502: Retro WHAT?!?

Raise your hand if you saw this coming: If you thought the O2/Videopac news was getting awfully quiet, think again – Philips is back on the scene, releasing new compilations of classic Videopac games through Steam. There are some cool things about this, and some not-ready-for-prime-time things about it, and this podcast discovers some of both in real time. The really interesting thing is what this may portend for future homebrew projects in the O2/Videopac realm. (38:47) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com Show Notes page: https://www.thelogbook.com/selectgame/601-steamed-up/ Videopac Collection 1 on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2193100/Videopac_Collection_1/ Visit: theLogBook.com | theLogBook’s Patreon or Ko-Fi or Amazon Wishlist | theLogBook’s Redbubble Store Sponsored by: Ashley Thomas: The Nerdy Blogger! The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Other music by Soft & Furious, also via Free Music Archive.

Everything old is new again! The latest directly from the developers of the potential new member of the Odyssey family, a look at Odyssey Retro’s potential risks, potential greatness, and very cautious and frank analysis of the system’s chances of actually happening at all. And if the thought of the O2 making a comeback is a surprise, the other piece of news will definitely be a surprise. (45:19) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com I strongly urge you to read the product crowdfunding page yourself and draw your own conclusions; English version can be viewed by way of the “idiomas” drop-down menu. Show Notes page: https://www.thelogbook.com/selectgame/502-retro-what/ Visit: theLogBook.com | theLogBook’s Patreon or Ko-Fi or Amazon Wishlist | theLogBook’s Redbubble Store Sponsored by: Ashley Thomas: The Nerdy Blogger! The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Other music by Soft & Furious, also via Free Music Archive.

You wanna retro that by me again? The shot heard ’round the Odyssey²/Videopac world. Is someone seriously trying to bring this hardware platform into the present, or allowing it to stubbornly stick to the past? There are so many questions yet to be answered…and this edition of the show is asking them. (21:48) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com Show Notes page: https://www.thelogbook.com/selectgame/502-retro-what/ Visit: theLogBook.com | theLogBook’s Patreon or Ko-Fi or Amazon Wishlist | theLogBook’s Redbubble Store Sponsored by: Ashley Thomas: The Nerdy Blogger! The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Other music by Soft & Furious, also via Free Music Archive.

Clothes maketh the game: The black background. The vanishing point logo with its very, very seventies font. The Helvetica lettering. Could anything ever replace the classic look of vintage Odyssey² packaging? Should anyone even try to come up with a new look? Hear from someone who tried, but apparently didn’t stick the landing. (10:25) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com Show Notes page: https://www.thelogbook.com/selectgame/501-a-new-look-for-the-Odyssey²/ Visit: theLogBook.com | theLogBook’s Patreon or Ko-Fi or Amazon Wishlist | theLogBook’s Redbubble Store Sponsored by: Ashley Thomas: The Nerdy Blogger! The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Other music by Soft & Furious, also via Free Music Archive.

Anyone wanna make games for this machine? Third-party games were – and remain – a real rarity for the Odyssey² and Videopac. But who, aside from Parker Brothers and Imagic, should’ve stepped up to the plate? Another bite-sized edition of the internet’s only podcast with sync-sound action ponders who might have dared to create more games for the Odyssey². (10:43) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com No YouTube video for this one. Hopefully the video component of the show can make a comeback in 2021. Visit: theLogBook.com | theLogBook’s Patreon or Ko-Fi or Amazon Wishlist | theLogBook’s Redbubble Store The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Other music by Kasatochi. Select Game, much like that train going through Dyer, will return.

Back In Action? Yes, Select Game is still here…and yes, Select Game still covers the Odyssey². A bite-sized edition of the internet’s only podcast with sync-sound action is here to let Odyssey² and Videopac (and Jopac and Radiola Jet…) fans know that there’s more to come. (10:21) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com No YouTube video for this one. If you’re interested in the Don’t Give This Tape To Earl podcast that explains more about what 2019 and 2020 have been like at Select Game headquarters, you can hear it here. The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Select Game will return in The Living Daylights.

Back In Action! Now with 100% less Dalek vocalization. Is the Odyssey² up to the task of simulating the physics of pinball? And if it falls short…well, little multicolored dudes cracking electrical whips will do just fine, right? Sure they well! Also, we get to test-drive PackratVG.com’s amazing C7061 multicart to play Thunderball!, Pachinko!, and Ralph Baer’s Pinball prototype, while also checking out some of the multicart’s other features (such as its onscreen menu of 200+ games). Also: homebrew previews (Cold Case, Dungeon of Eternity, The Empire Strikes Back), the unveiling of the statue of Ralph Baer at Baer Square, and a little bit of cat scratch fever. (54:48) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Special thanks to PackratVG.com (and to developer Rene van den Enden) for the C7061 multicart, preserving the whole Odyssey² library in one convenient package! Get yours here. The lost history of the RCA Studio II: Merchandising Magazine, June 1979 – “Orbiting Math Game” and “Electronic Battle Charge”!? Merchandising Magazine, October 1979 – “Whirlybird” and “O.R.B.I.T.S.”? Links from this episode: Cold Case! and more from 2600 Connection PackratVG.com: Videopac/Odyssey² C7061 Multicart Select Game merch at Redbubble! theLogBook.com Patreon Studio build & set decoration wish list at Amazon.com theLogBook.com’s Facebook page (talk to us) theLogBook.com Store

Exterminate!! Some podcasts should be heard and not seen, but now Select Game offers you the chance to do both! Well, due to an unidentified microphone-and/or/-software issue, that might be a stretch, as your host sounds a bit Dalek-ish for the first several minutes of the show. In this edition, more listener letters, game names that might have been (but weren’t), and playing the graphics-enhanced Videopac+ versions of Pick Axe Pete, Cosmic Conflict, and Attack Of The Ti — uh, I mean, Terrhawks. Because obviously, Terrahawks, right? Do the graphical enhancements improve the game? Also, how about that Flashpoint? (55:11) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Pick Axe Pete! PLUS! Cosmic Conflict! PLUS! The lost history of the RCA Studio II: Merchandising Magazine, June 1979 – “Orbiting Math Game” and “Electronic Battle Charge”!? Merchandising Magazine, October 1979 – “Whirlybird” and “O.R.B.I.T.S.”? Links from this episode: Magnavox Odyssey² Facebook Group Cold Case! and more from 2600 Connection Select Game merch at Redbubble! theLogBook.com Patreon Studio build & set decoration wish list at Amazon.com theLogBook.com’s Facebook page (talk to us) theLogBook.com Store

Poppin’ Fresh D’OH!! Some podcasts should be heard and not seen, but now Select Game offers you the chance to do both! In this edition, we play P.T. Barnum’s Acrobats! and the Videopac-only Loony Balloon, we ask why the Jopac had to have square balloons in the former, and we trace both games to their arcade roots, complete with hilarious early voice synthesis…and balloons. So. many. balloons. (53:35) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com The rockin’ new theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Links from this episode: Select Game merch at Redbubble! theLogBook.com Patreon Studio build & set decoration wish list at Amazon.com theLogBook.com’s Facebook page (talk to us) theLogBook.com Store Don’t Give This Tape To Earl (also available on iTunes)

A Deep Dive Into The Vaporware Realm! Who killed the Odyssey3? Was it a machine with underwhelming capabilities that would’ve been DOA? Or was it killed by its own heir apparent, the Odyssey4? Forget everything you thought you knew about the end of the Odyssey consoles. (53:53) Right-click and “save as” to download manually | Stitcher | Throwback Network | Gamebygamepodcast.com The rockin’ new theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive. Who killed the Odyssey3, and when? Links from this episode: Odyssey3 photo gallery Front page of Arcade Express breaks the news a month before CES – December 1982 Electronic Fun With Computers & Games Game Workout: Odyssey3 – March 1983 Odyssey4/Intellivision IV Non-Disclosure Agreement drafts Odyssey4 Technical Notes Select Game merch at Redbubble! theLogBook.com Patreon Studio build & set decoration wish list at Amazon.com The all-new theLogBook.com Forums theLogBook.com’s Facebook page (talk to us) theLogBook.com Store (holy crap, at the time this podcast drops, everything’s only a buck!) Don’t Give This Tape To Earl (also available on iTunes) Retrogram Podcast (coming in 2019)