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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
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
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
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
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
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/
Sunday May 01, 2016
Sunday May 01, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 017 - The British 8-Bit ComputerMarket: Hardware
We discuss the early 8-bit computer hardware market in Britain, and the unique circumstances of the era before it was ended by the coming of 16 bit computers.
Kids React to Old Computers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF7EpEnglgk
Old school Graphics Part I Commodore 64 & Nintendo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfh0ytz8S0k
Uridium C64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks5-Zq6XAN4
Uridium ZX Spectrum:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgyxpqL8T3Q
RISC vs CISC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDrUkjOVtAU
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/
Friday Apr 15, 2016
Friday Apr 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 016 - Early Computer Game Platforms: The Trinity, and the Disciples
We go over the early computer systems as they apply to games in the United States. Starting with the first home computer of note the Altair 8800. We then go into the Trinity of systems released in the same year for the home; the Apple II, the Commodore Pet, and the TRS 80. We then go into the systems that came after and how the Apple II was able to remain dominant as a gaming platform for much longer than it should have untill it was dethroned by the Commodore 64.
Popular Electronics Archive: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Popular-Electronics-Guide.htm
Altair 8800 Popular Electronics: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1975/Poptronics-1975-01.pdf
Net Hack: http://www.nethack.org/
Old school Graphics Part I Commodore 64 & Nintendo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfh0ytz8S0k
Old School Graphics Part II Apple & Atari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rsycfDliZU&nohtml5=False
Temple of Apshai TRS 80: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiMtY5BxdM0
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 Apr 01, 2016
Friday Apr 01, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 015 - The Story of Chuck E Cheese
We discuss the founding and development of Chuck E Cheese. We go over Showbiz pizza, and its founding as well as eventual acquisition of Chuck E Cheese. At a higher level we go over how companies need to go public in order to grow, but this is a major problem for the video game industry.
Chuck E Cheese Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jLivjTOg0o
Showbiz Pizza Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiN0pYSIeOU
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/
Tuesday Mar 15, 2016
Tuesday Mar 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 014 - Nintendo: Playing With Power
We discuss the state of the industry after the crash before Nintendo came onto the scene, and the difficulties in relating with the modern viewpoint to the situation at the time. We cover how Nintendo entered the US market and set up policies that would be ridiculous today, but were necessary for the industry to recover and grow. We cover how as Nintendo grew they were eventually sued for anti-trust, and price fixing, but were exonerated. Still this led to them easing up on their control in the early 90's.
Advanced Video System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEA2ePG8m-4
A few unlicensed games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfpsj8023qE
Pacman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdT0lrm4b2s
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/
Tuesday Mar 01, 2016
Tuesday Mar 01, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 013 - History of Acclaim - "The Fall"
We would like to dedicate this episode to Fergus McGovern, co-founder of Probe Software, who died February 27, 2016 at the age of 50.
We go over the changes that led to the fall of Acclaim. How some other publishers were able to survive, and why. We also discuss how it is a unique situation that led to the growth of Acclaim in the late 80s early 90s . We can also see parallels between Acclaim and more recently THQ.
Castlevania 3 US vs Japan Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v9339JUK3U
Turok: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74hOR5f4MS0
Mario 64 :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6r5oF73gNI
Crash Bandicoot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaLgYPn_Fqs
Tomb Raider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ6mWoErc0E
Silent Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8-3zq8GUcc
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/