PODCAST · leisure
Into The Vertical Blank
by Jeff Fulton & Steve Fulton
A Podcast about growing with a twin brother up In the 70s and 80s, at the dawn of video games, navigating family strife, punk rock, Star Wars obsessions, andtrying to understand the world while developing an inexplicablelove for everything “Atari”.-- In this podcast we discuss Atari computers and systems, new and old, review new games we collect, talk about all the systems, and the significance they had in our lives and the lives of others, and even talk about them in an historical context with the backdrop the times they were released, and how they are being used now. We do all this in an effort to finally understand the answer to this existential question: what does it mean to have grown up in the generation of "the Vertical blank."Credits:Written, Engineered and Produced by Jeff Fulton @8bitrocketWith help from Steve Fulton @fultonbot Branding by Daryl Litts @daryllitts
Episodes
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#165:Making Sense of THE 800XL By Retro Games and Atari: Atari Now!
On the Latest The Atari Now!, we discuss the details, and the good bad and ugly of the newly announced #The800XL by #Atari and Retro Games. Plus we detail what should be added right away and more. #atari8bit #atari800 #atarixl #atari800XL Thanks for support from: Jason Moore, Atari Legend,...
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#164:ST Show: 25 Great Atari ST Games not on the Amiga
In this episode we look at 25 of our favorite #atarist and #atariste games that were not initially on the Amiga 500 in the 80s or 90s. The #Amiga has an incredible library of games, but if you only ever played the Amiga, you might hve missed these. Thanks for support from: Jason Moore, Atari...
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#163: The A8 Show. Top 25 Atari 8bit Games not on the C64
For the premier episode of the A8 Show we decided to create a LIST! A Plain old top 25 game list would have many duplicates with the C64, so we decided to create a countdown of the top A8 games not on that system. 30+ games Thanks for support from: Jason Moore, Atari Legend, AtariBasement Atari...
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#162: ST Show: You had it on the NES I had it on my Atari ST: Vol 1
#atari #atarist #nintendo #nes #BattleofMidway1941 #afterburner #aliensyndrome #arkanoid #baddudes #bioniccommando #bluesbrothers #bomberman #dynablaster #bubblebobble Hi this is Jeff and welcome to The Latest Atari ST Show. Today we look at 9 games I had on my Atari ST and YOU most likely played...
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#161: Atari Now: Making Sense of Atari x Activision Packages
Atari has Licensed 39 games for physical release. We go through all of the confusing offerings and collections to make sense of what is on offer. All music, audio / video production. writing and game play by @8bitrocket and or @fultonbot unless otherwise noted. (c)8bitrocket Studios #Atari...
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#160: First Communion: The Gospel According To Atari
When my brother and I start our 2nd year of Catholic CCD class in 1978, we receive an introduction into a world we could have never imagined prior, and it changes our lives forever. Features the song "Touch My Pain" by Tony Longworth, See the video version here:...
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#159 : Atari Now + Fill In The Blanks Double Feature!
A double episode of Atari Now ! and Fill In The blanks. Links: -BCB On Rumble : LAtari Newsline | BCB -Tunnel Panic on Itch.io: https://intotheverticalblank.itch.io/tunnel-panic-atari-st https://www.reddit.com/r/atarinow/ Thanks for support from: Jason Moore, Atari Legend, AtariBasement Atari…
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#158 : Atari-Washing - Did Atari And Evercade Erase Gaming History?
We discuss the Evercade carts, Atari Arcade 1 and Atari Arcade 2, both disappointing cartridges from, but for two every different reasons. Credits found for Stern game on Atari Arcade 2 Berzerk: copyright 1980 designed and developed by Alan McNeil Frenzy: copyright 1982 also designed and…
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#157 : We Create Demakes / Remakes on the Atari 7800 and ST : Fill In The Blanks
"Fill In The Blanks" and "Into The Vertical Blank" are not anal retentive. We are not perfect. We are messy, and that's the way we like it. We have opted to not strive for perfection, but instead, show the process, warts and all of "living" with a love for retro games and retro platforms. There…
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#156: Challenge: Make a Chip Tune on an Atari Machine: AtariST vs Atari7800 : YM vs Pokey
#atari #atari7800 #atarist #pokey #YM2149 #STOS #RMTTracker This season we are doing retro coding and retro creation challenges for every episode. We are calling this "Fill in the Blanks" as these are things we have always wanted to do, but have not accomplished yet. This time we were each tasked...
