View Full Version : Once Upon Atari
SuperGunGuru
11-23-2004, 10:40 PM
Has anyone ever seen the documentary "Once Upon Atari?" It's pretty cool and is produced by Howard Scott Warshaw who used to work at Atari. He interviewed a bunch of the people that had worked at Atari in the early days and they talk about arcade and home system stuff. There's a lot of interesting stories to say the least. You can order the video from Scott's site here. http://www.onceuponatari.com/
Ed Oscuro
11-23-2004, 10:50 PM
It got a fair deal of press here when it was new :)
OT a bit, but that avatar's awesome. Love that skit, though it's looking a bit grainy in that GIF.
Phosphor Dot Fossils
11-23-2004, 11:11 PM
You can find my review here (http://www.thelogbook.com/jcc/q4-03/atari/). It's a very, very entertaining DVD, and Howard Warshaw's a great guy to boot. If I have a problem with OUA, it's that we don't hear enough of Howard's own stories. Because lemme tell you, he's got 'em in abundance. LOL
hswwsh
11-24-2004, 02:08 PM
I have to agree. I do have a lot of stories I probably should have put in the piece. I usually save those for interviews. Like how Yars Revenge got named, the truth about the ET carts in the desert, leer jets, snorting carpets, and all kinds of stuff.
I also have to agree that your avatar is awesome in a way that is total.
Thanks for the kind words and I do say: 'Tis the season to check out Once Upon ATARI
This is something that was made for the people who read this forum, and I made it to show the real truth to me, my cohorts in crime (literally in some cases :) ), and all of you people who made the whole thing go.
I got tired of the bull**** media accounts of what happened there and needed to show the truth. I dig it and I'm very pleased and gratified to hear that you all do too. Thanks for making my day.
Yars truly,
HSW
Lady Jaye
11-24-2004, 04:13 PM
I have a copy of Once Upon an Atari, and it's worth every penny! I just can't tire of hearing Tod Frye's account of the sprinkler accident... :D
mr_nihilism
11-24-2004, 05:13 PM
I'll be ordering it just as soon as I pay off my damn Visa bill. The commercialism of Christmas really makes a poor man out of me.
Griking
11-24-2004, 07:59 PM
I have to agree. I do have a lot of stories I probably should have put in the piece. I usually save those for interviews. Like how Yars Revenge got named, the truth about the ET carts in the desert, leer jets, snorting carpets, and all kinds of stuff.
I also have to agree that your avatar is awesome in a way that is total.
Thanks for the kind words and I do say: 'Tis the season to check out Once Upon ATARI
This is something that was made for the people who read this forum, and I made it to show the real truth to me, my cohorts in crime (literally in some cases :) ), and all of you people who made the whole thing go.
I got tired of the bull**** media accounts of what happened there and needed to show the truth. I dig it and I'm very pleased and gratified to hear that you all do too. Thanks for making my day.
Yars truly,
HSW
I've been posting here for a few years now and even though I've seen it before it still blows my mind when someone who influenced my childhood (and adulthood) like HSW posts here.
Seriously, thanks for the memories \^_^/
Phosphor Dot Fossils
11-24-2004, 08:05 PM
I have to agree. I do have a lot of stories I probably should have put in the piece. I usually save those for interviews. Like how Yars Revenge got named, the truth about the ET carts in the desert, leer jets, snorting carpets, and all kinds of stuff.
Yeah, but on the other hand, that's why we keep coming to see you at CGE, Philly, and whatever other shows are out there. It's called job security. :D
Seriously though, welcome to the wild and wacky DP forums, Howard. Saboteur's been vexing the heck outta me - we gotta have some words! LOL
GamecubeFreek
11-24-2004, 09:17 PM
Once Upon Atari is awesome. I got it at CGE (Mr. Warshaw signed it!) and I have watched it twice....In fact, all this talk about it is making me want to watch the DVD again.
Ed Oscuro
11-24-2004, 09:19 PM
Seriously, thanks for the memories \^_^/
Complete agreement noises coming from this corner!
Now...snorting carpet? I...dare not ask. That wasn't a management thing, was it?
o2william
11-24-2004, 09:20 PM
Oops, posted a reply to the wrong thread.
Anyway, I'll just say that "Once Upon Atari" is excellent. A must-see for all Atari fans or anybody interested in game history.
