July 1983

Video Game Newsroom Time Machine

Atari axes Ray Kassar, Nintendo launches the Famicom & Commodore's Jack Tramiel delivers the killing blow to Texas Instruments

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1983. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Get us on your mobile device: Android: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly92aWRlb2dhbWVuZXdzcm9vbXRpbWVtYWNoaW5lLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz iOS: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine

And if you like what we are doing here at the podcast, don't forget to like us on your podcasting app of choice, YouTube, and/or support us on patreon! https://www.patreon.com/VGNRTM

Send comments on Mastodon @[e-mail] Or twitter @videogamenewsr2 Or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm Or [e-mail]

Links: 7 Minutes in Heaven: Manic Miner Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/87996985 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Miner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassed_Off

Corrections: June 1983 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/june-1983-85898642 Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ When Nintendo Games Were on Atari | Gaming Historian - Written by Ethan Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjRuV52Jk78

1963 Maloney sells Bally https://archive.org/details/cashbox24unse_41/page/54/mode/1up?view=theater http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/lion-and-bally-manufacturing/

Lasers featured in Popular Electronics https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/60s/63/Pop-1963-07.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser

1973 Atari introduces Space Race https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_3/page/39/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race_(video_game)

Bushnell goes to Europe https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_3/page/39/mode/1up

RCA announces mass production of LCDs https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-07.pdf pg. 23

Motorola announces Dynatac https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-07.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_DynaTAC

Associated Press uses lasers to transmit and computers to store images https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-07.pdf pg. 23

Digital Watches are the latest male fashion statement https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/21/archives/a-watch-that-takes-the-hard-time-out-of-telling-time.html

Ira Bettleman graduates with psychology degree https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_2/page/50/mode/1up Noah Falstein - Lucasfilm https://www.patreon.com/posts/37807684

1983: Ray Kassar leaves Atari https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-atari-inc-ray/62357592/ https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-resignation-of-ray-kassar-f/68994316/ https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/08/business/chief-is-replaced-at-troubled-atari.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/24/business/philip-morris-s-marlboro-man.html Toys Hobbies and Crafts July 1983 https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24 https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/27/movies/shapiro-quits-at-warner-s.html Atari distribution restructuring tanks https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-atari-inc-deals-with-c/62356604/ The Video Game Crash 40th Anniversary - Part 1: Atari https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-game-crash-75643983

Mattel, Atari, and TI announces even bigger losses https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/26/business/mattel-expects-to-post-large-loss.html Toy and Hobby World July 1983 https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/22/business/warner-posts-a-283.4-million-loss.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/13/business/mattel-reshuffles-its-electronics-unit.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/23/business/texas-instruments-lost-119.2-million-in-quarter.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/19/business/rca-profits-rise-zenith-also-climbs.html Playthings July 1983 https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/25/business/earnings-up-sharply-in-quarter.html

Williams profits down Games People July 30, 1983, pg. 7

Mattel axes 260 in Electronics division https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up

TI lays off 750 https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up

Marketers brought in to take reigns of computer makers https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/27/business/selling-computers-like-soap.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/13/business/mattel-reshuffles-its-electronics-unit.html

UK tax authority preps for micro crash https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-21/mode/1up?view=theater Rebates hit coinop Replay July 1983 pg. 8

Gottlieb changes name Replay July 1983 pg. 8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottlieb

Sente has Videa https://archive.org/details/joystik_magazine-1983-07/page/n11/mode/2up Roger Hector - Atari, Disney, Sega, Namco, Sente https://www.patreon.com/posts/72058794

New tech needed to revitalize arcades https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-arcade-game-difficulties/85528989/ Play Meter July 15, 1983, pg. 36 https://www.thebasementarcade.com/roadtrips31.htm

Magnetic strips poised to replace coins Play Meter July 15, 1983, pg. 32 https://www.sacoacard.com/

VCTER wants you to book flights at your arcade Play Meter July 1, 1983 pg. 40

Digital poker goes after the older audience Replay July 1983 pg. 8 Replay July 1983, pg. 32 Tex Critter bows out of pizza-arcade market Games People July 30, 1983, pg. 1 https://dreamfiction.fandom.com/wiki/Tex_Critter%27s_Pizza_Jamboree_(fictional)

