601: Steamed Up!
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)
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503: What’s New With The New O2?
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)
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502: Retro WHAT?!?
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)
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501: A New Look For The Odyssey2?
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)
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404: Third Party Invitation!
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)
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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.
403: The Top 5 Odyssey2 Characters!
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)
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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.
402: The Pinball Wizard Of Odyssey2!
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)
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The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive.
401: Plus!
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)
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The theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive.
304: The Balloon’s Going Up
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)
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The rockin’ new theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive.
303: Who Killed The Odyssey3?
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)
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The rockin’ new theme song for Select Game is “Fat Cat Wants Tasty Fish” by Teleidofusion, via the Free Music Archive.
302: A Mind Forever Voyaging
Universal appeal! From his groundbreaking work in hypothesizing and studying black holes, to his famous electronic voice, the late, great Professor Stephen Hawking left his mark on the world, and it’s only fitting for the Odyssey2 and Videopac to pay tribute. (35:48)
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301: The Kick-Axe Legend of Pick Axe Pete
This game rocks! Long before Minecraft and Terraria, Pick Axe Pete was hitting the mother lode on the Odyssey2! The storied history of your podcast host’s all-time favorite, plus an exciting new product announcement and more! (48:29)
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207: Xmas ’83
Festive Firepower! Return with us to find out what was under the tree in Christmas ’83, as well as test-driving a lost, unreleased game that’s now up for grabs as a reproduction cartridge. (40:21)
Select Game will return in The Living Daylights February 2018.
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206: K.C.’s Krazy Sequels!
Much More Munching! Previously on Buffy Select Game, the courts took K.C. Munchkin! off the shelves. But did the Odyssey2’s cute blue muncher stay out of the limelight? Awww hell no – K.C. is still in circulation today. As in, literally, today. (31:20)
This episode was intended to drop before PRGE, but real life intervened, as it is wont to do.
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205: Back To The Arcade!
Winking Frogs! Gather ye quarters while ye may…you’ll need them to save up for Super Cobra, Frogger, and Turtles! on the Odyssey2 and Videopac. Also homebrew news galore. Winking froggies included, some assembly required. (36:03)
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204: Amok Downtime!
Strange Brew! What has kept the Odyssey2 alive into the 21st century? Not me talking about it, that’s for sure – it’s the homebrew programmers and their sometimes brilliant, sometimes frustrating additions to the Odyssey2 and Videopac libraries. This month’s show examines a cross-section of homebrew titles, from the very first to the fairly recent. (35:55)
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203: The Odyssey2 At The Arcade!
Amazing Arcade Ports! Select Game is back after some downtime to take the Odyssey2…or really the Videopac…to the arcade, where we’ll play Popeye, Frogger, and Pong For Videopac & Odyssey2! Plus: Odyssey2 homebrew news from MGC, and a whole new way you can help the site keep the lights on. (39:29)
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202: The All-Ball Show
Balls! Select Game returns to cover several Odyssey2 sports games: Bowling!/Basketball!, Pocket Billiards!, Electronic Table Soccer!…and a doomed attempt to play Football! And there may even be something about a trackball! Balls. (44:53)
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201: Feedback! Space Blocks!
Scintillating Second Season Starter! Select Game kicks off 2017 with your letters and e-mails, wondering where The Art Of Odyssey is, new Select Game swag, and 2016 me plays Blockout! / Breakdown! and Out Of This World! / Helicopter Rescue! (1:00:59)
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11X: Christmas Special!
Deck the Halls! It’s the story of a serious sunburn, rainbow trout, a game room serviced by a single distributor, an attempt to will Odyssey2 ports of arcade games into existence, and a lifelong obsession that culminated in…a marquee. And this podcast. (1:05:53)
This podcast is dedicated to the memory of player two, Alison Green (1942-1987).
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110: Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Munchkin
Exciting Season Finale! He came to gobble dots and munch on munchers. He brought rave reviews to the Odyssey2. And litigation hell came walking in five steps behind him. Hear the story of K.C. Munchkin! from his conception to his downfall, find out if the game was ever really “rare”, and much more! (1:04:30)
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There are quite a few long pauses in this installment, usually where I was having to hydrate – I’ve been sick, and may have recorded this before I was really ready to talk Odyssey2 for an hour solid!
