The Video Game Newsroom Time Machine is a weekly retro gaming podcast in which we travel back in time to see what was making headlines 40, 30, and 20 years ago in the arcade, video game, and computer gaming business and interview industry veterans.
We try to put those events into historical context to understand how the industry of today came to be.
It's fun and educational! (in case you need to justify listening to it to a significant other)
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Mar 17, 2024
Commodore hits the skids,
Sega bets big on entertainment centers &
The emulation revolution is born!
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 January 1994.
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/
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https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book
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Links:
If you don't see all the links, find them here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/100523595
7 Minutes in Heaven: Cliffhanger
Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/100523418
TV ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EAfkdgcxb4
https://www.mobygames.com/game/23868/cliffhanger/
Corrections:
December 1993 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/december-1993-99076522
Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108255/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_q_super%2520mario%2520bro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_Game_Pak
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RedOctane
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070232374A1/
https://www.mobygames.com/game/15033/donkey-konga/
1993:
Sega goes all in on big arcades
"(January 17, 1994). Sega plans amusement parks for ASEAN countries. Report From Japan. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3SKM-Y8R0-004C-929W-00000-00&context=1516831.
Yomiuri Shimbun. (January 1, 1994, Saturday). Sega, French superhero; open amusement centers. The Daily Yomiuri. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3SC6-V1K0-001X-J1FP-00000-00&context=1516831."
Play Meter Jan. 1994, pg. 2
https://www.facebook.com/sega.megapolis/
Blockbuster gets in on FEC biz
Replay Jan. 1994 pg. 2
https://parkrovers.com/home/2020/10/18/blockbusters-failed-indoor-theme-park
VR, meet redemption, redemption, meet VR
Play Meter Jan. 1994, pg. 2
Karaoke wars heat up in Japan
(January 19, 1994). 'Karaoke wars' intensifies. Report From Japan. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3SKM-Y8P0-004C-9293-00000-00&context=1516831.
NBA Jam beats records
Play Meter Jan. 1994, pg. 2
Japanese recession hitting video game makers
Play Meter Jan. 1994, pg. 18
SF2 Turbo ships a million units
https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_054_January_1994 p. 259
Acclaim numbers skyrocket
https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_054_January_1994 p. 259
Microsoft signs deal with Sega
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/18/business/company-news-microsoft-will-supply-software-for-sega.html
https://microsoft.fandom.com/wiki/Sega_Saturn#Microsoft_technology
https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_08/page/n25/mode/2up
https://segaretro.org/Windows_CE
Namco signs on to Playstation
Play Meter Jan. 1994, pg. 20
https://www.mobygames.com/game/company:1043/platform:playstation/sort:-date/page:1/
Sony reveals PSX stats
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20054%20%28January%201994%29/page/n67/mode/2up
NEC reveals PCFX stats
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20054%20%28January%201994%29/page/n67/mode/2up
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=cv914932bsf7di7a8k17n7oqoj&topic=1420.0
https://retrocdn.net/images/6/60/Edge_UK_004.pdf pg. 54
NeoGeo enters CDRom race
https://retrocdn.net/images/6/60/Edge_UK_004.pdf pg. 9
Konix Multisystem is back!!
https://retrocdn.net/images/6/60/Edge_UK_004.pdf pg. 7
Sega "delays" SegaVR
https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_054_January_1994 p. 259
Video Game monopoly inquiry begun in the UK
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-video-games-under-monopoly/77456435/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-video-game-monopoly-accusatio/92066281/
CDi finally gets Digital Video
https://retrocdn.net/images/6/60/Edge_UK_004.pdf pg. 8
Atari test markets expanded
https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1994.01/page/n113/mode/2up
Edge fawns over Cybermorph
https://retrocdn.net/images/6/60/Edge_UK_004.pdf pg. 60
Atari sues Sega
https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_054_January_1994 pg. 258
Lieberman bill a hidden threat during Senate hearings
Play Meter Jan. 1994, pg. 2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993%E2%80%9394_United_States_Senate_hearings_on_video_games#Video_Game_Rating_Act_of_1994
ELSPA agrees on ratings system
https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-069/page/n13/mode/2up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Association_for_UK_Interactive_Entertainment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEGI
X marks the spot for CDRom drives
https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1994-01_OCR/page/n41/mode/1up?view=theater
Sony launches CDR
https://archive.org/details/64er_1994_01/page/n8/mode/1up?view=theater
PCI becomes the new standard
https://archive.org/details/Power.Play.N70.1994.01 pg. 112
Tandy expands retail presence
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/13/business/company-news-tandy-will-hire-3600-adding-30-superstores.html
Apple adds DOS board
https://wiki.preterhuman.net/Apple_Now_Ships_Macintosh_Quadra_With_MS-DOS_and_Windows_Compatibility
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_Quadra_610
https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1994-01_OCR/page/n24/mode/1up?view=theater
Mac gamers get Y2K preview
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-01/page/n13/mode/2up
Chicago enters beta
https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1994-01_OCR/page/n23/mode/1up?view=theater
Novell gives up UNIX trademark
https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1994-01_OCR/page/n41/mode/1up?view=theater
Commodore numbers are bad
https://archive.org/details/commodoreproxystatement1994/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater
https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-069/page/n9/mode/2up
C64 emulator beta released
https://archive.org/details/64er_1994_01/page/n1/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/64er_1994_01/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater
Activision gets reboot fever
https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1994.01/page/n113/mode/2up
CES dominated by computers and games
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/10/business/for-consumers-multimedia-shines.html
Compton announces patent grant
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_114/page/n9/mode/2up
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/31/business/patent-barred-for-compton-s.html
Race for digital distribution is on!
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/19/business/company-news-in-terms-of-technology-viacom-might-have-an-edge.html
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_114/page/n9/mode/2up
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/18/business/company-news-gte-to-test-tv-services.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/14/nyregion/data-highway-accelerating-in-connecticut.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/13/business/company-news-digital-and-usa-video-in-market-test-of-new-technology.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/11/business/company-news-u-s-west-adds-to-voice-and-video-network-plan.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/24/business/the-media-business-hewlett-packard-to-get-big-pacific-bell-order.html
Other People's Money - https://youtu.be/62kxPyNZF3Q?si=Ez5F8ZTi_j4dneQx
US government pushes for open super highway
Play Meter Jan. 1994, pg. 2
Cable TV enters Internet age
Infoworld January 10, 1994 pg. 3
Multimedia boom doesn't lead to hiring boom
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/09/business/the-multimedia-job-mirage.html
Babylon 5 premieres
https://twitter.com/straczynski/status/1751061515875348865
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers are all the rage
Playthings, January 1994
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_Morphin_Power_Rangers
Anime is on the rise
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/14/arts/home-video-868930.html
EC bans imperial measurements
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-01/page/n5/mode/2up
X-Men movie casting rumor is awesome
https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1994.01/page/n113/mode/2up
Worst Ad of the Month:
Wolfenstein 3D - SNES
https://retrogamingaus.com/4326/video-game-ad-of-the-day-wolfenstein-3d-2
Quotes of the Month:
Virtual reality won't merely replace TV, it will eat it alive" Arthur C. Clarke
https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-069/page/n31/mode/2up
Recommended Links:
The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
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/
Retro Asylum: http://retroasylum.com/category/all-posts/
Retro Game Squad: http://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/
Playthrough Podcast: https://playthroughpod.com/
Retromags.com: https://www.retromags.com/
Games That Weren't - https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/
Sound Effects by Ethan Johnson of History of How We Play.
Copyright Karl Kuras