They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 251 - Virgin Games   As a companion piece to our Mastertronic episode, we look at the rise and fall of Virgin Games. Beginning with Richard Branson’s mail-order record business and the success of Virgin Records, the company expanded into games under executive Nick Alexander, whose interest in the industry led to the creation of a Virgin gaming subsidiary. Early successes included the Dan Dare series and computer adaptations of board games. In 1987 Virgin took a stake in Mastertronic, and in 1988 fully acquired the company, gaining both its budget software business and its role in the SEGA Master System launch. From there Virgin Games developed into two distinct arms. In Europe, the company focused on distribution, bringing major publishers and licenses into the region. In the United States, Virgin built on Mastertronic’s development studio, centering on strong talent and overlooked licenses, producing titles such as Spot, Cool Spot, Global Gladiators, and later major Disney games including Aladdin and The Lion King. On PC, the company found success with The 7th Guest and through the acquisition of Westwood Studios, gaining Command and Conquer. Virgin Games also had a hand in publishing Dune and Dune II. In the mid-1990s the Virgin Group began seeking a buyer, leading to Blockbuster’s acquisition of Virgin Interactive, which soon placed the company under Viacom following the Paramount merger. Heavy corporate debt and shifting priorities resulted in the sale of Westwood to Electronic Arts. What remained was largely a European distribution business that later entered an agreement with Interplay and was ultimately acquired by Titus Interactive. After the collapse of the dot-com bubble, mounting debt forced Titus to shutter the company, and in 2005 Virgin Interactive quietly disappeared   TCW 105 - The Big Voice of Magnavox: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-big-voice-of-magnavox/ TCW 106 - The Small Voice of Magnavox: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-small-voice-of-magnavox/ TCW 026 - The Magnavox Odyssey: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-odyssey/ TCW 027 - The Magnavox Patent Lawsuits: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-patent-lawsuits-friday-september-16-2016-1003-am/ Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (Live BBC 1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbYQYOM66MA Dan Dare - Pilot of the Future (ZX Spectrum): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUEDOu5ewIQ Dan Dare II - Mekons` Revenge (ZX Spectrum): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lheo_ao8K4 Dan Dare III - The Escape (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK62NSaE75s Monopoly - Virgin Games (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un6iagpCwWw Spot - The Video Game (NES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Ezmf6z3kM 7-Up Spot Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubNTMHqz6_c TCW 229 - US Gold: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/us-gold/ TCW 023 - The Complete Tetris Story: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-complete-tetris-story/ Lure of the Temptress (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwSS5zA74jQ Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pr3IsnqxGs Cannon Fodder (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFP8WUrBVHc Previous High Scores C&C Ad: https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolRidiculous/comments/x1k61n/could_you_even_imagine_if_westwood_studios/ Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (NES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_1AGDZiLVY Robin Hood Men in Tights - English Accent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9tEH7iWOyk Global Gladiators (Genesis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy9_-iEdXAA Cool Spot (Genesis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTROI2ODRM4 Aladin (Genesis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngqx0rq7ACg The Jungle Book (Genesis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BivK2swrtqM Aladin (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9m2gAuWkOY The Lion King (Genesis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-U4RObki-k TCW 194 - The 7th Guest: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-7th-guest/ The 7th Guest (PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Z-Q5KVTyI The Legend of Kyrandia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO6BE4HOjnM TCW 208 - Two Dunes the Battle for Arrakis: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/two-dunes-the-battle-for-arrakis/ TCW 082 - An Unlikely Pairing of Siliwood: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/an-unlikely-pairing-of-siliwood/ TCW 064 - The Rise and Fall of Infogrames Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/rise-and-fall-of-infogrames-part-1/ TCW 065 - The Rise and Fall of Infogrames Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-rise-and-fall-of-infogrames-part-2/   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: RoleMusic - 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 250 - Mastertronic   From budget software publisher to the gateway for SEGA’s entry into Europe, we look at the rise and fall of Mastertronic. Initially shunned by high street retailers, the company found success supplying discount games to chains like Woolworths while importing and reselling titles from other publishers for the European market. A failed attempt to bring budget games to the United States pushed Mastertronic to look toward consoles after seeing the success of the Nintendo Entertainment System, but Nintendo rejected them due to their low-cost reputation. This led to a partnership with SEGA to launch the Master System in the United Kingdom, but a delayed release after Christmas triggered a financial crisis that forced Virgin to buy out the rest of the company. As Virgin Mastertronic, the firm gained a foothold in France and Germany while struggling with limited SEGA supply. The story ends when SEGA acquired the console side of the business and created SEGA Europe, closing the final chapter on Mastertronic.     