They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 120 - The Whole Video Game Industry Part 3   This is our third part looking at the entire video game industry.  We start with looking at the European PC industry, and then transitioning into the Arcade industry.  We look at the arcades from both the United States, and Japanese standpoints.   We then see the creation of the Famicom, and its debut in the west as the Nintendo Entertainment System.  Next episode we will conclude our epic look at the whole industry!   Live Recording Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdAC0_F4I6Y   TCW 017 - The British 8-Bit Computer Market: Hardware: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-british-8-bit-computer-market-hardware/ 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 057 - Foundation of the Japanese Video Arcade Game Industry : http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/foundation-of-the-japanese-video-arcade-game

TCW Podcast Episode 119 -The Whole Video Game Industry Part 2   We continue our look at the entire video game industry!  In the second part we start looking at the industry leading up to the crash!  We continue the story where part 1 left off.  We see the evolution of the industry along the three lines of arcade, home console, and PC.  We see the pervasive influence of Dungeons and Dragons on the industry.  Particularly the PC scene.  A lot of crazy, and a lot of fun!  Check out the companion video is you want to know how the original recording was!   Archive Live Stream Recording  on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ5gDXPUV8g   TCW 078 - Invading Taito Part 2: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/invading-taito-part-2/ TCW 057 -Foundation of the Japanese Video Arcade Game Industry : http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/foundation-of-the-japanese-video-arcade-game-industry/ TCW 008 -  Birth of the Japanese Game Center: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/birth-of-the-japanese-game-center

TCW Podcast Episode 118 - The Whole Video Game Industry Part 1   This is part one of our four part series looking at the entire video game industry at a very macro level.  We look at the start of computers all the way through to the early video arcades and beyond!  We see the evolution of games on PC, the arcade, and the initial forays into the home.  We even see a hybrid of sorts with games like Seawolf combining electro-mechanical and video elements.  We did a live recording of four episodes, including this one, on June 28th, 2020.  Archival video of that is available on our YouTube channel!   YouTube Livestream Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwLh3ptIkhM Ahoy "The First Video Game": https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=uHQ4WCU1WQc Ethan's Response: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/2019/10/16/a-response-to-ahoys-the-first-video-game/ TCW 089 - The Dawn of Computers and Gaming: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-dawn-of-computers-and-gaming/ TCW 081 - The Meeti

TCW Podcast Episode 117 - Wing Commander   We look at one of the great space flight simulators of the 90's!  Wing Commander is largely attributed to Chris Roberts. However we find out in this episode the many other people who were instrumental in not just the story, but gameplay of Wing Commander.  We can see the true potential of the Siliwood era with the live action cut scenes used in both Wing Commander III and IV.    We of course look at the inspirations for Wing Commander, and take a look at the history of the people involved!  Grab your flight suit, and strap yourself in commander!   TCW 017 - The British 8-Bit Computer Market: Hardware: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-british-8-bit-computer-market-hardware/ TCW 018 - The British 8-Bit Computer Market: Software: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-british-8-bit-computer-market-software/ Wizadore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frec-Bh6XfE Stryker's Run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Q6qrzYw5I TCW 038 - Origin Story: http://p

TCW Podcast Episode 116 - The Atari Games You Are Looking For   In this episode we continue our tradition of looking at Atari!  This time a deep look at Atari Games.  We look at the company starting with it's acquisition by Namco.  We look at its progression through the 80's and 90's with many notable games.  Unfortunately during the Siliwood era Atari was reacquired by Time Warner.  After limited success the remnants of the company were sold off to Williams' where the name of Atari was given up in a legal dispute with Hasbro.    TCW 029 - 50 Years of Namco: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/50-years-of-namco/ TCW 032 - The History of the Atari Brand: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-history-of-the-atari-brand/ TCW 029 - 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/ Marble Madness - Atari 1984: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jazxSQz0yL4 Star Wars Arcade Atari: https://www.y

