They Create Worlds

https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/feed.xml

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Love of the worlds created by video game designers and personalities drives Alex Smith & Jeffrey Daum (history, law, CS degrees) to provide a scholarly yet light-hearted discussion of how arcade, home console, and PC games merged into a Video Game Industry. Emphasis is on the combination of business and creative elements needed for financial success. Interviews of Atari, EA, Activision, & other execs with detailed source evaluations produce the insights you hear in these 140+ hours!

Episodes

Saturday Feb 15, 2025

PopCap Games

Saturday Feb 15, 2025

TCW Podcast Episode 228 - PopCap Games

PopCap Games was initially overlooked by the larger gaming industry due to its focus on fun, well-designed, and polished casual games. Their first major hit, Bejeweled, became a consistent source of income, allowing PopCap to invest time in developing new titles. This led to the creation of Peggle, which helped solidify PopCap’s reputation, particularly after developers at Valve became hooked on the game’s deeper skill-based mechanics and puzzles. The success of Bejeweled and Peggle continued with their ports to the iPod and, eventually, the iPad, further expanding PopCap’s popularity. This growth culminated in the release of Plants vs. Zombies, which debuted on PC before being adapted for iOS. The game’s seamless touchscreen integration made it a standout app for the newly launched iPad. As the gaming industry evolved, PopCap struck a deal with EA, which acquired the company, leading to the departure of its founders over the following years.

Attack Retrieve Capture: https://alchetron.com/Attack-Retrieve-Capture

Shariki Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMwGy1fv41g

Play Dimond Mine: https://www.crazygames.com/game/diamond-mine

Bejeweled: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvLtaf1PFVM

Palm OS - PDA Gaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nfg4YIoYas

TCW 122 - A Casual World Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-casual-world-part-1/

TCW 123 - A Casual World Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-casual-world-part-2/

Zuma Deluxe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwpuOhuVnnQ

Alchemy Deluxe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p902uQ_y3r4

Play Alchemy Deluxe: https://archive.org/details/alchemy-deluxe

Bookworm Deluxe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA1NSyldUQ8

The Oral History of PopCap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwzxWLonObo