31 - Syndicate

It's rare, it's controversial, and it completes the Jaguar picture. Atari's JaguarCD peripheral saw limited release after numerous delays, but was packed with a remarkable audio visualization feature called the Virtual Light Machine, and bundled with a non-trivial percentage of the Jaguar's total commercial CD library. In this episode, we dig through the development timeline both for the hardware itself as well as the Virtual Light Machine, go into perhaps a bit too much detail regarding the 81 VLM effects, marvel at Edge Magazine's JaguarCD coverage, talk about the Tempest 2000 Soundtrack CD also included in the box, and cover the separate-but-necessary MemoryTrack cartridge and it lofty ambitions for game data storage. Also included is feedback from Troff, Graymane Shadow, Editorb, and Aritheus! All that plus Storytime can be found in this slow-loading installment of the Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast. Full shownotes can be found at https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/19767-33-jaguarcd-and-vlm-and-memorytrack-and-tempest-2000-soundtrack/ Next up: Blue Lightning!

Wait, another Atari game compilation? Is there anything to distinguish Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration from all those that came before? Is it worth our time and money? Do these people even get why we so love Atari? Tempest 2000 answers these questions for us: "YES! YES! YES!" This deep dive into Atari 50 walks through the entire experience, not just Jaguar, but reviewing "reimagined," analyzing arcade games, perusing the platforms, and tackling the timeline. Some bugs are found, sure, but also a few delightful surprises. Also included is feedback from Richard, Nick, and Editorb! Full show notes are available at https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/18634-s03-atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration/   Next up: JaguarCD and Virtual Light Machine! 

Who says you can't teach an old cat new tricks? Probably nobody. That's not a thing. But what is a thing, a very cool thing, is the Jaguar GameDrive from RetroHQ: a custom cartridge that lets you load games, demos, and homebrew from a microSD card. And speaking of homebrew, we also talk about homebrew, including detailed coverage of not one, not two, but eleven games and demos, all made available from RetroHQ. As if that weren't enough, we also have some top-quality feedback from Louis, Sloth Machine, and Editorb! All that plus storytime and maybe Jesse Eisenberg in this special episode of the Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast.   Full episode show notes are available at https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/18459-s02-retrohqs-jaguar-gamedrive-11-homebrews-demos   Next Episode: Special coverage of  Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration 

Use slick animation, vibrant colors, and a complete lack of limbs to defeat the evil Mr. Dark in Rayman! In this giant-spiky-fruit-sized episode, we learn the history of Ubisoft as well as Rayman's platform-hopping path to production. We then walk through the game, compare the different ports, find a Portuguese typo, and cover more previews and reviews than you can shake an Electoon at. But don't shake Electoons, kids, they're our friends. Also included is feedback from Clinton, Roberth, Bill Kendrick, Greg, JB, Weird and Retro, cubanismo, RollOut, DoctorClu, tripled79, Justin, Sabertooth, TrekMD, SuperRetro64, Arethius, and Brian in Albuquerque! Full show notes can be found at https://atariage.com/forums/blogs/entry/18173-32-rayman/   Next up: JaguarCD and Virtual Light Machine

Set your cybernetic sights on world domination in Syndicate! Get a handle on the controls, concoct an unofficial overlay, peruse reviews from around the world, and question the ESRB rating in this episode about Bullfrog's cyberpunk classic. Oh, yeah, and check out several previously-undisclosed cheat codes. Also included is feedback from RJ, the Lost Dragon, PFG 9000, tripled79, MightyFrog, cubanismo, Kyle, Louis, and Bobby Tribble! Woohoo! All that plus storytime involving out-of-context Atari, and nerds makin' noise in the computer lab. Full show notes can be found at https://atariage.com/forums/blogs/entry/17232-31-syndicate/   Next up: Rayman! KEEP ON THINKING

Blisteringly-fast arcade-style motorcycle racing hits the Atari Jaguar with Super Burnout. In this episode, we figure out if "super" really is better, Bishop wreaks pre-programmed havoc on a national anthem, we track down the real-life inspiration behind each of the game's courses, hunt for the optimal audio balance, and create crazy glitches with a cheat code. We're also packed with feedback from Randal, Björn, Lestat, Roberth, Olivier Nallet (really!), Rhett, Derek, Peter, atarilbc, Doctor Clu, RJ, Louis, TrekMD, Steve Clinton from London, and Kyle! Throughout the episode, check out snippets from the underrated soundtrack, including the entirety of Shen's Theme at the very end, following Storytime, which includes my COVID-19 update. Full show notes are available at https://atariage.com/forums/blogs/entry/16882-30-super-burnout/ Next episode: Syndicate!   This episode has been modified since its original publication. Changes applied on 2021-03-06: Tried to balance audio levels a bit better

The Advisor recommends you check out Theme Park! In this Ferris wheel-sized episode, we look at the histories of two storied UK video game companies, learn about the development of the Jaguar version straight from the source (whose name I hope I pronounced correctly), check out all the rides and attractions, and find out that M. Thatcher is actually a dude.  Act surprised at the unexpected musical number, and if you want, stick around for storytime at the end. Also included is feedback from Derek, Trevor, Randal, Chris, Gary, Mark, Zeus09998580, atarilbc, Patrick, TrekMD, and Adam! Full show notes are available at https://atariage.com/forums/blogs/entry/16392-29-theme-park/ In the next episode, we're covering Super Burnout! Send in feedback to [email protected] for this or any prior game.

Feel the textures beneath your animated, dirt-chewing tires in Supercross 3D! Learn about how the tournament actually works (hint: don't read the manual), check out some of the hidden references in the list of competitor names, and learn what the heck a "nac nac" is in this dirty, dirty episode. Also included are a couple curious song similarities, storytime segments featuring carbonated beverages and open-source operating systems, plus feedback from Rhett, RD, Björn, Roberth, Liam, Atarilbc, Arethius, Hakuzo, and JagMod! One of those may or may not correct a recurring mistake on my part. Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-15965-28-supercross-3d/   Next episode: Theme Park!

Find out who you really are and then foil the alien conspiracy in Flashback: The Quest for Identity. Learn about the companies involved in bringing this game to the Jaguar, what it took to make the cutscenes, and how to recover your teleport receiver with one weird trick. Along the way, we uncover a previously-unknown cheat code, dig into all the various ports and their differences, and argue about whether the Titan in this game is a planet or a moon. Also included is feedback, lots of feedback, from Bryce, Andrew, Derek, Hugh, TrekMD, Ben, Mike, Arethius, Rhett, and Hugues! Plus storytime. Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-15790-27-flashback-the-quest-for-identity/   Next up: Supercross 3D!

Only a weapons-laden antivirus craft can save the I-Way, and only you can drive it. This heavy-tank-sized episode will give you all you need to know to defeat Override, including the little-known history of the game I-War, a complete catalog of weapons, a list of enemies and hazards, and tons of tips. We find a close connection between I-War and Defender 2000, dig deep for hidden messages, and solve the mystery of the missing level music. All this plus a dramatic re-enactment and a yelling Klingon are available on this side of the podcast Datalink. Stick around for feedback from Derek, Randal, Chad, Björn, Arethius, Roberth, and Chris, plus Jaguar stories from LehtMojo and Ben! Also, a Retro League eulogy. Full show notes are available at http://atariage.com/forums/blog/615/entry-15466-26-i-war/   Next episode: Flashback: The Quest for Identity!