The 8 Bit Files

In this episode, the guys talk about John's experience with the MiSTER Pi, the new fully compatible MiSTer FPGA solution. And Dave talks about his fun time building the Atari 2600 lego set, and his new video capture setup.

And we are now on DISCORD!

* Join us: https://discord.com/invite/CZBSpHWr

In this episode, the guys talk about their excitement for the newly announced "The Spectrum" ZX Spectrum remake from Retro games, and all things Spectrum related.
John also talks about the MiSTER Pi and his excitement about joining the MiSTer community. And Dave talks about his experiences using AI to do Commodore 64 game programming.
Links:
MiSTER Pi: https://retroremake.co/

In this episode, the guys talk about their memories of the Atari ST line of computers. Dave also reviews his experience with the 8BitDo Commodore 64 inspired keyboard, and John mentions an update on emulating the ST on the Atari Gamestation Pro.

In this episode, the guys talk about memories of old computer magazines, Dave talks about Boatfest, and a lot more.

In this episode, the guys talk about the iconic Intellivision gaming console, including games, peripherals and their personal memories. They also talk about a cool light pen project for the Vectrex, MiSTer clone boards, and about the upcoming Boatfest retro computing event in Hurrican West Virginia.
Links:
MiSTer clone board: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RSrzM7dM-Y
Boatfest: https://boatfest.info

In this episode, the guys talk about the Delta retro emulator for iOS, which allows emulation of retro gaming on iPhones and iPads. They also talk about Dave's recent acquisition of an original Famicom, and more.

In this episode, the guys talk about John's hands on experience with the new Atari 400 mini console. They also talk about a bluetooth controller solution for your 8 bit game console and an awesome new C64 themed mechanical keyboard.

Episode notes:

Atari 400 mini -first thoughts

DB9-BT dongle project - reddit, Github

8Bit Do C64 Keyboard

In this episode, Dave and John talk all about their love and experiences with Joysticks, from retro to modern. They also talk about Dave's new Ultimate II+ cartridge, and the MovieCart for the Atari 2600.

In this episode, the guys cover a variety of topics - hands on with the Atari 2600 plus, exciting updates to the Atari GameStation Pro firmware, and they talk about old catalog (Sears, etc) retro memories.

In this episode, John and Dave talk about their experiences with the Atari Gamestation Pro and then discuss the recently announced THE400 Mini console.

In this episode of "The 8-Bit Files," hosts John and Dave talk all about their experiences and memories of the iconic Commodore VIC 20 8-bit computer. The guys also talk about memories of the original XBOX console.

In this episode, the guys talk about their childhood and current-day 8 bit holiday memories and traditions. The guys also cover a range of topics, including their 2023 retro holiday plans.

In this episode, John and Dave talk all about the ins and outs of the Steam Deck handheld gaming console, including how it works as a great way to emulate retro games and other consoles.

The guys also talk about the Commodore PET and some cool new PETSCII based games for the PET computer, and some of John's recent auction finds.

Links:

Steam Deck: https://www.steamdeck.com/en/

Emudeck: https://www.emudeck.com/

Jimbo's PETSCII games: https://jimbo.itch.io/

In this episode, John and Dave talk all about one of John's favorite new handheld gaming devices, the Miyoo Mini Plus. The guys talk about the Onion OS, and the various emulators supported on the device, and general experience playing retro games using the Miyoo Mini Plus.

The guys also talk about a cool Atari 8 bit project called the A8PicoCart, which is a low cost way to emulate cartridges on your Atari 8 bit machine.

Links:

Miyoo Mini Plus: https://miyoominiv2.com/

Onion OS: https://github.com/OnionUI/Onion

A8PicoCart: https://forums.atariage.com/topic/351546-a8picocart-unocart-on-a-raspberry-pi-pico/

In this episode, John and Dave talk all about the iconic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). They discuss their personal memories of the NES, hardware peripherals, games and more.

The guys also talk about their recent auction retro finds.

In this episode of the 8 Bit Files, the guys talk about the MiSTer FPGA and how it can be used to emulate err.. We mean simulate retro computers, game consoles and a lot more.  The guys talk about the MiSTer’s features, how it compares to real hardware, and more.

