They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 086 -  Itsa Me Marioooo!   Itsa the most iconic character in video game history: Mario. We explore the origins of Mario and examine how his entire design was born of necessity. We discuss how the character evolved through the Donkey Kong series and Mario Bros. before taking a deep dive into the design of Super Mario Bros. Then it’s a quick tour through the rest of Mario's NES a...

TCW Podcast Episode 085 - Computer Game BASICs   Now that we have explained how timesharing works, it's time to discuss games! In the 1960s, students and professional programmers alike created computer games that were played by dozens, if not hundreds of their peers on timeshared computers. In the early 1970s, some of these programs began to spread across the country thanks to the efforts of early...

TCW Podcast Episode 084 - Time Shared   We lay the groundwork of computer development that led to some of the earliest influential games that would shape the industry.  We cover how computers were one-program-at-a-time systems, and it was only through experimentation that were computers developed that could handle multiple inputs at once.  We see how Sputnik scared the USA into spending a lot more...

TCW Podcast Episode 083 - The Silliwood Era now in FMV!   Now that we have set the stage, it's time for glorious FMV!  We examine the critical games released in 1993 that began the interactive movie craze and attracted serious attention from the media companies just beginning to establish "interactive divisions."  We analyze how both media companies and existing video game companies approached usi...

TCW Podcast Episode 082 - An Unlikely Pairing of Siliwood   We take a look at the circumstances and leadup to what become known as the Siliwood Era.  We discuss how changing technology and an increased focus by certain video game companies on emulating blockbuster movies attracted the attention of the major media companies and set the stage for an unlikely alliance of Hollywood and Silicon Valley....

TCW Podcast Episode 081 - The Meeting of Spacewar   We go over the history of Spacewar, and the event at the Smithsonian.  We take a close look at the people involved in bringing Spacewar into existence.   We also look at some of the systems that were the predecessors to the PDP-1 that was used for Spacewar.  We also discuss why games were used to demonstrate the capabilities of computers.  In sho...

TCW Podcast Episode 080 - Vector Lights   We look at the arcade industry and the circumstances that led to the use of vector monitors in arcade games.  While not as well remembered today, and with fewer systems still around, vector played an important role in the development of video games.  Vector provided the detail and capabilities that were not yet available in traditional raster-based systems...

TCW Podcast Episode 079 - The Six Children of EA   We take a closer look at the six launch titles from EA.  We cover each in more detail going into the background of the creators, as well as the development of each game.  We take a look at how the games were received both commercially, and historically.  Today Archon, Pinball Construction Set, and M.U.L.E. are the games that are best remembered fr...

TCW Podcast Episode 078 - Invading Taito Part 2   We go into part two of Taito.  We start off looking at Space Invaders which is arguably the highest point of success and fame for the company.  The company continued on with many notable hits in the following years.  They continued to survive despite not having a succession plan with the death of Michael Kogan.  The company was hurt by their delay...

TCW Podcast Episode 077 - Invading Taito Part 1 We look back at the history of the company Taito.  Started by a Russian who through unique circumstances in World War II managed to grow up, and become educated in Japanese society.  The name Taito means "Far East", and the company went through three iterations before it became the icon we know it today.  We wrap up part one just before the release o...

TCW Podcast Episode 076 - A Fairchild Story We cover the history of the Fairchild company and their console the Fairchild Channel F.  It is a fascinating journey of how a company was thrust into a role where they could get in on the ground floor of the new video game industry.  Although through bad experiences in other industries, an epic struggle to ger FCC approval, and observations on the turmo...

TCW Podcast Episode 075 - Gunning for Light   We look at how shooting peripherals entered the gaming scene.  We start with their introduction in arcades, and move all the way up to today.  We see the technology change, and how different applications were applied to get interesting effects.  With the height of light guns in the 80's and 90's, and their decline in the 2000's, light guns are only see...

TCW Podcast Episode 074 - The Japanese PC Industry We cover the Japanese PC industry from the initial pioneers up to the mid 1980's.  The early innovators on the PC, while never having many international successes, laid the groundwork for games that would later be seen on the Famicom, and other platforms.  It is further interesting to note the people who got their start in the video game industry...

