They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 267 - Dragon Quest Part 1

 

Kazuhiko Torishima is not well known outside Japan, especially in relation to video games, but the Weekly Shōnen Jump editor was instrumental in bringing together many of the people behind Dragon Quest. He encouraged Akira Toriyama early in his career, helping him develop the work that led to his first major hit, Dr. Slump. Torishima’s friendship with Weekly Playboy writer Akira Sakuma, built around their shared interest in video games, introduced him to Yuji Horii. Torishima gave Horii regular opportunities to write about computers and games for Shōnen Jump, which drew Enix’s attention as it prepared a contest for game submissions. Horii entered Love Match Tennis for fun and, while covering the contest, discovered that it had won alongside Koichi Nakamura’s Door Door. The two became friends, while Nakamura went on to port Door Door to multiple platforms and found Chunsoft. Enix later sent the contest winners to AppleFest, where Horii, Nakamura, and Torishima encountered Wizardry. Meanwhile, Horii’s work on adventure games produced The Portopia Serial Murder Case, a hugely influential game often credited with helping establish the popularity of visual novels in Japan. These connections, shared interests, and early successes brought together the people who would create the Dragon Quest phenomenon.

 

TCW 011 - The Genesis of JRPGs: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW011-the-genesis-of-jrpgs

Tomato The Cutesy Gumshoe: https://www.viz.com/shonenjump/akira-toriyamas-manga-theater-chapter-3/chapter/23730

TCW 053 - The History and Merger of Enix and Square: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW053-the-history-and-merger-of-enix-and-square

TCW 074 - The Japanese PC Industry: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW074-the-japanese-pc-industry

Love Match Tennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jdbvLs3QgI

TCW 101 - The Fabric of Koei: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW181-the-fabric-of-koei

TCW 102 - The Koei Dynasty: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW182-the-koei-dynasty

Door Door (NEC PC 9801): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiM5d0jWQy8

Door Door (Fujitsu Micro-7): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk4PcFwzQsc

TCW 114 - The Wizards of Sir-Tech: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW114-the-wizards-of-sir-tech

TCW 115 - The Return of the Sdraziw of Sir-Tech: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW115-the-return-of-the-sdraziw-of-sir-tech

Wizard and the Princess (PC Jr): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTbeYX9BVcs

The Portopia Serial Murder Case (PC 8801): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSeDy0qCZQU

 

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

BlueSky: @theycreateworlds.bsky.social

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book: 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/

TCW Podcast Episode 266 - The 10 Best Selling Atari Games

 

An internal Atari document visible in the background of the documentary Once Upon Atari provides a rare look at the company’s best-selling VCS games during the years leading up to, and just after, the video game crash. The Atari VCS was designed around just two player graphics, two missile graphics, and a ball, yet its most successful games pushed that limited hardware in new directions. These games were created by a diverse group of programmers who found new ways to expand what the system could do. By examining sales figures across multiple years, including the net sales of individual games, the document reveals both the titles that defined Atari’s commercial success and the real impact of the crash on the company. There are also surprises in the list, including a driving game, two takes on the Pac-Man concept, and the fact that Atari’s most successful game was not a failure.

 

Once Upon Atari: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389237/

Atari Archive: https://www.youtube.com/@AtariArchive/search

Super Breakout (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjpOaPxU0rs

Missile Command (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24vQuyrwTQ0

Vanguard (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewQDKtc1i-4

Street Racer (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCSYY1kK9so

Yar's Revenge (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBHrU65JDF4

Video Olympics (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZOn9OIN_r4

Circus (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twnPnn_-Rm0

Raiders of the Lost Ark (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLqi0F_wQcs

Air Sea Battle (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l0AQ5LuvQM

Bowling (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrvEDIcMZnI

Football (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8PkhQZ8TI

Video Pinball (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycwy0iDjDLw

Centipede (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNfhqTGvFWg

Asteroids (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgCwCLQFzWs

TCW 217 - Ed Logg: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW217-the-games-of-ed-logg

TCW 241 - The First 10 Years of European Consoles: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW241-the-first-10-years-of-european-consoles

Asteroids Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6oUWACx1Mo

Breakout (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5AKyI3neQk

ET (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmrQkQsM9FU

TCW 104 - A Holistic View of ET: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW104-a-holistic-view-of-et

TCW 202 - Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW202-advanced-balls-and-paddles-part-2

Warlords (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDzQ8QhGJdY

Berzerk (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5cXL5fCdK8

TCW 102 - Stern Electronics: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW102-stern-electronics

Night Driver (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNk52A0dWto

Mrs Pac Man (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us2WUK8bUC8

Defender & Chopper Command (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsWHav1U3lQ

Space Invaders (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad3TLYZOI-M

Pac-Man (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pop1E2DidVQ

Dragon Warrior Commercial 1989: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qL5_3EhqK8