Nintendo's Tokyo stock debut dampened by lawsuit Japan Economic Newswire JULY 21, 1983, THURSDAY https://www.mariowiki.com/Ikegami_Tsushinki NINTENDO TO SPLIT STOCK, Copyright 1983 Jiji Press Ltd.Jiji Press Ticker Service, JULY 22, 1983, FRIDAY

Nintendo and Sega enter the programmable console market https://archive.org/details/login-september-1983/page/n89/mode/2up?q=%E4%BB%BB%E5%A4%A9%E5%A0%82 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SG-1000

Sega's SC3000 sales estimates jump Sharp attention on Sega product , The Japan Economic Journal July 19, 1983, Tuesday Business Japan, July 1983

Atari 2600 Adapter for the 5200 ships https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 57 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_5200

Atari drops price of 5200 https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60 Vectrex drops to $100 https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60

Gameline won't leave retailers in the lurch Playthings July 1983 https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 55

Electra Concepts introduces a trigger button Playthings July 1983 https://www.ebay.com/itm/224626441270

Second hand mail order game exchanges boom https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/07/garden/secondhand-games-for-video-buffs.html

Supercharger gets first licensee The Video Game Update July 1983, pg. 50

Frob makes console game design affordable The Video Game Update July 1983, pg. 50 http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-frob-26_29983.html

Coleco axes Super Game Module 3 The Video Game Update July 1983, pg. 53 https://cancelled-games.fandom.com/wiki/ColecoVision_Super_Game_Module

Mattel axes Intellivision 3 The Video Game Update July 1983, pg. 53 https://cancelled-games.fandom.com/wiki/ColecoVision_Super_Game_Module

MB goes blam-blam on VCS https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 57

20th Century Fox wants you to make them a better game https://archive.org/details/1983-07-compute-magazine/page/n33/mode/1up?view=theater

Fox sees bright future for their games https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n6/mode/1up

Fox halves price of MASH on VCS https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/page/n2/mode/1up

Colecovision games coming to Spectravideo https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_01_No_09_1983-07_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n7/mode/2up https://www.msx.org/wiki/Spectravideo_SV-603

As action figures rise, consoles fall Playthings July 1983 Activision opens UK subsidiary https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews019-20Jul1983/page/n11/mode/1up Gregory Fischbach Part 1 - Activision - Acclaim https://www.patreon.com/posts/46578120

Atari drops the 1200XL https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 58' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_8-bit_family#1200XL

Atari introduces XL line https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 59 https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-28/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60

Atari gets Hawkeye to hawk their wares https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n3/mode/1up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvNLr_AVTAM

Atari reacts to Adam introduction with new 600XL bundle https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 54 https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-28/mode/1up

Adam ditches wafers for "Data packs" https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 58 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleco_Adam

Tomy enters computer market with free home trial https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 63 https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n6/mode/1up https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomy_Tutor

Acorn to launch BBC in US https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-07/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro#Export_initiatives

Electron won't be BBC Micro compatible https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews020-27Jul1983/page/n3/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Electron

Sinclair's Microdrive arrives https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-28/page/n7/mode/1up?view=theater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Microdrive

Computer maker stocks tumble on Peanut rumors https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/28/business/computer-stocks-slide.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PCjr

Osborne 1 price crashes https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/29/business/osborne-cuts-computer-price.html

Mini and mainframe makers jump into micro fray https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-07-rescan/page/n8/mode/1up

Networking to come to IBM PC https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-07-rescan/page/n8/mode/1up SNL Weekend Update - https://youtu.be/GYyur7EEqns

Milton Bradley brings speech recognition to TI https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60 http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/hardware/mbx/mbx.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04SecKb_ejA

Apple ii software coming to the PC https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n25/page/n7/mode/2up https://www.hackster.io/news/quapple-clones-a-card-that-turns-an-ibm-pc-xt-into-an-apple-ii-plus-clone-98c9b75ecfda

