They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 227 - Donkey Kong   Donkey Kong, a game and character that stands as one of the foundational elements of video game history, has a popular narrative with some inaccuracies that need correction. Thanks to the efforts of Kate Willaert and Norman Caruso, we can better understand the influences and origins of Donkey Kong. Nintendo’s use of hardware from another game, Radar Scope, imposed technical limitations that prevented them from securing the desired Popeye license. Donkey Kong drew inspiration from games like Crazy Climber and Space Panic, and its four stages even incorporate elements of the Eastern storytelling structure known as Kishōtenketsu. Join us as we delve into the fascinating origins of Donkey Kong like never before!   Futurama - Quarters! A Million Allowances Worth of Quarters!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbPWti2CoRg "Critical Kate" Willaert: https://www.acriticalhit.com/ Norman Caruso "The Gaming Historian": https://thegaminghistorian.com/ In The Year 2525 - Zager & E

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 nua

TCW Podcast Episode 225 - Games by Apollo   The great video game crash of the mid-1980s had many factors contributing to it. One such factor was the rise of companies like Games by Apollo, which is sometimes seen as an exemplar of the many businesses that entered the video game industry hoping to make quick money. While some criticisms of Games by Apollo are valid, the company was also much more than that, bringing innovative game ideas to the table. Founded by Patrick Roper, who previously created career videos for students, the company grew rapidly and released games at an unprecedented pace. However, many of its games suffered from short production times, leading to control problems, balance issues, and design flaws. Despite these challenges, Games by Apollo consistently tried to push the envelope, creating games that pushed the VCS to new heights!   Smell BAD (Labyrinth): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q6H4e7Kvvw Fuzzy Bunny's Guide To You Know What (Simpsons): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQn-DwSW-t

TCW Podcast Episode 224 - D&D & Video Games 3E   In our final look at D&D & Video Games, we explore the early PC and mainframe computer scene, as well as the games created by fans of D&D. Various aspects of D&D were incorporated into these games, ranging from puzzles and light combat to full-on dungeon dives to claim treasure from the deepest levels. These games grew in popularity and led to others iterating on the aspects they enjoyed. Games on the PLATO system—such as Pedit5, D&D, and Orthanc—paved the way for reimagining these games on home computers, including the Apple II. This foundation led to the creation of seminal titles like Ultima and Wizardry, which would influence RPGs on PCs for over a decade. D&D has a long history of collaborating with different systems and ideas to create innovative forms of gaming, with the potential to continue transforming video games well into the future.   Livestream 2024 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahP86-2H8lc   Playing at the

TCW Podcast Episode 223 - D&D & Video Games 2E   In the second part of our exploration of Dungeons & Dragons and its connection to video games, we examine the game’s refinement and rise in popularity. D&D was a groundbreaking experience, brought to life through Gary Gygax’s collaboration with others, particularly Dave Arneson, who developed many of its foundational concepts. The game evolved from miniature wargaming focused on medieval combat, with Tolkien-inspired high fantasy elements added later as an afterthought. These fantasy rules closely resembled those of Rules for Middle Earth but weren’t universally embraced, as some players preferred the realism of traditional wargaming, making it challenging to satisfy both audiences. We also delve into the well-known controversy between Gygax and Arneson and the creation of the Blackmoor campaign setting. We explore how TSR released the original box set and then evolved it into AD&D. Additionally, we examine how RPGs began to take off as a wh

TCW Podcast Episode 222 - D&D & Video Games 1E   In the first part of this series, we explore the various influences leading to the creation of Dungeons & Dragons. This episode is an edited version of our livestream, delving into the rise in popularity of war games, board games, and miniatures. Avalon Hill, a major company in this field, published The General magazine, which helped players connect for games. Through opponent-wanted ads resembling today’s unmoderated forums and the discovery of games like Kriegsspiel and Stratego, we witness the evolution of elements that would eventually lead to the early role-playing game (RPG).   Livestream 2024 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahP86-2H8lc   Playing at the World - Jon Peterson (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/3YokLZC The Elusive Shift - Jon Peterson (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/3C8cHVq Game Wizards - Jon Peterson (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/48uCtzi Afrika Korps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHOtUG4JvlQ SGS Afrika Korps: http

