They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 160 - The 100,000 Part 1   We want to thank everyone for helping us to reach 100,000 downloads of the podcast!  We started in September 2015 and are amazed at the love & support we have received.  To celebrate, we are looking at the list of the SPA's highest sellers of computer software in the 1980s.   We start off in part one looking at the three 500k sellers and then move on to the 250k sellers.  We get a view of the computer software market during this time, and have a little fun too!   Kent Brockman Welcoming out Insect Overlords: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4jWAwUb63c 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/ TCW 041 - Beating Them All Up: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/beating-them-all-up/ The Print Shop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxL7-XLGfDg TCW 071 -A Story of Brøderbund!: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-story-of%c2%a0br%c3

TCW Podcast Episode 159 - International Adventure   In this episode, we look at the computer game company 'Adventure International' which is one of the first companies to put out adventure games on early home computers.  Founded by Scott Adams, no not THAT Scott Adams, and his ex-wife Alexis.  The company had a short lifespan of less than a decade.  We look at the life of Adams, and how his love of puzzles and games turned into a small business that unfortunately ended in the mid-1980s   Mike Mayfield Star Trek:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLKw4AU4KHU 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/ Sphere 1 Computer: https://history-computer.com/sphere-1-computer/ Colossal Cave Adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFrWH0na0A Adventureland (C64): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXalpUaECVw 3D-TicTac-Toe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1qPNY03ZuY Byte Magazine Adventure Artic

TCW Podcast Episode 158 - Computer Space   Computer space is a game steeped in mystery and myth.  The game is a reimagining of Space War.  Developed through a partnership between Nutting Associates and Syzygy, Computer Space went on to have modest success.  The game is viewed as having little to no impact.  In this episode, we explore how Computer Space had much more influence.  The game had a lot of tangible impact with the expansion of Aladdin's Castle.  Computer Space also had a great run in Ithaca, NY.  Furthermore, it had the first radio advertisement for an arcade video game!   TCW 022 - The Galaxy Game: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-galaxy-game/ WORLDLY WEDNESDAYS: A TIMELINE OF COMPUTER SPACE: https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/worldly-wednesdays-a-timeline-of-computer-space/ TCW 044 - Founding, Syzygy to Atari: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/founding-syzygy-to-atari/ The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/why-compu

TCW Podcast Episode 157- Final Fantasy's Tale   We look at a game franchise that spans fifteen titles and is still growing strong! Final Fantasy has a deep history with many influences and creative talent coming together to create a game of somber mystery and wonder. Final Fantasy had themes drawn from Conan the Barbarian, Elric of Melniboné,  rock music, and the art of Toshitaka Amano. With the help of the programming talents of Nasir Gebelli, the game was able to do things that even Dragon Quest, released a year earlier, was unable to accomplish. The game was released with four hundred thousand copies in Japan and met with modest success leading to the development of further titles. Listen and discover the history and wonder of Final Fantasy!   Ultraman EP1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLf_yMPu6gw Astro Boy EP1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpwbNYFvZy4 Guin Saga Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guin_Saga Elric of Melniboné Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elric_of_Melnibon%C3%A

TCW Podcast Episode 156 - Madden for Some Football   We cover the man, the myth, the legend of football John Madden! He is famous for taking the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl win and a long career as a sports analyst and commentator. Madden is perhaps best known for the yearly football video game property. In this episode, we look deep at the inception of the game series, how John Madden became involved, and see how the series was almost a one-release failure. There is a quiz about three takeaways from this episode!   TCW 035 - EA The Teenage Years: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/ea-the-teenage-years/ TCW 058 - EA Sports: It's In the Game!: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/ea-sports-its-in-the-game/ Atari Football Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_ZOtqMWHoU George Carlin on Football (Explicit Language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIkqNiBASfI George Carlin Sports (Explicit Language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJRIKuNJBA Super Bowl XI (Entire Game): https://www.youtube

