The History of Video Games

With 1981 finally wrapped up, we take a moment to look back on all the great games of the year! Which will be our favorite?! Frogger? Donkey Kong? Galaga? You'll just have to tune in to find out! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcast@gmail.com Hosts - Ben & Wes Music - Arranged and recorded by Ben

Aaargh! It's the final episode of 1981, yeh matey! But have the best games been saved for last? Well Swashbuckler by Datamost, Twerps by Sirius Software, Stampede by Activision, and Planet Defender by Vtech are sure going to try to claim that title! Join us as we find out just how high 1981 can end on! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 E...

The boys across the pond are finally ready to unveil the latest and greatest British computer - the BBC Micro. Acorn won out over the other bids and is poised to make a load of money with the BBC beginning their series educating the public on computer literacy using the new machine. But how are the games?! That's what we aim to find out! We do just that and more on this week's episode which also f...

Taito is BACK! The company who started it all with Space Invaders has finally made another space shooter that excels above the competition again! Join us as we talk about what makes Space Cruiser so great and listen in on our thoughts on other games like Midway's Kick, Sigma's Spiders, and Game Plan's Kaos too! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/Historyo...

This Volkswagon has got some pretty crazy suspension, I mean I knew they had some bounce to them, but I didn't think they could bounce up skyscrapers! Yet in this game by Alpha Denshi they do just that! In today's episode we not only cover the seminal scrolling platformer, but also Gremlin's Eliminator, Konami's Jungler, and T.I.C.'s THE HAND! Some pretty spooky stuff... Website - https://historyo...

"Everyone break off and cover the side-streets!", there's a new podcast episode on the loose! This week we cover the Pac-man clone Thief by Pacific Novelty, as well as Zork II and Quest for the Rings on the Odyssey2! We also sneak in a surprise special review just for our fans!... Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcas...

This week we are not only playing Turtles, but also Funky Fish! Which aquatic themed game will end up making waves?....We also check out Golf on the VC4000 and Tehkan's Red Clash in this week's exciting episode! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcast@gmail.com Hosts - Ben & Wes Music - Arranged and recorded by Ben

Another week, another space shooter! However this one lets you leave the bottom of the screen and fly around in open space destroying enemies in front and behind you! We also rescue/run over drowning people in Orca's River Patrol, knock down some pins in PBA Bowling for the Intellivision, and rescue a princess in Castles of Darkness in this week's exciting episode! Website - https://historyofvideo...

The last new console of the year is finally here, and it's Vtech's Creativision! Will this console surpass the Intellivision? Listen to find out! We also check out Wild Man Jump, Monster Panic by Epoch, and Fitter by Taito in this week's episode! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcast@gmail.com Hosts - Ben & Wes M...

Vroom vroom! It's time we see a game that pushes the boundaries of video game graphics again! Join us as we talk everything Turbo, but also review Strategy X by Konami, Snap Jack by Universal, and 005 by Sega - The first game to use vision cones! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcast@gmail.com Hosts - Ben & Wes M...

Another BANGER by Atari is here! 1981 does not disappoint, and if you were worried that's all we have today, just wait until you hear about Quality Software's Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, Taito's Frog & Spiders, and Lady Bug by Universal, all featured in todays episode! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcast@gmail...

In today's exciting episode we check out one of the most popular, revolutionary CRPGs to ever come out. Its sequels and legacy lives on in new games being developed for it even in 2023! Wizardry-Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is finally here! Wait.....todays title is Castle Wolfenstein? Oh boy, we have a lot to talk about! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twi...

Chop, leap, and smash your way to the Dragon's Eye in this new RPG by Epyx! The eye may be a treasure of incalculable value, but can the same be said of the parser? We also take a look at Crazy Kong, Tournament Pro Golf, and Draco by Cidelsa in today's packed episode! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcast@gmail.com H...

First Frogger, then Donkey Kong, and now Galaga! 1981 has certainly been an amazing year in the history of video games and we are here to explain why! Join us as we talk about the seminal game from Namco, as well as Moon Shuttle by Nichibutsu and Awful Green Things by Acornsoft in this special episode! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 E...

2023 is long and gone, but the games are still fresh in our minds! Join the guys as they remanence about their favorite games of 2023 and discuss some interesting stats curtesy of Steam's year-end review! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcast@gmail.com Hosts - Ben & Wes Music - Arranged and recorded by Ben.

Is this the Apple II killer?! The IBM PC drops in Aug 1981 and we are soooo here for it! We check out some of the first games for the new system as well as Empire I: World Builders by Edu-Ware and Ulysses and the Golden Fleece by On-Line Systems! Note-Ben's mic will sound a bit funny in places due to some static in the recording. We've cleaned it up as best as possible! Website - https://historyof...

Strategy simulation games are back with this new release out of the Atari Program Exchange! Can this 1981 game pull off a Hearts of Iron-esque grand campaign? We find not only this out, but also who the best developer of last year was, and check out Nintendo's Sky Skipper, Thorn EMI's Darts, and Dungeons and Dragons by Mattel! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twit...

With the release of the new GTA trailer we had to take a look at this 1981 game about weaving through a city grid collecting money. Wait, Wes is telling me you play as the armored car and need to deliver the money to a bank?! So we're the good guys?...Eh well we will see if it is as exciting. We also take a look at Naughty Mouse, Dambusters, and Rock Climber in today's episode though, so check it...

The race to port Pac-Man to home consoles comes to a close with Magnavox releasing their clone before the rest of the competition! How does it stack up though? Will it get sued to the ground? We talk about this and some other great home console games like Freeway, Kaboom, and Monkeyshines in this episode with one quick arcade review as well - Flash Boy AKA the Deco Kid! Website - https://historyof...

Oh snap, we've made it! Mr. DK in the flesh has finally appeared on the history of video games, and honestly it couldn't have come at a better time. Platforming - a genre pretty unheard of in 1981, is about to explode! We also cover Crypts of Terror by Inhome Software and Space Fury by Sega/Gremlin in today's special episode! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitt...

To you American listeners, this might not seem as important as the other recent games we've covered on the podcast, but the Epoch Cassette Vision was actually the best selling Japanese home console until Nintendo's Famicom! Join us as we take a look at the launch titles and specs for this system to find out exactly why it did so well! We also play Taito's Grand Champion, Namco's Warp & Warp, a...

First we covered some amazing arcade games in Frogger and Centipede, but now it is time for the computer games to shine! Ultima is a series that defined RPGs for a generation, and Rogue birthed the term "Roguelike" that is defining the current generation. Seems pretty important!....oh also we cover Venture by Exidy as well! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter...

Finally a horror game just in time for Halloween! Well....I mean it has spiders I guess. The big name 1981 games don't stop with Frogger, and this week we are taking a look at one of Atari's most popular releases of the year! We also check out Caverns of Mars, Tawala's Last Redoubt, and Demon's Forge by the one and only Brian Fargo! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https:...

Froggy takes one step at a time. The way that he moves has no reason or rhyme. He hops and jumps, dodges and ducks. Cars and buses, vans and trucks! It's time, get ready for one of the biggest games of the year. The original OG - Frogger! We also cover Mars by Artic and some games for the Elektor TV Games Computer in today's special episode! Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter...

Things are about to get crazy on the podcast, with huge title after huge title about to release! Before we dive into that, Ben & Wes take a week to talk about what they've been playing and give each other a game to play. Website - https://historyofvideogamespodcast.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/HistoryofVideo1 Email - historyvgpodcast@gmail.com Hosts - Ben & Wes Music - Restaurant Empi...