TopPodcast.com
Menu
  • Home
  • Top Charts
  • Top Networks
  • Top Apps
  • Top Independents
  • Top Podfluencers
  • Top Picks
    • Top Business Podcasts
    • Top True Crime Podcasts
    • Top Finance Podcasts
    • Top Comedy Podcasts
    • Top Music Podcasts
    • Top Womens Podcasts
    • Top Kids Podcasts
    • Top Sports Podcasts
    • Top News Podcasts
    • Top Tech Podcasts
    • Top Crypto Podcasts
    • Top Entrepreneurial Podcasts
    • Top Fantasy Sports Podcasts
    • Top Political Podcasts
    • Top Science Podcasts
    • Top Self Help Podcasts
    • Top Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Top Stocks Podcasts
  • Podcast News
  • About Us
  • Podcast Advertising
  • Contact
Not in our directory?
Add Show Here
Podcast Equipment
Center

toppodcastlogoOur TOPPODCAST Picks

  • Comedy
  • Crypto
  • Sports
  • News
  • Politics
  • True Crime
  • Business
  • Finance

Follow Us

toppodcastlogoStay Connected

    View Top 200 Chart
    Back to Rankings Page
    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:
    The History of Commodore Pt 4 Dec 01, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 247 - The History of Commodore Pt 4
    The final chapter of our Commodore series covers the company’s chaotic decline. After early success with the Amiga line, internal conflict grew under President Tom Rattigan, who wanted to focus on the low end with the Amiga 500 while Irving Gould pushed for high end systems like the Amiga 2000. Missed deadlines and a failed boardroom challenge led to Rattigan’s firing and Gould taking direct control. When IRS tax issues forced Gould to step back, Mahdi Ali became President and began reorganizing engineering. Ali hired Bill Sydnes from the IBM PC team, who also had a hand in the failure of the PC Jr, to evaluate and streamline development. Gould continued to cycle executives in pursuit of short term stock gains, which weakened Commodore as it chased conflicting markets. Cost cutting turned the popular Amiga 500 into the poorly received A600, though the later A1200 fared better. Ali moved manufacturing to the Philippines after shutting down facilities in Hong Kong and Germany, but production was disrupted by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. Commodore finally collapsed and went bankrupt in 1994, ending one of the most turbulent stories in personal computing.

    Pepsi Challenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkPjteYv4YI

    Pepsi Challenge 1978: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEXEdibXSak

    New Coke Conspiracy: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HJ_6wewbDjk

    Amiga 1000 & Sidecar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPfArIhoy0s

    Amiga 2000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he_p8A7A1aU

    Amiga 2000 HD Professional Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keG2KdQHC6s

    Amiga 500 Bundles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc5gpyA6SjQ

    Amiga 500 Batman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM2SCzt73s0

    Amiga 500 Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVZrL4k1los

    Commodore C65: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoHxDe3Gc9E

    Leonard Nimoy Laserdisc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ5msrmf5Tw

    Amiga 3000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzA5AhH1mbw

    History of the Amiga 1992 Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1s77nzpYk

    Amiga 600: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5svNq2grTEU

    Amiga 500 vs Amiga 1200: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFh4zuNUyMg

    Amiga CDTV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQW6upDCRFI

    Mount Pinatubo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjDDdYM4x0s

    Planer Computer Graphics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planar_(computer_graphics)

    Amiga CD32: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJU4TZhj0e8

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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 History of Commodore Pt 3 Nov 15, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 246 - The History of Commodore Pt 3
    After Jack Tramiel left Commodore and founded Tramel Technology, the company pressed on with mixed results. Systems like the SX 64, the C900, the Plus/4, the C16, and the C116 failed to gain traction, which led to the development of the C128. It improved on the C64 in many ways, but because so many games relied on C64 quirks, Commodore included a full C64 mode to preserve compatibility, so software support was poor. During this period Amiga was shopping its advanced chipset and entered a tentative agreement with Atari, but Jack’s impending purchase of Atari from Warner disrupted the arrangement. Commodore stepped in to pay off the outstanding note, which led to Commodore acquiring Amiga outright. This set the stage for the Amiga 1000, its famous bouncing ball demo, and a new chapter in Commodore’s history as the company entered the sixteen bit era

    TCW 2025 Livestream: https://youtu.be/BXXAhEVD4Lk

    Computer Chronicles Revisited - SMOliva: https://computerchronicles.blog/post/computer-chronicles-revisited-038-atari-520st-commodore-128/

    Computer Chronicles Revisited - SMOliva: https://computerchronicles.blog/post/computer-chronicles-revisited-052-amiga-workbench-deluxe-paint-neochrome-vip-professional/

    Commodore C900: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbVjNInzrw8

    Commodore SX-64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGjT-RjNbk

    Commodore Plus 4 C16 & C116: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICiZbUypMlQ

    XKCD - Workflow: https://xkcd.com/1172/

    Star Raiders (Atari 8-bit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwqMqmo_jho

    Joyboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdFzdz3o1hU

    Boing Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlAhRJjOhDg

    Amiga 1000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjapiUQOi2s

    Launch Event of the Amiga in 1985: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OeQ5uzm-Qs

    Amiga 1000 Sidcar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPfArIhoy0s

    TCW 172 - The Computer Price Wars Pt 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-price-wars-part-1/

    TCW 173 - The Computer Wars Pt 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-2/

    TCW 174 - The Computer Wars Pt 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-3/

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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 History of Commodore Pt 2 Nov 01, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 245 - The History of Commodore Pt 2

    Commodore’s shift from calculators to computers began with the PET, which found success in Europe as a business machine. After seeing the ZX80 in Britain, Jack Tramiel pushed for an affordable home computer, leading to the VIC-20. Guided by marketing manager Michael S. Tomczyk, Commodore promoted the VIC-20 as “the friendly computer” with William Shatner as spokesman. It first launched in Japan before reaching the United States and Europe, becoming a hit worldwide. Building on that success, Commodore released the C64, featuring the powerful SID sound chip and far more memory than its competitors. Marketed again under Tomczyk’s direction at a price under six hundred dollars, the C64 became one of the best-selling computers of all time, driving Commodore’s revenue past a billion dollars and securing its place in computing history.

    TCW 2025 Livestream: https://youtu.be/BXXAhEVD4Lk

    TCW 165 - Allied Leisure: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/allied-leisure/

    TCW 172 - The Computer Price Wars Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-price-wars-part-1/

    TCW 173 - The Computer Price Wars Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-2/

    TCW 174 - The Computer Price Wars Part 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-computer-wars-part-3/

    TCW 130 - Uncle Clive's Radionics: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/uncle-clives-radionics/

    TCW 131 - Sir Clive of ZX: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sir-clive-of-zx/

    KIM-1 Computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMxOWngmy8I

    The 8-Bit Guy - Commodore PET: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP9y_7it3ZM

    The 8-Bit Guy - Commodore VIC-20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg04GyhS3ss

    The 8-Bit Guy - Commodore C64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpXFB8ZEH30

    Commodore VIC-20 Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak0YU8ymkBc

    Wiliam Shatner VIC-20 Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JAU9Ntpoms

    Commodore 64 Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd_yiMhu1DM

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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 History of Commodore Pt 1 Oct 15, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 244 - The History of Commodore Pt 1

    We kick off our look at Commodore with the story of its founder, Jack Tramiel. A Holocaust survivor who emigrated to the United States, Tramiel began repairing lamps and typewriters before founding a typewriter import business in Toronto. His early success was nearly undone by the Atlantic Acceptance financial scandal, which forced him into partnership with investor Irving Gould. Commodore’s venture into calculators nearly bankrupted the company, but the acquisition of MOS Technology set the stage for its move into computers. This episode explores the corporate maneuvering, twists of fate, and personal drive that shaped Commodore’s early years. Featuring audience input, it’s the start of a lively three-part (and possibly four-part) deep dive into one of computing’s most fascinating companies.

    TCW 2025 Livestream: https://youtu.be/BXXAhEVD4Lk

    Jack Tramiel 1983 Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5skpKlVOqc

    Commodore - A Company On The Edge by Brian Bagnall: https://archive.org/details/commodorecompany0000bagn/page/n1/mode/2up

    Computer Chronicles Revisited - SMOliva: https://computerchronicles.blog/post/computer-chronicles-revisited-107-koalapainter-the-wine-steward-skate-or-die-master-composer-keyboard-controlled-sequencer/#the-atlantic-acceptance-scandal-and-irving-goulds-takeover

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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/


    RCA Studio II Oct 01, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 243 - RCA Studio II

    The RCA Studio II emerged from the company’s faltering computer division and the vision of engineer Joseph Weisbecker, who had long dreamed of personal computing after reading "Giant Brains or Machines That Think". He developed FRED at home, a TTL-based hobby computer. A later iteration using the COSMAC microprocessor inspired his daughter Joyce, who went onto program Studio II games, and RCA’s forays into coin-op experiments like the Fredotronic. With the development of the CMOS-based COSMAC chip, RCA built trainers like the MicroTutor and kits like the COSMAC ELF, but the Studio II became their entry into the console market. Innovative in concept but hampered by primitive graphics, the system faced FCC challenges delaying release. The console launched in 1977 against the Channel F and Atari VCS, it struggled to find success, though its technology lived on in Taiwan and European licensed systems. Much of its history was later uncovered by researcher Kevin Bunch, which saved the Studio II from being just a footnote in video game history.

    Mechanical Televisions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5OANXk-6-w

    32 Line Mechanical TCV Popeye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozpBDOBXiPs

    TCW 096 - Hello Big Blue: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/hello-big-blue/

    TCW 026 - The Magnavox Odyssey: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-magnavox-odyssey/

    RCA Spectra 70: https://d1yx3ys82bpsa0.cloudfront.net/brochures/rca.spectra70.1965.102646099.pdf

    Project Gutenberg - Giant Brains or Machines That Think: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/68991/pg68991-images.html

    Radio Electronics - Simon Computer: https://vintagecomputer.net/simon.cfm

    Think-a-Dot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think-a-Dot

    RCA System 00 and FRED: https://www.retrotechnology.com/memship/cosmac_system_00.html

    Fredotronic: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/2021/10/13/home-to-the-arcade-a-perfect-translation/

    RCA MicroTutor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCXQZY8XCK8

    Popular Electronics - COSNAC ELF: https://archive.org/details/197608PopularElectronics_20181123

    Popular Electronics - COSMAC ELF (Condensed): https://archive.org/details/popular-electronics-cosmac-elf/page/n15/mode/2up

    Building a COSMAC ELF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npvkHmTo_1U

    COSMAC VIP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDnufgeONYg

    (Atari Archive has examples of all games and many of the things we talk about!)

    Atari Archive - EP01 - The Story of RCA FRED and the Studio II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o35y6W9hI-o

    Atari Archive - EP02 - The History of RCA's Commercial Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXIoi1QAcoY

    RCA Studio II: http://videogamekraken.com/rca-studio-ii

    RCA Studio II Console Tour & Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJkedjfK4aQ

    M-1200 (RCA Studio III): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NstUUSIwUwY

    Star Wars (Studio II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FYKkCkNZOY

    Pinball (MPT-02 - Studio III): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b3LO41z7ks

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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/


    Fumito Ueda Sep 15, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 242- Fumito Ueda