TCW Podcast Episode 155 Nintendo Playing With Toys   In our final look at Nintendo in the early years, we see the transition into toys and electronic games.  Nintendo brought over some popular western games such as Twister in partnership with Milton Bradly.  The legendary engineer Gunpei Yokoi invented some of Nintendo's first toys.  These toys included; the Ultra Hand, the Ultra Machine, and the Ultra Scope.  Nintendo progressed further into electronic entertainment by focusing on light gun technology with photovoltaic cells.  The home light gun games were a hit.  Nintendo decided to develop a larger version to be used in bowling alleys.  However, the oil embargo of the 1970s caused such economic turmoil that most orders were canceled.  It is at this point that Nintendo refactored the technology for use in the traditional coin-op space.   TCW 037 - Nintendo and Gunpei Yokoi: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-and-gunpei-yokoi/ Nintendo Rabbit Coaster Game: http://blog.beforemario.com/2011/02

TCW Podcast Episode 154 - Nintendo Playing with Controversy   In part two of our look at the history of Nintendo, we cover the aftermath of Hiroshi Yamauchi's father abandoning the family. He ended up growing up under the care of his grandparents. Unfortunately, after a stroke suffered by his Grandfather, Hiroshi Yamauchi had to take over control of Nintendo in his early twenties. Because of this early ascension to power, Hiroshi Yamauchi was subject to a controversy that was the greatest challenge to his authority. The strike of employees at Nintendo.   A Brief History of US Troops Playing Cards: https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/a-brief-history-of-us-troops-playing-cards-and-a-magicians-trick-honoring-veterans/ Vintage Playing Cards from Postwar Japan: https://globalvoices.org/2020/11/30/newly-found-vintage-playing-cards-shine-a-light-on-post-war-occupied-japan/ Abroad in Japan Love Hotels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fso4yjbgceY Disney Playing Cards: https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/

TCW Podcast Episode 153 - Nintendo Playing With Cards   We start off our look at the complete history of Nintendo.  The company started as a side project of a cement company trying to get cement into Kyoto.  From the humble start of being in a small house with six employees, Nintendo started to grow into an unrivaled producer of cards not just in Japan, but in the Japanese empire.  We end with Hiroshi Yamauchi being the first male ere to the Yamauchi line.   Hanafuda Cards and KoiKoi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WxYDIsXHOQ Hyakunin Isshu: https://www.jlit.net/premodern/hyakunin-isshu/index.html Hyakunin Isshu Karuta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx2UqSxAPfk Nintemdo Playing Card Pictures: http://www.kyotoursjapan.com/blog/2018/5/2/nintendo-kyoto-origins Napoleon Back Cards: https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Hanafuda   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 Vi

TCW Podcast Episode 152 - Grand Theft Auto 2 by 3   With the groundwork of the series laid down, we continue our look into the franchise of Grand Theft Auto.  GTA 2 went to market during a transition phase with Rockstar, Take-Two Interactive, and DMA (Soon to be Rockstar North), sorting out who would deal with what.  GTA 2 was a modest success, but it is GTA 3 that made Rockstar and Take-Two take off.  The gritty storytelling, realism, and relatable real-world themes made GTA 3 a blockbuster hit.  Further refinements to the system lead to the sequels GTA: Vice City and GTA San Andreas.  Each expansion faced controversy, especially San Andreas with the infamous HOT COFFEE!   Level Zero - The History of Sega Part 1: https://levelzeropod.com/2021/09/16/the-history-of-sega-part-1/ Level Zero - The History of Sega Part 2: https://levelzeropod.com/2021/10/29/the-history-of-sega-part-2/ Level Zero - The History of Sega Part 3: https://levelzeropod.com/2021/11/11/the-history-of-sega-part-3/ Modo Historia Podca

TCW Podcast Episode 151 - Grand Theft Auto 1   We start our look at the legendary game series Grand Theft Auto.  A game series that had many influences that came out of the British PC market.  The game may not have seen the light of day if it was not for developers and executives championing the game to BMG Interactive.  With the help of a PR campaign to stir up false controversy that lead to a speech denouncing the game to the House of Lords, the game launched to modest success!  Though the best is yet to come as Rockstar gears up to release Grand Theft Auto 2 and 3!   Menace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM8r8Nn-fxU Lemmings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuiyFXMjGxA Uniracers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ5sR5Gui6U Red's Dream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96xGUa1a_zs Body Harvest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkw4Jpr0lDw Space Station Silicon Valley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX-GdHNoRRQ Syndicate Wars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7saA60qM4H4 Clockwork Knight: https://