TCW 017 - The British 8-bit Computer Market Hardware: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-british-8-bit-computer-market-hardware/ TCW 018 - The British 8-bit Computer Market Software: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-british-8-bit-computer-market-software/ TCW 241 - The First 10 Years of European Consoles: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-first-10-years-of-european-consoles/   Vagas Jackpot (VIC-20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKFzNnx_m-U BMX Racers (C64): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZenav7tN08 Ghostbusters (ZX Spectrum): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH18r74ZOto Way of the Exploding Fist (C64): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p51xOL0NdY Alians (C64): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D7Q2lfBA6g   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: RoleMusic - 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 249 - New World Computing   We look at the rise and fall of New World Computing through the career of Jon Van Caneghem. Coming from the era of the lone programmer as the industry shifted toward larger development houses, Jon built Might and Magic into one of the most influential RPG franchises of its time. We trace the evolution of the series from its early focus on quest driven gameplay, early auto mapping, and the introduction of features like quest logs and reactive character portraits. Along the way, New World Computing briefly experimented with board games, returning to video games with King’s Bounty, a title that would later be reimagined as Heroes of Might and Magic after a marketing push to leverage the stronger Might and Magic name. We examine the company’s shifting publishing relationships, struggles with distribution, and eventual acquisition by the 3DO Company. While Heroes of Might and Magic III brought major success, pressure from 3DO led to rushed releases, excessive expansions, and declining quality across both franchises. As Might and Magic moved into 3D and real time combat, development resources became increasingly strained. The episode closes with the collapse of 3DO, failed efforts to spin off New World Computing, and the quiet end of a studio that helped define computer role playing games.   Dedicated to Ember - Beloved cat, and producer of the show. Oct 2008 - Dec 2025.   Darkside of Xeen Intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cPFL0NfsRg   Ultima I (Apple II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI5ypVUk_wk Wizardry (Apple II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJhMpPnnXMo New World Computing Logos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g647Hk4UHkc Star Trek - Terren Empire Logo: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Terran_Empire Simpsons - The Shinning Bard & Willie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kddzyds4fGo Might and Magic - Advertisements: https://www.mobygames.com/game/1619/might-and-magic-book-one-secret-of-the-inner-sanctum/promo/group-56698/image-479480/ Might and Magic Book 1 Secret of the Inner Sanctum (Apple II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0airoGX9xk The CRPG Addict - Might and Magic Book One: https://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2010/07/game-19-might-magic-i.html The CRPG Addict - Might and Magic Won!: https://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2010/07/might-magic-won.html The CRPG Addict - Might and Magic Final Ranking: https://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2010/07/might-magic-final-ranking.html The Digital Antiquarian - Might and Magic: https://www.filfre.net/2021/12/might-and-magic/ Simpsons - Finding 20 Dollars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZch40U9Bfk Might and Magic Book II - Gates to Another World (Apple II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TEz9KlDaZY Star Trek Trailer for S3E08 - The World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T70fEIAsDE0 Nuclear War (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqSHQp-RsRE Star Fleet Battles (Task Force Games): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXoRauMyzfk Tunnels and Trolls (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXtB08H2yqw Titan - First Look (Avalon Hill): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65ltwXWfO9I Titan - Gameplay (Avalon Hill): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSXIM6R4VYQ King's Bounty (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnWYfBauwh4 Might and Magic III: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY7oOwU5WIs&list=PLuiwX2gLmzqNtcsOv5AOh9pIg25lX8OAD Planet's Edge (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU5xpWdonmU Might and Magic  - Clouds of Xeen (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGGE-kPwZFI Might and Magic - Darkside of Xeen - Speedrun (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VgBR8-BCos Spaceward Ho! (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ8ExG1_HMY Empire Deluxe (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrzZWdmzolY Iron Cross (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74q69zR6VjA Zephyr (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VycrjZ5dkRs Heroes of Might and Magic (PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQSouS2y4Yg&list=PLic3HXuw97t4Wv5su8gNMqhI1ndNO3Olb SSI - Panzer General (PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG5TcIZfu50 Heroes of Might and Magic II (PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g42gSMad09Y Might and Magic VI - Mandate of Heaven (PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfr3I_N5cMw Heroes of Might and Magic III: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSaac_TqXRw&list=PLic3HXuw97t62UA75v3t_EpTiA5CfXARm Might and Magic VII: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuGvXM5p-RM Might and Magic VIII: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXZhuHYJVB0 Legends of Might and Magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnuSWgV-QaU Heroes of Might and Magic IV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUfjckaGezc Might and Magic IX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzTI_LbC0HE     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: RoleMusic - 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 248 - An Act of Control   We look at Japan’s Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business and its impact on the arcade industry in Japan. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, video games became increasingly popular in Japan, drawing public concern over how much time and money players were spending in game centers. With little cultural context for games as entertainment, many assumed there must be some form of gambling or prize element involved, leading to growing moral panic. These concerns culminated in a 1985 amendment to an existing law that brought game centers under strict regulation. We examine the role of industry trade groups during this period, including the NRO, an operators organization that supported regulation under the belief it would disadvantage large arcades while leaving smaller venues such as department store rooftops and grocery stores unaffected. That assumption proved incorrect. At the same time, JAMA, representing manufacturers, organized its own operator segment to counter the NRO’s influence. Because the law was written broadly, regulators were left to define what qualified as a controlled amusement, resulting in a chilling effect on arcades across Japan. These regulations reshaped the industry and pushed many companies to shift their focus toward home consoles and other markets.   