Task: Play Pitfall! on an Atari 8-Bit Computer or Video Game Console Needed: Emulator, SD Card Device, or Cartridges and Original Hardware Time: 30-60 mins for watching several videos Introduction I first played Pitfall! when it came out in 1982 at a friend’s house on
Read moreExplore the The Modern Atari 8-Bit Computer YouTube Channel (30-60 mins)
Task: Explore the The Modern Atari 8-Bit Computer YouTube Channel Needed: Web Browser Time: 30-60 mins for watching several videos Introduction I have learned a lot about Atari 8-bit computers and video game consoles by watching YouTube videos. One of my favorite channels is the
Read morePurchase and Play the New Circus Convoy Game for the Atari 2600 (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase and Play the New Circus Convoy Game for the Atari 2600 Needed: Web Browser, Atari 2600 Console or Emulator Time: 30-60 mins Introduction The homebrew scene has been active for years developing new games for the Atari 2600. Many of these are really
Read morePurchase an Atari 2600 VCS Game Console (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase an Atari 2600 VCS Game Console Needed: Web Browser Time: 15-30 mins Introduction The Atari 2600 Video Computer System (VCS) was my first gaming console. We purchased our 2600 in 1980 or 1981 and then upgraded to an Atari 400 computer a year
Read morePlay the Temple of Apshai Games on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (1-2 hours)
Task: Play the Temple of Apshai Games on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Emulator or Floppy Disks Time: 1-2 hours Introduction I played Dungeons and Dragons as a kid and was thrilled to discover roguelike and roguelike-inspired games on the Atari. The first one I
Read moreWatch Peter Dell’s Programming the Atari XL/XE YouTube Videos (2-3 hours)
Task: Watch Peter Dell’s Programming the Atari XL/XE YouTube Videos Needed: Web Browser Time: 2-3 hours Introduction Programming is one of my favorite things to do with an Atari 8-bit computer. I have previously posted some of my own tutorials and some resources for learning
Read morePurchase a Trak-Ball Controller for your Atari 8-Bit Computers and the 2600 Video Game Console (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a Trak-Ball Controller for your Atari 8-Bit Computers and the 2600 Video Game Console Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction One of my favorite games for the 2600 and the 800 was Missile Command. In fact, this was one of the first
Read moreRun the CP/M Operating System on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer using an Upgraded Indus GT Floppy Drive (30-60 mins)
Task: Run the CP/M Operating System on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer using an Upgraded Indus GT Floppy Drive Needed: Web Browser, Floppy Disks, ProSystem Software or Similar, DT-80 Cartridge or Similar Time: 30-60 mins Introduction I have a fascination with the CP/M operating system because
Read morePurchase and Install a 64K RAM Upgrade for an Indus GT Floppy Drive (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase and Install a 64K RAM Upgrade for an Indus GT Floppy Drive Needed: Web Browser, Screwdriver Time: 30-60 mins Introduction The Indus GT is the Cadillac of Atari 8-bit computer floppy drives. I have previously posted about some of its features and some
Read morePurchase the Book “Art of Atari” (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase the Book “Art of Atari” Needed: Web Browser Time: 5-10 mins Introduction I loved looking at the box art of Atari 2600 games and imagining playing them. Atari did an amazing job with the artwork. As such, I was very excited when the
Read morePurchase or Download the Atari 8-Bit Programming Reference Book “Mapping the Atari” (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase or Download the Atari 8-Bit Programming Reference Book “Mapping the Atari” Needed: Web Browser Time: 5-10 mins Introduction Any serious programming on the Atari 8-bit computers requires interacting with various memory locations on the Atari. Some of these memory locations are free for
Read moreUpdate the Firmware of Your Ultimate 1MB Upgrade for Atari 8-Bit Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Update the Firmware of Your Ultimate 1MB Upgrade for Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Ultimate 1MB, Web Browser, SIO2PC or SIDE Cartridge Time: 5-10 mins Introduction The Ultimate 1MB upgrade for Atari 8-bit computers is one of the most useful modern mods you can do.
Read moreUpgrade an Atari 400 to 48K of RAM (1-2 hours)
Task: Upgrade an Atari 400 to 48K of RAM Needed: 48K/52K RAM Card for Atari 400, soldering iron, solder Time: 1-2 hours Introduction As I have previously posted, the Atari 400 is a stylish computer but limited by RF video, a membrane keyboard, and only
Read moreRead the Book “The Creative Atari” (30-60 mins)
Task: Read the Book “The Creative Atari” Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 mins Introduction As I have previously posted, Creative Computing magazine was published from 1974 until 1985 and covered all of the major computing platforms including Atari. They had a number of great articles
Read moreRead Creative Computing Magazine (30-60 mins)
Task: Read Creative Computing Magazine Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 mins Introduction Creative Computing magazine was published from 1974 until 1985 and covered all of the major computing platforms including Atari. We didn’t subscribe to this one, but I do recall reading several issues we
Read moreUpgrade an Atari 400 to Composite Video with the Super Color CPU Card (1-2 hours)
Task: Upgrade an Atari 400 to Composite Video with the Super Color CPU Card Needed: Super Color CPU Card and cables, soldering iron, solder, Dremel or drill Time: 1-2 hours Introduction The Atari 400 was my first computer. It is an aesthetically pleasing computer but
Read moreListen to the Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast (1-2 hours)
Task: Listen to the Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast Needed: Web browser Time: 1-2 hours Introduction If you are like me you can’t get enough Atari. Podcasts are one way to satisfy the Atari itch. I have previously posted about the Antic, Floppy Days,
Read morePurchase a 3D Printed Case for your SIO2PC (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a 3D Printed Case for your SIO2PC Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the SIO2PC which is a very handy device for connecting your Atari or floppy drive to your PC for writing and reading files. This
Read moreExplore Demoscene Demos (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore Demoscene Demos Needed: Altirra Time: 15-30 mins Introduction The demoscene is notorious for pushing the limits of 8-bit computer hardware. Fortunately, there are a number of demos from this community for the Atari computers. I find these mesmerizing and inspiring. How do they
Read morePurchase an Evercade Retro Handheld Console (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase an Evercade Retro Handheld Console Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Playing Atari games on modern handheld devices has a lot of appeal. I have been particularly excited about the cartridge-based Evercade handheld device which was released in 2020. I got one
Read morePlay Caverns of Mars on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Play Caverns of Mars on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Altirra or Caverns of Mars cartridge or disk Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Caverns of Mars is one of my favorite games because of its simple yet effective graphics and relatively simple and fun gameplay. The
Read moreLearn to Implement Page Flipping in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Learn to Implement Page Flipping in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Altirra emulator Time: 30-60 mins Introduction We previously covered moving data on and off the screen as part of coarse horizontal and vertical scrolling by changing the memory address of the screen
Read moreLearn to Implement Horizontal Scrolling in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Learn to Implement Horizontal Scrolling in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 mins Introduction Scrolling games like Defender, Caverns of Mars, and Eastern Front are tons of fun and I always wondered how the cool scrolling effects were programmed. This
Read moreRead “How Atari took on Apple in the 1980s home PC wars” by Benj Edwards (5-10 mins)
Task: Read “How Atari took on Apple in the 1980s home PC wars” by Benj Edwards Needed: Web browser Time: 5-10 mins Introduction There have been a number of popular press pieces on various aspects of the Atari story. There is a great piece by
Read more