They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 176 - The SEGA Technical Institute   SEGA has had a long history of mixing the west and Japanese ideas. To that end, we look at the SEGA Technical Institute or STI. A project to blend the best of Japanese and American developers to create unique games with worldwide appeal. Many talented people worked for STI, and this blending was realized with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. However, success was short-lived as interpersonal issues with the staff lead to a fracturing of the team. Each side put out interesting product, but nothing quite like the success of Sonic.   Marble Madness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzlA1JTPMto Captain EO (1986): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy8w2xRpIIg SEGA Scope 3D: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYUBSV6u0Z8 SEGA Scope 3D Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMoMbXZCbT4 Shinobi Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFlTWKccFLg Dick Tracey Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4rzqSsqaqA Dick Tracey Mega Drive/Genesis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6e5qK7sGPQ Phantasy Star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3P-3GsiRIw Ghouls 'n Ghosts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsMiyr9M6lM Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Bonus Stages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg6cIOsVojg STUN Runner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6CPtjyr19M Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Genesis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cr1rqVcIhA Castle of Illusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eueZcpay-lQ Sonic Spinball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzPpRPDRQvA Casino Night Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmdseeZBiz4 SEGA SVP Chip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZHFbLfvb8w Pinball Drams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UNGMiPETXo Comix Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS-F0UFezFA A-ha - Take On Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914 The Ooze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoIXkIgiyuc Nights Into Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkXKYJ0SBl4 Die Hard Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkVdJXolW_0     Other episodes on SEGA! ===================== 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/ TCW 068 - SEGA VS Nintendo Round 1: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-1/ TCW 069 - SEGA VS Nintendo Round 2: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-2/ TCW 070 - SEGA VS Nintendo Round 3: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-3/ TCW 088 - Gotta Go Fast!: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/gotta-go-fast-1555215841/ TCW 127 - Dreams of SEGA: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/dreams-of-sega/   New episodes are 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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line 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 175 - Shady Cocktail Cabinets   We look at the formation of cocktail cabinets in lounges and cocktail bars. There was an untapped market in these upscale establishments. The problem came from being able to break into the established coin-op industry. This led to some shady practices by various marketers targeting investors who did not know the industry. The cocktail cabinet design promoted quiet play while sitting down enjoying drinks and food unlike most upright cabinets. Cocktail cabinets were somewhat popular for a few years, but ultimately was a fad that was short lived. The companies involved in the industry mostly went under when their popularity dwindled.   TCW 051 - Sons of Pong: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sons-of-pong/ Barrel Pong: https://i.redd.it/w7iyqqalrvk41.jpg Flim Flam: https://www.aussiearcade.com/topic/81095-flim-flam-1975-pong-clone-pcb-by-meadows-games-inc/   New episodes are 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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major online 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 174 - The Computer Wars Part 3   In our conclusion of the live stream, and our look at the computer price wars we see the implosion of the home computer market in the 1980s. The main players were trapped in a race to the bottom. Eventually, Commodore was able to beat out Texas Instruments. This also took out the smaller players like Coleco and Mattel. In the end Commodore was able to dominate the market for a few years. Eventually, they were overcome by the PC clones. But that is another story.   Commodore 64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpXFB8ZEH30 TCW 124 - The Visions of Coleco Part 1: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-visions-of-coleco-part-1/ TCW 125 - The Visions of Coleco Part 2: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-visions-of-coleco-part-2/ 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/   New episodes are 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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line 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 173 - The Computer Price Wars Part 2   In part two of our look at the computer price wars, we dive deep into the major players. Commodore with the VIC-20 and Texas Instruments with the TI99/4A were the major players. Other players included Apple, the TRS-80 Color, and even the US version of the ZX Spectrum.  As fears mounted that Japanese PC makers would eventually price out the US computer makers, efforts were made to drive the prices of home computers lower and lower. The opening shots of the price war included using celebrity endorsements for the major players. Discover the history of how Commodore and Texas Instruments took down a whole industry!   