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Love of the worlds created by video game designers and personalities drives Alex Smith & Jeffrey Daum (history, law, CS degrees) to provide a scholarly yet light-hearted discussion of how arcade, home console, and PC games merged into a Video Game Industry. Emphasis is on the combination of business and creative elements needed for financial success. Interviews of Atari, EA, Activision, & other execs with detailed source evaluations produce the insights you hear in these 140+ hours!
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TCW Podcast Episode 216 - The 100 Games Redux - The Removal We revisit our list of the top 100 most influential games, making decisions on what to keep, remove, or change. We’ve removed 19 games and altered another—do you agree with our choices? What would you add or remove? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Email us at feedback@TheyCreateWorlds.com…
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TCW Podcast Episode 215 - Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy VII holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers. For some, it was the first time they really connected with a JRPG. For others, it marked the transition from pixel art games to 3D gaming. Final Fantasy VII owes much to the storytelling work of its predecessor, Final Fantasy VI, led by…
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TCW Podcast Episode 214 - The Neo Geo The Neo Geo was SNK's attempt to create a versatile hardware system for operators, allowing them to swap out games at a reduced cost while also bringing an authentic arcade experience into homes. The system's development was influenced by Capcom, with Street Fighter creator Takashi Nishiyama moving to SNK. The …
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TCW Podcast Episode 213 - The Exidy of the 80's and 90's In our second part, we look at Exidy as we wrap up the 70s and explore their products of the 80s and 90s. They continued developing microprocessor games with a variation on Pac-Man with Mouse Trap. The game was moderately successful during the downturn in the mid-80s. Exidy tried to leverage …
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TCW Podcast Episode 212 - The Exidy of the 70's Following our examination of Ramtek, we now turn to Exidy, founded by Pete Kauffman and Samuel Hawes. Exidy began by producing Pong variants during the Pong boom. John Metzler joined in 1975, creating Destruction Darby, later licensed to Chicago Coin as Demolition Derby. After Metzler left, Howell Ivy…
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TCW Podcast Episode 211 - Ramtek Ramtek was an unlikely entrant into the video game space. Starting off as employees of Data Disc Corporation, Charles McEwan and John Metzler aimed to use technology to positively impact society. With a focus on high-end displays, money was slow to come in. A local bar, Andy Capp's Tavern, frequented by company's en…
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TCW Podcast Episode 210 - Accolade Part 2 In our second look at Accolade, we cover the company’s gradual decline in the 90's leading to its acquisition by Infogrames. The desire to expand into console games grew too strong, and Accolade decided to save money on production costs by clean-room engineering the lockout mechanism on the SEGA Genesis. Me…
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TCW Podcast Episode 209 - Accolade Part 1 In part one of a two-part retrospective, we explore how the pressures of the North American video game crash combined with the desire to create more sophisticated products for home computer platforms led Alan Miller and Bob Whitehead to leave Activision and establish their own company, Accolade. Publishing …
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TCW Podcast Episode 208 - Two Dunes: The Battle for Arrakis In this episode, we delve into the expansive universe of Dune, a rich tapestry woven with themes, warnings, and boundless inspiration. Its profound impact extends beyond literature, influencing science fiction and serving as a wellspring of creativity for writers, artists, and futurists al…
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TCW Podcast Episode 207 - SEGA Saturn Part 2 In the second part of our examination of the SEGA Saturn, we delve into its influences, challenges, and lasting impact. Beginning with a detailed analysis of its pricing strategy, we scrutinize the psychological effect of pricing items at $99, creating an illusion of affordability. We then explore the cu…
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TCW Podcast Episode 206 - SEGA Saturn Part 1 In this in-depth exploration of the SEGA Saturn, our focus delves into the intricate technology that underpins the console. We delve into the challenges associated with 3D modeling, collision detection, and object occlusion, scrutinizing how the Saturn, primarily a sprite-based system, manages to incorpo…
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TCW Podcast Episode 205 - Shepherd's Mass Effect 2 & 3 In our examination of the second and third installments of the Mass Effect trilogy, we delve into the development of each game and the transformative impact of BioWare's acquisition by EA. Mass Effect 2 marked a notable departure, shifting away from RPG elements towards a more structured shoote…
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TCW Podcast Episode 204 - Exploring the Mass Effect In part one of a two-part exploration of the original Mass Effect trilogy, the game emerges as a synthesis of diverse influences from literary books, video games, art styles, TV shows, and movies. Drawing heavily from Bablyon 5 and the TV series 24, the main framework of Mass Effect reflects a ble…
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TCW Podcast Episode 203 - Alone In The Dark Despite appearing outdated by today's standards, Alone in the Dark remains a highly influential game in the survival horror genre. Numerous franchises, including Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Eternal Darkness, either cite or incorporate tropes popularized by Alone in the Dark. Spearheaded by Frédérick R…
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TCW Podcast Episode 202 - Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 2 Following the release of Breakout by Atari, its influence spread to Japan, sparking a surge in demand that prompted numerous Japanese companies to enter the video game industry by creating clones of the popular game. Seeking innovation, Exidy developed Circus, introducing new elements to t…
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TCW Podcast Episode 201 - Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 1 In this two-part exploration of advancements in ball and paddle games beyond Pong, we delve into the human fascination with balls and trace the evolution of coin-operated games leading to Pong's creation. Ramtek's contributions, especially with Wipe Out and Clean Sweep, spurred Atari to ex…
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The History of Handheld Games Part 3
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TCW Podcast Episode 200 - The History of Handheld Games Part 3 In our concluding episode exploring the evolution of handheld games, we kick off with the Amiga and the allure of bouncing balls before delving into the Atari Lynx, an early and captivating handheld console. Despite its appeal, the Lynx struggled against challenges like its high price, …
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