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The Atari guys showed the Apple II guys more than 16 colors and it shut them up (especially after they switched from the CTIA 128 colors to the GTIA with 256...)

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 2h

I went to a panel yesterday with Nolan Bushnell and Joe Decuir. Nolan talked about Ray Kassar (Yar is Ray), and it was hilarious how little he still thinks of him. Nolan called Ray "the second dumbest human on the planet", lol.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 2h

Calamus was the king of Atari ST desktop publishing. Paired with a laser printer, it was really great. www.atarimagazines.com/st-log/issue...

atarimagazines.com

Review: Calamus (ISD Marketing)

Review: Calamus (ISD Marketing) From St-log Issue 31 / May 1989

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 15h

Here’s the signed copy, with cert, alongside a new game for the Gameboy Color that I bought from the author (who did the story, the music, the artwork, and programmed the game using Gameboy Studio).

A yellow box for the Atari 2600 game Circus Convoy, with two signatures at the top. Below the box is a certificate of authenticity. Next to it is a blue Gameboy Color box with a one-eyed humanoid in an orange suit and the text “Dream Shark” at the top. Above that is an artistic drawing of a dream shark, on a piece of cardstock.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 15h

Also, playing around in the bios/setup screen, I saw that you can choose which model of Atari you want to emulate (including the XE series), and you can also choose the 5200 (which was essentially an 800 with a different cartridge port).

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 15h

I spoke to the folks at the Atari booth to ask about reading/writing to disk (since it comes with built-in BASIC). They said you can mount an atr file from a thumb drive and it’ll see it as an attached disk drive. atari.com/pages/800xl

atari.com

THE 800XL: Atari 8-Bit Computer Recreation

A recreation of the classic Atari 8-bit computer, featuring 25 built-in games, a full-size mechanical keyboard, working cartridge slot, and HDMI output. Pre-order now.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 15h

I have that book? Who’s your grandpa? Where in the book is he mentioned?

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 19h

Joe Decuir and Nolan Bushnell discussing the origins of the Atari 2600 at Portland Retro Gaming Expo.

Joe Decuir speaking while Nolan Bushnell looks on.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 21h

I love that I understand this reference. I’m at PRGE right now, where I chatted with Jeff 2 years ago here at PRGE.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 21h

Hey Thomas - is there such thing as a USB to SIO adapter? Thinking of how to get a Fujinet working on the upcoming 800XL re-release.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 23h

Steve Jobs “borrowed” chips and other bits from Atari (where he worked) so that he and Wozniak could build the first Apple computer prototype.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

David Crane (Activision, Pitfall!...) and Garry Kitchen (Activision, Keystone Kapers, the excellent Donkey Kong port for Coleco for Atari 2600...) signing my copy of their new Atari 2600 game Circus Convoy. #PortlandRetroGamingExpo

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Since that model has 4 joystick ports, you will be doing it (and yourself) a disservice if you don't get a game of 4-player M.U.L.E. going.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

A few random pics from day 1 of #PRGE Spent way too much at the Atari booth, lol. These pics represent about 10% of the show floor. Looking forward to the panels tomorrow and Sunday.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Pine State Biscuits before PRGE

A plate of food, with the “Moneyball” from Pine State Biscuits: 2 biscuits covered in sausage gravy with a fried egg on top.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

For me it boils down to productivity AI vs generative AI. It’s the latter that’s the problem.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Dungeon Master on the ST was my jam.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Is *everyone* flying in for PRGE? The Lyft lines are insane! #PortlandRetroGamingExpo #PRGE

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Both of our girl cats love to snuggle and boop and climb on top of us and lick us and show us their bellies.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I was pulling for Stick when he was with the Chargers. Would be nice to see him get a shot. He’s inconsistent as hell, but he’s also fun (in a pants on fire kinda way).

