They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 110 - Books of History   We look at the many books dealing with video game history.  Starting off with books that were primarily strategy guides, and had tidbits of historical interest woven in.  As time progressed journalists, and industry insiders started to write books that included more history and even interviews with the people involved.  As time moved on more comprehensive books, written by journalists, tried to capture the entire history in a complete narrative.  However because of the near complete reliance on oral accounts, limited ability to fact check, and time of the authors these early works are plagued with inaccuracies.  Though they still have value with a snapshot of the history as viewed at the time.   Before Mario: http://blog.beforemario.com/ Screen Play: https://archive.org/details/ScreenPlaytheStoryofVideoGames Video Invaders: https://archive.org/details/book_video_invaders/mode/2up The Winner's Book of Video Games: https://archive.org/details/Winners_Book_of_Video_Games/mode/2up Game Over: https://archive.org/details/0966961706/   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for order through CRC Press and other retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 109 - Adventuring with LucasArts Part 2   This our second half looking at LucasArts adventure games.  We look at a company that for a time could do no wrong!  Innovative storytelling, and gameplay with Monkey Island 2, Day of the Tentacle, and Sam & Max hit the Road being prime examples.  However due to retail outlets, competition, and the continuing technological advancement of the computer industry; LucasArts was unsuccessful in transitioning into the 3-D space.  The commercial flop of Grim Fandango, and Escape from Monkey island was the last attempts at adventure games using 3-D.    Tim Schafer Resume: https://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/09/how-tim-schafer-got-his-job-at-lucasarts/ PC  Monkey Island 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AerjOGn6jGo PC Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZZXJ3zCRDQ Dragonslayer Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHJ-gZUqD2o Batteries Not Included Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJmvsb13dA8 The Dig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvGm29ZBTfo Day of the Tentacle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW283uY3sLI Sam & Max Hit the Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7qBJak98cs Full Throttle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1akgtCgsaXQ Curse of Monkey Island: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfAo3O2qZR0 Grim Fandango: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYiADIyLEtk Escape From Monkey Island: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMhlFfmOhmY   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for order through CRC Press and other retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 108- Adventuring with LucasArts Part 1   We look at LucasFilm games, AKA LucasArts.  Not the company as a whole, but their influence on adventure games.  Not only were they instrumental in advancing adventure games, they were able to affect the industry as a whole.  We look briefly at the formation of the company, and get into some of their early projects.  A young contractor, Ron Gilbert, joined the team by helping to convert some early games to the Commodore 64.  Gilbert was later the driving force in creating an adventure game that was not full of deaths, saves, and no-win states.   Commodore 64 Ballblazer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPk6sAHFGXg Atari XL/XE Rescue on Fractalus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kNxy6UIX_k Labyrinth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Aje3ceClA Grumpy Gamer: https://grumpygamer.com/teenage_lobot Ways to die in King's Quest I Remake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Oo9IJGXGA King's Quest III Redux: http://www.agdinteractive.com/games/kq3/download/download.html Maniac Mansion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7oUArcVis0 Ron Gilbert - Maniac Mansion Postmortem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNpjGvJwyL8 Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPEocH6Am6w Indiana Joes and the Last Crusade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ivNLD75rAU Classic Games Postmortem: LucasFilm Games' Loom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1aVDael-KM Loom Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps1N2GS378g Why Adventure Games Suck: https://grumpygamer.com/why_adventure_games_suck The Secret of Monkey Island: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpIUxjGfkXg   A special congratulations to our giveaway winners! Bob Perrin Maks Beugelsdijk @DRPGBook   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for order through CRC Press and other retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 107 - Storytime with a Book   We read from chapter 18 of "They Create Worlds: The People and Companies that Shaped the Video Game Industry Vol. 1," which discusses the impact of Breakout on Japan.  There are some tangents, other story times, and we bring a lot of things discussed over the years into a more complete perspective.  We also learn about the mysteries of magnets.   Steve Wozniak's Blue Box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHZnvN_JCas Breakout & Super Breakout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5xo-IzERu0 TCW 029 - 50 Years of Namco: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/50-years-of-namco/ TCW 005 - The Untold History of Sega: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-untold-history-of-sega/ TCW 033 - The Saga of Sega: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-saga-of-sega/ Sega The Fonz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osmPZZkCVKM Degaussing a CRT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEEaZ1GGl9I   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for order through CRC Press and other retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 106 - The Small Voice of Magnavox   Magnavox continues to strive for survival as an axillary of Philips.  