TCW 008 - Birth of the Japanese Game Center: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/birth-of-the-japanese-game-center/ Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business: https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4234/en Abroad in Japan - Pachinko - Japan's Biggest Gaming Obsession: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tBy2jemw4s Masumi Akagi - "It Started with Pong":  https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%81%9D%E3%82%8C%E3%81%AF%E3%80%8C%E3%83%9D%E3%83%B3%E3%80%8D%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E5%A7%8B%E3%81%BE%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B1%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89TV%E3%82%B2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%81%AE%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E7%AB%8B%E3%81%A1-%E8%B5%A4%E6%9C%A8%E7%9C%9F%E6%BE%84/dp/4990251202 Rotamint - "Royal Super": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRPBQ2cwAas Rotomint - Jackpot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgrmntnQfP4 TCW 077 - Invading Taito Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/invading-taito-part-1/ TCW 078 - Invading Taito Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/invading-taito-part-2/ TCW 195 - Finding Video Game Copyright: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/finding-video-game-copyright Sun Electronics - The Guiness: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsJHEJHTU1M Fred Rogers Congress Public Funding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKy7ljRr0AA   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: RoleMusic - 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 247 - The History of Commodore Pt 4 The final chapter of our Commodore series covers the company’s chaotic decline. After early success with the Amiga line, internal conflict grew under President Tom Rattigan, who wanted to focus on the low end with the Amiga 500 while Irving Gould pushed for high end systems like the Amiga 2000. Missed deadlines and a failed boardroom challenge led to Rattigan’s firing and Gould taking direct control. When IRS tax issues forced Gould to step back, Mahdi Ali became President and began reorganizing engineering. Ali hired Bill Sydnes from the IBM PC team, who also had a hand in the failure of the PC Jr, to evaluate and streamline development. Gould continued to cycle executives in pursuit of short term stock gains, which weakened Commodore as it chased conflicting markets. Cost cutting turned the popular Amiga 500 into the poorly received A600, though the later A1200 fared better. Ali moved manufacturing to the Philippines after shutting down facilities in Hong Kong and Germany, but production was disrupted by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. Commodore finally collapsed and went bankrupt in 1994, ending one of the most turbulent stories in personal computing.   Pepsi Challenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkPjteYv4YI Pepsi Challenge 1978: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEXEdibXSak New Coke Conspiracy: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HJ_6wewbDjk Amiga 1000 & Sidecar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPfArIhoy0s Amiga 2000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he_p8A7A1aU Amiga 2000 HD Professional Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keG2KdQHC6s Amiga 500 Bundles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc5gpyA6SjQ Amiga 500 Batman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM2SCzt73s0 Amiga 500 Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVZrL4k1los Commodore C65: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoHxDe3Gc9E Leonard Nimoy Laserdisc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ5msrmf5Tw Amiga 3000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzA5AhH1mbw History of the Amiga 1992 Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1s77nzpYk Amiga 600: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5svNq2grTEU Amiga 500 vs Amiga 1200: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFh4zuNUyMg Amiga CDTV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQW6upDCRFI Mount Pinatubo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjDDdYM4x0s Planer Computer Graphics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planar_(computer_graphics) Amiga CD32: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJU4TZhj0e8       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: RoleMusic - 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 246 - The History of Commodore Pt 3 After Jack Tramiel left Commodore and founded Tramel Technology, the company pressed on with mixed results. Systems like the SX 64, the C900, the Plus/4, the C16, and the C116 failed to gain traction, which led to the development of the C128. It improved on the C64 in many ways, but because so many games relied on C64 quirks, Commodore included a full C64 mode to preserve compatibility, so software support was poor. During this period Amiga was shopping its advanced chipset and entered a tentative agreement with Atari, but Jack’s impending purchase of Atari from Warner disrupted the arrangement. Commodore stepped in to pay off the outstanding note, which led to Commodore acquiring Amiga outright. This set the stage for the Amiga 1000, its famous bouncing ball demo, and a new chapter in Commodore’s history as the company entered the sixteen bit era   TCW 2025 Livestream: https://youtu.be/BXXAhEVD4Lk   Computer Chronicles Revisited - SMOliva: https://computerchronicles.blog/post/computer-chronicles-revisited-038-atari-520st-commodore-128/   Computer Chronicles Revisited - SMOliva: https://computerchronicles.blog/post/computer-chronicles-revisited-052-amiga-workbench-deluxe-paint-neochrome-vip-professional/   Commodore C900: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbVjNInzrw8 Commodore SX-64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGjT-RjNbk Commodore Plus 4 C16 & C116: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICiZbUypMlQ XKCD - Workflow: https://xkcd.com/1172/ Star Raiders (Atari 8-bit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwqMqmo_jho Joyboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdFzdz3o1hU Boing Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlAhRJjOhDg Amiga 1000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjapiUQOi2s Launch Event of the Amiga in 1985: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OeQ5uzm-Qs Amiga 1000 Sidcar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPfArIhoy0s   TCW 172 - The Computer Price Wars Pt 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-price-wars-part-1/ TCW 173 - The Computer Wars Pt 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-2/ TCW 174 - The Computer Wars Pt 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-3/   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: RoleMusic - 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 245 - The History of Commodore Pt 2   Commodore’s shift from calculators to computers began with the PET, which found success in Europe as a business machine. After seeing the ZX80 in Britain, Jack Tramiel pushed for an affordable home computer, leading to the VIC-20. Guided by marketing manager Michael S. Tomczyk, Commodore promoted the VIC-20 as “the friendly computer” with William Shatner as spokesman. It first launched in Japan before reaching the United States and Europe, becoming a hit worldwide. Building on that success, Commodore released the C64, featuring the powerful SID sound chip and far more memory than its competitors. Marketed again under Tomczyk’s direction at a price under six hundred dollars, the C64 became one of the best-selling computers of all time, driving Commodore’s revenue past a billion dollars and securing its place in computing history.   