John and Dave also talk about Atari’s recent acquisition of the online Atari fan/resource site, AtariAge.  

Links:

MiSTer FPGA Forum: https://misterfpga.org/viewforum.php?f=28&sid=be2dcaa927ec3edc915c8677c67f4a08

MiSTer Addons: https://misteraddons.com/

AtariAge + Atari Q&A thread: 

https://forums.atariage.com/topic/354589-atariage-atari-qa/

In this episode of "The 8-Bit Files," hosts John and Dave talk all about the recently announced Atari 2600+ game console.  The Atari 2600+ is an updated version of the iconic Atari 2600, which has been enhanced with HDMI output, a widescreen mode and more.  The guys debate the pros and cons of the Atari 2600+ and John may or may not end up ordering one!

The guys also talk about listener feedback and more.

Links:

Atari 2600+: https://atari.com/products/atari-2600-plus

Southern Amis BBS project: https://www.southernamis.com/ 

Commodore Chronicles podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/commodorechronicles

Rob Flack O'Hara podcasts: https://podcast.robohara.com/

In this episode, the guys delve deep into the world of handheld emulation gaming devices. They discuss tips about which handheld devices to choose, which to avoid, and more. They talk about the Odroid, Bittboy, and Anbernic devices among others. The guys also talk about emulation on the Steamdeck.

In this episode of "The 8-Bit Files" John and Dave talk all about their experience using BASIC programming on their 8 bit computers like the C64 and Atari 800XL.

The guys share stories about how they learned BASIC programming and some of the projects they worked on. They also discuss modern programming tools like CBM64Studio, XCBasic and more.

They also share reader feedback and are encouraging you to send your stories in to the8bitfiles@gmail.com.

Links:

XC-Basic: https://xc-basic.net/doku.php?id=v3:start

CBM Prg Studio: https://www.ajordison.co.uk/download.html

In this episode of "The 8-Bit Files" John and Dave talk all about the iconic Commodore 64 Computer. The guys talk about the C64's timeline and history, different models, hardware, peripherals, modern hardware addons, popular games, and personal memories and more.

They also talk about John's experience so far with the FujiNet on his Atari 800XL.

Links:

C64 Christmas demo: https://archive.org/details/sxchristmasdemo

Compute's Gazette archive: https://archive.org/details/compute-gazette

Commodore 64 models: https://deskthority.net/wiki/Commodore_64

In this episode of "The 8-Bit Files," hosts John and Dave delve into the world of Atari 8-bit computers. John shares his personal experiences of owning and discovering these computers. The guys discuss the Atari 400, 800, 600XL, 800XL, and other models, exploring their features and compatibility. The hosts reminisce about their first encounters with Atari computers, the peripherals that accompanied them, and the transition from consoles like the Atari 2600 to the more powerful 8-bit computers. They touch on the availability of software, the absence of the internet in those days, and how magazines played a role in building anticipation for games. The discussion also covers tape drives, floppy drives, loading times, and modern hardware devices like Fujinet.

Links:

ANTIC Magazine archive: https://archive.org/details/antic-magazine

AtariAge - one of the largest and most active online communities dedicated to Atari systems: https://www.atariage.com

Atari Mania - a comprehensive resource for Atari 8-bit software and games: https://www.atarimania.com

Fujinet - a multi-peripheral emulator and WiFi network device for vintage computers: https://fujinet.online/

In this episode, John and Dave talk about the Atari VCS/2600, the iconic console that launched the video game industry in the late 1970s.  Whether you grew up playing Atari or you're just curious about its history and legacy, this episode will take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.  The guys discuss their favourite (and not so favourite) 2600 games, hardware peripherals, personal memories, and more.

Links:

Atari 2600 hardware: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600_hardware

Atari 2600 homebrew: https://atariage.com/store/

Stella Atari 2600 emulator: https://stella-emu.github.io/

Atari 50th: The Anniversary Celebration: https://atari.com/products/atari-50th-the-anniversary-celebration

Harmony Cartridge: http://harmony.atariage.com/Site/Harmony.html

In this episode, John and Dave talk about Multicarts & SD based storage solutions for 8 bit computers and gaming consoles.  