While people close to the video game division continue to be optimistic about their offerings; management at Philips was not so.  The company continued to be plagued with production shortfalls with new chips, FCC approval problems, and new competition.  They were able to make a few games of note developing some interesting ideas on where to take home consoles.  Ultimately Magnavox faded into just a brand name for Philips after the video game crash.   Magnavox Odyssey 2000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEEhwCIUDhE Magnavox Odyssey 3000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW0vW3D91ew TCW 016 - Early Computer Game Platforms: The Trinity, and The Disciples:http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/early-computer-game-platforms-the-trinity-and-the-disciples/ Magnavox Odyssey 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z4amwfcO9k Invaders from Hyperspace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hryPZIcaksY Take the money and run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTB3VLhCRjE Quest for the Ring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-m-_11Jjf8 KC Muchkin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07JtE4pIq8U TCW 027 - The Magnavox Patent Lawsuits: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-patent-lawsuits-friday-september-16-2016-1003-am/ https://www.magnavox.com/en/   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for order through CRC Press and other retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 105 - The Big Voice of Magnavox   We look at the company of Magnavox.  Started around the turn of the century getting into electronics with voice amplification, and eventually radios.  Magnavox continued with home  electronics in televisions and stereo systems.  Unfortunately their visionary leader died unexpectedly, and with the rise of non-American television manufacturers put a lot of pressure on the company.  With all this pressure Magnavox is bought by Philips in 1974 to expand the Dutch company's holdings in the United States.  The video game division continued  to fight for survival and relevance as the decade wound to a close.   Retro Tech - The Wire Recorder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90ihiTwJPCc TCW 026 -The Magnavox Odyssey: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-odyssey/ Magnavox Console Demo (Ft. "Come Fly With Me"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxtWWof3P7s Magnavox Odyssey Ski: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NAqFUhXX48 Magnavox Odyssey Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MnRkPvIjKE Magnavox Odyssey 100(4:43 timestamp): https://youtu.be/HQfDSygn794?t=283 Magnavox Odyssey 500: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Av3ct3yR6A Magnavox Odyssey 400 Unboxing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNSfOiTUoq8 Magnavox Odyssey 300:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xpO3CJnjiU   The book giveaway is LIVE from January 1st 2020 through February 1st 2020 GMT.  More information at: http://theycreateworlds.com/giveaway   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for order through CRC Press and other retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 104- A Holistic View of ET   The game that has become so shrouded in myth and legend is brought to light in this holiday episode!  We look at how E.T. was thrust upon Atari by Warner in a bid to bring Stephen Spielberg in to makes movies for Warner.  With a massive royalty overhead, a short five week production time, and a massive brain drain at Atari Howard Scott Warshaw stepped up to the challenge.  He took the ambitious task of programing E.T. for Atari, having done Raiders of the Lost Arc previously.  Despite the time crunch he decided do an adventure like game which, in combination with a lack of mentorship,  lead to some poor design choices.   Though lauded as being 'the worst game ever' E.T. is just an unfortunate game that hit Atari at an inopportune time.     Original E.T. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7-2PB4jj2o Adventure 2600 Walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzCrb8y5NCU Yar's Revenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrHUJrhZMJI Raiders of the lost Ark Speed Run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP-e0-0PpLc ET Atari 2600: ET explained by Atari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-pzdPLfy9Y Simpsons "Can't Sleep Clown Will Eat Me": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3yuFlvRyqM TCW 044 - Founding, Syzygy to Atari: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/founding-syzygy-to-atari/ TCW 045 - Atari, Ventures and Acquisitions: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/atari-ventures-and-acquisitions/ TCW 046 - Atari, Ray Kassar, and Warner: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/atari-ray-kassar-and-warner/ TCW 047 - Vestiges of Atari: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/vestiges-of-atari/ TCW 019 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 1: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-great-video-game-crash-part-1/ TCW 020 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 2: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-great-video-game-crash-part-2/ TCW 021 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 3: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-great-video-game-crash-part-3/   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for order through CRC Press and other retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 103 - Elite Systems   We look at one of the British software companies Elite Systems.  