Connected to the SIO Port (1-2 hours)
Task: Control a Servo Motor with a Joystick from Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using an Arduino Connected to the SIO Port Needed: Arduino UNO, Arduino IDE software, SIO cable, Jumper wires, Breadboard, 10k ohm Resistor, Servo Time: about 1-2 hours with all components ready Introduction
Read moreConnect Your Atari 8-Bit Computer to an Arduino Microcontroller (1-2 hours)
Task: Connect Your Atari 8-Bit Computer to an Arduino Microcontroller Needed: Arduino UNO, Arduino IDE software, SIO cable, Jumper wires, Breadboard, 10k ohm Resistor Time: about 1-2 hours with all components ready Introduction I have always been interested in non-standard devices connected to and controlled
Read moreWatch the “Stella at 20” Atari 2600 Retrospective (1-3 hours)
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
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