Ep.185 – Join the Atarian Federation: Blasting Through the Creation of Star Raiders

In 1980, Atari launched Star Raiders, a groundbreaking space combat simulator that turned players into starship pilots long before flight sticks and 3D graphics became the norm. In this episode, we explore how Doug Neubauer, an engineer at Atari, transformed his love of science fiction into one of the first games to combine cockpit views, galactic maps, and tactical combat. We follow Neubauer’s journey from designing the POKEY sound chip to creating the first-person dogfights that inspired classics like Elite and Wing Commander. Our conversation covers the Atari 8-bit legacy, the game’s later ports to the 2600 and 5200, and its surprising recognition by the Library of Congress. Join us as we power up shields, engage warp drive, and join the Atarian Federation on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.