They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 020 -The Great Video Game Crash Part 2   We discuss the fates of all the major home video game producers. As they tried, and generally failed, to transition to computers as the future game systems. This turned out to be the wrong way to go. With the distraction of computers no company made a transitional console for home users.  Coleco got close to surviving the crash, but called it quits in 1985. We go over how computers are too complicated for the general public to use. You require ease of use and working out of the box for gaming to work well on the PC. We go over the numbers of the crash during 82-85, and how the market went from 2.8 billion to 100 million In value in just three years.   World of Xeen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VgBR8-BCos   Mattel Aquarius Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlZn8ejso-4   Coleco Adam Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U39muxNdJs   Colecovision Donkey Kong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyNv1Ok0p5g   Kids and Apple II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF7EpEnglgk   Coleco Adam Comercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZz5WywJ-es   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 019 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 1   We go over the lead up to the crash, and the unique situation that caused it. We touch on who to blame for the crash. Is it all Atari's fault? What about retailers, and distributers? There is also the fly by night operations that could have been the straw that broke the camel's back. We cover this and more in part one!   New York Times article on the start of the crash Dec 19, 1982: http://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/19/business/the-game-turns-serious-at-atari.html?pagewanted=all   Star Voyager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZwRD3zqR1E   Pac Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCPpgt0s70U   Lost Luggage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg-1GYOtvUw   ET: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bn192kSsMw   Skeet Shoot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UWJFOUBxTo   Space Invaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=437Ld_rKM2s   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 018 - The British 8-Bit Computer Market: Software   We go at the British 8-Bit computer market again; this time looking at the software side of things. We go over the initial homebrew/hacker scene, and how it eventually evolved into a publisher/distributor business. This created a unique microcosm allowing Britain to have a different and unique game industry. However it was all absorbed into the global gaming scene with the introduction of 16 bit systems and outside companies were able to move in. Today some of the legacy lives on with a few original British game developers.   Theme Hospital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byy3wRndKuQ   3D Monster Maze ZX81: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKvd0zPfBE4   Miner 2049er: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kf6axO_Au4   Manic Miner: ZX Spectrum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgUzteADsRI   Jet Set Willy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Ywx6uVn9E   Knight Lore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n7qtErhF-A   Arcadia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfnrlYrYZME   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 017 - The British 8-Bit ComputerMarket: Hardware   We discuss the early 8-bit computer hardware market in Britain, and the unique circumstances of the era before it was ended by the coming of 16 bit computers.   Kids React to Old Computers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF7EpEnglgk   Old school Graphics Part I Commodore 64 & Nintendo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfh0ytz8S0k   Uridium C64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks5-Zq6XAN4   Uridium ZX Spectrum:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgyxpqL8T3Q RISC vs CISC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDrUkjOVtAU   New episodes on the1st and 15th of every month!   TCWEmail: 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 016 - Early Computer Game Platforms: The Trinity, and the Disciples   We go over the early computer systems as they apply to games in the United States. Starting with the first home computer of note the Altair 8800. We then go into the Trinity of systems released in the same year for the home; the Apple II, the Commodore Pet, and the TRS 80. We then go into the systems that came after and how the Apple II was able to remain dominant as a gaming platform for much longer than it should have untill it was dethroned by the Commodore 64.   Popular Electronics Archive: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Popular-Electronics-Guide.htm   Altair 8800 Popular Electronics: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1975/Poptronics-1975-01.pdf   Net Hack: http://www.nethack.org/   Old school Graphics Part I Commodore 64 & Nintendo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfh0ytz8S0k   Old School Graphics Part II Apple & Atari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rsycfDliZU&nohtml5=False   Temple of Apshai TRS 80: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiMtY5BxdM0   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 015 - The Story of Chuck E Cheese   We discuss the founding and development of Chuck E Cheese. We go over Showbiz pizza, and its founding as well as eventual acquisition of Chuck E Cheese. At a higher level we go over how companies need to go public in order to grow, but this is a major problem for the video game industry.   Chuck E Cheese Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jLivjTOg0o   Showbiz Pizza Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiN0pYSIeOU   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 014 - Nintendo: Playing With Power   We discuss the state of the industry after the crash before Nintendo came onto the scene, and the difficulties in relating with the modern viewpoint to the situation at the time. We cover how Nintendo entered the US market and set up policies that would be ridiculous today, but were necessary for the industry to recover and grow. We cover how as Nintendo grew they were eventually sued for anti-trust, and price fixing, but were exonerated. Still this led to them easing up on their control in the early 90's.   Advanced Video System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEA2ePG8m-4   A few unlicensed games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfpsj8023qE   Pacman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdT0lrm4b2s   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 013 - History of Acclaim - "The Fall"   We would like to dedicate this episode to Fergus McGovern, co-founder of Probe Software, who died February 27, 2016 at the age of 50.   We go over the changes that led to the fall of Acclaim. How some other publishers were able to survive, and why. We also discuss how it is a unique situation that led to the growth of Acclaim in the late 80s early 90s . We can also see parallels between Acclaim and more recently THQ.   Castlevania 3 US vs Japan Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v9339JUK3U   Turok: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74hOR5f4MS0   Mario 64 :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6r5oF73gNI   Crash Bandicoot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaLgYPn_Fqs   Tomb Raider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ6mWoErc0E   Silent Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8-3zq8GUcc   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 012 - History of Acclaim - "The Rise"   We go over the rise of Acclaim Entertainment from its inception by two former employees of Activision. We cover Acclaim's rise as they started off as publishers of games from smaller companies, and then branched out into franchising. We discuss the interactions between Acclaim and Nintendo, and how they become one of the first American publishers for Nintendo.    Ghostbusters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdZmiyPaKkA   Rambo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDTFLNSWm3U   Tiger Heli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7hOp7S_YiU   Star Voyager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmqXawykr5Y   3D World Runner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTbH25YNxE4   World Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv3RJKS2e_E   Atic Atac : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJrS9WYn3X8   Donkey Kong Country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whp2Y_MjTXs   Secret of Evermore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdV79VbxWOc   Wizards and Warriors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SlQ2c1bj54   Mortal Kombat TV Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzugunqdlnI   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 011 - The Genesis of JRPGs   We go over the Genesis of JRPGs, and discover that their origin is not where we would have expected them to come from. We go over the influences on developers in Japan that lead to the development of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.  We discuss how western RPGs made their way into Japan via the Apple II, and how RPGs eventually engrained themselves into Japanese society.   Final Fantasy Mystic Quest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNnpxrZtzy0   Ultima 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FvHQI2qSKQ   Wizardry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-iOZzwIlMA   Xevious - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P24bjcvnxd8   Tower of Druaga - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN-8LcVfoTc   Hydlide - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmrxfeozmis   Black Onyx - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=364J35Sk3zM   Dragon Quest 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmzHrNVelL0     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/