The many faces of the mouse compete for dominance at NCC https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-07-rescan/page/n299/mode/1up?view=theater http://www.le2.net/summa/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Mouse

TI signs up third parties https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60 https://www.mobygames.com/company/5680/texas-instruments-incorporated/games/

Romox announces Gameport for TI https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 63 https://4apedia.com/index.php/Solid_State_Software_Command_Module https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews019-20Jul1983/page/n7/mode/2up

Commodore declares software price war https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews019-20Jul1983/page/n3/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews020-27Jul1983/page/n4/mode/1up Gary Carlston- Broderbund https://www.patreon.com/posts/50036733

bye bye Jelly Monsters, Hello Cosmic Cruncher! https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-07/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater https://www.mobygames.com/game/138/pac-man/screenshots/vic-20/ https://www.mobygames.com/game/60882/cosmic-cruncher/ Commodore 64 and IBM conversions are coming https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_3.4/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_3.4/page/n29/mode/1up?view=theater

Softsync announces C64 games https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60

Parker Bros expands into computer games https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 54 Tom Dusenberry - Parker Brothers - Hasbro - Atari https://www.patreon.com/posts/42807419 https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/octopussy-the-james-bond-videogame-that-never-was/ https://web.archive.org/web/20150302072400/https://atariage.com/catalog_page.html?CatalogID=15¤tPage=12

Spinnaker goes cartridge https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n3/mode/1up

Sierra offers one-to-one return policy with retailers https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up

Soft Switch simplifies piracy https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-14 https://www.c64copyprotection.com/vic-20-cartridge-to-tape/ https://www.mobygames.com/company/966/microplay-software/

Datasoft launches budget line https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 59 https://www.mobygames.com/company/20696/gentry-software/

WH Smith stops taking new ZX81 software https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-14

Palace Software is looking for programmers https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews019-20Jul1983/page/n56/mode/1up https://www.mobygames.com/company/1000/palace-software-ltd/

Dr. J and Larry Bird sign with EA https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 57 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gahan_Wilson https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n1/mode/1up https://www.mobygames.com/game/488/one-on-one/

First Star Software signs with Marvel https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_3.4/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater https://www.mobygames.com/company/166/first-star-software-inc/ Sydney Software gets Johnny Hart licenses https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 54 https://www.mobygames.com/company/1569/sydney-development-corp/

Crash mail order places ads https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews020-27Jul1983/page/n56/mode/1up?view=theater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_(magazine)

Videotex brings hope of standardized networked information and fears of privacy concerns https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-07-rescan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotex

Canadian Pacific Air brings games to planes https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 56 https://docplayer.net/205275760-From-electronic-to-video-gaming-computing-in-canada-historical-assessment-update.html

Dan Bunten extols the virtues of play testing https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_3.4/page/n25/mode/1up?view=theater https://www.mobygames.com/person/8515/danielle-berry/

UCLA holds conference on graphic design in games https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Volume_1_Number_10_1983-07_Pumpkin_Press_US/page/n69/mode/1up?view=theater

First Video Game Conference held in San Fransisco Toys Hobbies & Crafts July 1983.

Supercade coming to Saturday mornings Replay July 1983, pg. 18

Vid Kid column brings game reviews to newspapers https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-07/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

Julian Rignall is gaming champ https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-14/page/n4/mode/1up

Recommended Links: The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ Gaming Alexandria: https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/ They Create Worlds: https://tcwpodcast.podbean.com/ Digital Antiquarian: https://www.filfre.net/ The Arcade Blogger: https://arcadeblogger.com/ Retro Asylum: http://retroasylum.com/category/all-posts/ Retro Game Squad: http://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/ Playthrough Podcast: https://playthroughpod.com/ Retromags.com: https://www.retromags.com/ Games That Weren't - https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/

Sound Effects by Ethan Johnson of History of How We Play.

Copyright Karl Kuras

Find out on the VGNRTM

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM with @QuarterPast83's Dale! Atari axes Ray Kassar, Nintendo launches the Famicom & Commodore's Jack Tramiel delivers the killing blow to Texas Instruments

These stories and many more on this episode of the VGNRTM

This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in July 1983. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out his podcast here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

Get us on your mobile device: Android: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly92aWRlb2dhbWVuZXdzcm9vbXRpbWVtYWNoaW5lLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz iOS: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine

And if you like what we are doing here at the podcast, don't forget to like us on your podcasting app of choice, YouTube, and/or support us on patreon! https://www.patreon.com/VGNRTM

Send comments on Mastodon @[e-mail] Or twitter @videogamenewsr2 Or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm Or [e-mail]

Links: 7 Minutes in Heaven: Manic Miner Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/87996985 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Miner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassed_Off

Corrections: June 1983 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/june-1983-85898642 Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ When Nintendo Games Were on Atari | Gaming Historian - Written by Ethan Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjRuV52Jk78

1963 Maloney sells Bally https://archive.org/details/cashbox24unse_41/page/54/mode/1up?view=theater http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/lion-and-bally-manufacturing/

Lasers featured in Popular Electronics https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/60s/63/Pop-1963-07.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser

1973 Atari introduces Space Race https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_3/page/39/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race_(video_game)

Bushnell goes to Europe https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_3/page/39/mode/1up

RCA announces mass production of LCDs https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-07.pdf pg. 23

Motorola announces Dynatac https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-07.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_DynaTAC

Associated Press uses lasers to transmit and computers to store images https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-07.pdf pg. 23

Digital Watches are the latest male fashion statement https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/21/archives/a-watch-that-takes-the-hard-time-out-of-telling-time.html

Ira Bettleman graduates with psychology degree https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_2/page/50/mode/1up Noah Falstein - Lucasfilm https://www.patreon.com/posts/37807684

1983: Ray Kassar leaves Atari https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-atari-inc-ray/62357592/ https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-resignation-of-ray-kassar-f/68994316/ https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/08/business/chief-is-replaced-at-troubled-atari.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/24/business/philip-morris-s-marlboro-man.html Toys Hobbies and Crafts July 1983 https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24 https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/27/movies/shapiro-quits-at-warner-s.html Atari distribution restructuring tanks https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-atari-inc-deals-with-c/62356604/ The Video Game Crash 40th Anniversary - Part 1: Atari https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-game-crash-75643983

Mattel, Atari, and TI announces even bigger losses https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/26/business/mattel-expects-to-post-large-loss.html Toy and Hobby World July 1983 https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/22/business/warner-posts-a-283.4-million-loss.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/13/business/mattel-reshuffles-its-electronics-unit.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/23/business/texas-instruments-lost-119.2-million-in-quarter.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/19/business/rca-profits-rise-zenith-also-climbs.html Playthings July 1983 https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/25/business/earnings-up-sharply-in-quarter.html

Williams profits down Games People July 30, 1983, pg. 7

Mattel axes 260 in Electronics division https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up

TI lays off 750 https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up

Marketers brought in to take reigns of computer makers https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/27/business/selling-computers-like-soap.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/13/business/mattel-reshuffles-its-electronics-unit.html

UK tax authority preps for micro crash https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-21/mode/1up?view=theater Rebates hit coinop Replay July 1983 pg. 8

Gottlieb changes name Replay July 1983 pg. 8 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottlieb

Sente has Videa https://archive.org/details/joystik_magazine-1983-07/page/n11/mode/2up Roger Hector - Atari, Disney, Sega, Namco, Sente https://www.patreon.com/posts/72058794

New tech needed to revitalize arcades https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-arcade-game-difficulties/85528989/ Play Meter July 15, 1983, pg. 36 https://www.thebasementarcade.com/roadtrips31.htm

Magnetic strips poised to replace coins Play Meter July 15, 1983, pg. 32 https://www.sacoacard.com/

VCTER wants you to book flights at your arcade Play Meter July 1, 1983 pg. 40

Digital poker goes after the older audience Replay July 1983 pg. 8 Replay July 1983, pg. 32 Tex Critter bows out of pizza-arcade market Games People July 30, 1983, pg. 1 https://dreamfiction.fandom.com/wiki/Tex_Critter%27s_Pizza_Jamboree_(fictional)