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#155 : The Art Of Vintage Computing (at VCF So. Cal. 2026)
Steve takes a solo trip to VCF So. Cal 2026 and reports back to his twin brother. Music: Chromatic Light Distortion by Tony Longworth Links: VCF So Cal: https://www.vcfsocal.com/ VintNerd Ms. Pac Man: https://www.youtube.com/TheVintNerd Commodore128: https://8bithe.art Hector: Rémi Arnaud:...
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#154: Atari Now Feb 2026
A lethargic, uninspired episode where you can tell we are over this. Will this be the last one? What will we do next? https://www.reddit.com/r/atarinow/ Notes: -Secret Mall Apartment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Mall_Apartment -Atari ST Mini:...
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#153: ST Show #2: Atari ST History August 1989: ST Format 01 Cover Disk News and more
Atari ST History + New Home Brew Podcast 2. Video Version: youtube.com/watch?v=zqyqyXYNh8Q&feature=youtu.be We begin our Tramiel era Atari history exploration in this episode by digging into the World of Atari News and the Cover Disk for August 1989, The Premier issue Number one or ST Format...
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#152 - Atari Now! January 2026 - News, Views & Homebrews For All Atari Systems and More plus Christmas & Predictions
Atari Now! January 2026 - News, Views & Homebrews For All Atari Systems and More plus Christmas & Predictions Notes: Zero Page Homebrew: https://www.twitch.tv/zeropagehomebrew Arcade1up :https://arcade1up.com/ Basic Fun: https://www.basicfun.com/arcade-classics/ PXE...
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#151: Atari ST SHOW #1: Did Atari Knowingly Give Away Pirate Software? + ST News
In 1989 Atari Distributed a 4 disc game collection with new STs called “2- Great PD Games” that notoriously include some non-pd content. The Atari ST Show #1 we deep dive into the contents of these 4 disks and answer the question “Did Atari Knowingly do this?” We also look at the games and…
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#150 : PC-Man And "The Spark" Of Childhood Wonder
Teenager Greg Kuperberg wrote three fast-action arcade games for the IBM-PC in 1982 and 1983 (an almost impossible of feat at the time) and then took another path. In this rare examination of his work, we look at the legacy and inspiration of this "would-be" game programming auteur, who…
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#149: Atari Now! November 2025
Atari now! Notes here Atari Now! November 2025 https://www.reddit.com/r/atarinow/ Atari Now, News and Homebrews. See full notes here: Thanks for support from: Atari Legend, AtariBasement Atari Crypt BCB Coffee Boy, Daniel Beasley++, Barry Burkey Chris++ Dave the Velociraptor ED Possible, David L....
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#148 Atari Now! October 2025 News and Home brew for all Atari systems
#atari #atari8bit #atari2600 #atarist #atari5200 #atari7800 #atarijaguar #atarilynx #atarivcs #atarirecharged Atari Now! October 2025 News and Home brew for all Atari systems https://www.reddit.com/r/atarinow/ Notes:...
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#147: People Not Things: The Enigma Of Chris Crawford
Game Developer Chris Crawford recently declared his lifelong work a "failure". In this Video, we deep dive into Crawford, his legacy, and why we think h is wrong. End Of An Era https://www.erasmatazz.com/personal/self/end-of-an-era.html Chris Crawford's web site: https://www.erasmatazz.com/…
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#146: Atari Now! September 2025
Monthly update about the world of Atari. Atari Now! News and Homebrews, September 2025 https://www.reddit.com/r/atarinow/ Games Featured: Super 3D Maze 16 https://store.steampowered.com/app/2751700/Super_3D_Maze_16/ Dash (2600) https://forums.atariage.com/topic/382967-dasher-a-new-64k-platformer/...
