Alex Smith, and Jeffrey Daum

They Create Worlds

History EN ↓ 261 episodes

The games we love reveal something true about who we are, and about the world that made them. They Create Worlds is a podcast about the people, technology, and forces that built the video game industry. Through video game history, the show looks at how culture, business, and technology shaped what we play, tracing the choices and circumstances that led to the games so many people around the world enjoy. Each episode digs into where games came from, who made them, and why they were made the way they were. Business decisions, technological shifts, and creative choices all shaped what ended up on...

Author

Alex Smith, and Jeffrey Daum

Episodes

The Genesis of JRPGs 01.02.2016 1:27:30

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...

History of Mediagenic Part II 15.01.2016 1:03:00

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 -...

History of Mediagenic Part I 01.01.2016 40:56

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...

Birth of the Japanese Game Center 15.12.2015 1:31:04

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...

History of the Arcade 01.12.2015 1:24:50

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...

The Early History of Electronic Arts 15.11.2015 1:32:11

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...

The Untold History of Sega 01.11.2015 1:15:34

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...

A Tale of Cycles 15.10.2015 1:07:33

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...

What makes an industry? 01.10.2015 1:04:11

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...

You talked to whom? 15.09.2015 1:04:30

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...

All I can do is ask why? 01.09.2015 51:55

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...