SRAM and DRAM More in Depth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rNEtAz3wJQ What is DRAM?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waU7U_7-mpk TCW 131 -  Clive of ZX: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sir-clive-of-zx/ 8-Bit Guy - The VIC 20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg04GyhS3ss TRS-80 Color: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUa1s9uFKHs Commodore VIC-20 William Shatner Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JAU9Ntpoms TI 99/4a: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0puBoKpvEjY Bill Cosby Texas Instruments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV0t4QIINLI   New episodes are 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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and major online 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 172 - The Computer Price Wars part 1   Part one of our live recording as we cover the Computer Price Wars. We focus on the development of the PC market. The state of computers in the home. The hobbyist computer market, and the major players involved. We see the rapid development of computers and the shift to pre-assembled PCs. We wrap up by looking at the major players of the late 70s and early 80s.  The build-up to a price war that would eventually devastate the entire industry.   TCW 025 - Mattel Electronics?: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/mattel-electronics/ The Story of the Mattel Aquarius: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReUNJLwqSbo APF Imagination Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvgpcZ1m4XY Atari 800 Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA-euwYrAzw TRS 80 Model 1 Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-6_D3cRXws Star Raiders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxbYwekgRz4   New episodes are 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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line 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 171 - A Rogue's Survival Part 2   In part two we look more closely at the evolution of rogue and its descendants. The game Hack which lead to the development of NetHack, and Moria.  These games continued down branching paths to have influences on MMOs, Diablo, and others. We then jump ahead to the modern indie scene, and how the random generation aspects were adapted to create Spelunky.  Spelunky in turn inspired other creators to create games using random generation elements. The most notable of these being The Binding of Isaac, FTL, and Crypt of the Necrodancer.  It is through these four games that we can see that the concept of randomly generated maps and scenarios are not limited to dungeon crawls, or ASCII art. The concepts can be brought into other genres including platforming, real time strategy, and rhythm games.     NetHack: https://www.nethack.org/ uMoria: https://umoria.org/ Castle of the Winds: https://archive.org/details/win3_CasWin1 Spelunky: https://spelunkyworld.com/original.html Spelunky Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em8cU6qcUkw Kagirinaki Tatakai: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFHdvrn6_MM Dwarf Fortress: http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/ The Binding of Isaac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU8EEHy9vR0 FTL Faster Than Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNc06T_ywcs Red November: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox9vubjkZ8s Battlestar Galatica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0elLcYrPq0 Crypt of the Necrodancer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcCW2gx4YvA     New episodes are 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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line 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 170 - A Rogue's Survival Part 1   We start looking into Rogue by looking at the computer systems that helped to spawn its creation. We cover the history of UNIX. The development of UNIX is tied heavily to the development and distribution of Rogue. Rogue was programmed in partnership between Michael Toy and Glenn Wichman. The game featured extensive replayability. The game started to spread through early UseNet and inspired others to create similar games.   TCW 084 - Time Shared: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/time-shared/ AT&T Archives The UNIX OS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc4ROCJYbm0 C Programing Language with Brian Kernighan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de2Hsvxaf8M AT&T Archive The Bell System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBPTM_irIco ADM-3A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzmB-Eow5P8 Bill Joy Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEUXI3I_IZg What is ASCII?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB85kTs-sEw Characters Symbols, and the Unicode Miracle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MijmeoH9LT4 The Hidden Early History of Unix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuzeagzQwRs UUCP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UUCP FreeBSD: https://www.freebsd.org/ Rogue on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1443430/Rogue/ NetHack: https://www.nethack.org/     New episodes are 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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major online 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 169 - Activision and Kotick Part 3   In our final part on Activision and Kotick we see how Activision continued to develop and acquire new IPs. With Spycraft they were in on the Siliwood era of games a trend that continued with Zork Grand Inquisitor. Attempts were made to gain further ground with games like Interstate '76, Big Game Hunter, and Apocalypse. However it was not until Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Call of Duty, and the eventual acquisition of Activision by Vivendi that Bobby Kotick was able to realize his goal of becoming the largest 3rd party developer!   