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    History

    They Create Worlds

    The games we love reveal something true about who we are, and about the world that made them. They Create Worlds is a podcast about the people, technology, and forces that built the video game industry. 

    Through video game history, the show looks at how culture, business, and technology shaped what we play, tracing the choices and circumstances that led to the games so many people around the world enjoy. 

    Each episode digs into where games came from, who made them, and why they were made the way they were. Business decisions, technological shifts, and creative choices all shaped what ended up on screen, and the show covers all of it together, not just one piece in isolation. 

    Hosted by Alex Smith and Jeffrey Daum, They Create Worlds grew out of long conversations about the strange corners of the industry and the patterns that only show up when you look across companies, platforms, and decades. That conversational feel remains, built on careful research, clear structure and editing that makes even the deepest topics easy to listen to. 

    History turns out to be less settled than it looks. New documents surface, memories conflict, and the clean stories about why things happened the way they did rarely survive contact with the evidence. The show digs into all of that, following the creative and business forces that pushed and pulled on each other, and uncovering the human stories that lie beneath the games so many people around the world enjoy. 

    New episodes are released twice a month. 

    Advertise

    Copyright: © Copyright 2015-2019 . All rights reserved.

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify

    Latest Episodes:
    Dragon Quest Part 1 Oct 01, 2026
    Show notes

    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/


    The 10 Best Selling Atari Games Sep 15, 2026
    Show notes

    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/


    Hasbro Interactive Sep 01, 2026
    Show notes

    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/


    Knights of the Old Republic Aug 15, 2026
    Show notes

    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/


    Howell Ivy Aug 01, 2026
    Show notes

    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/


    Vectrex Jul 15, 2026
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 262 - Vectrex

    The Vectrex came with its own screen, plastic color overlays, and roots in the aerospace industry. GCE brought Smith Engineering in to design and develop digital watch games, then calculator games, before the two companies set their sights on a full home console. That console had to include its own display because home televisions could not support vector graphics. The idea took shape when engineer John Ross came across a one-inch CRT designed for aircraft instruments, and that sparked the push toward a vector-based home console. GCE knew they were too small to compete in a saturated market on their own, so they sought out a larger company with the manufacturing and marketing muscle to give the Vectrex a real shot. Milton Bradley acquired GCE in September 1982. The Vectrex launched at $199 that holiday season, right into the Video Game Crash, and cost Milton Bradley $31.6 million before Hasbro bought what was left in 1984.

    TCW 199 - The History of Handheld Games Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW199-the-history-of-handheld-games-part-2

    Major Matt Mason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sNoiDT0BMw

    Creepy Crawlers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJOd3pPUcEo

    TCW 025 - Matel Electronics?: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW025-mattel-electronics

    TCW 177 - The Intellivision Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW177-the-intellivision-part-1

    TCW 178 - The Intellivision Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW178-the-intellivision-part-2

    GCE Game Time Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bf1ShRP0sU

    GCE Arcade Time Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sgPMbbyfyw

    GCE Sports Time Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9K0Ty5MVr0

    GCE Chase N Counter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeXaPOwrPq4

    GCE Space N Counter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXaBH2hVnZ4

    TCW 009 - The History of Mediagenic Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW009-history-of-mediagenic-part-1

    TCW 010 - The History of Mediagenic Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW010-history-of-mediagenic-part-ii

    TCW 225 - Games By Apollo: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW225-games-by-apollo

    Towering Inferno (Atari): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9E4xYtUmqE

    Entombed (Atari): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D21cBQ8zPI

    TCW 080 - Vector Lights: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW080-vector-lights

    TCW 133 - Rolling Dice With The Parker Brothers: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW133-rolling-dice-with-the-parker-brothers
    Mine Storm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jPFGKVyD6E