 

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

BlueSky: @theycreateworlds.bsky.social

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book: 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/

TCW Podcast Episode 265 - Hasbro Interactive

 

Hasbro began as a family business selling textile remnants and pencil boxes before expanding into school supplies, children’s art products, and toys. Innovations such as Mr. Potato Head established the company as a toy maker, while G.I. Joe became a major success before the Vietnam War damaged its popularity and left Hasbro in a precarious position. The company avoided Atari’s early console market during this period, only to return to prominence in the 1980s through G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Transformers, and the acquisition of Milton Bradley. Later, Hasbro’s purchase of Tonka brought Tom Dusenberry into the company. His enthusiasm for video games and belief in the potential of Windows 95 led to the formation of Hasbro Interactive, beginning with a successful adaptation of Monopoly developed by Westwood Studios. The division expanded through games such as Frogger, whose appearance on Seinfeld came after the show’s producers sought Dusenberry’s permission. He agreed so Hasbro could ensure stores were heavily stocked with the game when the episode aired. Dusenberry also secured the games.com domain as Hasbro Interactive prepared to launch an internet portal. The company then moved through a rapid series of acquisitions, including Atari Corporation, MicroProse, Avalon Hill, and Wizards of the Coast. Hasbro Interactive became the third-largest game publisher by 1998, but growing concern over retail returns, a downturn in Hasbro’s toy business, and changing priorities within the company ultimately led to its sale to Infogrames as the dot-com bubble burst.

 

TNG - It is Green: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6k_9qZtzjY

Mr. Potato Head (1960s): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICGrjmJouWA

The Story of G.I. Joe 1945 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0XDlHb8w2U

The Story of G.I Joe Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWN0eEgYnuc
1960's G.I. Joe Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X382bCvVvo&list=PLfajEMFGfE5iOrphlddDTxw4o7wIgWha6

G.I. Joe Marvel Comics Animation Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXY8BMXDKSA

G.I.Joe A Real American Hero (NES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccctePkN7w4

TCW 133 - Rolling Dice With the Parker Brothers: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW133-rolling-dice-with-the-parker-brothers

G.I. Joe Cobra Strike (Atari 2600): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrCuBJDPy8Y

TCW 262 - Vectrex: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW262-vectrex

Why the world went nuts for Windows 95: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ol8ZSE-PEk

Monopoly (Windows 95): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN8bFQwNQuU

Risk (PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfQI0FxGegk

Frogger (PSX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqL6uqfvtt8

Frogger (Windows): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGoivXOUA-0

Hasbro Interactive Frogger TV News Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYqDRkhmP_8

Seinfeld - The Frogger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5etwHVarNgI

Centipede (PSX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab-F_fCJXiE

TCW 192 - Microprose Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW192-microprose-part-1

TCW 193 - Microprose Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW193-microprose-part-2

TCW 050 - Civilizing Sid Meier: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW050-civilizing-sid-meier

PacMan - Adventures in Time (PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF1mSc1tEA4

Q*Bert (PSX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XvceGQ02mA

Roller Coaster Tycoon (PC/Windows): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPSSsU8SXcE

Furby Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHWcBbf0Eng

TCW 064 - Rise and Fall of Infogrames Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW064-rise-and-fall-of-infogrames-part-1

TCW 065 - The Rise and Fall of Infogrames Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW065-the-rise-and-fall-of-infogrames-part-2

 

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

BlueSky: @theycreateworlds.bsky.social

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book: 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/

TCW Podcast Episode 264 - Knights of the Old Republic

Knights of the Old Republic did not simply bring Star Wars to the role-playing game format. It was BioWare’s effort to build a cinematic RPG in a part of the galaxy far enough from the films to tell a new story, while drawing on decades of Expanded Universe worldbuilding, tabletop systems, and the storytelling model popularized by Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy. This episode examines how BioWare combined a fully voiced cast, real-time-with-pause combat built on the Star Wars d20 system, cinematic presentation, and a story structured around one of gaming’s most famous twists to create a major hit. We then follow the business decision that sent the sequel to Obsidian Entertainment on an aggressive schedule, exploring how The Sith Lords developed its darker ideas about the Force, choice, and predestination, why its unfinished release became central to its legacy, and how the series’ path toward a third game came to an end.
 