109: Imagic
Gnarly Ninth Episode! Third party publishers didn’t lavish a lot of attention on the Odyssey2 or Videopac, but here’s the entire lineup from one company that did: legendary third-party game company Imagic translated Demon Attack and Atlantis for Odyssey2 fans. (26:14)
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108: Comic Book Heroes!
Electrifying Eighth Episode! Crack open the funny pages, break out the action figures, and swing into action with Spider-Man and the Power Lords on the Odyssey2! Find out what the incredibly obscure selling point of the Power Lords toys was, and just how bad your host is at playing Spider-Man! (38:28)
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107: Loving The Aliens!
Spaced-Out Seventh Episode! A much-longer-than-usual episode starts off with discussion of absent friends and sound quality, what the most disappointing thing about Cosmic Conflict! was (it’s not what you think), why the Invaders From Hyperspace have got your number, and what one of these games owes to a certain George Lucas movie. Little E once again appears as Player 2, and Little C finishes on a song! (1:08:49)
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106X: Quest For The Rings (Extended)
Sword-‘n’-Spell-Slingin’ Super-Sized Sixth Episode! There’s a thin line between setting out on a grand quest to restore peace and order to the kingdom, and “Dad, why do we have to get all these rings?” And in this episode we cross that line! E and I swash our buckles, and fail a saving throw against playing the board game precisely the wrong way. This is the extended, almost-unedited cut of the episode, with the full half-hour (!!) gameplay segment that was edited down for the initial version of the podcast. What does it contain more of? Us getting killed. Very, very killed, lots of times. (1:12:02)
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106: Quest For The Rings
Sword-‘n’-Spell-Slingin’ Sixth Episode! There’s a thin line between setting out on a grand quest to restore peace and order to the kingdom, and “Dad, why do we have to get all these rings?” And in this episode we cross that line! E and I swash our buckles, and fail a saving throw against playing the board game precisely the wrong way. The edited-down game play segment in this almost painfully focused, detailed episode is nearly 15 minutes long; an extended cut with the full half-hour game play segment (!!) will be released at a later date. Either way, this episode requires a much bigger box than usual. (58:20)
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105: Mano A Mano
Furious Fightin’ Fifth Episode! “They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.” And so will we! Little E joins the show as Select Game’s first Player 2, as we play Showdown In 2100 A.D.! and War Of Nerves! It’s just possible that this installment is less informative than usual, but the gameplay segments…are what playing games is all about. Let us know what you think. The first rule of Fight Club is…nobody hits “reset” early. (35:05)
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104: Ah, Edutainment!
Fantastic[ally late] Fourth Episode! Let’s get some educational games out of the way, shall we? Except that one of them is a bit more advanced than I remembered, and one of them played a part in changing the course of my adult life…and still another is sort of an accidental tribute to the late, great Ralph Baer. Every game counts as we play Math-A-Magic! / Echo!, I’ve Got Your Number!, and the very hard-to-describe Keyboard Creations! Supplemental media for the latter is included below. (42:58)
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103: UFO Monster Attack!
Thrilling Third Episode! In this jumbo-sized, spaced-out, and ever-so-slightly self-indulgent episode, your host mulls over a future that never was, running from space crabs as a family pastime, plays a duet between two numbered game consoles, and makes an announcement at the end. Also, somewhere in here, Alien Invaders – Plus! and UFO! are played. (49:34)
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Links from this episode:
- PackratVG.com (Shooting Gallery/Minefield homebrew soon!)
- Escape Pod daily mini-podcast (more space history geekage)
- theLogBook.com’s Facebook page (talk to us)
- Chiptune cover songs by Kasatochi (free downloads!)
102: America’s Pastime
Exciting Second Episode! There’s more to life (and the Odyssey2) than racing cars and scrambling words. Listener mail is read, Moonbase Alpha is visited, and Baseball! and Computer Golf! are played. (35:01)
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Links from this episode: