Video Game Newsroom Time Machine Karl Kuras

Starting out as a signals decoder for the air force, through to working for Nolan Bushnell's Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Time Theatre on its ill-fated Kadabrascope animation initiative, Autodesk, VRML and so many others, Owen Rowley is a man of a thousand lives in tech.
Heck, he may have even helped invent the mousepad.
Listen to some amazing stories, from the dawn of the computer age through to the rough and tumble world of the dot com bubble.
Recorded April 2023


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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!
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Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-rowley-6040354/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14013035/
The Christmas that Almost Wasn't: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BEIoe_YFEo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Air_Command
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_availability
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_packet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Bushnell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_E._Cheese
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAX
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Karamazov_Brothers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Catmull
http://platypuscomix.com/darkvault/misfits/misfit52.html
https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes3-1.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sente_Technologies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Bushnell#Catalyst_Technologies_Venture_Capital_Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etak
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewlett-Packard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICANN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Nelson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk
https://techmonitor.ai/technology/autodesk_releases_the_cyberspace_developer_kit
https://www.keanw.com/2017/03/autodesks-early-role-in-the-vr-revolution.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_3ds_Max
https://segaretro.org/Ono-Sendai
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RenderWare
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Pesce
Servan Keondjian - Direct3D - Interview   https://www.patreon.com/posts/servan-keondjian-75383519
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_Lab
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Douglas-Engelbart
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRML
https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/11/column_cyberbanana_windows/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidelity_Investments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypherpunk
https://web.archive.org/web/20010412094448/http://www.echo.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other_People%27s_Money
https://twitter.com/owen93
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensorama
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_Sonoma
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakes_the_Clown
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skidoo_(film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F_for_Fake
https://fortune.com/2023/04/27/elon-musk-lawyers-argue-recordings-of-him-touting-tesla-autopilot-safety-could-be-deepfakes/

Copyright 2023 Karl Kuras

Dragon's Lair takes arcades by storm,
Commodore rules the computer roost &
Video game makers pivot to micros
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 August 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 @videogamenewsroomtimemachine@oldbytes.space
Or
twitter @videogamenewsr2
Or
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm
Or
videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com
Links:
7 Minutes in Heaven: Decathlon
    Video Version:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/7-minutes-in-89553431
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/11537/the-activision-decathlon/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcHeXlhxeX4
    
Corrections:
    July 1983 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/july-1983-87998862
    Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
    https://youtu.be/A-6AKe2pvsQ?si=Y86cYPldukmG2V-H
    The Video Game Crash 40th Anniversary - Part 1: Atari https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-game-crash-75643983
1973    
Atari moves into new facilities
    https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_5/page/n49/mode/1up?view=theater
    https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_7/page/47/mode/1up
Atari announces new cabinet for Space Race    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race_(video_game)
    https://www.old-computers.com/museum/software_detail.asp?id=464
Are pongs slowing down?
    https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_7/page/48/mode/1up
    https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_8/page/47/mode/1up   
    https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_8/page/48/mode/1up
    https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_8/page/47/mode/1up

1983
Dragon's Lair gives arcades hope
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-laserdisc-games-prof/85528743/   
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-dragons-lair-in/86477004/   
    https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/02/arts/hollywood-playing-harder-at-the-video-game.html  
    Replay August 1983 pg. 10
    Replay August 1983, pg. 54
        
Sega sells manufacturing to Bally
    https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/28/business/barry-diller-s-latest-starring-role.html   
    https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/30/business/advertisingn-r-kleinfield-computers-take-aim-at-schools.html   
Bally To Buy Sega's U.S. Coin-Op Game Assets 
    The Associated Press, August 25, 1983, Thursday, AM cycle     
    PR Newswire, August 25, 1983, Thursday
    PR Newswire, August 11, 1983, Thursday
    Gregory Fischbach Part 2 - Acclaim https://www.patreon.com/posts/47720122
Coinop returns to its roots
    Games People August 6, 1983 pg. 1
Off duty cops patrolling arcades
    Replay August 1983, pg.  81
    
Mattel lays off 400 in Electronics
    https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/05/business/mattel-to-lay-off-400-in-electronics-division.html
    Don Daglow Part 1 - PDP - Mattel - Intellivision - EA  https://www.patreon.com/posts/38445119
Amiga buys US Games titles
    https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-5/page/68/mode/1up   
    http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/powerarcade/

Sega introduces ratings
Nintendo beats Tengen
Sony buys Psygnosis
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 1993. 
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 @videogamenewsroomtimemachine@oldbytes.space
Or
twitter @videogamenewsr2
Or
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm
Or
videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com
Links:
7 Minutes in Heaven: Mighty Final Fight
    Video Version:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/89127339
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_Final_Fight
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/11085/mighty-final-fight/
Corrections:
    June 1993 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/june-1993-86864543
    Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St.GIGA
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode_Battler
1993:
EA sales way up!
    https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Computer_Entertainment_Issue_54_July_1993/page/n29/mode/1up?view=theater
Japanese game makers had bumper 1992
    Replay July 1993 pg. 14
Sega's Nakayama sees bright future
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/04/business/sega-takes-aim-at-disney-s-world.html
    
