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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
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/
Monday Feb 15, 2016
Monday Feb 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 012 - History of Acclaim - "The Rise"
We go over the rise of Acclaim Entertainment from its inception by two former employees of Activision. We cover Acclaim's rise as they started off as publishers of games from smaller companies, and then branched out into franchising. We discuss the interactions between Acclaim and Nintendo, and how they become one of the first American publishers for Nintendo.
Ghostbusters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdZmiyPaKkA
Rambo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDTFLNSWm3U
Tiger Heli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7hOp7S_YiU
Star Voyager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmqXawykr5Y
3D World Runner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTbH25YNxE4
World Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv3RJKS2e_E
Atic Atac : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJrS9WYn3X8
Donkey Kong Country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whp2Y_MjTXs
Secret of Evermore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdV79VbxWOc
Wizards and Warriors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SlQ2c1bj54
Mortal Kombat TV Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzugunqdlnI
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 Feb 01, 2016
Monday Feb 01, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 011 - The Genesis of JRPGs
We go over the Genesis of JRPGs, and discover that their origin is not where we would have expected them to come from. We go over the influences on developers in Japan that lead to the development of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. We discuss how western RPGs made their way into Japan via the Apple II, and how RPGs eventually engrained themselves into Japanese society.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNnpxrZtzy0
Ultima 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FvHQI2qSKQ
Wizardry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-iOZzwIlMA
Xevious - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P24bjcvnxd8
Tower of Druaga - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN-8LcVfoTc
Hydlide - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmrxfeozmis
Black Onyx - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=364J35Sk3zM
Dragon Quest 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmzHrNVelL0
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 Jan 15, 2016
Friday Jan 15, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 010 - History of Mediagenic Part II
We go into part two of Activision/Mediagenic. We cover the company under Bruce Davis's leadership onto it becoming Activison again under Bobby Kotick.
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 Jan 01, 2016
Friday Jan 01, 2016
TCW Podcast Episode 009 - History of Mediagenic Part 1
We go over the history of Activision, from the great crash, right up till Bruce Davis takes it over. We cover Activision's varied acquisitions by Jim Levy, and some of the challenges faced by the company during this time. We go over some of their successes, and misses, in reading the evolution of the industry.
Little Computer People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkTgX1mGmDg
Portal - Activision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RAj38MwyH4&t=1m6s
Alter Ego
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqjAFb-hv2c
Bard's Tale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhhuCIlGEPU
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 Dec 15, 2015
Tuesday Dec 15, 2015
TCW Podcast Episode 008 - Birth of the Japanese Game Center
We cover the beginning of the Japanese game center. How games had to change for Japan due to space limitations. You did not see many horizontal table games. With these changes you saw the evolution of Bagatelle to Pachinko. There is the dissolution of the pachinko parlors starting with the cessation of production in 1937, and the closing of the parlors in 1938. After WWII pachinko started to come back as a gambling device to get basic needs. With the rebuilding of Japan games were not viewed as something adults would do, and were targeted at children. We continue on with Juke Boxes and Taito getting them from military bases to restoring them for Japanese use. We go over some of the differences between the Japanese and American arcade industries. We cover how arcades start to spread across Japan. Starting as add-ons to malls, then add-ons to bowling allies that allowed arcades to penetrate the entire culture. We cover the first big video game in japan Breakout! Then we get Space Invaders which becomes a massive hit in Japan!
Bagatelle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPnMcMsttaI
Pachinko Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAg_BjYOwwo
Breakout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW7Sg5pXAok
Space Invaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJTNnpLMVY8
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/