SuperGunGuru
11-24-2004, 09:52 PM
That's so cool to see HSW post on here :D We actually watched all 4 episodes of Once Upon Atari in my TC391 class a few months back. Simply put it's a class on the history of video games! It's by far my favorite class in 4 years at Michigan State. We're covering stuff from "Pong to Playstation" as our professor says.
hswwsh
11-25-2004, 02:38 PM
The truth is...snorting carpets was going on both in management and amongst us little guys on the totem pole as well.
That specific reference is to the time one guy spilled a few grams of coke in my office and several of us took some straws to the floor and tried to aid in the recovery.
It was a very odd sight indeed.
:)
HSW
pixelsnpolygons
11-25-2004, 03:06 PM
Haven't seen it but I have definitely heard of it and it is something I definitely want to get around to very soon. And yes, that is an extremely cool gif.
Totally off topic, but...
http://zing.webhop.org/Frogger.wmv
I encoded it at 150kbs for the folks with crappy connections, from a decent mpeg source.
Sotenga
12-02-2004, 04:28 PM
I have to agree. I do have a lot of stories I probably should have put in the piece. I usually save those for interviews. Like how Yars Revenge got named, the truth about the ET carts in the desert, leer jets, snorting carpets, and all kinds of stuff.
I also have to agree that your avatar is awesome in a way that is total.
Thanks for the kind words and I do say: 'Tis the season to check out Once Upon ATARI
This is something that was made for the people who read this forum, and I made it to show the real truth to me, my cohorts in crime (literally in some cases :) ), and all of you people who made the whole thing go.
I got tired of the bull**** media accounts of what happened there and needed to show the truth. I dig it and I'm very pleased and gratified to hear that you all do too. Thanks for making my day.
Yars truly,
HSW
Sir......... *bows faithfully before HSW* :hail:
I feel honored beyond belief to be a part of this board now. Oh dear... TOO honored, as a matter of fact. Oh dear. :embarrassed:
I will make it a point to see this documentary someday. Atari has existed for a LOOOOOOONG time, and their history is fascinating. I wonder how much detail is mentioned about the great video game crash of '84. :)
I asked my Secret Santa for it over at AA (I missed the deadline here :( :embarrassed: :angry: )
Mr. Warshaw, let me take this opportunity to say I liked E.T. & never had any problem w/ it. :D
Nice to "meet" you, sir! 8-)
slip81
12-02-2004, 05:48 PM
I've yet too see it, and since Netflix doesn't have it it'll be a while before I have the cash to buy it. This along with a few other game documentaries are on my list of movies to get. I'm sure I'll like it since I've heard nothing but good, and I'm a fan of pop culture orientated docs.
P.S. I wonder if they destroyed a fully working Frogger machine?
Raedon
12-02-2004, 06:27 PM
The truth is...snorting carpets was going on both in management and amongst us little guys on the totem pole as well.
That specific reference is to the time one guy spilled a few grams of coke in my office and several of us took some straws to the floor and tried to aid in the recovery.
It was a very odd sight indeed.
:)
HSW
K.. I couldn't afford the DVD at CGE 2k3 but I'll be buying it now.. I'd like to know how you formed lines on the carpet though.. :eek 2: lol
vision89
12-02-2004, 06:28 PM
I also have the Once Upon Atari series, and I gotta say it's great. It seems more polished and a lot less "techy" than the Stella at 20 series. Though the Stella at 20 series is also very good. Once Upon Atari is a series that you take something new from every time you watch it. So while were on the subject, any plans at all for another addition to the Once Upon Atari library? If so, I will preorder :-P
Phosphor Dot Fossils
12-02-2004, 06:36 PM
I seem to remember seeing that GreenCine, another DVD rental service, has OUA in stock. However, I heartily support buying the thing - it's worth seeing more than once. :D
AB Positive
12-02-2004, 07:18 PM
The truth is...snorting carpets was going on both in management and amongst us little guys on the totem pole as well.
That specific reference is to the time one guy spilled a few grams of coke in my office and several of us took some straws to the floor and tried to aid in the recovery.
It was a very odd sight indeed.
:)
HSW
Welp, this story tidbit makes me want to watch the film now. I mean... if this got into the video, it isn't very censored is it? :-D
By the way, I'm sure you get this a lot, but the slate you made for G4 where you talk about making Yar's Revenge and ET while dancing... I loved that. I humbly bow before the creator of my favorite VCS game.
And now I need to get this video.
-AG