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#145: What The Heck Is The Vertical Blank Anyway?
In this piece we play the long versions of our two songs, mixed with a segment from our movie "The Best *#@! Christmas Ever: An Atari 8-bit Journey Into The Vertical Blank" To lay out just what The Vertical blank means to us and why we use it as the metaphor for the retro gaming hobby. Video...
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#144: Atari 800, Blue Max, and the Zen of Vintage Computing
Atari 800, Blue Max, and the Zen of Vintage Computing A crack the seal, an essay, a something, whatever this is. Late night fuel support appreciated but not demanded: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/intotheverticalblank Thanks for support from: BCB, Atari Legend, Atari Crypt...
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#143: Finding Electronic Games Magazine In 1981 (Remaster)
The story from Season 2, Episode 5, remastered. Video version here: Thanks for support from: BCB, Atari Legend, Atari Crypt -https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/ ED Possible, Tony Longworth Daniel Beasley, Barry Burkey David Schmidt, Dave theVelociraptor Jolt7800 wesbrown18 Daniel Stephens All music,...
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#142: The Worst Game Visits The So. Cal Retro Gaming Expo
The Worst Game Visits The So Cal Retro Expo 2025. Additional music: Music: Heart Of Neon (Spectral Grid Mix) - Tony Longworth Late night fuel support appreciated but not demanded : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/intotheverticalblank Thanks for support from: BCB, Atari Legend, Atari Crypt...
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#141: How STOS Helped People Forge Careers in Software
STOS The Game Creator (and like software) might have been seen as silly or non-serious shortcuts for hobbyists, but for many many people it became entry point into the world of professional software development. This is just one such tale, the story of "Zamboozal Poker Dice" Video version here…
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#140: The Game Creator: Atari ST STOS History, Games & Community
If you were a teen, pre-teen, or even a curious adult with an 8-bit computer in the 80’s, you most likely started your journey as a computer enthusiast by playing with the basic language included with your machine. Some typed in a few programs, then moved to games and never looked back, while…
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#139: "Brandon" - When Your Best Gaming Friend Passes Away. (from the lost tapes)
A lost tape from 2023. Jeff and I sit down to talk about our friend Brandon, the day we found out he passed away. Brandon was with us on our gaming adventures from 1982 to 2023.
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#138: Project Save Atari (from The Lost Tapes)
In 2008, when quite literally, NO ONE CARED we published a multi-part series called "Project Save Atari" with ideas and predictions for Atari's future. In 2024 we sat down to revisit it, and see how we did. These are the lost tapes from 2024 and 2008. These were predictions and suggestions to…
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#137 : The Worst Game Ever For The Atari 2600
In the final episode of "Worse Than E.T. ?" we attempt to, once and for all, find the "worst Atari 2600 game", even if we have to make it ourselves...so we do. Here is the itch.io page for the game when you can download it, get the code, see the box-art, etc. All free, of course....
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#136: What Does It Mean To Finish A Game?
What Does It Mean To Finish A Game? Atari 2600, 400/800, 520/1040 ST A lost tape from 2022, finally released. Inspired by an episode of The Retro Hour, We discuss all the games we "finished" for Atari platforms. With gobs of new video for each game. #atari #atari2600 #atari800 #atari400 #atarist...
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#135: Live from The Tarriff Bunker, April 2025
We get together live and in person to talk about the state of Atari and play victim to the C64, NES, and the Amiga. Whoa is us, as Atari fans. Late night fuel support appreciated but not demanded : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/intotheverticalblank Thanks for support from: BCB, Atari Legend, Atari...