    Starhawk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjv6lnt98zY

    Solar Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPwfY82Aok

    Rip Off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d-fcGnMpI8

    Space Wars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTxl8WAr2WI

    Armor Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAShNvM8I9U

    Blitz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qend3Al4Rw

    Star Trek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzrsb5c8dB4

    Cosmic Chasm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkaDXjOKMv0

    Cosmic Chasm (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-9ZRSs2ATU

    Berzerk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tarHYgKekeI
    Scramble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tDBZwoiblQ

    Hyperchase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvHKW7dnIUs

    Clean Sweep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2jpYm6ZwIs

    Vectrek Accessories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9LLEJ63_Rw

    Star Castle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29ZYcNK_Fe4

    Spinball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpT29NOsASw

    Fortress of Narzod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYiWPBljWHk

    Spike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNsyOWHQ71s

    Pole Position: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfxKt4iZgRc

    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/


    Starfox Jul 01, 2026
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 261 - StarFox

    Before Star Fox, there was a developer in Britain building copy protection tools, a dinner party that opened the right door, and a Game Boy prototype game that could do something it was never supposed to do. Jez San's Argonaut Software caught Nintendo's attention at CES and was invited to Japan. The meeting led to a two million dollar deal to build a custom chip to bring real 3D to the SNES. A team of Argonaut programmers moved to Japan and worked alongside Shigeru Miyamoto and Katsuya Eguchi to build one of the most technically ambitious games on the system. The Super FX chip made it possible, and a Kyoto fox shrine gave it its identity. Star Fox sold well, but its late arrival in the SNES lifecycle meant a nearly completed Star Fox 2 was shelved and not released until the SNES Classic. The collaboration that made it all possible did not end on the warmest terms. Nintendo retained some of Argonaut's programmers, and San walked away feeling the partnership had given Nintendo far more than it had given Argonaut.

    TCW 017 - The British 8-bit Computer Market - Hardware: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW017-the-british-8-bit-computer-market-hardware

    TCW 018 - The British 8-bit Computer Market - Software: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW018-the-british-8-bit-computer-market-software

    TCW 049 - Old and Elite: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW049-old-and-elite

    Skyline Attack (C64): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXb1IlVOTVM

    Star Wars (Atari - Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJv94FPRddA

    StarGlider (ZX Spectrum): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0nxTSc-4os
    TCW - 130: Uncle Clive's Radionics: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW130-uncle-clives-radionics
    TCW 131 - Sir Clive of ZX: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW131-sir-clive-of-zx

    Sinclair C5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjiiayrKiuk

    Micro Men: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXBxV6-zamM

    TCW 244 - The History of Commodore Pt 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW244-the-history-of-commodore-pt-1

    TCW 245 - The History of Commodore Pt 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW245-the-history-of-commodore-pt-2

    TCW 246 - The History of Commodore Pt 3: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW246-the-history-of-commodore-pt-3

    TCW 247 - The History of Commodore Pt 4: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW247-the-history-of-commodore-pt-4

    Nintendo president Yamauchi gives a speech at Spaceworld 95: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V8tUea4Hbs&t=36s
    TCW 198 - The History of Handheld Games Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW198-the-history-of-handheld-games-part-1
    TCW 199 - The History of Handheld Games Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW199-the-history-of-handheld-games-part-2

    TCW 200 - The History of Handheld Games Part 3: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW200-the-history-of-handheld-games-part-3

    Pilotwings (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A1hX1rGRfY

    X (Game Boy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LETr1NoteMM

    Scmuplations - Star Fox 1993 Developer Interview: https://shmuplations.com/starfox/

    Starblade (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqWhFddNopM

    Starglider 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg3uQM83dl8

    Thunderbirds S1E1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLiH4xrCITI

    Starfox SNES Box Art: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/1659-star-fox

    Fushimi Inari Shrine: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html
    StarFox Coms (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkjR_9WVAHc
    Starfox Prototype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rsRTCExBLA
    StarFox (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EkVHxE0Y8I

    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/


    Vivendi Electric Boogaloo Jun 15, 2026
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 260 - Vivendi Electric Boogaloo

