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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 Oct 01, 2016
The Magnavox Patent Lawsuits
Saturday Oct 01, 2016
Saturday Oct 01, 2016
TCWPodcast Episode 027 - Magnavox Patent Lawsuits
We coverthe lawsuits levied by Magnavox against other companies for patentinfringement. There were three majorcases expanding the scope of the patent over its seventeen year lifespan. The fascinating aspect of the lawsuits is howmany people thought they could challenge it and win. However all of the lawsuits resolved inMagnavox's favor. Even Nintendo had topay royalties and license fees.
Ralph Baer on hispatents: http://www.ipmall.info/sites/default/files/hosted_resources/Activision_Readings/VIDEOGAME_HISTORY_Aittlematter_record_keeping.pdf
Early games in courtdepositions: http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/08/early-unknown-computer-games-mentioned.html
Article on MattelCase: http://lp.huschblackwell.com/video/Manzo_FCBJ.pdf
The Activision case:http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/848/1244/292077/
Nintendo v. MagnavoxSuit: http://www.leagle.com/decision/19871553659FSupp894_11391/NINTENDO%20OF%20AMERICA%20INC.%20v.%20MAGNAVOX%20CO
New episodes on the1st and 15th of every month!
TCWEmail: 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/

Thursday Sep 15, 2016
The Magnavox Odyssey
Thursday Sep 15, 2016
Thursday Sep 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 026 The Magnavox Odyssey
We delve into the Magnavox Odyssey the first home console video game system created by Ralph Bear.
Alex's Blog Post: https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2015/11/16/1tl200-a-magnavox-odyssey/
Ralph Bear's Website: http://www.ralphbaer.com/
Magnavox Odyssey Manuals: https://archive.org/details/magnavoxodysseymanuals
Elliott Avedon Virtual Museum of Games - Odyssey Home Entertainment System: http://gamesmuseum.uwaterloo.ca/VirtualExhibits/electronic/console/odyssey/index.html
Magavox Odyssey on 'What's my line?': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F522GBtZPk
Magavox Odyssey TV Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2EIsnr_cv4
Frank Sinatra Holiday Special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS4UmYmmSjg
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/

Thursday Sep 01, 2016
Mattel Electronics?
Thursday Sep 01, 2016
Thursday Sep 01, 2016

Monday Aug 15, 2016
The Project and Others in the Field
Monday Aug 15, 2016
Monday Aug 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 024 - The Project and Others in the Field
We cover the developments in Alex's work, and others doing research into video game history. We delve into history in general and question how accurate can it really be? Even though the work done now will be superseded by work done in the future it is still valuable, and we are in a unique time of being able to record historical figures give accounts in their own words.
Ethan AKA George Henson : http://bit.ly/2aLUMGk
The Digital Antiquarian: http://www.filfre.net/
The Strong National Museum of Play: http://www.museumofplay.org/
All In Color for a Quarter: http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/
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 Aug 01, 2016
The Complete Tetris Story
Monday Aug 01, 2016
Monday Aug 01, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 023 - The Complete Tetris Story
We tell the complete story of Tetris! Created by a computer scientist in Russia by the name of Alexey Pajitnov. We go over the twists and turns of licensing and comedy of errors that was brining Tetris to the market.
Tetris God - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alw5hs0chj0
Atari Tetris Arcade - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emy1D4P0XPo
Tengen Tetris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLTj9LTd-NA
NES Tetris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FAzHyXZPm0
Gameboy Tetris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbxIB4iz31A
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/

Friday Jul 15, 2016
The Galaxy Game
Friday Jul 15, 2016
Friday Jul 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 022 - The Galaxy Game
We go over the Galaxy Game. It was one of the first commercial attempts to bring video games to market. Though it was unable to get the venture capital needed to get off the ground, the two prototypes that were created proved that there was a market for video games.
Space War Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP2OaKHaDxM
Punch Cards Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG2M4ttzBnY
Walter Cronkite Top 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3eFl9pcxsM
Computer Space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUv3z7XGRRc
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/

Friday Jul 01, 2016
The Great Video Game Crash Part 3
Friday Jul 01, 2016
Friday Jul 01, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 021 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 3
We cover the severe correction of the arcade market. We also go into why the correction happened, and how it was not a crash. We also go into how this is independent from the home market crash. It went from 8.9 billion to 4 billion over a two years. We also go over some of the myths surrounding the crash, such as the E.T. dump, and discuss why Nintendo's business practices were essential to reviving the home market. Finally we discuss the likelihood of another crash in the future.
Space Invaders Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=437Ld_rKM2s
Asteroids Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYSupJ5r2zo
Pac Man Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dScq4P5gn4A
Chase the Chuck Wagon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhdW3RCioLM
US Games - Space Jockey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YBcVR4dF08
Atari Game Over Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wjMn6yjOjQ
VS Duck Hunt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtf1FUp-0jo
VS Hogan's Alley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuk6QW3HVCA
VS Baseball Nintendo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52TQ7BWBTp0
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 Jun 15, 2016
The Great Video Game Crash Part 2
Wednesday Jun 15, 2016
Wednesday Jun 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 020 -The Great Video Game Crash Part 2
We discuss the fates of all the major home video game producers. As they tried, and generally failed, to transition to computers as the future game systems. This turned out to be the wrong way to go. With the distraction of computers no company made a transitional console for home users. Coleco got close to surviving the crash, but called it quits in 1985. We go over how computers are too complicated for the general public to use. You require ease of use and working out of the box for gaming to work well on the PC. We go over the numbers of the crash during 82-85, and how the market went from 2.8 billion to 100 million In value in just three years.
World of Xeen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VgBR8-BCos
Mattel Aquarius Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlZn8ejso-4
Coleco Adam Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U39muxNdJs
Colecovision Donkey Kong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyNv1Ok0p5g
Kids and Apple II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF7EpEnglgk
Coleco Adam Comercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZz5WywJ-es
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 Jun 01, 2016
The Great Video Game Crash Part 1
Wednesday Jun 01, 2016
Wednesday Jun 01, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 019 - The Great Video Game Crash Part 1
We go over the lead up to the crash, and the unique situation that caused it. We touch on who to blame for the crash. Is it all Atari's fault? What about retailers, and distributers? There is also the fly by night operations that could have been the straw that broke the camel's back. We cover this and more in part one!
New York Times article on the start of the crash Dec 19, 1982: http://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/19/business/the-game-turns-serious-at-atari.html?pagewanted=all
Star Voyager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZwRD3zqR1E
Pac Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCPpgt0s70U
Lost Luggage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg-1GYOtvUw
ET: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bn192kSsMw
Skeet Shoot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UWJFOUBxTo
Space Invaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=437Ld_rKM2s
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 May 15, 2016
The British 8-Bit Computer Market: Software
Sunday May 15, 2016
Sunday May 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 018 - The British 8-Bit Computer Market: Software
We go at the British 8-Bit computer market again; this time looking at the software side of things. We go over the initial homebrew/hacker scene, and how it eventually evolved into a publisher/distributor business. This created a unique microcosm allowing Britain to have a different and unique game industry. However it was all absorbed into the global gaming scene with the introduction of 16 bit systems and outside companies were able to move in. Today some of the legacy lives on with a few original British game developers.
Theme Hospital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byy3wRndKuQ
3D Monster Maze ZX81: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKvd0zPfBE4
Miner 2049er: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kf6axO_Au4
Manic Miner: ZX Spectrum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgUzteADsRI
Jet Set Willy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Ywx6uVn9E
Knight Lore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n7qtErhF-A
Arcadia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfnrlYrYZME
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/