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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 screen, and the show covers all of it together, not just one piece in isolation.
Hosted by Alex Smith and Jeffrey Daum, They Create Worlds grew out of long conversations about the strange corners of the industry and the patterns that only show up when you look across companies, platforms, and decades. That conversational feel remains, built on careful research, clear structure and editing that makes even the deepest topics easy to listen to.
History turns out to be less settled than it looks. New documents surface, memories conflict, and the clean stories about why things happened the way they did rarely survive contact with the evidence. The show digs into all of that, following the creative and business forces that pushed and pulled on each other, and uncovering the human stories that lie beneath the games so many people around the world enjoy.
New episodes are released twice a month.
Episodes
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
TCW Podcast Episode 226 - Ray Kassar
Ray Kassar rose from humble beginnings to become a talented, savvy, and personable executive. He began his career in the textile industry at Burlington Industries, where he eventually became president of its most profitable division. However, after the unexpected passing of Burlington’s head, Kassar faced ageism and cronyism, which stifled his advancement. Despite climbing the corporate ladder again, he was passed over for a more tenured executive. Leaving Burlington, Kassar founded a company importing Egyptian cotton for the U.S., where he planned to work until retirement. However, Manny Gerard of Warner Communications recruited him to stabilize Atari after its recent acquisition. Kassar’s leadership introduced a robust marketing strategy, reduced manufacturing defects, and turned Atari into a massive profit center. Though his rapid adaptation to the gaming industry sparked some resentment and controversy, Kassar’s impact on Atari was undeniable. His story is one of nuance and twists, as Atari would not have achieved its success without his visionary leadership.
TCW 046 - Atari, Ray Kassar, and Warner: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/atari-ray-kassar-and-warner/
TCW 104 - A Holistic View of ET: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-holistic-view-of-et/
TCW 186 - Atari's Distribution Nightmare: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/atari-s-distribution-nightmare/
TCW 187 - Atari's Sinking Ship: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/atari-s-sinking-ship/
Once Upon Atari - How I made history by killing an industry: (Affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4fUDNx6
New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds
Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1
Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode - Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode
Outro Music: RoleMusic - Bacterial Love: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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