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#134 Atari ST Special: SSI on the ST and a STOS STE game engine
#134 Atari ST Special: SSI on the ST and a STOS STE game engine Welcome to episode 134 of the Into The Vertical Blank Podcast. Today we have a special treat. It’s the 40th anniversary of the Atari ST this year, so we will be confusing most of the audio and video channels on the Atari computers…
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133: Beautiful Disaster: An Ode to Fry's Electronics
Beautiful Disaster: An Ode to Fry's Electronics A story about technology change from generation to generation and the importance of feeling useful with DIY See video version here: https://youtu.be/r78tcGiIzP4 #diy #atari #motorcycles #pcgames #fryselectronics #southbay #memoir Music licenses:...
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132: Finding Our Story at Vintage Computer Fest So. Cal. 2025
There were as many stories as there were people at Vintage Computer Fest So. Cal. 2025. This is Ours Video version of the main story here: Finding Our Story at Vintage Computer Fest So. Cal. 2025 #retrogaming #vintacomouting Links, etc. Panel Attendees: → David from Usagi Electric -...
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131: The First Atari 2600 Homebrew Cartridge? Ed Federmeyer And The Story of Sound-X and Edtris
In the 1994, when retro gaming wasn't even really a thing yet, Ed Federmeyer decided he wanted to make his own Atari 2600 software. His drive to actually bring this dream to fruition may have sparked the modern are of retro games. Includes a new 2025 interview with Ed Federmeyer. Late night fuel...
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130 : The Curious Case Of Atari 2600 Action Pack For Windows 3.1
What started as simple "crack the seal" to open and play a 30 year old Windows game, became journey to discover, what might be, the origins of retro gaming itself. Many Thanks to Eclectic Lee for creating the archive page used in this story. See Video Version:...
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129: The Best *#@! Christmas Ever: An Atari 8-bit Journey Into The Vertical Blank
The final, definitive version of the story we've been trying to tell for the past 6 years. Christmas 1983, the Atari 8-bit computer Christmas was, for many reasons, the best *#@! Christmas ever. This new version gives a rounder picture, explains The Vertical Blank, obsesses over Star Wars, and...
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128: The Legend Of SwordQuest: Is This The Best Atari Podcast Ever created?
There is a new Atari related limited podcast out there that blew us away! The Legend Of SwordQuest from iHeartRadio Atariage Thread: Legend of Swordquest podcast - Atari 2600 - AtariAge Forums iHeartRadio Podcast Page: The Legend of SwordQuest | iHeart Jamie Loftus Page: Jamie Loftus School Of...
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127: The Essential: Atari ST Michtron’s Time Bandit from 1986.
Late night fuel support appreciated but not demanded : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/intotheverticalblank On the Into The Vertical Blank’s The Essential #atari ST, we investigate, discuss and evaluate #atarist Computers games and try to uncover titles worthy of play by all who are interested in…
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#126 : RANT: The Incident At The Retro Game Store
In this 20 minute rant, we loudly discuss an incident we recently had at a retro game store, and then talk about how the retro game store experience could be improved for all. https://retrogamesplus.com/ Late night fuel support appreciated but not demanded :...
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#125: 10 Good “Euro” Action Platformers for the Atari ST
(Including Sun Su Si and First Samurai) Join us as we take a look at 10 good #actionplatformer games for the #atarist we also briefly discuss them for the #amiga and otjer 80s computers such as the #c64 and #pc I have chosen the #Atari ST as my platform because it was what I had from 1987 until...
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124: 10 Mid-80’s “Euro” Action Platformers on the Atari ST (and other 80’s computers)
#atari #atarst #actionplatformer #amiga #msx #c64 #speccy #amstradcpc #dos The Euro Platformer. Today the term is used with much derision, mostly by console game fans but even by some many 80’s computer games, and well now, now even by me, and we all probably should know better, or should we?…
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#123: Atari I.P List Found! 23 Atari ST Games They Own!