TCW Podcast Episode 221 - North to Hellgate London   In a pseudo part three of our look at Condor and Blizzard North, we explore the troubles the company faced after a year and a half of crunch. David, Max, and Eric were all burned out along with the rest of the staff. David was going through a divorce and had trouble putting his heart into figuring out what the next game would be. Due to lack of leadership and a proper chain of command, many employees felt frustrated switching games over and over. At the same time, the expansion, Lord of Destruction, was completed after a year of development with no crunch. Through a combination of bad corporate structure, not empowering middle management, factionalism, and troubles with Blizzard's corporate owners being bought and sold amid their own scandals, David, Eric, Max, and Bill Roper from Blizzard South went on to form Flagship Studios and work on Hellgate: London. Unfortunately, the game was not well received due to expectations exceeding the financial and technic

TCW Podcast Episode 220 - Diablo 2   We continue exploring the Diablo franchise with Diablo 2 and the journey of the team at Blizzard North. This episode covers the history of the Hellfire expansion for Diablo 1 and how it came to be developed by Sierra Online. A directive was issued for Blizzard North to focus on creating Diablo 2. The team aimed not just to create a bigger dungeon but to expand the game’s overall scope. However, the development of Diablo 2 faced challenges like feature creep, excessive gaming, and the absence of a game design document. These issues led to a year and a half of crunch time to complete the game. Despite these difficulties, Diablo 2 was released to phenomenal success.   Hellfire Monk Playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJlxnFfxRM4 David Brevik on Diablo Hellfire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4bDFgcuH-I Warcraft Adventures - Lord of the Clans (Lets Play): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7JZu__7KTs Thor - Overworked % Amazon Game Studios: https://www.youtube.com/sho

TCW Podcast Episode 219 - Diablo 1   We explore the monumental game Diablo! Initially a collaborative effort between David Brevik, Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer, Diablo brought together elements from games like X-Com, Angband, and surprisingly NHL '94. The trio formed the company Condor, producing NFL games and a Street Fighter clone called Justice League Task Force for the SEGA Genesis. At CES, they discovered another company developing the SNES port of Justice League, Blizzard Entertainment. Through a series of fortuitous events, Condor was acquired by Davidson & Associates and rebranded as Blizzard North. Join us as we explore the wild history of Diablo and its impact on shaping how we play video games today!   Play Diabo 1 Web Shareware Version: https://d07riv.github.io/diabloweb/   It was the best of times it was the blurst of times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no_elVGGgW8 Moria (Plato Emulator): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zvqgKKXAFI Angband: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSiX_aoUn5s S

TCW Podcast Episode 218 - The 100 Games Redux - The Revival   We’re back to revisit the 100 most influential games, this time with your feedback! We’ve made many changes to the list and even brought back some of the games that were previously cut. A huge thank you to everyone who wrote in, left a comment on YouTube, or reached out to us in other ways. Although we couldn’t read every single comment, we’ve carefully considered all the feedback and appreciate everyone for sharing their thoughts! Many of the changes we made were influenced by your input. So sit back, relax, and join us as we dive into the exciting world of the 100 most influential games!   Live Stream for 2024 will be October 12th at 13:00 (18:00 GMT)!   Simpsons Barney - 'It Begins!': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Johmlmq-dRU The Marshmallow Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L-n8Z7G0ic CoD4 - Modern Warfare - How it change a Genre Forever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXD5_7wqr1U Meet the Spy (Explicit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v

TCW Podcast Episode 217 - The Games of Ed Logg   Ed Logg had a long and distinguished career in Atari's coin-op division. Initially aspiring to be a math professor, his path changed after encountering the Atari 2600 at a friend's Christmas party. While at Atari, Logg created the legendary game Asteroids, which became a massive success. He continued his streak with Super Breakout and co-created Centipede with Dona Bailey. Inspired by his son's love of Dungeons & Dragons, and the game Dandy, Logg developed the classic Gauntlet. He later created one of the first arcade first-person shooters, Xybots. Although his attempts to transition into the 3D era with games like Steel Talons, San Francisco Rush, and Dr. Muto did not achieve the same level of success; Ed Logg's deep understanding of what makes a great arcade game has left a lasting impact not only in the coin-op space, but across the entire gaming industry.   TCW 081 - The Meeting of SpaceWar: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-meeting-of-spacewar

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 to make your case. We’ll use your feedback in our September 15, 2024 episode, where we will revisit the list, add new games, and reorder the top 20. Join us for a fun debate on what deserves a spot!   TCW 098 - The 100 Most Influential Games Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-100-most-influential-games-part-1/ TCW 099 - The 100 Most  Influential Games Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-100-most-influential-games-part-2/ TCW 100 - The 100 Most Influential Games Part 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-100-most-influential-games-part-3/   Roko's Basilisk  : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roko%27s_basilisk Pac-Man Fever: http

