They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 094 - Epyx not Epic

 

This is an epic story about Epyx.  But don't confuse it with Epic!  We look at the computer game company, and the many bits of software that had influences at the dawn of home computing.  Everything from the first RPGs to action games that are remembered fondly, especially in Europe.   Not to mention the worldwide appeal of the Games series featuring Olympic events.  Sadly the company lost sight of its goals with management changes, and was gone by the early 90's.  However employees of Epyx continued to influence the video game industry for many years to come.

 

Starfleet Orion Manual: https://archive.org/details/Starfleet_Orion_1979_Automated_Simulations

Invasion Orion Manual: https://archive.org/details/Invasion_Orion_1979_Automated_Simulations

DunDraCon Website: https://www.dundracon.com/

Temple of Apshai TRS 80: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiMtY5BxdM0

The Datestones of Ryn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BxkFETqcEA

Crush Crumble and Chomp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTFvwBllZo

TCW 079 - The Six Children of EA: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-six-children-of-ea/

Dragonriders of Pern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqIj8YWsWOE

Pitstop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR-ELIpaxRw

Jumpman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrsZ1bDy4Dg

Atari 2600 Starpath Supercharger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsl65fKYsvk

Impossible Mission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivHFP3dJAkM

Krusty Burger Olympics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVQkOc73uJA

EPYX Sumer Games 1984: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zDwjctkF5w

EPYX California Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSp8XHpEKzw

Atari Lynx Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdp4yn1B8x8

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 093 - Books-B-Ware

 

We look at what was largely a footnote in video game history.  However it is notable as an early attempt at the integration of traditional media and the computer revolution.  There are parallels between bookware and the Siliwood era that came after.  Many of the games were stifled by the limitations in hardware at the time.  Still there are some notable collaborations between programmers and writers that provide an interesting take on what was to come.

 

The Digital Antiquarian - Bookware: https://www.filfre.net/2013/09/bookware/

The Hobbit Text Adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WJW-xB4mwg

HGTTG Babel fish Puzzle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf_2faXuxEo

Ford puts Babel fish in Arthur's ear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuumnjJWFO4

HGTTG Text Adventure Game 30th Anniversary: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1g84m0sXpnNCv84GpN2PLZG/the-game-30th-anniversary-edition

HGTTG Walkthroughs: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/564459-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-1984/faqs

Star Raiders Atari 8-bit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_VDM8nC9sM

Mind wheel: on Apple II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODKy8-c-If8

Rendezvous with Rama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VMbPzf_pq8

Fahrenheit 451: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnET12whCYs

EA Amnesia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl5lJSwF890

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 092 - Citing Apologies

 

A filler episode, with some updates on upcoming podcast items, and Alex's first book.  Due to Alex trying to meet a deadline for the book we were unable to record until a few days before release.  Nothing really historical covered, however a few interesting tidbits in this short episode!

 

Simpsons "Brownest of the brown liquors": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n39897a9hNk

Nokia Snake Game from the 90's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Rk4JQwtL4

Overview of Chicago Style formatting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvgtbrg-qRo

Overview of Chicago Citing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NdT4Y620nE

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

 

Clapping by GB01 Found at : https://freesound.org/people/GB01/sounds/177083/ 

 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 091 - Bally: The Road to Fitness

 

In our continuing look at Bally we see the shifting landscape ad they evolve and develop gambling machines.  This is not to mean that pinball was neglected.  Bally, with an eye to innovation and technology, introduced some of the first sold state pinball machines!  They were also, through some luck, brought in with licensing deals with The Who, and Elton John.  This led to some of the most popular pinball machines in the post WWII era.   We did have to see the departure of Bill O'Donnell from Bally because his ties to organized crime were deemed too great to allow Bally to get a gambling license in Atlantic City.  With Bally under new management it then started diversifying, buy buying up various venues.  These included, Six Flags, a fitness center, and others.  However with a lot of properties not turning a profit, and being tricked into  buying more as a defensive we move against a ploy employed by Donald Trump, Bally was stretched too thin to really survive.