TCW 2025 Livestream: https://youtu.be/BXXAhEVD4Lk   TCW 165 - Allied Leisure: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/allied-leisure/ TCW 172 - The Computer Price Wars Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-price-wars-part-1/ TCW 173 - The Computer Price Wars Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-2/ TCW 174 - The Computer Price Wars Part 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-3/ TCW 130 - Uncle Clive's Radionics: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/uncle-clives-radionics/ TCW 131 -  Sir Clive of ZX: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sir-clive-of-zx/   KIM-1 Computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMxOWngmy8I The 8-Bit Guy - Commodore PET: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP9y_7it3ZM The 8-Bit Guy - Commodore VIC-20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg04GyhS3ss The 8-Bit Guy - Commodore C64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpXFB8ZEH30 Commodore VIC-20 Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak0YU8ymkBc Wiliam Shatner VIC-20 Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JAU9Ntpoms Commodore 64 Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd_yiMhu1DM   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: RoleMusic - 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 244 - The History of Commodore Pt 1   We kick off our look at Commodore with the story of its founder, Jack Tramiel. A Holocaust survivor who emigrated to the United States, Tramiel began repairing lamps and typewriters before founding a typewriter import business in Toronto. His early success was nearly undone by the Atlantic Acceptance financial scandal, which forced him into partnership with investor Irving Gould. Commodore’s venture into calculators nearly bankrupted the company, but the acquisition of MOS Technology set the stage for its move into computers. This episode explores the corporate maneuvering, twists of fate, and personal drive that shaped Commodore’s early years. Featuring audience input, it’s the start of a lively three-part (and possibly four-part) deep dive into one of computing’s most fascinating companies.   TCW 2025 Livestream: https://youtu.be/BXXAhEVD4Lk   Jack Tramiel 1983 Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5skpKlVOqc Commodore - A Company On The Edge by Brian Bagnall: https://archive.org/details/commodorecompany0000bagn/page/n1/mode/2up Computer Chronicles Revisited - SMOliva: https://computerchronicles.blog/post/computer-chronicles-revisited-107-koalapainter-the-wine-steward-skate-or-die-master-composer-keyboard-controlled-sequencer/#the-atlantic-acceptance-scandal-and-irving-goulds-takeover   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: RoleMusic - 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 243 - RCA Studio II   The RCA Studio II emerged from the company’s faltering computer division and the vision of engineer Joseph Weisbecker, who had long dreamed of personal computing after reading "Giant Brains or Machines That Think". He developed FRED at home, a TTL-based hobby computer. A later iteration using the COSMAC microprocessor inspired his daughter Joyce, who went onto program Studio II games, and RCA’s forays into coin-op experiments like the Fredotronic. With the development of the CMOS-based COSMAC chip, RCA built trainers like the MicroTutor and kits like the COSMAC ELF, but the Studio II became their entry into the console market. Innovative in concept but hampered by primitive graphics, the system faced FCC challenges delaying release. The console launched in 1977 against the Channel F and Atari VCS, it struggled to find success, though its technology lived on in Taiwan and European licensed systems. Much of its history was later uncovered by researcher Kevin Bunch, which saved the Studio II from being just a footnote in video game history.   Mechanical Televisions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5OANXk-6-w 32 Line Mechanical TCV Popeye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozpBDOBXiPs TCW 096 - Hello Big Blue: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/hello-big-blue/ TCW 026 - The Magnavox Odyssey: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-odyssey/ RCA Spectra 70: https://d1yx3ys82bpsa0.cloudfront.net/brochures/rca.spectra70.1965.102646099.pdf Project Gutenberg - Giant Brains or Machines That Think: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/68991/pg68991-images.html Radio Electronics - Simon Computer: https://vintagecomputer.net/simon.cfm Think-a-Dot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think-a-Dot RCA System 00 and FRED: https://www.retrotechnology.com/memship/cosmac_system_00.html Fredotronic: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/2021/10/13/home-to-the-arcade-a-perfect-translation/ RCA MicroTutor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCXQZY8XCK8 Popular Electronics - COSNAC ELF: https://archive.org/details/197608PopularElectronics_20181123 Popular Electronics - COSMAC ELF (Condensed): https://archive.org/details/popular-electronics-cosmac-elf/page/n15/mode/2up Building a COSMAC ELF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npvkHmTo_1U COSMAC VIP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDnufgeONYg (Atari Archive has examples of all games and many of the things we talk about!) Atari Archive - EP01 - The Story of RcA FRED and the Studio II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o35y6W9hI-o Atari Archive - EP02 - The History of RCA's Commercial Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXIoi1QAcoY RCA Studio II: http://videogamekraken.com/rca-studio-ii RCA Studio II Console Tour & Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJkedjfK4aQ M-1200 (RCA Studio III): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NstUUSIwUwY Star Wars (Studio II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FYKkCkNZOY Pinball (MPT-02 - Studio III): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b3LO41z7ks     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: RoleMusic - 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 242- Fumito Ueda   Fumito Ueda entered game design through art rather than a love of traditional play. Influenced by titles like Flashback and Another World, he sought to tell stories with minimal interfaces and expansive environments rich in mood. After early work on D and Enemy Zero, Sony gave him a trial period that led to ICO, a game shaped by surreal landscapes inspired by Giorgio de Chirico and a hand-holding mechanic to convey emotional connection. ICO struggled in Japan but became a critical hit abroad, influencing games from Uncharted 3, The Last of Us, Dark Souls, and Journey. Ueda expanded his ideas in Shadow of the Colossus, a meditation on cruelty and consequence that inspired epic boss battles in other franchises such as God of War. His long-delayed The Last Guardian explored companionship through a giant creature, though with mixed reception. Now independent, Ueda continues to shape gaming with projects yet to be revealed.   