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 Yoshinori Kitase. Kitase used his love of filmmaking to add an artistic flair to games, improving on the static scenes most games relied on. With Final Fantasy VII, Kitase aimed to overcome hardware limitations in storytelling. This desire to push beyond hardware constraints also led SquareSoft to break ties with Nintendo and join Sony with their new PlayStation. The marketing of FF VII in the West as more than just an RPG helped it become the first Final Fantasy game to sell more in the West than in Japan, thereby cementing JRPGs in the public's mind.   TCW 157 - Final Fantasy's Tale: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/final-fantasy-s-tale/ FFVI - Sand on my

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 Neo Geo came in two versions: the Multi Video System (MVS) for arcades and the Advanced Entertainment System (AES) for home use. Priced at $650 in 1990 (equivalent to $1,562 in 2024), the console was expensive but initially well-received by operators due to a strong lineup of games and the six-month lag between arcade and home releases. Despite an attempt to introduce a lower-priced CD version, it was too late to compete effectively. Ultimately, the Neo Geo could not keep up with the emerging 3D transition and the more affordable Sony PlayStation.   Alex's Book is available on Humble Bundle again! Through July 28/29 2024! https://www.humblebundle.com/books/game-pr

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 the power of an Atari 400 computer to create arcade machines with their Max-A-Flex system. Unfortunately, only four games were produced for the system. Their new light gun hardware enabled the creation of some very interesting shooting games, including Crossbow, Cheyenne, and Combat. When Exidy entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it was hoped that Chiller would make Exidy popular again in the same way Death Race did in the 70s. Exidy managed to exit bankruptcy and continued to refocus itself on redemption games. However, the company met its end in the early 90s when embezzlement by an employee forced the company to close. The rights to the properties were sold off, all

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 revamped the game into the notorious Death Race '98, the first nationwide controversial video game for violence. Exidy's first microprocessor-based game, Car Polo, wasn't a major hit but was ahead of its time, foreshadowing Rocket League's concept of cars pushing a ball into a goal. They continued innovating with popular games like Circus, a precursor to Breakout. We finish our look at Exidy in the 70s with their venture into the computer market with the Exidy Sorcerer, which showed promise but was overshadowed by VisiCalc's release for the Apple II.   TCW 211 - Ramtek: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/ramtek/ Art Bell Interview Malachi Martin: https://www.

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 engineers, served as a test site for the new Atari Pong arcade game. Fascinated by Pong, Ramtek's engineers decided to create their own version, marking the beginning of their foray into video games and later electro-mechanical games. One of their top engineers, Pete Kauffman, left to found Exidy to focus solely on video games. For many years, Ramtek's coin-op division sustained the company, ensuring cash flow and becoming the core of their business. Despite setbacks, including a poorly designed baseball game, a failed pinball transition, and a devastating fire at their uninsured Sunnyvale facility, Ramtek recovered and went public in 1978. By then, their high-end d

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. Meanwhile, SEGA was working on an internal revision that would tie their trademarked logo into the startup handshake. This would give them the leverage they needed to sue anyone who reverse-engineered the system. Accolade managed to get the injunction on their games dissolved, but SEGA still retained the option to sue them. Ultimately, Accolade was forced to settle with SEGA to release their games, which left them with ongoing debt that would continue to haunt them. Accolade continued to struggle to grow their franchises. They had the disastrous release of Bubsy 3D, coinciding with the launch of classics like Mario 64, Tomb Raider, and Crash Bandicoot. In the end, I

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 a mix of internally developed and third-party product, Accolade finds success through several popular sports franchises, including Hardball, Jack Nicklaus Golf and, most significantly, Test Drive. By the beginning of the 1990s, the company remains small, but profitable, and is ready to parlay its success on computer platforms to still greater success in the rapidly growing 16-bit console market.   TCW 126 - Activision and Atari: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/activision-and-atari/ TCW 009 - History of Mediagenic Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/history-of-mediagenic-part-i/ TCW 010 - History of Mediagenic Part 2: https://podcast.theycreatewor

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 alike. Our focus shifts to the realm of gaming as we explore the intricate landscape of adaptations, particularly the simultaneous development of two landmark Dune games by Virgin Games. Cryo Interactive's adventure strategy game "Dune" and Westwood Studio's real-time strategy game "Dune 2: Battle for Arrakis" emerge as distinct creations, each influenced by its respective studio's vision. We navigate the complexities of rights acquisition following Frank Herbert's passing and the lukewarm reception of the 1984 film adaptation, shedding light on the intricate plots and tangled webs that define these two seminal Dune gaming experiences.   DUNE Series Explained: https