Nintendo's Tokyo stock debut dampened by lawsuit Japan Economic Newswire JULY 21, 1983, THURSDAY https://www.mariowiki.com/Ikegami_Tsushinki NINTENDO TO SPLIT STOCK, Copyright 1983 Jiji Press Ltd.Jiji Press Ticker Service, JULY 22, 1983, FRIDAY

Nintendo and Sega enter the programmable console market https://archive.org/details/login-september-1983/page/n89/mode/2up?q=%E4%BB%BB%E5%A4%A9%E5%A0%82 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SG-1000

Sega's SC3000 sales estimates jump Sharp attention on Sega product , The Japan Economic Journal July 19, 1983, Tuesday Business Japan, July 1983

Atari 2600 Adapter for the 5200 ships https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 57 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_5200

Atari drops price of 5200 https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60 Vectrex drops to $100 https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60

Gameline won't leave retailers in the lurch Playthings July 1983 https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 55

Electra Concepts introduces a trigger button Playthings July 1983 https://www.ebay.com/itm/224626441270

Second hand mail order game exchanges boom https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/07/garden/secondhand-games-for-video-buffs.html

Supercharger gets first licensee The Video Game Update July 1983, pg. 50

Frob makes console game design affordable The Video Game Update July 1983, pg. 50 http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-frob-26_29983.html

Coleco axes Super Game Module 3 The Video Game Update July 1983, pg. 53 https://cancelled-games.fandom.com/wiki/ColecoVision_Super_Game_Module

Mattel axes Intellivision 3 The Video Game Update July 1983, pg. 53 https://cancelled-games.fandom.com/wiki/ColecoVision_Super_Game_Module

MB goes blam-blam on VCS https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 57

20th Century Fox wants you to make them a better game https://archive.org/details/1983-07-compute-magazine/page/n33/mode/1up?view=theater

Fox sees bright future for their games https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n6/mode/1up

Fox halves price of MASH on VCS https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/page/n2/mode/1up

Colecovision games coming to Spectravideo https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_01_No_09_1983-07_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n7/mode/2up https://www.msx.org/wiki/Spectravideo_SV-603

As action figures rise, consoles fall Playthings July 1983 Activision opens UK subsidiary https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews019-20Jul1983/page/n11/mode/1up Gregory Fischbach Part 1 - Activision - Acclaim https://www.patreon.com/posts/46578120

Atari drops the 1200XL https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 58' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_8-bit_family#1200XL

Atari introduces XL line https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 59 https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-28/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60

Atari gets Hawkeye to hawk their wares https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n3/mode/1up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvNLr_AVTAM

Atari reacts to Adam introduction with new 600XL bundle https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 54 https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-28/mode/1up

Adam ditches wafers for "Data packs" https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 58 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleco_Adam

Tomy enters computer market with free home trial https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 63 https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n6/mode/1up https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomy_Tutor

Acorn to launch BBC in US https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-07/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro#Export_initiatives

Electron won't be BBC Micro compatible https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews020-27Jul1983/page/n3/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Electron

Sinclair's Microdrive arrives https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-28/page/n7/mode/1up?view=theater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Microdrive

Computer maker stocks tumble on Peanut rumors https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/28/business/computer-stocks-slide.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PCjr

Osborne 1 price crashes https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/29/business/osborne-cuts-computer-price.html

Mini and mainframe makers jump into micro fray https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-07-rescan/page/n8/mode/1up

Networking to come to IBM PC https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-07-rescan/page/n8/mode/1up SNL Weekend Update - https://youtu.be/GYyur7EEqns

Milton Bradley brings speech recognition to TI https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60 http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/hardware/mbx/mbx.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04SecKb_ejA

Apple ii software coming to the PC https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n25/page/n7/mode/2up https://www.hackster.io/news/quapple-clones-a-card-that-turns-an-ibm-pc-xt-into-an-apple-ii-plus-clone-98c9b75ecfda