 

German Wall Machine , Rotamint Luxus , 1957: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzNhWxDdyRM

WONDERS , HONEST JOE , Allwin Slot Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1p0Bw1hv5Q

SMB3 Picture House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfH9_zWxRwk

TCW 034 - The Nutting Associates: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-nutting-associates/

The Who & Elton John - Pinball Wizard (Tommy 1975): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DthtDjhqVOU

Abbot and Costello Who's On First: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV-fg&t

Bally Pinball Wizard Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXVg88WqMIo

Captain Fantastic Pinball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1DsyF6XYvM

https://sternpinball.com/

Bally Freedom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk0LroLsaLA

Bally Night Rider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYEY090OPG4

Bally EVEL KNIEVEL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BljsG0dGPJw

Simpsons "He's OK folks!": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE7zBMjubqw

Bally 8-Ball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s1O4ScUx6c

Bally Playboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWP70dq6XN0

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-1/

Rampage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm6pkWRoJiw

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 089 - The Dawn of Computers and Gaming

 

We look at the dawn of computers.  Not just people; but analog, electronic, and digital computers!  We look at how the early games on the computer were not so much games as demonstration programs or simple AI to play games like tic-tac-toe, NIM, checkers, and, of course, chess.  We look at how the work done during WWII around RADAR played a role in how both computers and computer games developed.  Next we look at some of the fear in the popular psyche of computers and AI as depicted in movies.  We finish looking at what is considered the first video games. 

 

Hidden Figures Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wfrDhgUMGI

Analog VS Digital Electronics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJKXGugfh8

The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I5ZMmrOfnA

How RADAR Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3uIXt1V7YY

RADAR Introductory Video (Military?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rIHdcwlvlk

History of RADAR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeGBXQLu8pQ

An Electromechanical Clock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1it3kjIgocc

Last working analog graphics machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wxc3mKqKTk

Colossus: The Forbin Project Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyOEwiQhzMI

Colossus: The Forbin Project Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus:_The_Forbin_Project

War Games "Shall we play a game?": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1F7vaNP9w0

The Turing Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wLqsRLvV-c

Demo of Turochamp Code: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvanV9B6EBs

Carnegie Mellon University Management Game: https://www.cmu.edu/tepper/programs/mba/curriculum/capstones/management-game.html

Tennis for Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PG2mdU_i8k

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 088 - Gotta Go Fast!

 

Since we covered Mario a few episodes ago, it is only fair that we cover his great rival, not Bowser, but Sonic!  We go at not quite sonic speed over the creation of the character and franchise.  Sonic's interesting inception was brought about through a character submission process.  Sonic is the melding of a rabbit, a character called "Mr. Needlemouse," and Michael Jackson!  Yes, this is true.  Look there is a music video referenced below.  Though Sonic suffered from rapid over exposure he is still beloved by many fans.  After all these fans pay homage with a Sega Tower of Power to Sonic!

 

Alex Kidd in Miracle World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yasiyS7dkcU&t=495s

Ghouls and Ghosts Mega Drive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5CGfah2IEI

Michal Jackson 'Smooth Criminal': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_D3VFfhvs4

Sonic The Hedgehog Genesis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1FEHo_RcNw

Classic Game Postmortem: Sonic the Hedgehog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYO1ZmRuZ_U

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Genesis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cr1rqVcIhA

Kitsune: Japanese Mythology Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0arkgpNDuJg

SonicCD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apPGHEZxu6s

Pinball Dreams Amiga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UNGMiPETXo

Sonic Spinball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzPpRPDRQvA

Sonic The Hedgehog 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhExIWa0R-4

Sonic 3 and Knuckles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soXPc-fvd90

Sega Tower of Power: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y55ZBT_UcmU

Sonic Game Gear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D00HFMfmro

Sonic Master System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQPvA0OvR24

Sonic 2 Master System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6RtXmMN9Og

Sonic Mania: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNJLX15aEn4

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 087 - Virtual History

 

And now we discuss at the technology that has been just a few months away from revolutionizing video games for the past thirty years, virtual reality. While a hot topic again due to the emergence of the Occulus Rift and the PS4 VR, virtual reality has been a Holy Grail of computer graphics research since the early 1960s. We examine the origins of VR at the University of Utah and its refinement at Atari and VPL Labs before looking at several attempts to bring VR into the mainstream in the early 1990s. We end with a quick look at the state of VR today.

