Video Game Newsroom Time Machine

Few events in video game history are more legendary than the Console War between Sega and Nintendo.  Our guest today was one of the generals of that war, the head of Sega of America, Tom Kalinske.  
Tom's story is not just a story of Sega though, he started out in advertising, helping create the still iconic Flintstone's vitamins, he redefined Barbie's image, helped save Mattel from bankruptcy after the video game crash and lead one of the most important educational tech companies of our time, Leap Frog.
Tom's insight into the world of toys, games and education ov...

Japan goes after arcades, Nintendo's Famicon gets its first licensee & Gamers come together online

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in October 1984.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

After spending almost 2 decades trying to make MUD a viable commercial project, Richard returns to academia after publishing his seminal book, Designing Virtual Worlds, and begins teaching and researching game worlds and player behavior.

We delve deep into the study of games, talk about why it's important and the future of virtual worlds, the morality of being a god, both as a designer and a gamer, and where the industry can go from here.

Recorded: February 2025

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While there are many founders of the video game industry writ large, the dawn of multiplayer gaming is a much more select group of luminaries and our guest today, Richard Bartle is most definitely one of them.  He cocreated MUD1, the first Multi User Dungeon game as a college student and has gone on to help shape the academic view of gaming ever since.

Recorded: January 2025

Video version:  

https://www.patreon.com/posts/135579198

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Mechanical amusements have long been a mainstay of theme parks and travelling fairs.  In the 1980s, this technology entered the realm of the arcade, most notably through Chuck E. Cheese and since then, has merged with the traditional dark ride to become the interactive dark ride, a mixture of animatronics, motion, lightguns and video games.  
Our guest today, John Wood is the head of Sally Corporation, a pioneer of animatronic entertainment and especially the interactive darkride.  John tells us how this industry leader got its start

Recorded: September 2024

Video version:
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Nintendo owns CES, The future belongs to the internet & EA disses Sega

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in September 1994.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Ge...

From a bedroom coder to Game Developer's Conference OG to the creator of one of the greatest one-on-one action strategy games of the 8 bit era, Jeff Johannigman worked for some of the most legendary companies of the 80s, Epyx, Electronic Arts, and Origin and beyond.  

In Part 2, we talk about working on Ultima for the Gameboy, porting Dynamix titles to the Amiga, rediscovering his strategy roots at Microprose and finally deciding to exit the industry on moral and personal grounds.
Jeff's insight and storytelling skill make this a wonderful chat.

Recorded: September 2024

From a bedroom coder to Game Developer's Conference OG to the creator of one of the greatest one-on-one action strategy games of the 8 bit era, Jeff Johannigman worked for some of the most legendary companies of the 80s, Epyx, Electronic Arts, and Origin.  

In Part 1, we talk about those early days, including the making of games such as G.I. Joe and Savage Empire and working with important figures like Ihor Wolosenko, Dani Bunten, Chris Crawford, Warren Spector, and Richard Garriot.
Jeff's insight and storytelling skill make this a wonderful chat.

Recorded: September 2024

PCs get upgraded, MSX comes to Europe & Coinop goes cartridge

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August 1984.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Get us on...

Few developers have had as long and prolific a career as our guest, Graeme Bayless. From working on mainframes, to selling Kaypros, to playtesting Accolade's launch titles, to producing games for SSI, Sega Technical Institute, Hyperbole Studios, Dynamix, EA, Eidos, and NetherRealm Studios.

In Part 5, we talk about Graeme's winding up of Fierce Wombat, looking for a new position and being offered a position at NetherRealm Studios, where he worked on Injustice 2, Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat 1.  We discuss life in a studio with the most senior staff in the business, gamer-first design philosophy and what it m...

30 years ago: Computer industry booms as consoles slump, Nintendo announces Ultra64 & The internet gets scary

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August 1994.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/bo...

Few developers have had as long and prolific a career as our guest, Graeme Bayless. From working on mainframes, to selling Kaypros, to playtesting Accolade's launch titles, to producing games for SSI, Sega Technical Institute, Hyperbole Studios, Dynamix, EA, Eidos, and NetherRealm Studios.

In Part 4, we talk about the decade that Graeme spent in the wilderness of the game's industry, during which he worked on titles such as Tomb Raider Legend and Anniversary at Crystal Dynamics, tried to salvage projects like Enslaved, Dead to Rights Retribution and Splatterhouse at Namco, returned to sports titles at 2K Games...

Commodore buys Amiga Jack Tramiel declares war on  competition Nintendo announces US NES launch plans

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August 1984.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/boo...

Few developers have had as long and prolific a career as our guest, Graeme Bayless. From working on mainframes, to selling Kaypros, to playtesting Accolade's launch titles, to producing games for SSI, Sega Technical Institute, Hyperbole Studios, Dynamix, EA, Eidos, and NetherRealm Studios.

In Part 3, we talk about job hunting in the games industry at the end of the 90s and his time at EA's Tiburon subsidiary working on Madden 2001 and 2002 as well as developing the NFL Street franchise.
What is life like for a dev living in the crunch of annualized sports games?  How are n...

Sega's Saturn premiere flops Nintendo goes for cheap VR Commodore bankruptcy gets messy

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1994.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

...

Sega's Saturn premiere flops, The Game Industry ditches CES for E3 & Nintendo goes for cheap VR

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1994.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.co...

Few developers have had as long and prolific career as our guest, Graeme Bayless. From working on mainframes, to selling Kaypros, to playtesting Accolade's launch titles, to producing games for SSI, Sega Technical Institute, Hyperbole Studios, Dynamix, EA, Eidos, and NetherRealm Studios.

In Part 2, we talk about his time at Dynamix, a Sierra subsidiary. We find out how he met his wife in the early days of online geekdom, finally put down roots in Eugene, OR, ventured into online game development, experienced the gradual fall of Sierra as it changed hands again and again, worked on games...

Jack buys Atari Imagine goes belly up Nintendo's Famicom gets Zapped

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1984.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Get us...

Few developers have had as long and prolific career as our guest, Graeme Bayless. From working on mainframes, to selling Kaypros, to playtesting Accolade's launch titles, to producing games for SSI, Sega Technical Institute, Hyperbole Studios, Dynamix, EA, Eidos, and NetherRealm Studios.

In Part 1, we talk about his early years, the evolution of the industry, moving from computers at SSI to consoles with Sega and getting up to the boom of FMV games.

Recorded: December 2023

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Hollywood welcomes Siliwood, Saturn and Playstation begin fight for Japanese consumers & 3DO declared DOA

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in June 1994.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

The boom of home computers and electronics in the 1970s and 1980s was as much a success of entrepreneurial endeavor and technological innovation, as it was of the blossoming worldwide supply chain.

One of the company's that made it all possible was WONG's International and our guest today, Raymond Yap was their representative in the UK. He helped make sure that the BBC Micro got into UK schools and traveled the world securing suppliers for all manner of electronics.

How did that business work? Where did his career lead after this? Raymond tells us of...

The home computer market implodes,  Atari announces 7800 & Console software dries up.

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in June 1984.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Get us...

The dawn of the home computer seemed to usher in the death of computing's networked past dominated by dumb terminals connected to mainframes, but a few visionaries foresaw a world in which the microcomputer technology invading millions of homes could be connected and the data networks already in consumer hands, such as cable TV and telephones, could usher in a new way of connecting people and distributing software.

Our guest, Larry J. Dunlap, was one such pioneer. The company he cofounded, The Games Network almost brought that dream to the world but tragically came up short.

Nintendo and Sega financials dissapoint Sony gets ready for NextGen Venture money goes ga-ga over silliwood

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in May 1994.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.co...

Sinclair ships QLs,

Atari looks hopeful &

Jack is BACK!

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in May 1984.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out his podcast here:

https://www.theycreateworlds.com/

and order his book here:<...

In the earliest days of the gaming biz, Human Engineered Software was a trailblazer, bringing big names like Jeff Minter to the US.  The company's founder, Jay Balakrishnan, is a serial entrepreneur who not only would help create the mass market for software at retail but would also have a long and storied career in games beyond Hes ware with such companies as Radical Entertainment and Dynamics.  
I spoke to Jay in November and December of 2023, and after a few technical hiccups we finally got a connection going and we jump right into that today, so don't worry th...

Nintendo bows to Blockbuster,

Commodore enters liquidation &

Acclaim-Midway divorce gets messy!

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in April 1994.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:

https://www.theycreateworlds.com...

Nolan Bushnell, the PT Barnum of games, left indellible marks on the industry, some greater than others, and among the big hits like Atari and Chuck E. Cheese, were also many misses and could-have-beens.
Our guest, Joneva Barry, was witness to one of them, Kadabrascope, an attempt to use computers to bring down the cost of traditional 2D animation.  
An accomplished artist and educator, Joneva tells us of those heady days of high tech, great hopes, the comradery with Sente, the fall of Pizza Time Theater and her career in movies and as a school teacher.

Acorn and Commodore soar, as Coleco and Atari falter

Software takes center stage in PC clone world

UK game prices hit rock bottom

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in April 1984.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our...

Sega previews Saturn at CES,

Commodore warns of bankruptcy &

Doom brings corporate networks to their knees

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in March 1994.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:

Pizza Time goes bust,

Amiga announces a computer &

Nintendo launches the VS

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in March 1984.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:

https://www.they...

The history of 80s and 90s game magazines is filled with big names like Computer Gaming World, Weekly Famitsu, Computer and Video Games, Micromania, and, a name that makes German speaking gamers of a particular vintage extremely nostalgic, Power Play.

In this second part of our interview, Michael tells us how he left Power Play to join a major German games publisher, founded a hint guide and magazine publisher of his own making guides of Eidos' Tomb Raider series and Nintendo's Legend of Zelda Majoras Mask, before becoming a freelance producer for games around the world.  We a...

The world goes ga-ga over game violence; Sega reports horrible losses & Doom redefines PC gaming!

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in February 1994.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/bo...

The history of 80s and 90s game magazines is filled with big names like Computer Gaming World, Weekly Famitsu, Computer and Video Games, Micromania, and, a name that makes German speaking gamers of a particular vintage extremely nostalgic, Power Play.

Michael Hengst was a mainstay at the mag and gives us a fascinating insight into how the business worked, how games were reviewed, and sets up a career in the industry that lasts to this day.

Recorded: January-February 2024

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Famicom rules Japan, Bushnell leaves Chuck E Cheese & Vectrex put to rest

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM!

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in February 1984.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Ge...

In the early 80s, glory could be won in the arcades by those intrepid youths capable of garnering high scores.  One such teen, Julian 'Jaz' Rignall, turned that skillset into a career, first as a strategy tip writer for UK mags like Personal Computing and Computer and Video Games, before becoming a founding writer for ZZAP!64, Mean Machines, Mean Machines Sega, and Nintendo Magazine System.  His career then brought him to America where he worked for Virgin on titles such as Toonstruck and Jungle Book before becoming a pioneer in online games journalism at IGN.  Today, he helps game dev...

Commodore hits the skids,

Sega bets big on entertainment centers &

The emulation revolution is born!

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in January 1994.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out his podcast here:

...

Jack Tramiel leaves Commodore,

Apple advertises the Mac &

Amstrad enters the home computer market

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in January 1984.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out his podcast here:

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Few developers can boast careers spanning more than 4 decades, but today's guest, William Volk has developed games for virtually every platform released, covering every genre, including strategy, RPG, adventures, educational titles, puzzle games, and more.
Sit back and enjoy the insights, memories, and experience of a true legend of the industry!

Recorded October 2023

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iOS:      https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine

And if you like what we are...

Night Trap gets Lieberman's panties in a bunch, Id unleashes Doom & Apple II is no more

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in December 1993.  As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.co...

Toys push games off of shelves,

GUIs vie for supremacy &

Coinops' laserdisc dreams dashed

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in December 1983.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out his podcast here:

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40 years ago, American television saw the dawn of a nationwide show updating viewers on the latest developments in the exciting world of computers, The Computer Chronicles.

We dive into the history of this show with blogger S.M.Oliva, author of The Computer Chronicles Revisited, to find out what it was, what it achieved, and how it left us an invaluable record of the early consumer computer industry.

Recorded: October 2023

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Next gen trash talk heats up, Nintendo and Sega trapped by strong yen & CDROM can't pay the rent

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in November 1993.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out his podcast here:

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IBM introduces the PCJr

Coleco ships the Adam

Infocom disses graphics

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in November 1993.

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out his podcast here:

https://www.theycreateworlds.com...

Gregg Barnett is a 40 year veteran of the gaming industry, having started with porting The Hobbit to the C64, developing the legendary Way of the Exploding Fist, bringing Discworld to computers and today working on high tech VR based training gear for firefighters.  Gregg opens up about all the massive shifts in the industry he has witnessed, as well as the good and the bad involved with being a game dev.

Recorded October 2023

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Nintendo profits crash, Next gen console battle begins & Arcades go 3D

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in October 1993. 

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:

https://www.theycreateworlds.com/

and order his book here:

ht...

The Boom is over, Texas Instruments is out & Nintendo becomes stock market darling

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in October 1983. 

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:

https://www.theycreateworlds.com/

and order his book here:

Mortal Monday,  F-15 Strike Eagle saved by Falcon,  Sega announces Saturn

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in September 1993. 

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

G...

After 5 years of asking the questions, the tables get turned and Karl finally has to get grilled.  You, the listener (or at least some of you) asked for it, so by multiple demand, the Karl interview!

Recorded: November 2023

Get us on your mobile device:
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iOS:      https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine

And if you like what we are doing here at the podcast, don't forget to like us on your podcasting app of choic...

This is the full 7 Minutes in Heaven clip for the September 1983 episode covering Battlezone on the Atari 2600.

An error in the edit of the full episode cut it short, so I decided to upload it to the feed as its own file.

Remember, you can also watch Alex and my commentary on his actual 7 minutes of gameplay by becoming a patron:

 https://www.patreon.com/posts/92412140/1722295006633795944?s=20mcgeoch9/status/1722295006633795944?s=

Atari dumps product in the desert Commodore and Sinclair revenues sore The Vic20 is no more

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in September 1983. 

As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:

https://www.theycreateworlds.com/

and order hi...

At the height of the arcade boom, two young entrepreneurs wanted to take arcade gaming higher, creating a unique, immersive cooperative experience combining computer game tech with the latest laser disc audio visuals.

Simutron promised gamers an immersive experience, in the Star Trek universe no less, at dedicated game centers.  Sadly it would not come to pass.

Brent Naseath, cofounder of the venture tells us what happened back then with Simutron, how his career in tech evolved and his new quest to harness the power of technology to save democracy itself.

7-11 drops coinop Nintendo disses Sega's rating system Commodore premieres Amiga CD32

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August 1993.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:

https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Starting out as a signals decoder for the air force, through to working for Nolan Bushnell's Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Time Theatre on its ill-fated Kadabrascope animation initiative, Autodesk, VRML and so many others, Owen Rowley is a man of a thousand lives in tech.

Heck, he may have even helped invent the mousepad.

Listen to some amazing stories, from the dawn of the computer age through to the rough and tumble world of the dot com bubble.

Recorded April 2023

Get us on your mobile device:

Android:  https://www.g...

Dragon's Lair takes arcades by storm, Commodore rules the computer roost & Video game makers pivot to micros

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August 1983.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.the...

Sega introduces ratings Nintendo beats Tengen Sony buys Psygnosis

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1993.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Get us on you...

In the history of pen and paper role playing games, no company name looms larger than TSR, creators of Dungeons and Dragons, and in the realm of computer role playing games one of the greatest publishers has been Bethesda.  

Our guest today, Bruce Nesmith, worked for both of these company's in their hay day, first as a programmer for TSR on their ill-fated venture into software publishing in the early 80s  and then as a writer for both TSR and Bethesda.  From highs to lows and back again, a true insider's view of the life of a gam...

After the crash, a new type of venue emerged as the dominant force in coin operated video games, the family entertainment center.  No longer just video games, but a mix of mini golf, redemption games, food counters and more, this new destination would prove an ever evolving type of business very much at the whims of a fickle public.

Our guest, Ed Pearson, navigated these tempestuos waters for almost 15 years as manager of the legendary Seattle Funplex before moving on to ever bigger facilities as the family entertainment business continued to evolve past its arcade roots.  

...

Atari axes Ray Kassar, Nintendo launches the Famicom & Commodore's Jack Tramiel delivers the killing blow to Texas Instruments

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1983.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www...

Street Fighter movie is a go Traditional computer game makers falter Sega's Battle with Nintendo heats up

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in June 1993.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.the...

After the crash, a new type of venue emerged as the dominant force in coin operated video games, the family entertainment center.  No longer just video games, but a mix of mini golf, redemption games, food counters and more, this new destination would prove an ever evolving type of business very much at the whims of a fickle public.
Our guest, Gary Brose, navigated these tempestuos waters for almost 15 years as co-owner of the legendary Seattle Funplex.  

Recorded May 2022.

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40 years ago: TI reports huge losses, Sega gets out of the arcade business in the US & Nintendo prepares to launch the Family Computer

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in June 1983. 

As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:

ht...

Super Mario Brothers hits theatres, Blast Processing brings sega to the next level & Id shows off Doom

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in May 1993.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.the...

The Supreme Court comes to the aid of video games Commodore's Vic20 drops below $100 Electronic Arts ships its first games

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in May 1983.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book her...

At the dawn of 3D acceleration a battle was fought over who would control the APIs that would allow programmers to unlock the power of this new type of PC hardware.  Would it be an open source community effort born of Silicon Graphics tech or would the industry juggernaut Microsoft win the day?

Our guests today, Servan Keondjian, lead architect of Direct3D and game development veteran Casey Muratori take us into those heady days, the zealous arguments and how it all panned out.

Recorded September 2022.

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Street Fighter 2 merch goes into overdrive, Nintendo neuters Mortal Kombat & The World Wide Web goes open source

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in April 1993.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Jon from the Retro Games Squad is our cohost.  You can find his other fine retrogaming work here: https://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/

Get us...

40 years ago: The line between computers and consoles blur, Dragon's Lair wows coinop & Reagan thinks video games are swell

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in April 1983.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Dale is this month's cohost, check out his research work at  https://twitter.com/QuarterPast83

Get us on your mobile device: And...

Nintendo leaks SNES CD specs Sega touts Genesis VR Mortal Kombat coming to consoles

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in March 1993.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

The modern world of gaming revolves around designers and programmers being able to harness the raw power of today's high end GPUs.  APIs make this task manageable and no API set has been more important in the tradition from software rendered graphics to the age of the GPU than Direct3D.
We speak with one of its original architects, Servan Keondjian, about is initial work on machines like the ZX81, BBC Micro, Acorn Archimedes, developing early 3D engines, working with adventure legend Magnetic Scrolls, his ground breaking work with Reality Lab, becoming part of the Microsoft machine and h...

Commodore goes portable IBM introduces the XT Nintendo shows off Game and Watch

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in February 1983.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

G...

Video game violence begins to make operators uneasy 3DO plans to shake up console biz Federal investigation into Nintendo dropped

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in February 1993.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book her...

Few eras of gaming history are more legend filled than the British bedroom coder boom of the early 1980s.  Martin Wheeler wasn't just one of them but continues to be a pioneer or one-man coding in the VR space of today.

Recorded March 2022.

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Atari announces mass layoffs, Time names the personal computer the man of the year & Nintendo launches the Game and Watch in North America

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in February 1983.  As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and ord...

  Sony and Nintendo break up, Intel christens the Pentium & EA and ESPN bury the hatchet These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in January 1993. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.   Wouter, aka Wiedo, is our cohost. You can find his awesome twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/wiedo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SW2_WXgbbo and https://redcircle.com/shows/newgameoldflame   Get us...

Compaq gives birth to the PC clone,  Commodore and TI declare war on Sinclair &  A day of reckoning awaits the software business

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in January 1983. As always,  we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Jon from the Retro Games Squad is our cohost.  You can find his other fine retrogaming work here: https://retrogamesquad.libs...

Sega launches the SegaCD, Nintendo and Sony kiss and make up & Intel goes multitasking

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in December 1992. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Mads from the Retro Asylum is our cohost. You can find his other fine podcasts here: http://retroasylum.com and https://playthroughpod.com/

Get us on...

The video game market crashes, Coinop is on the skids & Home computer competition heats up

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in December 1982. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Wouter, aka Wiedo, is our cohost. You can find his awesome twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/wiedo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SW2_WXgbbo...

Super FX brings 3D to the SNES NeoGeo breaks the 100 meg barrier The 1200 brings the Amiga into the modern age

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in November 1992. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Dale's research and insights can be found on twitter: https://twitter.com/QuarterPast83

Get us on your mobile device: Android...

Atari, Bally, Sega, Namco and so many more... our guest today, Roger Hector, has seen the industry from every perspective during a career that has spanned more than three decades.
He shares with us insights into his passions and philosophies on game design, art, and surviving corporate cultures

Recorded March 2022.

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And if you like what we are doing here...

While Warner was crashing due to lower than expected holiday sales from their Atari unit, the rest of the market, competing consoles like Colecovision and Intellivision, as well as game makers like Activision, Imagic, and Parker Brothers, all felt the seismic repercussions of the goliath's fall.

In this second part of our look back at the Video Game Crash, we find out what happened to all the other players on the market, delve deeper into retail saturation and the fallout of the crash.

Recorded December 2022

The video version of this discussion can be...

Coinop income plummets Wall Street short sellers smell blood Vic20 sales hit a million

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry inNovember 1982. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Jeff from the Retro Games Squad is our cohost. You can find his other fine retrogaming work here: https://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/

Get us on your mobile...

ATTENTION:  This is a re-upped version of the episode with corrected audio.  We apologize for the previous entry.

On December 8th, 1982, Warner Communications, parent company of Atari, announced that their guidance to investors concerning their profit outlook would be dramatically lower than it had expected.

While many in the video game space had felt unease at the meteoric rise of the industry over the previous 12 months, the news about Atari missing its targets would be the spark that would ultimately crash the North American console market and almost wipe the industry out completely. How could it...

On December 8th, 1982, Warner Communications, parent company of Atari, announced that their guidance to investors concerning their profit outlook would be dramatically lower than it had expected.

While many in the video game space had felt unease at the meteoric rise of the industry over the previous 12 months, the news about Atari missing its targets would be the spark that would ultimately crash the North American console market and almost wipe the industry out completely. How could it come to this? What mistakes were made that caused this new medium to be so fragile?

Hello...

Arcades take on theme parks Amstrad and Sega team up EA buys Origin

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in October 1992. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Jon from the Retro Games Squad is our cohost. You can find his other fine retrogaming work here: https://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/

Get us on your mobile...

No family name is more associated with the early popularization of computers than Tramiel. We speak with Leonard Tramiel, son of Commodore co-founder Jack Tramiel about his life growing up around tech, his role in Commodore's earliest machines and becoming VP of Software at Atari.
In this second part of our interview, Leonard talks about the reshaping of Atari after the crash, the creation of the Atari ST, working with Greg Kildall on TOS, relaunching the VCS and 7800, the development of the Lynx and Jaguar, working with greats like Jon Carmack and Jeff Minter, and the ultimate end...

No family name is more associated with the early popularization of computers than Tramiel. We speak with Leonard Tramiel, son of Commodore co-founder Jack Tramiel about his life growing up around tech, his role in Commodore's earliest machines and becoming VP of Software at Atari.
In this first part of our interview Leonard talks about programming Commodore calculators, advising his dad on the entry into computers, creating PETSCII, Jack's departure from Commodore, and the start of what would become the Atari ST.

