Atari Stories

Atari Stories #13: The BUSHNELL Files! Articles about Nolan Bushnell, Vol 3 (Oct-Dec 2025)

On this episode of Atari Stories, the podcast all about Atari & it's stories, we continue on with Volume 3 of The Bushnell Files, including articles & interviews with one of the world's most prominent & valued entrepreneurs, Nolan Bushnell, also founder of Atari! In this episode, we read articles from Michael Cavicini, Sequoia & Games Related. These outline Nolan's later years from 2011 until now, detaling investments in education and gaming intertwined, the end of his robotics dreams & how he sees his legacy years later. Enjoy! Check me out on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@ballistik_coffee_boy Articles: Games Related Interview (2012): https://gamesrelated.com/gamesrelated-interview-nolan-bushnell/ Sequoia Interview (2014): https://www.sequoiacap.com/article/nolan-bushnell-spotlight-original-gamer/ Michael Cavacini (2021): https://michaelcavacini.com/2021/10/23/a-conversation-with-atari-and-chuck-e-cheese-founder-nolan-bushnell/ *** Send your own ATARI STORIES to ataristories@outlook.com to be featured in a special Christmas episode! Thanks so much! Subscribe, Like & Comment! Thanks for listening ! BCB *** Musicians featured: Tony Longworth (Theme song - Intro & Outro), Otis McDonald, Anno Domini Beats, King Canyon & Telecasted from YouTube's Creative Commons sound library. Check them out! *** Extras: Atari Newsline: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atari-newsline-the-podcast-by-ballistik-coffee-boy/id1811930267 on Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DD6ED97qqAkRbXd9DF1Bc?si=a347a548cdd84b1b *** Atari Stories Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egdzioB0iYFtREP1X8flU?si=c6adba3322d74a95 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atari-stories/id1829328540 *** The Atari VCS Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4dD5uRZ9cKr8U63WB0bmwx?si=1780844bf7484535 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-atari-vcs-podcast/id1833687444 *** Add me on X! https://x.com/ballistikcoffee Join my #Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/ballistikcoffeeboy/ Visit my Website for all the latest! https://www.ballistikcoffeeboy.com/ *** Special note to Nolan: Thank you Nolan for all your entrepreneurial spirt & drive that contributed so heavily to the gaming industry that we know & love today. The industry owes a huge gratitude to this man. Thank you for all you did & continue to do! - BCB

Atari Stories #12: The BUSHNELL Files! Articles about Nolan Bushnell, Vol 2 (Jul-Sep 2025)

On volume 2 of 'The Bushnell Files,' I continue on with 3 more unique stories about entrepreneur, founder of Atari & Chuck E' Cheese, Nolan Bushnell. Pong. Chuck E' Cheese. uWink. Nolan started many companies & innovated everywhere he walked. These articles span several decades & it's interesting to catch up with him on his timeline when I randomly pick a few stories! First up is an article from 'Video Games' magazine from 1982. Next up is a popular 'Wired' Magazine article from 2005 titled 'The Player,' and, lastly, we read a Nolan Bushnell interview over on Kikizo Archives, from April 2, 2009. Afterwards, we'll discuss. Subscribe, Like & Comment! Thanks for listening! BCB *** VIdeo Games magazine, August 1982 article https://vgpavilion.com/mags/1982/08/vg/nolan-bushnell/ Wired Magazine interview, 'The Player' from October 2005 https://www.wired.com/2005/10/bushnell/ Kikizo Archive Interview from April 2009 https://games.kikizo.com/features/nolan-bushnell-interview-april-2009-p1.asp *** Got a story you want to submit? Make sure it's an ATARI story & send the MP3 or text email to be read to: ataristories@outlook.com I'll read your submission on the air if it's family friendly and focuses on Atari. Thanks!

Atari Stories #11: The BUSHNELL Files! Articles about Nolan Bushnell, Vol 1 (Apr-Jun 2025)

On this episode of Atari Stories, I begin a year-long series titled "The Bushnell Files!" Kind of like the X-Files but without the alien babies or UFO's or cattle abductions. In this series, I read random articles about Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari. These span anywhere from the 70's-80's-90's-00's and current times. This time, I take a look at an article from Success Magazine in 1983, 'The Return of King Pong!' Next up is 'Back to the Garage' in Metro Active magazine from 1999. Next up is Spiegel Online's "No Acid Was Ever Used At Atari" article. Let's read em & discuss em! Nolan is definitely an interesting figure in not just Atari history but gaming history as a whole. Enjoy! Subscribe, Like & Comment! Thanks for listening! BCB *** Spiegel Online: "No Acid Was Ever Used at Atari" (2007) https://www.spiegel.de/international/interview-with-atari-founder-nolan-bushnell-no-acid-was-ever-used-at-atari-a-512798.html Success, 1983: "The King of Pong" (nolan bushnell interview) (1983) https://archive.org/details/successfeb83/page/n17/mode/2up Metro Active / "Back to the Garage" (1999) https://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/09.16.99/cover/bushnell1-9937.html

Atari Stories #10: "Sex, Pong & Pioneers: What Atari Was Really Like, According to Women Who Were There." 2018 Kotaku Article / Jan-Mar 2025

On this episode of Atari Stories, I read you an article on Kotaku.com titled "Sex, Pong & Pioneers: What Atari Was Really Like, According to the Women Who Were There." By Cecilia D'Anastasio from 2018. According to this article, there was some wild sexism going on and perhaps while Nolan Bushnell, reportedly, turned a blind eye & set the lax 70's "free-wheeling" culture in place. This is the author's own take on the story, and stay tuned for my own at the conclusion of this article. Do you feel we can judge things that happened 40 years ago through today's lens? What does Nolan have to say? Subscribe, Like & Comment! Thanks for listening! BCB ** Article Referenced: "Sex, Pong & Pioneers" by Cecilia D'Anastasio https://kotaku.com/sex-pong-and-pioneers-what-atari-was-really-like-ac-1822930057 Arcade-Museum Thread: https://forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/article-working-women-at-classic-atari.501969/ ** Visit www.ballistikcoffeeboy.com for all the latest on my various YouTube & Spotify episodes & ventures. Go play some freakin' Atari ! Send your own Atari Stories to my email: ataristories@outlook.com! You can type your story for me to read on the air (make it family friendly) or you can send me an mp3 file of your own audio feedback. Just include what 'handle' or name you want to go by and if I can say the state or country in which you live. Thank you! BB

Atari Stories #9: It's a Holly, Jolly Atari Christmas! (Christmas Atari Stories by Yorkies TV & fellow listeners) / Dec 2024

On this #Christmas themed edition of #AtariStories, I share 4 listener stories, including one by #YouTube content creator #YorkiesTV (aka Andrew) & 3 podcast listeners, spanning from Canada to Indiana! Plus: BCB gives some advice on living a more stress-free 2025. Bonus: BCB's favorite new Atari+ game of 2024, that you can buy from Atari today for your 2600 or 7800+! You'll wanna hear this! Submit your Atari stories to: ataristories@outlook.com Deadline for Feb/Mar 2025 episode if Feb 15, 2025! Music courtesy of DJ Williams & Tony Longworth Thank you for listening! Subscribe for more Atari awesomeness today! Happy Holidays!! BCB