Namco goes to China
    Replay July 1993 pg. 3
The press discovers violent games
    Play Meter July 1993
    
Sega introduces rating system
    Play Meter July 1993  pg. 38
    RePlay July 1993 pg. 18
Genesis Street Fighter gets delayed
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2010%20%28July%201993%29/page/n11/mode/2up
    https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Computer_Entertainment_Issue_54_July_1993/page/n5/mode/1up?view=theater
Sunsoft beats Action Replay
    https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Computer_Entertainment_Issue_54_July_1993/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater
    
Sega announces Mega Drive 2 and MegaCD 2
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20048%20%28July%201993%29/page/n56/mode/1up
    https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Computer_Entertainment_Issue_54_July_1993/page/n25/mode/1up?view=theater
Hook your TurboDuo up to your PC
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2010%20%28July%201993%29/page/n9/mode/2up  
    https://archives.tg-16.com/TURBOFORCE/TF-03-04.jpg    https://archives.tg-16.com/00_feature.htm
Summer CES belongs to multimedia and networking
    Replay July 1993 pg. 28
    
7th Guest gets mixed reviews
    https://archive.org/details/PC.Games.N010.1993.07-fl0n/page/n75/mode/2up
Games gum up the works on office PCs
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/04/weekinreview/zap-whang-aieeee-eat-phaser-klingon-er-boss.html
US government promotes Clipper
    https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1993-07_OCR/page/n39/mode/1up   
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipper_chip
    
Nintendo launches barebones Gameboy
    https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_048_July_1993/page/n144/mode/1up
Toys R Us drops the Lynx
    https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_048_July_1993/page/n143/mode/2up

In the history of pen and paper role playing games, no company name looms larger than TSR, creators of Dungeons and Dragons, and in the realm of computer role playing games one of the greatest publishers has been Bethesda.  
Our guest today, Bruce Nesmith, worked for both of these company's in their hay day, first as a programmer for TSR on their ill-fated venture into software publishing in the early 80s  and then as a writer for both TSR and Bethesda.  From highs to lows and back again, a true insider's view of the life of a game dev.
 
Recorded March 2023
 
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 twitter @videogamenewsr2
Or
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Or
videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com
 
 
Links:
 
https://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-Nesmith-Author/100065304827763/?locale=de_DE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Nesmith
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bruce-Nesmith/author/B08YKG3DM4?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
https://www.mobygames.com/person/16256/bruce-nesmith/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSR,_Inc.
https://www.amazon.com/Slaying-Dragon-History-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/125027804X
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Blume
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Super_Heroes_(role-playing_game)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Rafts_of_Kron
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DragonStrike_(board_game)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethesda_Softworks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elder_Scrolls_II:_Daggerfall

After the crash, a new type of venue emerged as the dominant force in coin operated video games, the family entertainment center.  No longer just video games, but a mix of mini golf, redemption games, food counters and more, this new destination would prove an ever evolving type of business very much at the whims of a fickle public.
Our guest, Ed Pearson, navigated these tempestuos waters for almost 15 years as manager of the legendary Seattle Funplex before moving on to ever bigger facilities as the family entertainment business continued to evolve past its arcade roots.  
 
Recorded June 2022.
 
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 twitter @videogamenewsr2
Or
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm
Or
videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com
 
 
Links:
https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19920328&slug=1483450
https://www.facebook.com/vanishingseattle/posts/tbt-seattle-funplex-this-entertainment-center-in-industrial-interbaymagnolia-on-/1352717244807560/
https://www.reddit.com/r/SeattleWA/comments/loz6y7/growing_up_in_90s_seattle_if_you_know_you_know/
https://abandonedsoutheast.com/2019/01/07/wild-waters/
https://www.ssprd.org/Family-Sports-Center
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Park_(amusement_park)
https://enchanted.com/
 
Early images of Funplex
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ceFN29QT_UMCc73YjtsXEppW3rdXFmBd?usp=share_link
 
Music including/mentioning Funplex
https://youtu.be/xRH6I8baK7o
https://youtu.be/xu81F0Je00c
 
Interviews mentioning Funplex
https://www.cbr.com/mortal-kombat-legends-joel-mchale-johnny-cage-interview/
https://www.thestranger.com/pullout/2012/03/14/13017971/how-i-survived-not-making-any-money-in-the-music-industry
 
Copyright 2023 Karl Kuras

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 @videogamenewsroomtimemachine@oldbytes.space
Or
twitter @videogamenewsr2
Or
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm
Or
videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com
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