Punch Out (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T8hoeVpdV0 Space Harrier (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEWGnj12GO4 The Legend of Zelda (Famicom Disc System): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsmXV06PwnM Smash Ping Pong (Famicom): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd5QSxyG3Z0 Flashback (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTnRM77XuE Another World (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLC_Un9lNPw D's Diner - Director's Cut (3DO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7G1NuWciEE Enemy Zero (SEGA Saturn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkfgDNihZ0 PaRappa the Rapper (PSX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97k0Dy8JweM Prince of Persia (Game Boy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thAmYGc37pA Virtua Fighter (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7HQ2vspMHA Hello Pac-Man (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5IOwrutZmM Lemmings (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuiyFXMjGxA Chuck Jones - The Evolution of an Artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHpXle4NqWI ICO Leap of Faith (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWr_7CoIzY Giorgio de Chirico: https://www.wikiart.org/en/giorgio-de-chirico/all-works ICO cover - Japan: https://www.mobygames.com/game/5158/ico/cover/group-79093/cover-214724/ Uncharted 3 (PS5): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZFYTHMsLUc Zelda Twilight Princess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJPhioaehIY Journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkL94nKSd2M FEZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm9XRDlNDK4 The Last of Us (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJPKTCpL1ws Prince of Persia - The Sands of Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34s9b6sLMjk Dark Souls (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdpdkd2eNmE ICO (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIzZkGP3SUk Grand Theft Auto 3 (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZMyBAjQ-QE Shadow of the Colossus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiB8MEJN-QU God of War 2 (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pgks8w-HK8 The Last Guardian (PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ssIkVxg_k   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: RoleMusic - 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 241 - The First 10 Years of European Consoles   The first decade of European consoles began with imports of the Magnavox Odyssey, but soon local experiments took shape. In Spain, the Overkal may have been tied to a possible attempt to bring the Odyssey into the country, though no hard evidence survives, and it is generally treated as a local product. Across Europe, companies like Videomaster in the UK, Zanussi in Italy, and Interton and Grundig in Germany built dedicated ball-and-paddle systems. Many went beyond Pong using discrete logic hardware to support more advanced play, a technical achievement later supplanted by programmable consoles. A key shift came when General Instrument’s Scottish branch developed the “Pong on a Chip,” enabling mass-produced systems like Videomaster’s Superscore and Zanussi’s Play-O-Tronic. By the late 1970s, firms such as Philips, Radofin, and Hanimex moved into programmable systems like the Videopac. The arrival of Atari, Mattel, and other American companies displaced Europe's fragmented but inventive hardware scene, but the North American video game crash killed their systems at the same time European gamers were shifting their focus to home computers.   TCW 105 - The Big Voice of Magnavox: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-big-voice-of-magnavox/ TCW 106 - The Small Voice of Magnavox: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-small-voice-of-magnavox/ TCW 177 - The Intellivision Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-intellivision-part-1/ TCW 178 - The Intellivision Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-intellivision-part-2 TCW 076 - A Fairchild Story: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-fairchild-story/   Overkal: https://prehistoricgaming.com/en/overkal-console/ Interton Video 2000: https://www.pong-story.com/v2000.htm GI Gemini Systems: https://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm RCA Studio III Variants: http://videogamekraken.com/rca-studio-iii-by-rca Philips Videopac G7000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgG9F9SsgCw Interton VC 4000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yqVcULUqOU Radofin Programable Video System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCFYLfQrC0   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: RoleMusic - 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 240 - Nintendo: Playing with Mii & Wii   From DS touch-and-stylus play to living-room motion, we trace Nintendo's road to Wii. Nintendogs and Brain Age broadened the audience to parents and grandparents. After cold receptions at Microsoft and Sony, inventor Tom Quinn's Gyration motion tech found a home at Nintendo, and internal prototypes were so fun they became Wii Sports, Wii Play, and Wii Fit. The reveal timeline runs from Reggie Fils-Aime's 2004 E3 DS debut and "Revolution" tease, to a controller-free console showing at E3 2005, to the surprise Wii Remote reveal during Iwata's Tokyo Game Show keynote, and the full unveiling at E3 2006. Built on refined GameCube internals, the Wii favored low cost, low noise, and always-on convenience, with Miis inspired by Japanese wooden dolls (Kokeshi) and a channel interface modeled on a TV wall to invite quick, family-friendly play.   Iwata Asks: https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/ Nintendogs (DS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb5j2v10eYs Nintendogs (DS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb5j2v10eYs Brain Age (DS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EeU92dl9ME Donkey Kong Bongos & Donkey Konga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64YSuP6G1Uw Wii Sports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp9l7J6w9iE Wii Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfz-l5GI-v4 Wii Fit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDfXealVJyg Kokeshi Dolls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2NIA5GNvfo Nintendo Wii User Interface Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCU1gB3Xdv4 E3 2004 Reggie Fils-Aimé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89GB6bC9_N4 E3 2004 Satoru Iwata Revolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33BGyhn_ryw E3 2005 Nintendo Revolution (Wii): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt8CBYAnMYc Nintendo - Tokyo Game Show 2005: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdgW4Ox71fw E3 2006 Sony Ridge Racer!