TCW Podcast Episode 073 - Adventuring in the Arcade   We look at the British PC Software market, specifically the Arcade Adventure genre.  With the popularity of the ZX Spectrum as a home computer, and its hardware limitations lent itself to the development of the Arcade Adventure.  With multiple influences the Arcade Adventure enjoyed side scrolling, top down, and isometric gameplay.  We also see...

TCW Podcast Episode 072 - The MYSTeries of Brøderbund!   We cover the later years of Brøderbund looking at their "evergreen" products.  Print Shop being the first one to really put them on the map.  We then look at the series of successes, and challenges that the company faced throughout the 80's and 90's.  We then see how the meteoric success of MYST ultimately dead to the downfall of Brøderbund...

TCW Podcast Episode 071 -A Story of Brøderbund! We cover the founding of Brøderbund by the Carlston brothers.  We delve into their initial forays into the PC game market.  The used a unique business model that supported developers, and creators, but did not bring them on as employees.  However they did retain staff to assist in polishing up games that showed potential.  Brøderbund even started exp...

TCW Podcast Episode 070 - Sega VS Nintendo Round 3 The fight heats up with the 16 bit era in the United States.  Sega being first to market was able to take control, and dominate the market for a few years.  However this short lived victory was bought at a price.  With the low margins on consoles Sega was unable to sustain the growth once things started to change in Europe.  Nintendo meanwhile was...

TCW Podcast Episode 069 - Sega VS Nintendo Round 2 We cover Nintendo and Sega entering the US Market with their 8-bit consoles.  With the early release, marketing, and connections Nintendo dominated the market.  Sega tried to break in with a technologically superior system, but due to lack of third party software, due to Nintendo's exclusivity contracts, they were unable to make a significant impa...

TCW Podcast Episode 068 - Sega VS Nintendo Round 1 Recorded live in front of fans on YouTube Live!  Alex and Jeffrey start the dive into the Sega VS Nintendo rivalry.  We lay the groundwork of how Sega came to enter the console market in Japan.  We see the first clash with Nintendo, and the reasons that Nintendo won the first round cementing their hold on Japan in a way that would not be broken un...

TCW Podcast Episode 067 - The Birth of Japanese Consoles We cover the start of Japanese home consoles beginning with the early dedicated systems and working up to the development of the Famicom and the Sega SC-3000.  Japan differed from the US in that companies had the opportunity to sell consoles that bridged the gap from dedicated consoles to programable consoles with LSI-cartridge-based console...

TCW Podcast Episode 066 - Half of a Life We cover the founding of Valve and the development processes that led to Half-Life 1 & 2.  Originally made using the Quake II engine, Half-Life was an ambitious project that ran into the same kind of hurdles other companies have experienced.  Valve was able to take the needed time to create a truly outstanding product.  This was due in no small measure...

TCW Podcast Episode 065 - The Rise and Fall of Infogrames Part 2 We go into the mass consolidation that sprung Infogrames into an international powerhouse.  It was due to these quick consolidations that led them to have a high value on the stock market.  When the tech bubble burst in the early 2000's the stock value plummeted, and Infrogrames was unable to service the massive debt consolidation ha...

TCW Podcast Episode 064 - Rise and Fall of Infogrames Part 1 The rise and fall of a French company founded by Bruno Bonnell.  We cover the rocky start of the company and the games that helped them gain notoriety.  Through some chance connections through family and fellow employees Infogrames was able to skyrocket onto the international stage with their game Alone in the Dark.   Captain Blood: http...

TCW Podcast Episode 063 - Lawsuits for Nintendo We delve into the legal hurdles that Nintendo faced during its rise to power in the '80s and '90s.  We see how they were able with the guidance of Howard Lincoln to weather the first of many lawsuits, and triumph!  In their long history they have used the court systems in the United States to their advantage; even wining a case almost everyone though...

TCW Podcast Episode 062 - Lawsuits for Everyone! Thanks @MyMac for suggesting this topic!  We delve into some of the landmark court cases that helped shape the video game industry.  Specifically we looked at the sphere of copyright law.  Starting with looking at what constitutes an infringement.  How similar can two works be, and where is the line if you modify the game.  We wrap up looking at the...