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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
Monday May 15, 2017
Monday May 15, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 042 - Laser Craze
We cover the brief, yearlong, craze that was the laserdisc. We go into great detail on Dragon's Lair the game that really kicked it off in the United States. Though many other companies tried to take advantage of the medium, unfortunately it was unable to sustain itself. There were a few games that did as well, if not better than Dragon's Lair, they all ended up being part of what was just a brief fad in the downward trend of the arcade scene.
Quarter Horse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Imd1acT2qc
Astron Belt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLX6HSZsx4
Dragon's Lair Promotion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZrgeI0DDP8
Dragon's Lair Playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6uEx5gWovA
Dragon's Lair NES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyGTMTJ6egU
Dragon's Lair Coleco Adam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSinFyg6Y5Q
The Making of Dragon's Lair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bIxeYYSm-c
Cliff Hanger Operator Promotion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc5MKWJ7j6Y
M.A.C.H. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm5u4ErDPF4
Star Rider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soQbVEb3-TQ
Bega's Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J2JVgUqSdE
Cobra Command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN1LC2s4P-w
Firefox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnHl0fyejqc
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Monday May 01, 2017
Monday May 01, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 41 - Beating Them All Up
We delve into beat 'em ups, and fighters. We cover why they did not take hold until computer technology progressed far enough to allow for human analogs to be animated well. We go into the beat 'em up craze, and then the transition to fighting games that occurred with the release of Street Fighter II. We touch on the fall of fighting games from the mainstream with Tekken and Soul Calibur. The scene is still out there, and has a dedicated following. However fighters are not the system sellers they once were.
Warrior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX4NspoYD8o
Jungle Hunt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPATWODXlh4
Apple II Karateka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKqk9kosCs4
Spartan X: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jncBelS_Nhk
Karate Champ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwV3xqS9_aQ
Renegade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1fl38u9I9k
Double Dragon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfZz-1e-dUQ
Yie Ar Kung Fu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXOL8tZQX20
Street Fighter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8al2U4xSFNQ
Final Fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyAHGHo22Og
Fatal Fury: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG17S8yRz6A
Street Fighter II World Warrior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI284D4y1q4
An Oral History of Street Fighter II: http://www.polygon.com/a/street-fighter-2-oral-history
NARC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3jonU-XrK4
Mortal Kombat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F82XAvCuVc
Virtual Fighter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-9TUlCcib0
Tekken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GmSF_PqL84
Soul Edge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgb64WBw_Ww
Soul Calibur Arcade VS Dreamcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Rdg6A-KJs
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Saturday Apr 15, 2017
Saturday Apr 15, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 40 - Sierra On-Line
We delve into the second half of the story of Sierra. We cover how they managed to regroup, and rebuild from the company being close to a complete collapse. We cover many of the classics of the era. Even though many of them are not as fondly remembered today; they are still important for pushing gaming on the PC to new and impressive heights. Unfortunately we also cover how Sierra was torn apart after its acquisition, and Ken Williams leaving the company shortly thereafter in the late 90's and early 2000's.
Wizard of OZ Black and White to Technicolor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6D8PAGelN8
Police Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCgFYW1--JI
Space Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4-e6T4sqXc
Leisure Suit Larry The Land of the Lounge Lizards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyvi1pdDPUc
Secret of Monkey Island on Various Sound Cards (Including PC Speaker): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr-84mjV3CI
King's Quest IV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCqDIRMRTTY
Ways to Die in King's Quest 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLPXP5KkcMQ
A-10 Tank Killer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8hQTLwkGuE
Gabriel Knight Sins of the Fathers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbjXuPa1uW0
Quest For Glory I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxbfd8eB89Y
Phantasmagoria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAXC-MwfpHA
Half Life 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoV9o6b91Sc
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Saturday Apr 01, 2017
Saturday Apr 01, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 039 - On-Line Systems
On-Line systems is the company that eventually becomes Sierra Online. The brainchild of Ken and Roberta Williams. We go over the reasons for the company's founding, and the unique makeup of the company's initial titles. Unfortunately due to backing the proverbial wrong horse multiple times after investment by a venture capital firm they are on the brink of failure during the mid to late 80's.
Shadow of Yserbius: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnJ7BBwKZI0&t=762s
PDP8E Running Adventure with a Z52 Terminal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJdq3gK6M78
Colossal Cave Adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFrWH0na0A
Mystery House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiwHwPvIHBs
The Wizard and the Princess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUHATnGbwl0
Time Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBE8K0XG65I
The Dark Crystal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBNMWnn0I6g
PC JR King's Quest 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymLvOunSuoQ
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Wednesday Mar 15, 2017
Wednesday Mar 15, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 038 - Origin Story
We cover the rise and fall of Origin Systems. A company that is very much defined by one of its founders Richard Garriott. We cover the company's pre-founding as Richard tried to get his games published, and distributed to the public. We then delve into its founding and growth into one of the great influencers of the video game industry. Ultimately ending up with the company's dissolution by EA in 2004, we see what factors led up to how we see Origin, and EA today.