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaBUeINW_3s E3 2006 Sony Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaWptXzfETo E3 2006 Nintendo Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Ldhg7swgA Wii Console and Accessories (E3 2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pOGKxFD1C8 Wii Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLOccBorPsA Wii Would Like to Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBOFhmjTgvY Link's Crossbow Training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHgyRGeUKxg   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: RoleMusic - 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 239 - Nintendo: Wii Were Struggling   Nintendo’s struggle for cultural relevance in the lead-up to the Wii was marked by the N64’s poor fit for Japanese homes and the GameCube’s failure to outsell even the fledgling Xbox globally. Internally, a power struggle unfolded as Hiroshi Yamauchi prepared to retire. Former Sharp executive Atsushi Asada was brought in and became Executive Vice President and later Chairman of the Board. Satoru Iwata, whom Yamauchi saw great potential in, was appointed president of HAL Laboratory as part of a Yamauchi-backed bailout and ultimately succeeded Yamauchi as president of Nintendo. Minoru Arakawa was passed over, removed from the board, and after his retirement, replaced at Nintendo of America by Tatsumi Kimishima, who was later placed on the board himself, giving credence to the idea that Arakawa was pushed aside in favor of Iwata. We explore how, despite not facing financial collapse, Nintendo risked losing its creative identity after two struggling consoles and Sony's rising threat to its handheld dominance.   Iwata Asks Interviews: https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/ Simpsons all you can eat Court Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqT-AvswCZo TCW 153 - Nintendo Playing with Cards: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-cards/ TCW 154 - Nintendo Playing with Controversy: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-controversy/ TCW 155 - Nintendo Playing with Toys: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-toys/ TCW 014 - Nintendo Playing with Power: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-power/ TCW 128 - Nintendo in 1985: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-in-1985/?utm_source=chatgpt.com TCW 037 - Nintendo and Gumpei Yokoi: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-and-gunpei-yokoi/ TCW 063 - Lawsuits for Nintendo: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/lawsuits-for-nintendo/ TCW 068 - SEGA vs Nintendo Round 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-1/ TCW 069 - SEGA vs Nintendo Round 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-2 TCW 070 - SEGA vs Nintendo Round 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-3 TCW 198 - The History of Handheld Games Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-history-of-handheld-games-part-1/ TCW 199 - The History of Handheld Games Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-history-of-handheld-games-part-2/ TCW 200 - The History of Handheld Games Part 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-history-of-handheld-games-part-3/ Business Card CDs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_QTo6L9dA GameCube Controller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameCube_controller Kirby's Dreamland (NES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXM4EPbPe0 Shmuplations - Satoru Iwata - 1999 Developer Interview: https://shmuplations.com/iwata/   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: RoleMusic - 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 238 - Quake   We dive into the development of Quake, the ambitious and turbulent follow-up to Doom from ID Software. John Carmack set out to build a groundbreaking engine featuring full 3D rendering, dynamic lighting, and client-server multiplayer. This pushed the technical boundaries in a pre-GPU world. To achieve this, he brought in legendary programmer Michael Abrash from Microsoft, selling him on the vision of Quake as a step toward the metaverse as imagined in Snow Crash. Meanwhile, John Romero envisioned Quake as a fantasy RPG inspired by a character from his D&D campaign, but lack of direction and his growing obsession with Deathmatch led to team frustration and eventual fallout. The result was a game that redefined first-person shooters and laid the groundwork for decades of engine development. It also marked the end of an era at ID with the ouster of John Romero.   TCW 030 - DOOM!: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/doom-1479057917/ TCW 197 - The ID of Game Development: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-id-of-game-development/ Doom States and DeHackEd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTa3diypjv4 P2P vs Dedicated Servers?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt3ZLHKcP2U Token Ring - The Betamax of Networking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjLctlmZSp4 Artie - The Strongest Man In the World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6Bh3LskNbs Space Strike (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtDdEuKFQps Cosmic Crusader (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKOTa5iQAw8 Big Top (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXUCacgF72M Snack Attack II (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu-SEjcnnjo So You Haven't Read "Snow Crash": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO64ZhBYy9E Ramblings in Realtime by Michael Abrash: https://www.bluesnews.com/abrash/ QuakeWorld Launch Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXw6BkZ-gdY Quake (DOS 6.22): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyLC1vR9oGk Quake Longplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GagGXXUtI Excerpt Quake Postmortem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2OE-74bTQw   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: RoleMusic - 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 237 - Jordan Mechner and Price of  Persia   We continue our look at Jordan Mechner with the development of Prince of Persia. Its cinematic inspirations include Castles of Dr. Creep, the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the 1938 Robin Hood. To animate the prince, Mechner filmed his brother performing stunts, then manually painted key frames, painting his brother white and the background black to make the footage compatible with a limited digitizer. Memory constraints forced creative solutions, like XORing the prince and bit shifting him to create Shadow Man. A promising film project delayed the game’s release, but Prince of Persia launched on the Apple II with groundbreaking animation. A strong Macintosh port and renewed interest following Disney’s Aladdin helped turn the game into a hit across the early 1990s.   