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

True, but one of the first programs I wrote for the TRS-80 was a character generator for D&D, which was from TSR. 😂

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

First computer I ever used. Borrowed it from my uncle for a summer, then we got an Atari 800XL at home so I gave it back. Learned to program on that TRS-80.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The only thing that's a bummer is they included M.U.L.E. (great!) as a built-in game, but there's only 2 cartridge ports. M.U.L.E. is best as a 4-player game (so, would be better on an Atari 800 repro, not the XL). Still, 2-player M.U.L.E. with the computer playing the other two is still hella fun.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Atari has been on a roll lately, and here's another banger. If I didn't already have an actual (vintage) 800XL with upgraded video, I'd snap this up in a second. Fantastic 8-bit computer with the best graphics of its generation. atari.com/pages/800xl

atari.com

THE 800XL: Atari 8-Bit Computer Recreation

A recreation of the classic Atari 8-bit computer, featuring 25 built-in games, a full-size mechanical keyboard, working cartridge slot, and HDMI output. Pre-order now.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Japan is #1, but I'd like to nominate Croatia for #2. We spent 2 weeks there last year, and cats are everywhere. There are also little bowls of food and water everywhere you go. A local told us cats are revered, and everyone helps care for them.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I can tell just by reading, he has a very punchable face.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Yes, but the unofficial theme song was the music in Legacy of the Wizard on the NES.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

She was great in After Hours.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I’ve lost count exactly, but I think the latest Epstein whistleblower is the sixth person who has died by “suicide” after speaking with authorities. Sus.

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Reposted by Tony Cervo

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

More Democrats need to be telling the online casino owners behind Polymarket to shut the fuck up

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

The first kickoff of the game gets advantage.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It's becoming harder and harder to find quality funds that haven't moved a big chunk of their holdings over to the AI/datacenter build out. The crash is going to wipe out a lot of retirement accounts.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

My wife also has reverse SAD, so for both our sakes I agree.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I've worn Ray-Bans (non-meta) for decades (the past couple with prescription lenses), but have switched brands for the first time because I don't want anyone to think I'm wearing perv glasses. This partnership is hurting the brand.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

He said he’d ordered a newer version that was easier to learn, so we should wait. It was the Basic Set (Holmes edition). I was selected to read the rules and teach the rest how to play, so I was our first DM. Over xmas break, we played through “In Search of the Unknown”.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

On one of the shelves was a small silver spiral bound book called Chainmail, and a box next to it called Dungeons and Dragons. We thought they sounded cool, but had no idea what they were. A few months later we decided to pool our money to buy the D&D box, but the owner talked us out of it.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

"How did you get into TTRPGs?” In 5th grade, my friends and I would ride our bikes to a hobby store to buy models and/or paints. At the back of the store was a small bookshelf full of war games (Avalon Hill, etc.)

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

far! (Sacramentan here...) Bonus points for Cake

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Here’s a movie I will never watch. Not even 30 seconds of it.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Game system that uses d12’s (primarily) for the players. GM uses a d20, though. It borrows their favorite bits and pieces from a bunch of other ttrpg’s.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

3 days in NYC in the books. Now starting 3 days in Chattanooga. There will be much less walking in Chattanooga. (That's not a complaint about NYC - I love walking when we travel.) 35.6 miles walked. 72,833 steps.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I wanted to do a thing, but was foiled by construction. The pole in the photo is about 6 inches from my hand, and it’s up against a huge construction barrier. So this is as good as I could manage. I’ve learned on this trip that approx. 92.6% of NYC is under construction.

Black and white photo of the Ramones standing next to a light pole, with the CBGB awning in the background.

The awning of a John Varvatos store at what used to be CBGB.

Inside the Varvatos store. They kept the flyers and graffiti from when it was CBGB.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

“This is your brain”…is more famous in my mind because it’s been parodied by comedians long after the fact.

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Tony Cervo @tcervo.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Rose Reading Room at the NY Public Library was closed (visiting hours are 10-11am, of which we were not aware), but we did get to see the actual Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Roo, Piglet, and Eeyore.

A collection of very old stuffed animals: a bear, tiger, piglet, kangaroo, and donkey.

Lion statue at the entrance to the New York Public Library.

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