TCW Podcast Episode 115 - The Return of the Sdraziw of Sir-Tech   Our second part look at Sir-Tech Software!  The company continues to struggle with the release of wizardry V, but makes the transition away from the Apple II with the release of Wizardry VI.  The Wizardry franchise is a major hit in the Japanese PC space.  This leads to Wizardry anime, manga, and Japanese only games.  Sir-Tech still continued to struggle to maintain a presence as the US PC industry continued to consolidate.  Despite some success bringing foreign software to the states, Sir-Tech closed operations in the 2000s.     TCW 071 - A Story of Brøderbund!: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-story-of%c2%a0br%c3%b8derbund/ TCW 074 - The Japanese PC Industry: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-japanese-pc-industry/ Wizardry OAV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGYMeuiFyv8 Wizardry V: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJVrsR1kKT4 Wizardry VI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxdBGJsMD4g The Bard's Tale C64: https://www.yout

TCW Podcast Episode 114 - The Wizards of Sir-Tech   We look at the company Sir-Tech.  Known as "the Wizardry company", and founded by Norman Sirotek and Robert Woodhead.  The company was originally founded to market Info Tree, a database program.  The shift was made into video games starting with the release of Galactic Attack.  With the heavy influences of the games on the PLATO system.  Andrew Greenberg and Woodhead would meet, and would start collaboration on what would eventually be Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord.  One of the best produced games at the time, it was a major hit on the Apple II platform.  Sustainability for the franchise was hamstrung with lack of innovation, and the requirement of the first game to play Wizardry II and III.  This culminated with the major disaster that was the release of Wizardry IV.     TCW 084 - Time Shared: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/time-shared/ CARDIAC - Computer Teaching Tool: https://www.cs.drexel.edu/~bls96/museum/cardiac.html Free P

TCW Podcast Episode 113 - Primordial Computer Game Industry   A big episode looking at two major companies that bridged the gap between the mainframe time sharing age, and the trinity of home computers.  We also look at the lead up to those companies with type in listings in books, and magazines.  We look at the evolution of early PCs, and the eventual development of video display cards designed to hook up computers to television sets.  An almost forgotten era of PC development, pioneering magazines, and games that would have influence on the home PC market yet to come.     Guest Appearances The 42 Cast: http://42cast.com/index.php/2020/03/23/the-42cast-episode-70-they-create-worlds/ Pixelated Audio: https://pixelatedaudio.com/earlygames-tcw/   A Critical Hit! - Kate Willaert: https://www.acriticalhit.com/best-box-art-part-2-computer-games-on-printed-paper/ Popular Electronics Jan 1975 ALTAIR 8800: https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1975/Poptronics-1975-01.pdf TCW 016 - Ear

TCW Podcast Episode 112 - And Landing on it!   We continue our dive into platforming games.  We look at the three main "schools" of thought brought about in the 2-D era.  We start with the fast platforming pioneered by Sonic with Crash Bandicoot.  The cinematic platformer of Prince of Persia is continued with Tomb Raider.  Nintendo, makes its shift into 3-D with Starfox, and the development of the N64.  This culminates with the release of Super Mario 64.  These early transitions continue to evolve into the modern action platformers of Uncharted, and Super Mario Sunshine.   How Crash Bandicoot Hacked The Original Playstation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izxXGuVL21o Crash Bandicoot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK-h4M4Aetg TCW 082 - An Unlikely Pairing of Siliwood: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/an-unlikely-pairing-of-siliwood/ Crash Bandicoot Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTi5EaocGaY Sega Saturn Tomb Raider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfTnITt-vkU TCW 036 - Raiding Eido

TCW Podcast Episode 111 - Jumping to It!   We leap around to the myriad of games that were influential in the development of  platformer genre.  Starting with an evolution from Space Invaders into Heiankyo Alien; the concept was thrown onto its side with Space Panic.  Further refinement brought in jumping with Donkey Kong.  Platformers were not as suited for the arcade scene, and ended up truly finding a place in the home on consoles and computers.   Load Runner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWwyhymcDxI Space Invaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opru6qPsPa4 TCW 074 - The Japanese PC Industry : http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-japanese-pc-industry/ Heiankyo Alien Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSxYdeqJAkY Heiankyo Alien Game Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY3qVBkIu74 Space Panic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLd1xABCsaQ Donkey Kong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U24OcmpZ6fA Gaming Historian YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mcfrosticles Raiders of the lost

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_V

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:

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/dow

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: feedbac

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=hryPZIca

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 Commercia

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

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 Airwo

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.th

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/wa