TCW 108 - Adventuring With LucasArts Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW108-adventuring-with-lucasarts-part-1

TCW 109 - Adventuring With LucasArts Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW109-adventuring-with-lucasarts-part-2

TCW 204 - Exploring The Mass Effect: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW204-exploring-the-mass-effect

TCW 205 - Shepherd's Mass Effect 2 & 3: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW205-shepherds-mass-effect-2-and-3

TCW 233 - Baldur's Gate: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW233-baldurs-gate

The Ewok Adventure - Cavern of Courage (Trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2OaBk89KyU

Why the Thrawn Trilogy is Great!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haBxgD3vJ4c

West End Games - Star Wars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snh9D_hUp30

West End Games Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNGGAdVHJcE

Celebrating 20 Years of Star Wars: KOTOR With the Iconic RPG's Canadian Creators: https://mobilesyrup.com/2023/07/13/star-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic-20th-anniversary-canadian-developers-interview/

Dark Horse Tales of the Jedi: https://archive.org/details/star-wars-tales-of-the-jedi-collection_20211001_1515/Tales%20of%20the%20Jedi%20%231/
KOTOR 1 - Revelation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc6eDFobJXg

Neverwinter Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeO6SuOtjUQ

The Basics of Cinematography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rAe8RuICYM

Film Making Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFwMRVwrKcA

The 180 Rule Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcCbPZUimbc

The Secrets to Writing Compelling Plot Twists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHbOVOZWhZM

HK-47 (KOTOR 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg1gTas7OAA

HK-47 (KOTOR 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CqpGfWrmc4

The Littlest Hobo (S1 E10): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blDP8AtvyaI

KOTOR TV Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7Z2wqSasxU

KOTOR Xbox Intro Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F3gGiTfgzU

KOTOR 2 - Star Wars Criticism Done Well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIkD35vHZG8

KOTOR 2 Theory Might Blow Your Mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyEOa1jHaAs

WTF Were Kreia's Goals During KOTOR 2?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHUhHDEX0J4

KOTOR 2 Intro Gamplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRY_k5NoS8Y

 

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

BlueSky: @theycreateworlds.bsky.social

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book: 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/

TCW Podcast Episode 263 - Howell Ivy

 

Howell Ivy had a knack for taking familiar arcade ideas and pushing them somewhere new. He discovered video games through Computer Space while serving in the Air Force, and in his off time he built a ball-and-paddle game that led to a position at Ramtek. Clean Sweep gave the ball-and-paddle format a new twist and helped inspire Atari's Breakout. Ramtek Baseball pushed that idea further with stronger sound, presentation, and a CRT modified so it could sit perpendicular to the Earth's magnetic field and still work. At Exidy, Ivy kept pressing for what was next. He bought a 6502 processor with his own money to prove that the company needed to move toward microprocessors. That thinking showed up in Car Polo, a soccer game with cars, and later in Circus, which became the biggest hit of his career. Vertigo pushed even further with motion controls and vector displays, but it was too complex to manufacture in that form and was retooled into Top Gunner instead. SEGA was looking to expand into the US arcade space, and Exidy was in financial trouble, so the companies moved toward an acquisition. Howell Ivy and Gene Lipkin went to Japan to negotiate the acquisition, but the deal fell apart. Ivy suspected Lipkin had made a separate deal with SEGA when he became president of SEGA Enterprises USA. When Lipkin left SEGA, the company turned to Ivy because of the work Exidy had already done with them, and he joined as VP of Manufacturing in 1986. Ivy helped SEGA contract out manufacturing to US companies, pushed Japanese designers toward polygonal graphics, consulted on Daytona USA, and negotiated the partnership with GE Aerospace. Ivy later became president of SEGA Enterprises USA before retiring from SEGA in 2004 after Sammy acquired SEGA. In retirement, he volunteered at a school engineering program that helped students send projects to the International Space Station.

TCW 051 - Sons of Pong: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW051-sons-of-pong

TCW 201 - Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW201-advanced-balls-and-paddles-part-1

TCW 202 - Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW202-advanced-balls-and-paddles-part-2

TCW 232 - All The Other Home Pongs: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW232-all-the-other-home-pongs

Clean Sweep (Ramtek): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0OTBI9Zagw

TCW 211 - Ramtek: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW211-ramtek

Ramtak Baseball: https://youtu.be/vZKhpCPc34U?t=83
TCW 212 - The Exidy of the 70's: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW212-the-exidy-of-the-70s

TCW 213 - The Exidy of the 80's and 90's: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW213-the-exidy-of-the-80s-and-90s

Destruction Derby: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRYduNYRmPY

Death Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmQ_hj21K5k

Car Polo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6-xHhi2-nI

Circus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFm3b7e2tV8

The Exidy Sorcerer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iMcOY1pH1Y

Crossbow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxd_6vYJWtU

TCW 075 - Gunning for Light: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW075-gunning-for-light

TCW 028 - Picking up the Pieces: The US Arcade Industry After the Crash: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW028-picking-up-the-pieces-the-us-arcade-industry-after-the-crash

Top Gunner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MXYF260JdE

Daytona USA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAcMqFTkAs8

 

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

 

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com 

BlueSky: @theycreateworlds.bsky.social

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book: 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/