August 2020

Aug 27, 2020

Ethernet heralds a new age of networked computing
Sonic the Hedgehog is coming...
Playstation2 gets a US launchdate

These stories and many more on this month's episode of the Video Game Newsroom Time Machine

This month we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in August of 1980, 1990, 2000.
As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events..

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Links:
1980:
Stern Electronics gets into video
RePlay August 1980, pg. 7
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stern_(game_company)#Stern_Electronics

Nintendo signs distribution deal with Far East Video
RePlay August 1980, pg. 25
https://moneyppl.com/two-washington-frat-boys-became-millionaire-arcade-game-distributors/1238/

Musee Mecanique featured in Atari Coin Connection
https://archive.org/details/Atari_Coin_Connection_Volume_4_Number_8_August_1980/page/n2/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_M%C3%A9canique
https://museemecanique.com/

RePlay magazine profiles Argentine coin-op operator
RePlay August 1980, pg. 17
http://www.sacoacard.com/press_release/playmetercoverstory.html

Handheld games take to TV
Plaything August 1980, pg. 27 pg. 33
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYovW27KBC8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p49nY1dyq2M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwt9Lk6e-7s

Fantasy and strategy games are booming
Toys Hobbies & Crafts August 1980, pg. 45

D&D implicated in student's death
https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/18/archives/brilliant-computer-student-dies-from-gun-wound-intellectual-fantasy.html?searchResultPosition=4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dallas_Egbert_III
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dungeon_Master
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazes_and_Monsters
https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=0046

Ethernet is here!
https://archive.org/details/CreativeComputingbetterScan198008/page/n18/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet

Radio Shack expands TRS-80 line
https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/01/archives/radio-shack-broadens-its-home-computer-line-broadening-a-threeway.html?searchResultPosition=2h
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandy_Pocket_Computer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80_Color_Computer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80_Model_II
https://archive.org/details/80-microcomputing-magazine-1980-08/page/n7/mode/1up

The fourth Hypertext conference takes playce in Pennsylvania
https://archive.org/details/CreativeComputingbetterScan198008/page/n22/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Xanadu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Nelson

SoftSide becomes a real boy... I mean magazine and advertises Mystery House from On-Line Systems! https://www.mobygames.com/game/hi-res-adventure-1-mystery-house
https://archive.org/details/softside-magazine-23/page/n4/mode/1up

Cryptologist funding cut
https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/27/archives/science-agency-blocks-funds-to-aid-research-on-computer-coding.html?searchResultPosition=3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Adleman

1990:
MGT enters receivership
https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue35Aug90/page/n6/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_105_1990-08_EMAP_Publishing_GB/page/n9/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAM_Coup%C3%A9
https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine-79/page/n13/mode/1up

ST CD to take on CDTV sans CDi
https://archive.org/details/zero-magazine-10/page/n8/mode/1up
https://www.maedicke.de/atari/hardware/cdar504.htm

Wingleader gets in depth previews
https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue35Aug90/page/n38/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game/wing-commander

Leisure Suit Larry is going to the movies
https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue35Aug90/page/n8/mode/1up
https://videogamenewsroomtimemachine.libsyn.com/al-lowe-interview

Sierra remakes King's Quest 1
https://archive.org/details/zero-magazine-10/page/n8/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game/roberta-williams-kings-quest-i-quest-for-the-crown

Nolan Bushnell wants to bring VR to the masses within three years
https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue35Aug90/page/n8/mode/1up

And Bushnell also wants to bring TV to your screen...
https://www.inc.com/magazine/19890901/5784.html
https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue35Aug90/page/n9/mode/1up

Super Famicom gets a release date
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20013%20%28August%201990%29#page/n24/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System

British developer Argonaut rumored to be developing 3D graphics for Nintendo
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_105_1990-08_EMAP_Publishing_GB/page/n8/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/company/argonaut-games-plc

First preview shot of Sonic the Headgehog revealed
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20013%20%28August%201990%29#page/n26/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game/sonic-the-hedgehog

Mike Tyson dropped from Punch Out
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20013%20%28August%201990%29#page/n24/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch-Out!!_(NES)

Konami introduces the Laser Scope
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20013%20%28August%201990%29#page/n32/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaserScope

2000:
PS2 North American launch date announced
https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3955-gamepro-issue-143-august-2000/ pg. 28
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2

Sony launches PSOne
https://archive.org/details/NextGen68Aug2000/page/n10/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_models#PS_One

Sega restrucuters and has a new president
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20133%20%28August%202000%29#page/n53/mode/1up

Sega offers $50 refund to Dreamcast owners that sign up for free month of internet service
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20133%20%28August%202000%29#page/n45/mode/1up

Sega shows off Dreamcast DVD drive and MP3 VMU at E3
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20133%20%28August%202000%29#page/n47/mode/1up
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20133%20%28August%202000%29#page/n53/mode/1up

CGW talks GOTCHA
http://mechanar.com/gotcha/menu.htm
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_193/page/n42/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,107204/

Paul Steed fired from id
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_193/page/n41/mode/1up
https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7315
https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,1065/

South Korea to promote game development
https://archive.org/details/NextGen68Aug2000/page/n16/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_games_in_South_Korea

Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption gets pilloried in tests
https://archive.org/details/NextGen68Aug2000/page/n85/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:_The_Masquerade_%E2%80%93_Redemption

Looking Glass closes its doors
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_193/page/n36/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_193/page/n37/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looking_Glass_Studios

Recommended Links:
Gaming Alexandria: https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/
They Create Worlds: https://tcwpodcast.podbean.com/
Digital Antiquarian: https://www.filfre.net/
The Arcade Blogger: https://arcadeblogger.com/
The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
Retro Asylum: http://retroasylum.com/category/all-posts/
Retro Game Squad: http://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/

Sound Effects by Ethan of History of How We Play.