Spycraft The Great Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHWFO6SL-wY Zork Grand Inquisitor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sEvzdefXk8 Interstate '76: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLB-dUOUg6Y Pixel Blurring:  https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/rwtc13/not_just_imagination_due_to_pixel_blurring_older/ FF1 CRT VS LCD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z_6Uoea_DI Big Game Hunter 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHBUVdxQUEU Heretic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7niU6A3yYeU Hexen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwqGlFjgAOw Hexen 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgHq_muqeH0&list=PL30CJwxIgVycgZ1Cw_5WeejC0CbDBfg79 Apocalypse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM191mkD3U0 Top Skater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx9vMnLAglQ Tony Hawk's Pro Skater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEGVwVz_ZRw Real Life James Bond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roAKodJ3TuM Medal of Honor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6ivwknQN54 Medal of Honor Allied Assault: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTH8A7Q9V54 Call of Duty Finest Hour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pn0qx_PL7M Call of Duty (pc): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7KJ7yDJDGk Shoot to Kill British Training Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXqwh2o_zzs American VS German Automatic Weapons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkUom-XkgC0   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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major online 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 168 - Activision and Kotick Part 2   In part two of our look at Activision under Bobby Kotick's leadership. We see how Activision's franchises and licensed properties were leveraged for revenue. We look at how Activision had to revive the entire development apparatus from scratch. They used the animation skills of a Disney-trained trained animator for Pitfall the Mayan, Adventure. Finally, Activision was able to firmly gain footing, and regain profitability with the release of MechWarrior 2!   The Manhole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC2AgMnTFd4 Leather Goddesses of Phobos 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA0rPwUcQmQ Return to Zork: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSoT0Ty8MVQ The Fox and the Hound Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbuIeTHh4To The Black Cauldron Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isAtOHLiMH8 Tron Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtyHX7z8fi8 Technological Threat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiTgoRR3tbk Ferngully - The Last Rainforest Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzqyc95zcxo Pitfall The Mayan Adventure(SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G34rcaK11W0 Pitfall The Mayan Adventure (Sega CD): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P86I5GgsLZM BattleTech The Crescent Hawk's Inception: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rtXTFtyQms Mechwarrior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuxySqjb5X8 Dos Protected Mode Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAyQLV5bbb0 Why you need DOSBox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZmlfmK619g Mechwarrior 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0mSdnxM7fc     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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line 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 167 - Activision and Kotick Part 1   In part one of our look at Activision and Bobby Kotick we look at the early life, and history of the man.  We see from an early age how business was always a driving factor in his life.  Furthermore, we see some of his early companies and challenges as he transitioned into the technology field.  With the help of influential businessman Steve Wynn, Bobby Kotick was able to start a software company.  Wynn further helped in financing the eventual buy-in of Mediagenic when the company was floated as a cheap way to get into the game market by Nintendo.  We finish by looking at how Kotick and others took control of Mediagenic and renamed it Activision.  With the need to file for bankruptcy Kotick has the long task of building up the company from scratch.  Promising investors to at least break even over the next four to five years.   TCW 009 - History of Mediagenic Part I: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/history-of-mediagenic-part-i/ TCW 010 - History of Mediagenic Part II: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/history-of-mediagenic-part-ii/ TCW 126 - Activision and Atari: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/activision-and-atari/ Bobby Kotick in Moneyball: https://www.engadget.com/2011-08-07-why-bobby-kotick-has-a-cameo-in-moneyball-the-charitable-conclu.html TCW 027 - The Magnavox Patent Lawsuits: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-patent-lawsuits-friday-september-16-2016-1003-am/   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, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line 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/