They Create Worlds

 TCW Podcast Episode 046 - Atari, Ray Kassar and Warner   We continue on to part three of our four part look into Atari.  We delve into Atari under the leadership of Ray Kassar.  It becomes apparent that while Ray did make mistakes the leadup to the fall of Atari cannot be entirely placed at his feet.  We also explore the role of Warner in the direction Atari took and the difficult decision on whether to concentrate on home console or PC.  We also delve into the Arcade side of things and how, while successful, they were not without their growing problems.    Atari Pinball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqcDFAphThY   Space Invaders Atari 2600: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opru6qPsPa4   Atari Arcade Battlezone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymrYkbEbnEQ   Atari 400 and 800: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-InWwzs8Em0   Asteroids Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYSupJ5r2zo   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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 045 - Atari, Ventures and Acquisitions   In our second of four episodes detailing the rise and fall of the core Atari company we go over the rapid expansion of the company, and its ever increasing need for capital.  Atari had to court venture capital, and got the patronage of Don Valentine.  Later on to secure the funding needed for the VCS launch they had to be acquired by a larger company; that company was Warner Communications.  This acquisition as we start to explore was a blessing and a curse.  It ultimately led to the ouster of Nolen Bushnell, and Joe Keenan from Atari.  Now it would start a new era under the leadership of Ray Kassar.   Atari Arcade Tank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OsBUzYBJgU   Atari Home Pong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqBlrULrbsg   Atari VCS Hardware Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7n5o5Wq3q4   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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 044 - Founding, Syzygy to Atari   Part one of our four-part dive into Syzygy/Atari! We cover the personal histories of the founders, and how the company would not really be a company without the efforts of Nolan Bushnell.  We go into the controversy of where he learned of Spacewar.  Then off to the debut hit for Atari of PONG.  We cover the rocky road Atari had after its initial launch, and how it nearly could have just been a flash in the pan like many companies that came after.    The Mandela Effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMXnCCFS2-Q Full Nolan Interview in '73: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0BBnBdsVo Computer Space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhdu2Jh9cuc Space Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDtdKxZ9vWk Pong Doubles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09qHnr1DMwA Gotcha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoDZoZqsHF8 Gran Trak 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R014taK2pZM   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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 043 - Personal Gaming Histories   We go over some of our early memories of being introduced to video games.  Joys, tragedies, and hilarity.  Very much in the vein of what inspired us to start doing this podcast.  This is a light hearted episode that may help you to reflect on favorite memories from your past.  So stay a while and listen as we reminisce!   Gray and Orange Zapper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQnYsEKzJKw Necromancer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg-XP-4LbVo Archon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdfIfC9BHwQ Think Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYmMs_eo4c8 Civilization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpW9jTULNmM Dune 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tppjzT-su0Q Dragon Quest/Warrior Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_TlZFCabiM Tie Fighter Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4-EnCc-JKk   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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 042 - Laser Craze   We cover the brief, yearlong, craze that was the laserdisc.  We go into great detail on Dragon's Lair the game that really kicked it off in the United States.  Though many other companies tried to take advantage of the medium, unfortunately it was unable to sustain itself.  There were a few games that did as well, if not better than Dragon's Lair, they all ended up being part of what was just a brief fad in the downward trend of the arcade scene.   Quarter Horse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Imd1acT2qc Astron Belt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLX6HSZsx4 Dragon's Lair Promotion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZrgeI0DDP8 Dragon's Lair Playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6uEx5gWovA Dragon's Lair NES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyGTMTJ6egU Dragon's Lair Coleco Adam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSinFyg6Y5Q The Making of Dragon's Lair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bIxeYYSm-c Cliff Hanger Operator Promotion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc5MKWJ7j6Y M.A.C.H. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm5u4ErDPF4 Star Rider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soQbVEb3-TQ Bega's Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J2JVgUqSdE Cobra Command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN1LC2s4P-w Firefox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnHl0fyejqc   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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 41 - Beating Them All Up   We delve into beat 'em ups, and fighters.  We cover why they did not take hold until computer technology progressed far enough to allow for human analogs to be animated well.  We go into the beat 'em up craze, and then the transition to fighting games that occurred with the release of Street Fighter II.  We touch on the fall of fighting games from the mainstream with Tekken and Soul Calibur.  The scene is still out there, and has a dedicated following.  However fighters are not the system sellers they once were.   Warrior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX4NspoYD8o Jungle Hunt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPATWODXlh4 Apple II Karateka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKqk9kosCs4 Spartan X: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jncBelS_Nhk Karate Champ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwV3xqS9_aQ Renegade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1fl38u9I9k Double Dragon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfZz-1e-dUQ Yie Ar Kung Fu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXOL8tZQX20 Street Fighter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8al2U4xSFNQ  Final Fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyAHGHo22Og Fatal Fury: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG17S8yRz6A Street Fighter II World Warrior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI284D4y1q4 An Oral History of Street Fighter II: http://www.polygon.com/a/street-fighter-2-oral-history NARC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3jonU-XrK4 Mortal Kombat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F82XAvCuVc Virtual Fighter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-9TUlCcib0 Tekken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GmSF_PqL84 Soul Edge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgb64WBw_Ww Soul Calibur Arcade VS Dreamcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Rdg6A-KJs   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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 40 - Sierra On-Line We delve into the second half of the story of Sierra.  We cover how they managed to regroup, and rebuild from the company being close to a complete collapse.  We cover many of the classics of the era.  Even though many of them are not as fondly remembered today; they are still important for pushing gaming on the PC to new and impressive heights.  Unfortunately we also cover how Sierra was torn apart after its acquisition, and Ken Williams leaving the company shortly thereafter in the late 90's and early 2000's. Wizard of OZ Black and White to Technicolor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6D8PAGelN8 Police Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCgFYW1--JI Space Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4-e6T4sqXc Leisure Suit Larry The Land of the Lounge Lizards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyvi1pdDPUc Secret of Monkey Island on Various Sound Cards (Including PC Speaker): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr-84mjV3CI King's Quest IV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCqDIRMRTTY Ways to Die in King's Quest 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLPXP5KkcMQ A-10 Tank Killer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8hQTLwkGuE Gabriel Knight Sins of the Fathers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbjXuPa1uW0 Quest For Glory I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxbfd8eB89Y Phantasmagoria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAXC-MwfpHA Half Life 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoV9o6b91Sc New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com 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 039 - On-Line Systems   On-Line systems is the company that eventually becomes Sierra Online.  The brainchild of Ken and Roberta Williams.  We go over the  reasons for the company's founding, and the unique makeup of the company's initial titles.  Unfortunately due to backing the proverbial wrong horse multiple times after investment by a venture capital firm they are on the brink of failure during the mid to late 80's.   Shadow of Yserbius: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnJ7BBwKZI0&t=762s   PDP8E Running Adventure with a Z52 Terminal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJdq3gK6M78   Colossal Cave Adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFrWH0na0A   Mystery House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiwHwPvIHBs   The Wizard and the Princess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUHATnGbwl0   Time Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBE8K0XG65I   The Dark Crystal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBNMWnn0I6g   PC JR King's Quest 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymLvOunSuoQ   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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 038 - Origin Story   We cover the rise and fall of Origin Systems.  A company that is very much defined by one of its founders Richard Garriott.  We cover the company's pre-founding as Richard tried to get his games published, and distributed to the public.  We then delve into its founding and growth into one of the great influencers of the video game industry.  Ultimately ending up with the company's dissolution by EA in 2004, we see what factors led up to how we see Origin, and EA today.   Escape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjqTn93cZOc   Akalabeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmq-cO1RCoA   Ultima I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uv22hlykLM   Time Bandits Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwnjENpIyq0   Ultima II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHftrFz1gjs   Times of Lore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwzRVKi8pZ4   Space Rogue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEyx6evq360   Wing Commander: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Z4q8y-FhY   Ultima Underworld: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuNymTPko3Y   Ultima Online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhDvJ8RketA   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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 037 - Nintendo and Gunpei Yokoi   We go over the career of Gumpei Yokoi.  From his falling into a job at Nintendo until his untimely death.  We cover his contributions to Nintendo, and the game industry, and set the record straight on what he did, and did not have influence on.  In the end his true legacy is the talent he mentored, philosophy, and vision that still influences Nintendo to this day.   Game and Watch Collection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HZiBtXwyHM   Radar Scope: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAq7Kckid8   Arcade Donkey Kong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBHJhla8TO4   Arcade Mario Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54olndhqPSA   NES Speed Run Metroid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67kQ3l-1qMs   Kids React to Gameboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pCp8g-VjOs   Virtual Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjz4bls_gPs   The Wonderswan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPJrmNq-1Ow   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Twitter: @tcwpodcast Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com   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/