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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
Dec 15, 2016
Dec 15, 2016
1hr 34 min
TCW Podcast Episode 032 - History of the Atari Brand
We go over the history of the Atari brand. We go from its inception all the way to modern times with the only Atari name being owned by a company in France. The brand changes many hands throughout the years. The initial name split occurring under Warner Communications. The Atari name has a bit of an allure and curse. Many companies see the value in the properties, but almost every company that buys the properties enters into financial troubles.
The Atari History Timeline by Michael Current: http://mcurrent.name/atarihistory/
Atari Jaguar Infomercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-NBFaNSDYs
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 - 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_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Dec 1, 2016
Dec 1, 2016
1hr 11 min
TCW Podcast Episode 031 - An Epic Game
We cover the history of EPIC as one of the few remaining independent developers left. They are most known for the creation of the Unreal Engine, and Gears of War. They have an interesting history of having a distributed business that includes developers from around the world. Love the unreal engine or hate it. Epic's influence on middleware, and the game industry continues to this day.
ZZT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pccbymHpZnU
Kingdom of Kroz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPz7xVt93Zo
Jill of the Jungle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7E-P4VJbdg
Jazz Jackrabbit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b16upFloYak
Epic Pinball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU_7aG_NibI
SolarWinds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NajV4KUSDo0
Magic Carpet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3zsPl4Ampw
Unreal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3qc6VIHB40
America's Army: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOzGI1oL1oc
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 - 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_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Nov 15, 2016
Nov 15, 2016
1hr 29 min
TCW Podcast Episode 030 - DOOM
We discuss ID Software, and the lasting effects of the company on the video game industry, and society as a whole. We delve into the ramifications of the tech industry in general, and coders specifically with perpetual crunch time. We go into a lot of different subjects tangential to the ID story. Ultimately realizing the lasting effect a group of guys taking advantage of potentially one of the last times an independent developer could make it alone in the AAA space.
Catacomb 3D: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5MzKdjIaPU
Ultima Underworld: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozeydDiCHws
Chiller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvvTh3cU8Ms
Doom with John Romero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUU7_BthBWM
Visit to ID Software 1993: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpEBUV_g9vU
Bill Gates Doom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiX9dEmXwso
You and Your Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEBizJWOoVM
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: E1M1 by Bobby Prince, and remixed by Michael Massay - http://www.doomworld.com/classicdoom/info/music.php
Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Nov 1, 2016
Nov 1, 2016
1hr 29 min
TCW Podcast Episode 029 - 50 Years of Namco
We delve in the fifty year history of Namco. Starting with its cloudy beginnings all the way to its acquisition by Ban-Dai. Namco is responsible for many classics including Pac-Man, Galaga, and a slew of racing games. Though they did not always have a visible presence in the US Arcade scene, they still had a presence in the arcade and console arenas.
Periscope Namco: https://twitter.com/onionsoftware/status/604651887128805377
Periscope Sega: http://segaretro.org/File:Periscope_EM_US_Flyer_2.pdf?page=2
Gee Bee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp-PWIqcbRo
Galaxian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhYVcwhSWjI
Galaga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn1C66Hh6js
Xevious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WGGGTYYFNk
Head On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzpPFpPFYTs
Pac-Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dScq4P5gn4A
Winning Run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g53K0CxxYv4
Ridge Racer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ7eUL7hTZA
Tekken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6WUaK7ZlL8
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 - 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_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Oct 15, 2016
Oct 15, 2016
1hr 24 min
TCW Podcast Episode 028 - Picking up the Pieces: The US Arcade Industry After the Crash
We go over the arcade industry after the crash. It has a surge in popularity with kits breathing new life into old cabinets. The JAMMA system standardization allowed for video arcade cabinets to penetrate into many locations. These two things along with other technologies allowed arcades to thrive until home consoles surpassed them in nearly every respect.
Mr. Do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKnWXn02Tpw
Punch Out Arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TbozFcrP-0
Hat Trick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqVLSixaS5I
Toobin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6d5jOElAxs
Final Fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW69J9AXOqI
Nintendo Playchoice 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTXA3NfhFmU
Karate Champ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az308iZZClc
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 - 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_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Oct 1, 2016
Oct 1, 2016
1hr 28 min
TCWPodcast Episode 027 - Magnavox Patent Lawsuits
We coverthe lawsuits levied by Magnavox against other companies for patentinfringement. There were three majorcases expanding the scope of the patent over its seventeen year lifespan. The fascinating aspect of the lawsuits is howmany people thought they could challenge it and win. However all of the lawsuits resolved inMagnavox's favor. Even Nintendo had topay royalties and license fees.
Ralph Baer on hispatents: http://www.ipmall.info/sites/default/files/hosted_resources/Activision_Readings/VIDEOGAME_HISTORY_Aittlematter_record_keeping.pdf
Early games in courtdepositions: http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/08/early-unknown-computer-games-mentioned.html
Article on MattelCase: http://lp.huschblackwell.com/video/Manzo_FCBJ.pdf
The Activision case:http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/848/1244/292077/
Nintendo v. MagnavoxSuit: http://www.leagle.com/decision/19871553659FSupp894_11391/NINTENDO%20OF%20AMERICA%20INC.%20v.%20MAGNAVOX%20CO
New episodes on the1st and 15th of every month!
TCWEmail: tcwpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter:@tcwpodcast
Alex's Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
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_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sep 15, 2016
Sep 15, 2016
1hr 27 min
TCW Podcast Episode 026 The Magnavox Odyssey
We delve into the Magnavox Odyssey the first home console video game system created by Ralph Bear.
Alex's Blog Post: https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2015/11/16/1tl200-a-magnavox-odyssey/
Ralph Bear's Website: http://www.ralphbaer.com/
Magnavox Odyssey Manuals: https://archive.org/details/magnavoxodysseymanuals
Elliott Avedon Virtual Museum of Games - Odyssey Home Entertainment System: http://gamesmuseum.uwaterloo.ca/VirtualExhibits/electronic/console/odyssey/index.html
Magavox Odyssey on 'What's my line?': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F522GBtZPk
Magavox Odyssey TV Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2EIsnr_cv4
Frank Sinatra Holiday Special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS4UmYmmSjg
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 - 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_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sep 1, 2016
Sep 1, 2016
1hr 26 min
Aug 15, 2016
Aug 15, 2016
1hr 6 min
TCW Podcast Episode 024 - The Project and Others in the Field
We cover the developments in Alex's work, and others doing research into video game history. We delve into history in general and question how accurate can it really be? Even though the work done now will be superseded by work done in the future it is still valuable, and we are in a unique time of being able to record historical figures give accounts in their own words.
Ethan AKA George Henson : http://bit.ly/2aLUMGk
The Digital Antiquarian: http://www.filfre.net/
The Strong National Museum of Play: http://www.museumofplay.org/
All In Color for a Quarter: http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/
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 - 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_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Aug 1, 2016
Aug 1, 2016
1hr 26 min
TCW Podcast Episode 023 - The Complete Tetris Story
We tell the complete story of Tetris! Created by a computer scientist in Russia by the name of Alexey Pajitnov. We go over the twists and turns of licensing and comedy of errors that was brining Tetris to the market.
Tetris God - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alw5hs0chj0
Atari Tetris Arcade - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emy1D4P0XPo
Tengen Tetris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLTj9LTd-NA
NES Tetris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FAzHyXZPm0
Gameboy Tetris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbxIB4iz31A
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 - 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_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/