The many faces of the mouse compete for dominance at NCC https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-07-rescan/page/n299/mode/1up?view=theater http://www.le2.net/summa/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Mouse

TI signs up third parties https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60 https://www.mobygames.com/company/5680/texas-instruments-incorporated/games/

Romox announces Gameport for TI https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 63 https://4apedia.com/index.php/Solid_State_Software_Command_Module https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews019-20Jul1983/page/n7/mode/2up

Commodore declares software price war https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews019-20Jul1983/page/n3/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews020-27Jul1983/page/n4/mode/1up Gary Carlston- Broderbund https://www.patreon.com/posts/50036733

bye bye Jelly Monsters, Hello Cosmic Cruncher! https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-07/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater https://www.mobygames.com/game/138/pac-man/screenshots/vic-20/ https://www.mobygames.com/game/60882/cosmic-cruncher/ Commodore 64 and IBM conversions are coming https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_3.4/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_3.4/page/n29/mode/1up?view=theater

Softsync announces C64 games https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 60

Parker Bros expands into computer games https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 54 Tom Dusenberry - Parker Brothers - Hasbro - Atari https://www.patreon.com/posts/42807419 https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/octopussy-the-james-bond-videogame-that-never-was/ https://web.archive.org/web/20150302072400/https://atariage.com/catalog_page.html?CatalogID=15¤tPage=12

Spinnaker goes cartridge https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n3/mode/1up

Sierra offers one-to-one return policy with retailers https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n26/mode/1up

Soft Switch simplifies piracy https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-14 https://www.c64copyprotection.com/vic-20-cartridge-to-tape/ https://www.mobygames.com/company/966/microplay-software/

Datasoft launches budget line https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 59 https://www.mobygames.com/company/20696/gentry-software/

WH Smith stops taking new ZX81 software https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-14

Palace Software is looking for programmers https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews019-20Jul1983/page/n56/mode/1up https://www.mobygames.com/company/1000/palace-software-ltd/

Dr. J and Larry Bird sign with EA https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 57 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gahan_Wilson https://archive.org/details/arcade_express_v1n24/page/n1/mode/1up https://www.mobygames.com/game/488/one-on-one/

First Star Software signs with Marvel https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_3.4/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater https://www.mobygames.com/company/166/first-star-software-inc/ Sydney Software gets Johnny Hart licenses https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 54 https://www.mobygames.com/company/1569/sydney-development-corp/

Crash mail order places ads https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews020-27Jul1983/page/n56/mode/1up?view=theater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_(magazine)

Videotex brings hope of standardized networked information and fears of privacy concerns https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-07-rescan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotex

Canadian Pacific Air brings games to planes https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_04.pdf pg. 56 https://docplayer.net/205275760-From-electronic-to-video-gaming-computing-in-canada-historical-assessment-update.html

Dan Bunten extols the virtues of play testing https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_3.4/page/n25/mode/1up?view=theater https://www.mobygames.com/person/8515/danielle-berry/

UCLA holds conference on graphic design in games https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Volume_1_Number_10_1983-07_Pumpkin_Press_US/page/n69/mode/1up?view=theater

First Video Game Conference held in San Fransisco Toys Hobbies & Crafts July 1983.

Supercade coming to Saturday mornings Replay July 1983, pg. 18

Vid Kid column brings game reviews to newspapers https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-07/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

Julian Rignall is gaming champ https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-07-14/page/n4/mode/1up

Recommended Links: The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ Gaming Alexandria: https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/ They Create Worlds: https://tcwpodcast.podbean.com/ Digital Antiquarian: https://www.filfre.net/ The Arcade Blogger: https://arcadeblogger.com/ Retro Asylum: http://retroasylum.com/category/all-posts/ Retro Game Squad: http://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/ Playthrough Podcast: https://playthroughpod.com/ Retromags.com: https://www.retromags.com/ Games That Weren't - https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/

Sound Effects by Ethan Johnson of History of How We Play.

Copyright Karl Kuras

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