    Fumito Ueda entered game design through art rather than a love of traditional play. Influenced by titles like Flashback and Another World, he sought to tell stories with minimal interfaces and expansive environments rich in mood. After early work on D and Enemy Zero, Sony gave him a trial period that led to ICO, a game shaped by surreal landscapes inspired by Giorgio de Chirico and a hand-holding mechanic to convey emotional connection. ICO struggled in Japan but became a critical hit abroad, influencing games from Uncharted 3, The Last of Us, Dark Souls, and Journey. Ueda expanded his ideas in Shadow of the Colossus, a meditation on cruelty and consequence that inspired epic boss battles in other franchises such as God of War. His long-delayed The Last Guardian explored companionship through a giant creature, though with mixed reception. Now independent, Ueda continues to shape gaming with projects yet to be revealed.

    Punch Out (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T8hoeVpdV0

    Space Harrier (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEWGnj12GO4

    The Legend of Zelda (Famicom Disc System): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsmXV06PwnM

    Smash Ping Pong (Famicom): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd5QSxyG3Z0

    Flashback (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTnRM77XuE

    Another World (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLC_Un9lNPw

    D's Diner - Director's Cut (3DO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7G1NuWciEE

    Enemy Zero (SEGA Saturn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkfgDNihZ0

    PaRappa the Rapper (PSX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97k0Dy8JweM

    Prince of Persia (Game Boy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thAmYGc37pA

    Virtua Fighter (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7HQ2vspMHA

    Hello Pac-Man (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5IOwrutZmM

    Lemmings (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuiyFXMjGxA

    Chuck Jones - The Evolution of an Artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHpXle4NqWI

    ICO Leap of Faith (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWr_7CoIzY

    Giorgio de Chirico: https://www.wikiart.org/en/giorgio-de-chirico/all-works

    ICO cover - Japan: https://www.mobygames.com/game/5158/ico/cover/group-79093/cover-214724/

    Uncharted 3 (PS5): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZFYTHMsLUc

    Zelda Twilight Princess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJPhioaehIY

    Journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkL94nKSd2M

    FEZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm9XRDlNDK4

    The Last of Us (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJPKTCpL1ws

    Prince of Persia - The Sands of Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34s9b6sLMjk

    Dark Souls (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdpdkd2eNmE
    ICO (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIzZkGP3SUk

    Grand Theft Auto 3 (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZMyBAjQ-QE
    Shadow of the Colossus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiB8MEJN-QU

    God of War 2 (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pgks8w-HK8

    The Last Guardian (PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ssIkVxg_k

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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 First 10 Years of European Consoles Sep 01, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 241 - The First 10 Years of European Consoles

    The first decade of European consoles began with imports of the Magnavox Odyssey, but soon local experiments took shape. In Spain, the Overkal may have been tied to a possible attempt to bring the Odyssey into the country, though no hard evidence survives, and it is generally treated as a local product. Across Europe, companies like Videomaster in the UK, Zanussi in Italy, and Interton and Grundig in Germany built dedicated ball-and-paddle systems. Many went beyond Pong using discrete logic hardware to support more advanced play, a technical achievement later supplanted by programmable consoles. A key shift came when General Instrument’s Scottish branch developed the “Pong on a Chip,” enabling mass-produced systems like Videomaster’s Superscore and Zanussi’s Play-O-Tronic. By the late 1970s, firms such as Philips, Radofin, and Hanimex moved into programmable systems like the Videopac. The arrival of Atari, Mattel, and other American companies displaced Europe's fragmented but inventive hardware scene, but the North American video game crash killed their systems at the same time European gamers were shifting their focus to home computers.