Escape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjqTn93cZOc
Akalabeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmq-cO1RCoA
Ultima I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uv22hlykLM
Time Bandits Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwnjENpIyq0
Ultima II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHftrFz1gjs
Times of Lore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwzRVKi8pZ4
Space Rogue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEyx6evq360
Wing Commander: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Z4q8y-FhY
Ultima Underworld: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuNymTPko3Y
Ultima Online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhDvJ8RketA
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Wednesday Mar 01, 2017
Wednesday Mar 01, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 037 - Nintendo and Gunpei Yokoi
We go over the career of Gumpei Yokoi. From his falling into a job at Nintendo until his untimely death. We cover his contributions to Nintendo, and the game industry, and set the record straight on what he did, and did not have influence on. In the end his true legacy is the talent he mentored, philosophy, and vision that still influences Nintendo to this day.
Game and Watch Collection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HZiBtXwyHM
Radar Scope: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAq7Kckid8
Arcade Donkey Kong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBHJhla8TO4
Arcade Mario Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54olndhqPSA
NES Speed Run Metroid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67kQ3l-1qMs
Kids React to Gameboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pCp8g-VjOs
Virtual Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjz4bls_gPs
The Wonderswan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPJrmNq-1Ow
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Wednesday Feb 15, 2017
Wednesday Feb 15, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 036 - Raiding Eidos
We go over the rise and fall of Eidos. A company that rose high on the huge success of Tomb Raider, and due to a number of factors ended up being in such dire straits they were ultimately purchased by SquareEnix.
C64 Rick Dangerous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwBIDlcMU5Y
Sega CD/Mega CD Thunderhawk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPS6ObO7ZdM
Tomb Raider Sega Saturn VS PlayStation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ZzjgJuo54
Lucozade Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR2CueIrqoc
Seat Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfslfqn7AwI
Lara Croft U2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvInYhF9CfE
Tomb Raider 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xBFjw7Si_s
Tomb Raider 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR727qXuk8g
Tomb Raider 4 Ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA5D8pMVvxk
Tomb Raider Chronicles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FdBd-FZlu0
Tomb Raider Angel of Darkness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxtaPEQdIYE
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Wednesday Feb 01, 2017
Wednesday Feb 01, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 035 - EA The Teenage Years
We go over the transition of EA from a small idealistic company where programmers are rock stars; to the start of the company becoming the large enterprise it is today. We cover Trip Hawkins later years at the helm of EA and the rising businessman Larry Probst who would later succeed him as president and CEO in the early 90's. We go over the founding of EA Sports one of the most recognizable franchises in videogame history.
C64 one on one Dr. J VS Larry Bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URobcuTcBFU
C64 Skyfox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SurusNWvDmw
Music Construction Set: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6wxP4fipaE
Racing Destruction Set: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGgiMmo_nT8&t=847s
Tales of the unknown Vol 1 The Bard's Tale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwYrfaJ1iBM
Mail Order Monsters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azyqd45WQYA
C64 Skate or Die: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEFp7SOLfxU
Iron Man in Deluxe Paint (Dpaint) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6ZZ5GngCFg
Amiga Earl Weaver Baseball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKp_fP06f0Q
5 Version of Jordan VS Bird One on One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQS5VuUANJg
PC Lakers vs Celtics NBA Playoffs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHw9Xu89jEM
TV Sports Football: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvA0qlecPNI
Apple II John Madden Football: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjBnF9gVEeI
Sega Joe Montana Football: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNYZuJ_Lblg
Sega John Madden Football: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaSTAGEGwB4
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Sunday Jan 15, 2017
Sunday Jan 15, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 034 -The Nutting Associates
We go into the murky history of Nutting Associates. This company's founding, and a large part of its history is still unclear due to the lack of proper documentation along with contradictory evidence and testimony. We look at how Nutting is more than just Computer Space, and by association Nolan Bushnell. Though Nutting Associates did not survive past the 70's it still had some influence in the arcade industry and paved the way for advancements that came later on.
IQ Computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh2j3W6me-U
Computer Space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqMicrUywSY
Computer Space Ball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U33oajPSzyc
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/
Sunday Jan 01, 2017
Sunday Jan 01, 2017
TCW Podcast Episode 033 - The Saga of Sega
A brief Namco Update, and then we delve into Sega. We covered them before in episode 5, this time we go into detail of the company's middle and later years. We cover how Sega changed hands from an American to Japanese company, and look at some of the products they produced during this era.
Wild Gunman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzxcsaIxaZg
Electro Dart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7EgQ0b8Q-Y
Blockade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXXk8w9yd2s
Frogger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8ZSOUU5Pt0
Astron Belt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLX6HSZsx4
Hang On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tMqHX-4gMg
New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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/