 

Master Collector of View Master: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JxAv3-QOzc

Morton Heilig's Sensorama (Interview): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSINEBZNCks

Legend of the Sword of Damocles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNSh519GxvY

Sword of Damocles Headset Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OwlABr1o-g

Sword of Damocles Headset With Explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vuGXWnYZpA

Lecture from 1996 on Sword of Damocles Headset: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2AIDHjylMI

TCW 046 Atari, Ray Kassar, and Warner: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/atari-ray-kassar-and-warner/

Moon Dust Commodore 64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzVIEnTfclY

Scientific American Interview Jaron Lanier: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/interview-with-jaron-lani/

AVGN Zelda II Power Glove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ab48nahZzo

The Wizard - Power Glove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Esx7xgXl5g

The Untold Story Of VR On The Sega Genesis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UN_pN9ZU8Y

Sega VR at CES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd98RGxad0U

Dactyl Nightmare Gameplay and Unit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbOGV8-lyno

Oculus Rift Polygon Nightmare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqfpt2hoVrU

Discovery Channel Battletech Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdJA5C_Po4U&t=4s

Polygon Disney Quest VR Article:https://www.polygon.com/features/2018/10/18/17888722/disneyquest-disney-vr-closed

Zone Hunter Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8STASuTKDag

Buggy Ball VR on a game show: https://youtu.be/NkQCWiYB3Wc?t=475

John Carmack Interview on Oculus Rift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyuMVazQPos

Tetris Effect Launch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFVL6t8IHE8

Real Bomb Squad plays Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYunaBkn9Ng

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 086 -  Itsa Me Marioooo!

 

Itsa the most iconic character in video game history: Mario. We explore the origins of Mario and examine how his entire design was born of necessity. We discuss how the character evolved through the Donkey Kong series and Mario Bros. before taking a deep dive into the design of Super Mario Bros. Then it’s a quick tour through the rest of Mario's NES and SNES adventures, setting the stage for his transition into 3D worlds.

 

Nintendo Radar Scope: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kbliYx51ok

TCW Gumpai Yokoi episode: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-and-gunpei-yokoi/

Donkey Kong Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJagEKVJ8x4

Mario Bros.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHlUEJXaxfY

Devil World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08q_WmEMh4g

Excite Bike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRgMCtaWoSU

Kung Fu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-gyVEqS1Ts

Pac Land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=558zv3tHdu4

Baraduke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYRfKffrMVM

Super Mario Retrospective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSssHzHam_o

Famicom Super Mario Bros. 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj-U1ggYRKw

How NES Controller Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVnwfwXnNiQ&feature=youtu.be&t=318

Doki Doki Panic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px3KTewBGrA

Speed Racer Intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suCm1w_KTiY

Japanese Super Mario Box Art: http://thedoteaters.com/?attachment_id=5723

Super Mario Bros. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2LTcQwmOV4

Super Mario World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxg5eOPmzHI

Yoshi's Island: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8btNneN8ew

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 085 - Computer Game BASICs

 

Now that we have explained how timesharing works, it's time to discuss games! In the 1960s, students and professional programmers alike created computer games that were played by dozens, if not hundreds of their peers on timeshared computers. In the early 1970s, some of these programs began to spread across the country thanks to the efforts of early pioneers in computer book and magazine publishing like Bob Albrecht and David Ahl. By the time the first microcomputers appeared in the late 1970s, these games were so widespread that they started being converted to platforms like the Apple II and TRS-80 as well.  As a result, games like Lunar Lander, Star Trek, and The Oregon Trail continued to be played decades after they were first created and became recognized as some of the earliest classic computer games.

 

Kill us all on sight reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Lc_1aNdZA

1969 Lander: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TkFCo4F0_U

Making Games by Year (Remaking Lunar Lander in Python): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJxNUdsnsos

Atari Lunar Lander: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McAhSoAEbhM

The Oregon Trail Franchise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fEWA3WGkZ0

The Oregon Trail Card Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg8lCvF1-Oc

Hamurabi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb9Z8FaaVZU

101 BASIC Computer Games: http://www.ccapitalia.net/descarga/docs/1975-101-basic-computer-games.pdf

Star Trek Text Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLKw4AU4KHU&t=86s

Star Trek C64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p6qQEDp0Ug

Hunt the Wumpus Text: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETjYJBJrfq4

Hunt the Wumpus Graphical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkWJMU16GrU

 

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

 

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/