They Create Worlds

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...

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=Tfh0y...

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 cam...

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/wa...

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 ho...

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...

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 pu...

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 i...

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 -...

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...

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 closin...

TCW Podcast 007 - History of the Arcade   We cover the history of the arcade going over the many versions it has occupied from the late 1800's to present time. The arcade has changed in form and function quite a few times over the last century.   Popeye Mutoscope "Customers Wanted" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sch2d0SOJZQ   Pink Panther Scale "An Ounce of Pink" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U...

TCW Podcast Episode 006 - The Early History of Electronic Arts    We discuss the early history of Electronic Arts. The original founders, how it was financed, the origin of the name, and the initial games made. We go over some of the controversies involved with the founding of EA. We also go over the three core tenants of EA. We go over the plethora of people brought in to staff the company.   Dem...

TCW Podcast Episode 005 - The Untold History of Sega    We discuss the history of SEGA. We go over how the company came to be, and the myriad of names the company was known by. How SEGA started as a distributor, and evolved into making their own coin op-games. We also go over how the coin-op business evolved in the post WW II era. The rivalry between Nintendo and Sega in the console market. We als...

We discuss the cycles in the video game industry, and the numbering of the generations. We also go over how transitions happen. We go over the market, and technology changes that happen.    Plastic Overlay with Magnavox Odyssey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2EIsnr_cv4   New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!   TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Alex's Blog:  http://videogamehistorian.w...

TCW Podcast Episode 003 - What makes an industry?    We talk about the three existing  industries; arcades, home console, and PC games, and how they merged together to form the "Video Game Industry". How this almost happened in the 80's but was stopped by the video game crash.  We also discuss at what point is an industry made, and what has to happen for it to become one.   Atari Game Ad: Vanguard...

TCW Podcast Episode 002 - You talked to whom? We discuss Alex's interviewing process. Who has he talked to? How does he find them? How does he prepare, and for that matter why is he interviewing people? New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!  TCW Email: tcwpodcast@gmail.com  Alex's Blog:  http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airpl...

We introduce ourselves and give an overview of the project. Release schedule 1st and 15th of each month!   TCW Podcast Episode 001 - All I can do is ask why? 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_Sin...