#123: Atari I.P List Found! 23 Atari ST Games They Own! We scour Atari's 2024 IP list (we were altered to it last week by BCB Coffee Boy last week) and discover 23 Atari ST games Atari (probably) owns that could be put into a game pack, DLC for Atari 50, an Atari ST mini, etc. We played (almost)...
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#122: Worse Than E.T.? Pac-Man And The Day Atari Lost The Video Game War
Is Atari 2600 Pac-Man worse than E.T. for The Atari 2600? Or does it go deeper than that? Did the timing, release, and quality of the 2600 Pac-Man game combine together to make it worse than the sum of its parts? We explore that in this video. Late night fuel support appreciated but not demanded…
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#121 : Worse Than E.T.? Marauder For the Atari 2600
Why do people subjectively choose one game or another to top their "worst" list? It's rarely actually the "worst" game objectively. In this episode I explore why one particular game has topped my own "worst" list for 4 decades, and if that is still the case in 2024. See Video Version:...
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#120 : Worse Than E.T.? Mr. Postman and the games from Bit Corp
Mr. Postman is another game from Bit Corp., the people who brought us Bobby Is Going Home. It's a doozy of game for the 2600, but is it worse than E.T.? Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toxJOrAOklw&feature=youtu.be Dr. Spuds Game Reviews:...
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#119 : Overscan: Cracking Seals and Proving Life
Overscan: Cracking Seals and Proving Life In this over scan we discuss a few new home brew games we have obtained for the #Atari2600 and #NES. #ChampGames https://champ.games/ #AtariAgeStore https://atariage.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1045 #MurderintheMaze https://t1lt.itch.io/mitm...
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#118 : Worserer than E.T.? : The Games Of Mythicon
Worserer than E.T.? : The Games Of Mythicon In our continuing quest to find games that are "Worse Than E.T?" we have arrived at the bottom of the stinkiest barrel imaginable, and there rests the games of Mythicon. Enjoy! Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufSlqW9MjU4 Links: DP Royal...
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#117: Worse Than E.T.? #3: Airlock
Airlock A game that takes "worse Than E.T." to a whole new level. Did Data Age make games worse than the supposed worst game ever, E.T. for the Atari VCS? Were they also one of the culprits responsible for the North American Video Game Crash? Have we found the worst Atari VCS game ever made?…
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#116: 'Worse Than E.T?" #2 Bobby Is Going Home
In our 2nd installment we play the notorious Atari 2600 game "Bobby Is Going Home" and decide: Is it worse than E.T.? Video Version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjtcqOVvPA0&feature=youtu.be Ambient music in this video is "GUL-ee-SUCK-uh" by Tony Longworth "Bobby Is Going Home" By…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A Podcast about growing with a twin brother up In the 70s and 80s, at the dawn of video games, navigating family strife, punk rock, Star Wars obsessions, andtrying to understand the world while developing an inexplicablelove for everything “Atari”.-- In this podcast we discuss Atari computers and systems, new and old, review new games we collect, talk about all the systems, and the significance they had in our lives and the lives of others, and even talk about them in an historical context with the backdrop the times they were released, and how they are being used now. We do all this in an effort to finally understand the answer to this existential question: what does it mean to have grown up in the generation of "the Vertical blank."Credits:Written, Engineered and Produced by Jeff Fulton @8bitrocketWith help from Steve Fulton @fultonbot Branding by Daryl Litts @daryllitts
HOSTED BY
Jeff Fulton & Steve Fulton
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Into The Vertical Blank have?
Into The Vertical Blank currently has 164 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Into The Vertical Blank about?
A Podcast about growing with a twin brother up In the 70s and 80s, at the dawn of video games, navigating family strife, punk rock, Star Wars obsessions, andtrying to understand the world while developing an inexplicablelove for everything “Atari”.-- In this podcast we discuss Atari computers and...
How often does Into The Vertical Blank release new episodes?
Into The Vertical Blank publishes regularly with 164 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Into The Vertical Blank on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Into The Vertical Blank?
Into The Vertical Blank is created and hosted by Jeff Fulton & Steve Fulton.
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