These devices let you load hundreds of games from a single memory card and play them on your original hardware. Some of them even support advanced features like flash cartridges, speed loaders and co-processors. 

Dave also talks about the WiC64, a device that lets you connect your original Commodore computer to the internet.

Links:

SD2IEC: ⁠https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/index.php/sd2iec-info⁠

Pi1541: ⁠https://cbm-pi1541.firebaseapp.com/⁠

SIO2SD: ⁠http://sio2sd.org/index.html⁠

Fujinet: ⁠https://fujinet.online/⁠

Kung Fu Flash: ⁠https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/kung-fu-flash.html⁠

PiTrex: ⁠http://www.ombertech.com/pitrex.php⁠

Harmony Cartridge: ⁠https://harmony.atariage.com/Site/Harmony.html⁠ WiC64: ⁠https://www.wic64.de/⁠

In this episode, John and Dave talk about one of the most unique and innovative 8 bit gaming consoles of all time - the Vectrex.

The Vectrex was a cool video game console that came out in the early 80s. It had a built-in screen that used vector graphics, which looked different from other games at the time. It also had overlays that you could put on the screen to make the games more colourful.  It was one of a kind and still has fans today.

John also talks about a potential remake of the Atari 800XL, Atari’s 8 bit computer from 1983.

Links:

Vectrex (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectrex 

PiTrex: http://www.ombertech.com/cnk/pitrex/wiki/index.php

Vectrex multicart: http://www.vectrexmulti.com/

Vectrex emulators: https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Vectrex_emulators

Vectrex fandom: https://vectrex.fandom.com/wiki/Charles_in_Charge

RM 800XL: https://revive-machines.com/index-en.html

In this episode, John and Dave talk about the use of emulation vs original hardware when it comes to retro gaming and computing.

Emulation is the process of running old games on modern devices, such as computers or smartphones. Original hardware is the actual console or computer that the game was designed for. Both options have their pros and cons, and it ultimately depends on your personal preference and budget. Listen to this episode for some great discussion on this topic.

Dave also gets John’s opinion about the requirement for a RAM expansion unit to run games on retro hardware when they discuss the recent port of Sonic the Hedgehog to the Commodore 64.

Links:

MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator): https://www.mamedev.org/

MiSTer FPGA: https://www.retrorgb.com/mister.html

TheC64 Mini: https://retrogames.biz/products/thec64-mini/

VICE - Commodore 64/128/VIC20 emulator: https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/

Atari 800 emulation: https://www.atariage.com/800/emulation/

Sonic the Hedgehog for the Commodore 64: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=212190

In this episode, John and Dave talk about Bulletin Board Systems (BBS).  A BBS is a form of computer network which was popular in the 80s and early 80s, where users can connect and share messages, files, games and other content.   BBS systems were often run from 8-bit computers and were typically accessed by a traditional telephone line and modem.

John and Dave share their own BBS stories, from both a user and system operator (Sysop), reflecting on their BBS experiences in the 80s and 90s.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The BBS documentary (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7nj3G6Jpv2G6Gp6NvN1kUtQuW8QshBWE 

Compute’s Gazette magazine archive (Archive.org): https://archive.org/details/compute-gazette 

BBS software archive: http://bbsdocumentary.com/software/ 

Active BBS Directory (modern and retro): https://8bitboyz.com/bbs-directory/ 

How to call a BBS today: https://www.howtogeek.com/686600/remember-bbses-heres-how-you-can-visit-one-today/ 

The last call BBS: https://www.zachtronics.com/last-call-bbs/ 

Commodore 64/128 Wifi modem (Retro Rewind): https://support.retrorewind.ca/commodore/c64/wifi-modem

CCGMSx (modern Windows, MacOS, Linux software for calling BBS): https://style64.org/release/ccgmsx-v1.0.1-style

In this episode, John and Dave talk about how they got started in 8 bit computers and gaming.  John talks about his love for the Atari 800XL, the Vectrex and other machines.  Dave talks about his admiration of the Commodore 64 and how he almost got a VIC20 instead.

The guys talk about BBSes, trading pizza subs for floppy disks and a lot more!