    TCW 105 - The Big Voice of Magnavox: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-big-voice-of-magnavox/

    TCW 106 - The Small Voice of Magnavox: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-small-voice-of-magnavox/

    TCW 177 - The Intellivision Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-intellivision-part-1/

    TCW 178 - The Intellivision Part 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-intellivision-part-2

    TCW 076 - A Fairchild Story: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-fairchild-story/

    Overkal: https://prehistoricgaming.com/en/overkal-console/

    Interton Video 2000: https://www.pong-story.com/v2000.htm

    GI Gemini Systems: https://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm

    RCA Studio III Variants: http://videogamekraken.com/rca-studio-iii-by-rca

    Philips Videopac G7000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgG9F9SsgCw

    Interton VC 4000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yqVcULUqOU

    Radofin Programable Video System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCFYLfQrC0

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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/


    Nintendo: Playing with Mii & Wii Aug 15, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 240 - Nintendo: Playing with Mii & Wii

    From DS touch-and-stylus play to living-room motion, we trace Nintendo's road to Wii. Nintendogs and Brain Age broadened the audience to parents and grandparents. After cold receptions at Microsoft and Sony, inventor Tom Quinn's Gyration motion tech found a home at Nintendo, and internal prototypes were so fun they became Wii Sports, Wii Play, and Wii Fit. The reveal timeline runs from Reggie Fils-Aime's 2004 E3 DS debut and "Revolution" tease, to a controller-free console showing at E3 2005, to the surprise Wii Remote reveal during Iwata's Tokyo Game Show keynote, and the full unveiling at E3 2006. Built on refined GameCube internals, the Wii favored low cost, low noise, and always-on convenience, with Miis inspired by Japanese wooden dolls (Kokeshi) and a channel interface modeled on a TV wall to invite quick, family-friendly play.

    Iwata Asks: https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/
    Nintendogs (DS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb5j2v10eYs
    Nintendogs (DS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb5j2v10eYs

    Brain Age (DS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EeU92dl9ME

    Donkey Kong Bongos & Donkey Konga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64YSuP6G1Uw

    Wii Sports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp9l7J6w9iE

    Wii Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfz-l5GI-v4

    Wii Fit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDfXealVJyg

    Kokeshi Dolls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2NIA5GNvfo
    Nintendo Wii User Interface Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCU1gB3Xdv4

    E3 2004 Reggie Fils-Aimé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89GB6bC9_N4

    E3 2004 Satoru Iwata Revolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33BGyhn_ryw
    E3 2005 Nintendo Revolution (Wii): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt8CBYAnMYc

    Nintendo - Tokyo Game Show 2005: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdgW4Ox71fw

    E3 2006 Sony Ridge Racer!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaBUeINW_3s

    E3 2006 Sony Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaWptXzfETo
    E3 2006 Nintendo Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Ldhg7swgA

    Wii Console and Accessories (E3 2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pOGKxFD1C8

    Wii Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLOccBorPsA

    Wii Would Like to Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBOFhmjTgvY

    Link's Crossbow Training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHgyRGeUKxg

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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/


    Nintendo: Wii Were Struggling Aug 01, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 239 - Nintendo: Wii Were Struggling

    Nintendo’s struggle for cultural relevance in the lead-up to the Wii was marked by the N64’s poor fit for Japanese homes and the GameCube’s failure to outsell even the fledgling Xbox globally. Internally, a power struggle unfolded as Hiroshi Yamauchi prepared to retire. Former Sharp executive Atsushi Asada was brought in and became Executive Vice President and later Chairman of the Board. Satoru Iwata, whom Yamauchi saw great potential in, was appointed president of HAL Laboratory as part of a Yamauchi-backed bailout and ultimately succeeded Yamauchi as president of Nintendo. Minoru Arakawa was passed over, removed from the board, and after his retirement, replaced at Nintendo of America by Tatsumi Kimishima, who was later placed on the board himself, giving credence to the idea that Arakawa was pushed aside in favor of Iwata. We explore how, despite not facing financial collapse, Nintendo risked losing its creative identity after two struggling consoles and Sony's rising threat to its handheld dominance.