The company was originally named Richard Wilcox software, and was founded as a collaboration between two brothers with the encouragement of their father.   Owing to Richard still being a teenager, had schooling, and could not make programing a full-time career at the time the decision was made to rebrand the company.  Steve renamed the company to Elite Systems in 1984, and hired bedroom coders to produce software for the company.  The company continued to be one of the industry leaders when it came to where the market was going.  They went to licenses, in studio development, consoles, independent developer, and now mobile gaming.  We finish up looking briefly at the controversy around the company's Kick-Starter campaign for the ZX Spectrum Bluetooth keyboard for retro games.    Blue Thunder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9nESwphljA Kokotoni wilf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cnq4SdcYzs Airwolf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LOAciMPGrI Frank Bruno's Boxing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cUku-A0UOc TCW 035 - EA: The Teenage Years: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/ea-the-teenage-years/ TCW 028 - Picking up the Pieces: The US Arcade Industry After the Crash: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/picking-up-the-pieces-the-us-arcade-industry-after-the-crash/ Commando: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKom2O2H0pQ Paperboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR9tQYb76UM  Dragon's Lair EU NES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63JKJPtZ344 Striker SNES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVmLLmILrrg Test Drive Off-Road PSX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMNUsD_FfQw Test Drive Off-Road PC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA3M5K0ezsg Telegraph video of ZX Spectrum Bluetooth Keyboard with Steve Wilcox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HQQsKBeIpI   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for order through CRC Press and other retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 102 - Stern Electronics   We look at the short history of Stern Electronics.  A company that has influenced and been influenced by multiple other companies through its people.  We cover the paths of many of these people including the founder Gary Stern.  During the transition to video games in the late 70's and early 80's Stern was the American arm for Konami bringing over many of their games.  With financial difficulties from having to buy out one of the major investors, once they became mired in legal trouble, and the collapse of the video game industry, Stern ceased to be.  A quick flash for an interesting company.   TCW 059 - Williams’ Crazy Story Pt 1: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/williams-crazy-story-pt-1/ TCW 060 - Williams’ Crazy Story Pt 2: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/williams-crazy-story-pt-2/ TCW 090 - Lion and Bally Manufacturing: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/lion-and-bally-manufacturing/ TCW 091 - Bally: The Road to Fitness: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/bally-the-road-to-fitness/ Dr. Tran: (potentially NSFW): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO0kRE5OTZI TCW 051 - Sons of Pong: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sons-of-pong/ Smiley Face History: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/feb/21/smiley-face-design-history URL Video Action Indy 500: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIa0J10raDc Berzerk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdewB64l2-c TCW 052 - The Many Faces of Konami: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-many-faces-of-konami/ Astro Invader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UcmU0qV5U8 The End: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcOa6DSDgxQ Tutankham: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z242gkTzmM   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for preorder and should be released through CRC Press in December 2019: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1   Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 101 - Infocom We look at the short life of Infocom.  A company that fell into the videogame sphere.  Best known for their text adventure games, including the renowned game Zork.  They started off as a company to keep creative minds together from MIT, and brought forth unique developments including using virtualization for video games.  Due to lack of innovation, combined with its acquisition by Activision, the failure of their database Cornerstone, and  saturating the market with a niche product; the company was closed down in the late 1980's.  With a dedicated fan base in text adventures, Infocom's influence has been felt in some circles to the present day! TCW084 - Time Shared: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/time-shared/ Colosal cave advcenture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3etkSoHrR8 Zork on a PDP-11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYng1yypNCA Zork Example Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNN4VPlRBJ8 Quick Explanation of Virtualization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XItj08D5KPk What is Virtual Memory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2quKyPnUShQ   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Alex's book is available for preorder and should be released through CRC Press in December 2019: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1 Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode  Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love  Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/