    How does a Canadian liquor company end up owning Universal Studios and, eventually, help create Activision Blizzard? Seagram chased diversification as liquor sales softened, tried to take over Conoco, and instead wound up with a 25% stake in DuPont that generated most of its earnings. Edgar Bronfman Jr. sold that stake to buy MCA from Matsushita, inheriting a mismanaged Universal. He then doubled down on music with a $10.6 billion PolyGram deal just as Napster, the dot com bubble, and changing listening habits blew up the old record business model. With media stocks riding high, the rest of the Bronfman family wanted out, and Jean-Marie Messier at Vivendi stepped in, using Canal+ and an all‑stock transaction to fold Seagram into Vivendi and create Vivendi Universal. On the games side, Havas Interactive and the former CUC and Cendant software assets were combined with Universal’s own games business, including the franchises of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, under a new label: Vivendi Universal Games. Then the bubble burst, Vivendi’s debt and deceptive cash accounting caught up with Messier, and he was forced out, leaving his successors to sell assets and manage the fallout. Inside the games group, Blizzard’s success defined the division, culminating in World of Warcraft’s launch and the later decision to combine Vivendi’s games business with Activision. That deal created Activision Blizzard, gave Vivendi a way to tap cash when its telecom business went bad, and set the stage for Activision Blizzard's eventual separation from Vivendi. Vivendi made one last, mostly unsuccessful push into games through moves on Ubisoft and the takeover of Gameloft.

    TCW 064 - Rise and Fall of Infogrames Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW064-rise-and-fall-of-infogrames-part-1
    TCW 065 - Rise and Fall of Infogrames Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW065-the-rise-and-fall-of-infogrames-part-2

    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

    TCW 251 - Virgin Games: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW251-virgin-games

    TCW 184 - A Very Naughty Dog Pt 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW184-a-very-naughty-dog-pt-1

    TCW 185 - A Very Naughty Dog Pt 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW185-a-very-naughty-dog-pt-2

    Spyro the Dragon (PSX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrVKjNR0-SE

    Crash Bandicoot (PSX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HtPF0ers1w

    TCW 162 - Spinnaker Software: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW162-spinnaker-software
    TCW 071 - A Story of Brøderbund: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW071-a-story-of-broderbund

    TCW 072 - The Mysteries of Brøderbund: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW072-the-mysteries-of-broderbund
    TCW 039 - On-Line Systems: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW039-on-line-systems

    TCW 040 - Sierra On-Line: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW040-sierra-on-line

    TCW 221 - North to Hellgate London: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW221-north-to-hellgate-london

    TCW 249 - New World Computing: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW249-new-world-computing

    TCW 055 - Blizzard Hellfire and the World of Warcraft: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW055-blizzard-hellfire-and-the-world-of-warcraft

    Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment: https://www.amazon.com/Play-Nice-Future-Blizzard-Entertainment/dp/1538725428

    Disney's Dreamlight Valley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOuZFZOVLmc

    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/


    A Cendant to Vivendi Jun 01, 2026
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 259 - A Cendant to Vivendi

    CUC International looked like a company that never missed. Quarter after quarter, just barely beating estimates, right up until the moment Henry Silverman got access to their books and found out why. When a new customer signed up, CUC booked a full year of revenue immediately, even though billing was monthly. If that customer left before the year was up, CUC never corrected the books. The money just stayed there. Perfectly functional assets were declared worthless on paper, with the supposed losses paid off using money from merger funds. That same merger money was then counted again as incoming revenue, making the company look larger and more profitable than it was. Over $500 million in income that never existed. Walter Forbes was forced to resign and was eventually convicted of the largest accounting scandal of the time. Cendant realized the software and games division itself had been part of the machinery. They sold it to French media company Havas. That sale landed in the orbit of Vivendi, a sprawling conglomerate that had started as a 19th century French waterworks company. Its CEO Jean-Marie Messier had bigger things in mind. AOL had just merged with Time Warner, and Messier was not going to watch an American walled garden of films, music, and games swallow the market he wanted to own.

    TCW 258 - The Shenanigans of CUC Software: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW258-the-shenanigans-of-cuc-software

    TCW 039 - On-Line Systems: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW039-on-line-systems

    TCW 040 - Sierra On-Line: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW040-sierra-on-line

    TCW 054 - Blizzard: Vikings and Warcraft: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW054-blizzard-vikings-and-warcraft
    TCW 055 - Blizzard: Hellfire and the World… of WarCraft: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW055-blizzard-hellfire-and-the-world-of-warcraft

    TCW 219 - Diablo 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW219-diablo-1
    TCW 220 - Diablo 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW220-diablo-2

    TCW 221 - North to Hellgate London: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW221-north-to-hellgate-london

    TCW 230 - Crafting the World of WarCraft: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW230-crafting-the-world-of-warcraft
    Space Jam Website: https://www.spacejam.com/1996/

    The Digital Antiquarian - The End of Sierra as We Knew It - Part 1 - The Acquisition: https://www.filfre.net/2025/04/the-end-of-sierra-as-we-knew-it-part-1-the-acquisition/

    The Digital Antiquarian - The End of Sierra as We Knew It - Part 2 - The Scandal: https://www.filfre.net/2025/04/the-end-of-sierra-as-we-knew-it-part-2-the-scandal/

    The Digital Antiquarian - The End of Sierra as We Knew It - Part 3 - The Dog Days of Oakhurst: https://www.filfre.net/2025/05/the-end-of-sierra-as-we-knew-it-part-3-the-dog-days-of-oakhurst/

    The Digital Antiquarian - The End of Sierra as We Knew It - Part 4 - Chainsaw Monday: https://www.filfre.net/2025/05/the-end-of-sierra-as-we-knew-it-part-4-chainsaw-monday/

    TCW 139 - Tec Toy and Brazil: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW139-tec-toy-and-brazil


    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/


    The Shenanigans of CUC Software May 15, 2026
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 258 - The Shenanigans of CUC Software

    Walter Forbes built CUC International from Comp-U-Card, a phone-in discount shopping club that cut out the middleman with a small markup and annual fee, not unlike a proto-Amazon Prime. As computer networks like CompuServe, Prodigy, and GEnie rose, CUC pivoted online and Forbes set his sights on the games business, joining the Sierra On-Line board and buying out Ken Williams and Davidson and Associates for a combined 1.7 billion dollars in stock swaps. Despite promises to Williams that he would not be secondary to a competitor, Bob Davidson of Davidson and Associates ended up running the software division, and when Davidson discovered something troubling enough to dump his stock and left. The cracks were beginning to show. Williams tried to take over, was not given the time of day, and eventually left. Forbes meanwhile pursued a merger with Henry Silverman's HFS, a hospitality giant owning Days Inn, Ramada, Howard Johnson, Century 21, Coldwell Banker, and Avis, forming the new conglomerate Cendant. The true depth of the shenanigans were only starting to show. How could a company consistently just barely beat analyst/market estimates?

    Comp-U-Card News Brief: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6H5mdSHyNQ

    Credit Card Impression Machines: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/S5c2mA1cnv4

    New Innovations in Credit Cards (1985): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBD8HTssRA

    The Simpsons - The Truth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nc88_ZEfxg

    TCW 039 - On-Line Systems: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW039-on-line-systems

    TCW 040 - Sierra On-Line: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW040-sierra-on-line

    Word Attack (PC-DOS 1983): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJf13H9Wbnk

    Math Blaster (PC-DOS 1983): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKi_g0g8EWQ

    TCW 162 - Spinnaker Software: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW162-spinnaker-software

    TCW 054 - Blizzard: Vikings and Warcraft: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW054-blizzard-vikings-and-warcraft

    TCW 071 - A story of Brøderbund!: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW071-a-story-of-broderbund

    TCW 072 - The MYSTeries of Brøderbund! - : https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW072-the-mysteries-of-broderbund

    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/


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