The Making of Prince of Persia: https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/books/journals/ TCW 172 - The Computer Price Wars Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-price-wars-part-1/ TCW 173 - The Computer Price Wars Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-2/ TCW 174 - The Computer Price Wars Part 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-3/ TCW  019 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-great-video-game-crash-part-1/ TCW 020 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-great-video-game-crash-part-2/ TCW 021 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-great-video-game-crash-part-3/ TCW 071 - A Story of Brøderbund!: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-story-of%C2%A0br%C3%B8derbund/ TCW 072 - The MYSTeries of Brøderbund!: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-mysteries-of-br%C3%B8derbund/ The Castles of Dr. Creep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi2dvxcioBw First 10 minutes of Raiders of the Lost Ark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUWYmTpYdP4 The Thief of Bagdad (1924): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTXZSVIIk-c How Prince of Persia Defeated Apple II Memory Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw0VfmXKq54 Prince of Persia (Apple II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZDAPp61aak Robin Hood (1938): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USpQGE5sVAY Prince of Persia (PC DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKQX75dBlEI Prince of Persia (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukSECkajKYA Prince of Persia (NES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6hylvkCh-8 Prince of Persia (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZtkPZih-3s Prince of Persia (Macintosh): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjR_AhxPnVM Prince of Persia Re-Release Box: https://bigboxcollection.com/PrinceOfPersia.3DBox   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: RoleMusic - 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 236 - Jordan Mechner and Karateka   This episode explores the early life of Jordan Mechner and the making of Karateka. We cover his Jewish family’s escape from Nazi Europe, his years at Yale, and his struggle to choose between careers in film, art, and game design. Drawing on lessons from arcade games, Mechner formed core design principles that shaped his approach. He also worked closely with his father, Francis Mechner—best known for composing the game's music—who served as a creative sounding board, contributed gameplay ideas, and performed movements used in the game's rotoscoped animations.   Francis Mechner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Mechner Replay - Memoir of an Uprooted Family: https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/books/replay/ Jordan Mechner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Mechner Jordan Mechner Website: https://www.jordanmechner.com/ TCW 071 - A Story of Brøderbund! :https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-story-of%C2%A0br%C3%B8derbund/ TCW 072 - The MYSTeries of Brøderbund!: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-mysteries-of-br%c3%b8derbund/  Choplifter (Apple II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvDnUHW_pjg Seven Samurai Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMJY0hYJEw The Making of Karateka journals: https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/books/the-making-of-karateka/ The Making of Karateka (Game + Documentary: https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/games-movies/karateka/ The Making & Remaking of Karateka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq31IwKZkt0 Karateka Rotoscoping 1983: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nqp6U1GYI8 Karateka (Apple II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKqk9kosCs4     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: RoleMusic - 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 235- Coin-op Legends of Japan   Long before they entered the world of video games, a generation of Japanese entrepreneurs built their fortunes in the coin-operated amusement business. In this episode, we trace the early lives and business ventures of five pioneering founders who helped lay the groundwork for companies like Tehkan (later Tecmo), Sammy, and IPM (later IREM). These are personal stories rarely told in English — tales of hustle, reinvention, and the road from postwar struggle to arcade success.   TCW 052 - The Many Faces of Konami: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-many-faces-of-konami/ TCW 153 - Nintendo Playing With Cards: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-cards/ TCW 154 - Nintendo Playing with Controversy: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-controversy/ TCW 155 - Nintendo Playing With Toys: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-toys/ TCW  008 - Birth of the Japanese Game Center: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/birth-of-the-japanese-game-center/ TCW 077 - Invading Taito Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/invading-taito-part-1/ TCW 078 - Invading Taito Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/invading-taito-part-2/ TCW 005 - The Untold History of SEGA: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-untold-history-of-sega/ TCW 033 - The Saga of SEGA: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-saga-of-sega/ TCW 029 - 50 Years of Namco: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/50-years-of-namco/ TCW 201 - Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/advanced-balls-and-paddles-part-1/ TCW 202 - Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/advanced-balls-and-paddles-part-2/ 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: RoleMusic - 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 234 - Yu Suzuki   Often called SEGA’s Shigeru Miyamoto, Yu Suzuki redefined arcade gaming through innovation and ambition. He pioneered immersive cabinets like Hang-On's rideable motorcycle and After Burner’s flight sim, and used sprite scaling to simulate 3D in hits like Space Harrier and OutRun. His work culminated in the R360 G-LOC—a gyroscopic cabinet offering full 360° motion. Suzuki later led SEGA into 3D with Virtua Racing and Virtua Fighter, and pushed console design forward with Shenmue. Though he didn’t invent Quick Time Events, he coined the term—and created a living, interactive world filled with dynamic conversations, a fully explorable city, and unprecedented detail for 1999. His vision helped shape what players now expect from immersive game worlds.   Champion Boxing (SC 1000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkDpaSXTGwE Hang On (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TopLKeDqYhw Hang On (Bike Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KV6gWzBnJw Space Harrier (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXO7HOUaHaQ Space Harrier (Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ljkKcDsKs Roger Dean Album Covers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Albums_with_cover_art_by_Roger_Dean_(artist) OutRun (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp3GLGu7cfg OutRun (Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK3CpGLk0VU The Cannonball Run (Trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8BNVDUslcE Ferrari Testarossa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvfx5z4uMOo After Burner (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSvxN7nMNwo After Burner Deluxe (Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGWesvT9z8Q Top Gun (Trailor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa_z57UatDY Castle in the Sky (English Trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lMRfLJGXSM Power Drift (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZZMU2HPmTE Power Drift (Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs0slBdnArg R 360 SEGA G-Loc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OrXW5vCurc G-Loc Air Battle (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JKeizTZF0 Virtua Racing (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssPfEPaTaGo Kenji (Manga): https://mangapill.com/manga/2249/kenji Virtua Fighter (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7HQ2vspMHA Virtua Fighter 2 (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7OYlmdhOZY Shenmue (Dreamcast): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkuWoz6RbgE   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: RoleMusic - 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 233 - Baldur's Gate   When three doctors, a prolific dungeon master, a database programmer, and a writer come together to make video games, you get Baldur’s Gate! Often credited with saving the Western RPG, Baldur’s Gate became a phenomenal hit, taking full advantage of Microsoft’s new DirectX API and Windows 95. With this technology, the team created massive, beautiful maps for players to explore. They began shopping their new Infinity Engine around—drawing attention from top figures at Virgin Interactive—but ultimately secured a deal with Interplay, after an initial rejection. This partnership allowed them to shift from an original pantheon-based RPG to using the Dungeons & Dragons license that Interplay had acquired from TSR. They focused on the Sword Coast and the city of Baldur’s Gate—an underdeveloped region of the Forgotten Realms that stayed true to the classic swords-and-sorcery motif. The result was a game that captured the spirit of D&D while delivering the fast-paced action that gamers of the late '90s craved!   VGA Standard Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5exFKr-JJtg SSI Gold Box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBodtk1JnxQ Dungeon Master (Atari ST): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3UdUWU4j1Y Shattered Steel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvyi0l4s-wI&list=PLFTDBbYrcivppTQ8bupD3DQ7U23qTv5cK What is DirectX and Why is it important?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfSk6kwWBuE Why Windows 95 was a big deal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DCNt0cqTQY Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast: https://archive.org/details/tsr09460addfrvolosguidetotheswordcoast Baldur's Gate Playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooqFu_enV30&list=PLNU3jYa35cy3gahj5NBKymMB6grIGykOr   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: RoleMusic - 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 232 - All the Other Home Pongs   The home Pong market of the mid-1970s extended far beyond the big three—Atari, Coleco, and Magnavox. Numerous smaller companies entered the scene, not only in the United States but also across Europe and other parts of the world. As the home gaming industry rapidly evolved, many manufacturers introduced unique systems powered by integrated circuits. The market truly took off with the advent of “Pong-on-a-Chip” technology, which made it possible for virtually anyone to build a Pong console. Combined with affordable manufacturing in the Far East, this innovation drove costs down and helped the market reach new heights.   Rocko's Modern Life - Dracula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ycpsJOtxx8 TCW 105 - The Big Voice of Magnavox: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-big-voice-of-magnavox/ TCW 106 - The Small Voice of Magnavox: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-small-voice-of-magnavox/ TCW 027 - The Magnavox Patent Lawsuits: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-patent-lawsuits-friday-september-16-2016-1003-am/ TCW 051 - Sons of Pong: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sons-of-pong/ Overkal: https://prehistoricgaming.com/en/overkal-history/ TCW 165 - Allied Leisure: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/allied-leisure/ Universal Research Laboratory (URL) Video Action Systems: https://www.pong-story.com/url.htm Mike the TV 99.99.99: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt2xW8nh864 Executive Games: https://www.pong-story.com/executivegames.htm First Dimension: https://www.pong-story.com/firstdim.htm Executive Games - Face Off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB-pSaZ1e28 TCW 124 - The Visions of Coleco Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-visions-of-coleco-part-1/ TCW 125 - The Visions of Coleco Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-visions-of-coleco-part-2/ Pong In a Chip: https://www.pong-story.com/gi.htm Videomaster: https://www.pong-story.com/vm.htm Videomaster Home TV Game: https://prehistoricgaming.com/en/videomaster-home-tv-game/ Interton Video 2000: https://www.pong-story.com/v2000.htm AY3-8500 System on a Chip: https://nerdstuffbycole.blogspot.com/2018/09/games-and-field-generation-in-ay-3-8500.html Zanussi: https://www.pong-story.com/zanussi.htm TCW 077 - Invading Taito Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/invading-taito-part-1/ TCW 078 - Invading Taito Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/invading-taito-part-2 APF TV Fun: https://retrogamingconsoles.com/consoles/apf-tv-fun/ APF Fun Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmIE3k2BGs0 Unisonic Pong Console: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFOkE1_52NA Interton Video 2400: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLCnacjnBOs Videomaster Superscore: https://www.pong-story.com/vm8.htm   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: RoleMusic - Bacterial Love: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love    Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/