    Iwata Asks Interviews: https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/

    Simpsons all you can eat Court Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqT-AvswCZo

    TCW 153 - Nintendo Playing with Cards: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-cards/

    TCW 154 - Nintendo Playing with Controversy: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-controversy/

    TCW 155 - Nintendo Playing with Toys: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-toys/

    TCW 014 - Nintendo Playing with Power: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-playing-with-power/

    TCW 128 - Nintendo in 1985: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-in-1985/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

    TCW 037 - Nintendo and Gumpei Yokoi: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/nintendo-and-gunpei-yokoi/

    TCW 063 - Lawsuits for Nintendo: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/lawsuits-for-nintendo/

    TCW 068 - SEGA vs Nintendo Round 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-1/

    TCW 069 - SEGA vs Nintendo Round 2: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-2

    TCW 070 - SEGA vs Nintendo Round 3: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sega-vs-nintendo-round-3

    TCW 198 - The History of Handheld Games Part 1: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-history-of-handheld-games-part-1/

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

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

    Business Card CDs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_QTo6L9dA

    GameCube Controller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameCube_controller

    Kirby's Dreamland (NES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXM4EPbPe0

    Shmuplations - Satoru Iwata - 1999 Developer Interview: https://shmuplations.com/iwata/

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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/


    Quake Jul 15, 2025
    Show notes

    TCW Podcast Episode 238 - Quake

    We dive into the development of Quake, the ambitious and turbulent follow-up to Doom from ID Software. John Carmack set out to build a groundbreaking engine featuring full 3D rendering, dynamic lighting, and client-server multiplayer. This pushed the technical boundaries in a pre-GPU world. To achieve this, he brought in legendary programmer Michael Abrash from Microsoft, selling him on the vision of Quake as a step toward the metaverse as imagined in Snow Crash. Meanwhile, John Romero envisioned Quake as a fantasy RPG inspired by a character from his D&D campaign, but lack of direction and his growing obsession with Deathmatch led to team frustration and eventual fallout. The result was a game that redefined first-person shooters and laid the groundwork for decades of engine development. It also marked the end of an era at ID with the ouster of John Romero.

    TCW 030 - DOOM!: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/doom-1479057917/

    TCW 197 - The ID of Game Development: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-id-of-game-development/

    Doom States and DeHackEd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTa3diypjv4

    P2P vs Dedicated Servers?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt3ZLHKcP2U

    Token Ring - The Betamax of Networking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjLctlmZSp4

    Artie - The Strongest Man In the World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6Bh3LskNbs

    Space Strike (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtDdEuKFQps

    Cosmic Crusader (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKOTa5iQAw8

    Big Top (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXUCacgF72M

    Snack Attack II (DOS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu-SEjcnnjo

    So You Haven't Read "Snow Crash": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO64ZhBYy9E

    Ramblings in Realtime by Michael Abrash: https://www.bluesnews.com/abrash/

    QuakeWorld Launch Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXw6BkZ-gdY

    Quake (DOS 6.22): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyLC1vR9oGk

    Quake Longplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GagGXXUtI

    Excerpt Quake Postmortem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2OE-74bTQw

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

    TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

    Twitter: @tcwpodcast

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

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

    Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: 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/


    Previous 1 2 3 4 5 27 Next

    Related Podcasts

    Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History

    1

    Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History History
    More Perfect

    2

    More Perfect Government
    Casefile True Crime

    3

    Casefile True Crime Games & Hobbies
    The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

    4

    The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe History
    BackStory

    5

    BackStory History
    The Black Dahlia Serial Killers

    6

    The Black Dahlia Serial Killers History
    footer-logo

    Contact Us

    Toll Free: 844-670-7747

    Links

    • Home
    • Top Charts
    • Networks
    • Apps
    • Independents Podcasts
    • Podcast Advertising
    • Podcast News
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Analytics & Insights

    Stay Connected

      Privacy, Terms of Use & Our Code of Ethics Protecting Content Creators Copyrights