TCW Podcast Episode 150 - Gottlieb Part 2   In part two we look at the further development of Gottlieb as a coin-op company, and how they established themselves during the 50s through the 70's.  Eventually acquired by Columbia Pictures. Gottlieb would start making small steps into the video game space.  Though many inside the company still viewed themselves as a pinball company, the shrinking pinball market necessitated a change.  When Columbia was purchased by Coca-Cola the shift into video games was made more of a priority.  One of the notable hits of this time was the game Q*bert.  A character that would even get a short run cartoon.  Unfortunately with other failures in the video game space, and the collapse of the industry as a whole Gottlieb ceased to be in the mid 80's.   How bowling Pinsetters work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iod6uwUGM2E Shuffleboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpNTY-0fhps Shuffle Alley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfHe6HKFrY8 Gittlieb Duette: https://www.youtube.

TCW Podcast Episode 149 - Gottlieb Part 1   We look at the company Gottlieb which was a major coin-op company founding during the roaring twenties, and rising to prominence in the great depression, and post war era.  The company is most well known for pinball, and the many contributions to making it more than a gabling device.  We follow the rise of the company up until the 1950s.  Though not quite at the video game era yet, the background of the company does help dictate and shape how Gottlieb made its mark in video game history.   Punch Board Price is Right: https://youtu.be/pyiMiLGfAQ0?t=210 Gottlieb Grip Tester: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZjhdXMx8U Majestic Moving Target: http://www.pinrepair.com/arcade/majest.htm Bingo Pamphlets: https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=294 Google Gottlieb Bingo Images: https://images.app.goo.gl/Ki2DG8oKJCqPHYU1A Baffle Ball Pinball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1jETFi-f_c Five Star Final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMHzjaoXe7A Humpty Dumpty: https:

TCW Podcast Episode 148 - The Mysteries of Imagic   We look at the company Imagic.  This company only lasted a few short years during the lead up to, and through the crash.  The company is notable for innovative packaging, and creating games that pushed the graphical fidelity of the Atari VCS to new levels!  They were also one of the first companies to use graphics on a computer to then be translated to code on a console.  A feat famously used by Rare in the creation of Donkey Kong Country.  Unfortunately through a lot of bad luck Imagic was unable to go public due to the Time Warner earnings report two days prior.  This lead to the company's downfall.   Sprint 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuPEoLkVwtI Touch Me Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGY-wXvjWa0 Atlantis High-Res Scan: https://archive.org/details/AtlantisAtari2600HiResScans Cosmic Ark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKYRsvy4pHg Demon Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deEgbiAHaGs Atlantis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w

TCW Podcast Episode 147 - Others in the Field Too   We look at the contributions of other in the field chronicling video game history, and trying to write perspectives on what we know at the time.  To start we look at Gaming Alexandria which has become one of the major communities dedicated to preserving video game history, and has many contributors who work on a myriad of projects.  We look at the work Ethan has put in between court cases, blogging, and as a consultant on "Arcade Dreams".  We look at the work done by Kate Willært of "A Critical Hit!"  Her work consists of blogs, videos, and twitter threads!  She did fantastic research into the first Easter Egg in video games, women characters in games, and if working on more interesting projects.  Finally we look at  academia, and what they are doing in relation to Video Game History!   Gaming Alexandria: https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/ Gaming Alexandria Discord: https://discord.gg/cF7c7Jd Video Game Legal Documents: https://archive.org/details/vi

TCW Podcast Episode 146 - Storytime with a Book 2   Alex reads and annotates a chapter of the book dealing with the founding of Activision!  We cover not just the chapter but the thought process, and behind the scenes that went into the chapter.  The story is helped with extra information that Alex was able to gleam from interviews, and trial transcripts.  A larger perspective telling of the early formation of Activision, where the popular historical record needs to be corrected and more!   Atari Archive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo_f7y6sBDmFnGbZoq1Ce_w TCW 094 - Epyx not Epic: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/epyx-not-epic/ TCW 046 - Atari, Ray Kassar and Warner: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/atari-ray-kassar-and-warner/ TCW 027 - The Magnavox Patent Lawsuits: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-patent-lawsuits-friday-september-16-2016-1003-am/ Boxing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5reJLuRgz-A Dragster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTy9zS899wk Fishing Derby:

TCW Podcast Episode 145  - Revisions and Updates 3   Our sixth year anniversary!  In this episode we look back at the podcast and correct some of the errors that were made in the past.  First we explore the company Fun Games which was sued by Atari for making clones of Atari products using stolen equipment.  The source and story of this is better told with new information that has come to light.  Other new information includes the discovery that the 100 yen coin shortage in Japan was real!  The circumstances around the shortage is a lot more complicated.  The final major item was discovering the first game sold on a micro computer.  This particular game was published as a book, and not on tape or magnetic media making it unique for the first game of this type.   Trailer with Video Games: https://twitter.com/QuarterPast83/status/1261412414618128385 TCW 008 - Birth of the Japanese Game Center  Go to 1hr 25 minutes: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/birth-of-the-japanese-game-center/ Scelbi's Galaxy Ga

TCW Podcast Episode 144 - Ascension into the Black Gate   In our final part looking at the history of the Ultima series we start off looking at Ultima VII.  This game is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the series.   The game combines story elements with a massive world to create a truly unique experience.  The game is followed by two major commercial failures.  Those failures being Ultima VIII and Ultima IX.  The reasons behind those failures are many.  However a lot of the blame for Ultima VIII's shortcomings, especially the jumping, can be laid at the feet of the development team and not EA.  Because of the disaster of VIII, Ultima IX was plagues with issues.  Especially since they had a rotating staff, technology issues, and other challenges the game was an ignoble end to a series that touched many.  However like many of the Ultima games, it is not the destination, but the journey that is the true heart of Ultima.     Intro to Ultima VII: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ttf9YrkBdQ The Story

TCW Podcast Episode 143 -The Prophet of the Avatar   In part two of our look at the Ultima series we start with how Richard came to the morality system that became a central feature of the franchise.  Using a combination of features he likes from various worlds religions, his own experiences, and so on Richard crafted the eight virtues that the play, who would become the avatar, would have to emulate.  In the following two games. The story focused on how not all choices are black and white like in Ultima V, and how without all the facts you may be fighting against a group that may just be trying to survive.  This is a fascinating look at morality in videogames that is unprecedented at the time, and is rarely, if at all, emulated today.   Download Ultima IV: https://www.gog.com/game/ultima_4 Museum of the Avatar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIaOiMH8SKg Softline Interview: http://www.applevault.com/magazines/softline/v3n1/origin.pdf The Eight Virtues Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wFzZx-

TCW Podcast Episode 142 - Ultima: Exodus to Akalabeth   In this episode we look at the legendary series of Ultima!  We look at the lead up inspiration, and influences that led to the creation of Ultima.  This episode ties in heavily with our look at Origin Systems.  In this we use the creation of Ultima as a microcosm of the development of the PC industry.  The plight of the bedroom coder.  Wanting to make cool games, finding themselves thrust into a wider PC game world, and the eventual whirlwind of having publishers involved.  We mainly focus on how the creation of the games mirrors Richard's growth as a game designer and eventually perfecting the base formula with Ultima III.   TCW 038 - Origin Story: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/origin-story-1489274251/ TCW 117 - Wing Commander: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/wing-commander-1593278423/ Introduction to the Society of Creative Anachronism : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=046bs9DY7QY Escape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM2tb0-9uyg

TCW Podcast Episode 141 - The Console Market of the 70's and 80's Part 2   In our second part we look at the emergence of the programable consoles.  We see how many companies kept falling into the same trap of FCC regulations, heat issues, and chip shortages.  By the time most of these issues were sorted out, with the notable exception of the Apple II being classified as an "industrial computer", the industry was in the midst of a console transition led by the ColecoVision.  However the video game crash caused it all to be reset, and many promising paths of development were never really explored.  Stay tuned to the end for info on Alex's guest appearances, the topic of our live stream recording this year, and getting stickers!   TCW 076 - A Fairchild Story: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-fairchild-story/ Media Regulation Crash Course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6LKl4RKIew History of Radio and the FCC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob_db-kxEQw Vintage 1963 FCC Film: https://www.youtube.