Recorded March 2022.

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Distributors give conversion boards the cold shoulder Atari looks down on the competition The computer price war heats up

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in October 1982. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Ethan from the The History of How We Play is our cohost. You can find his other fine retrogaming work here: https://thehistoryofhowweplay...

Xbox sales figures soar 3D gaming is coming to your cellphone Cryo is no more

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in September 2002. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Get us on your mobile device: Android: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly92aWRlb2dhbWVuZXdzcm9vbXRpbWVtYWNoaW5lLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz iOS: https://podcasts.apple...

No company did more to make computers household items than Commodore. Many great names are associated with that success, Chuck Peddle, Jack Tramiel, Irving Gould, and many more, but maybe more important than any of them was the man that made sure the funds for such lofty goals were available, that man was Don Greenbaum, banker and later treasurer of Commodore.

We talk about those early days at Commodore, the rise to mass market greatness, the exit of Jack Tramiel, and the acquisition of the Amiga.

Recorded November 2021.

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Fears of violence in games make coinop jittery Multimedia takes on 3D for the future of gaming Capcom partners up with Sega

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in September 1992. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Wouter, aka Wiedo, is our cohost. You can find his awesome twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/wiedo and https...

Magnavox Odyssey goes on sale VCS games grow up Atari's 5200 bets on classics

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in September 1982. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Ethan from the The History of How We Play is our cohost. You can find his other fine retrogaming work here: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ or https://twitter.com...

50 years ago, television manufacturer Magnavox launched a revolutionary new device that allowed users, for the first time, to manipulate the images on their home television sets. 

How did this technological wonder come to be?  How did its development evolve?  Find out with our own resident Warden of the Department of Corrections, Ethan Johnson.

Links:

https://www.mobygames.com/game/super-breakout/cover-art/gameCoverId,20988/ https://restaurant-ingthroughhistory.com/2014/07/13/the-browning-of-mcdonalds/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnavox_Odyssey https://twitter.com/j_ljunggren/status/1573688288661180416 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakout_(video_game) https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/2022/09/16/the...

Online gaming is one of the dominant business models today, but back in 1979, a small start up in Chicago showed how it was done. The Game Master was a virtual playground for computer enthusiasts before most people knew what a personal computer was.
Robert Kniskern helped bring that technology to life. He tells us about his early experiences with minicomputers, buying Altair 8800 number 400 with some friends and later working with Sega, 3DO, and Sierra to help build the multiplayer gaming tech of the future.

Recorded October 2021.

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Yamauchi steps down Rare abandons Gamecube The US Army wants you... to play their game

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August 2002. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Wouter, aka Wiedo, is our cohost. You can find his awesome twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/wiedo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SW2_WXgbbo<...

Nintendo and Sega duke it out at CES Mortal Kombat looks to be a winner Soundblaster gets competition

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August 1992. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Wouter, aka Wiedo, is our cohost. You can find his awesome twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/wiedo and https://www.youtube.com/watch...

Copyright is coming for UK pirates Computers invade Toys R Us New York bans arcades but not peep shows

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August 1982. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Mads from the Retro Asylum is our cohost. You can find his other fine podcasts here: http://retroasylum.com and https://playthroughpod.com/<...

EA disses Xbox Live Violent video games come under scrutiny GTA goes back to the 80s

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 2002. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Wouter, aka Wiedo, is our cohost. You can find his awesome twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/wiedo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SW2...

Nintendo bails on coinop Sega teams up with Sony Sound card pioneer Adlib bites the dust

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1992. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Ethan from The History of How We Play and our very own Department of Corrections is our cohost. You can find his other fine retrogaming work...

Universal sues Nintendo over Donkey Kong Spielberg signs with Atari Tron disappoints

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1982. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Mads from the Retro Asylum is our cohost. You can find his other fine podcasts here: http://retroasylum.com and https://playthroughpod.com/

Get us on your mobile...