July 2020

Aug 6, 2020

Activision launches the third party publisher business
EA bets big on Sega
and
Microsoft nabs Halo

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 July 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..

Send comments on twitter @videogamenewsr2
Or
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm
Or
[e-mail]

And if you like what we are doing here at the podcast, don't forget to like us on your podcasting app of choice, YouTube, and/or support us on patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=7594060

Links:
1980:
Summer CES sees attendance drop
Toys, Hobbies & Crafts, July 1980, pg. 7

Coleco sales reach $136 million
Plaything magazine, July 1980, pg. 11

Activision launches its first four games
Plaything magazine, July 1980

Missile Command is targeting 50 cent play
Replay July 1980, pg. 27
https://archive.org/details/Atari_Coin_Connection_Volume_4_Number_7_July_1980

Midway sues Universal over Cosmic Alien
Replay July, 1980, pg. 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhYVcwhSWjI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ4rC_gAWPM
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7398

Japan is stepping up chip production
Plaything magazine, July 1980

Computers are doing graphics... and some even in color
https://www.nytimes.com/1980/07/06/archives/computers-that-draw-pictures-some-even-work-in-color-the-computers.html?searchResultPosition=3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Catmull

Zork is coming!
https://books.google.de/books?id=Uj4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT8&dq=infoworld+1980+june&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwia9sbu7p3qAhXQ3KQKHfFBA5IQ6AEwAHoECAAQAg#v=onepage&q=infoworld%201980%20june%20zork&f=false
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zork

Zork's Z-Machine explained
https://archive.org/details/CreativeComputingbetterScan198007/page/n81/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-machine
https://www.mobygames.com/game/zork-the-great-underground-empire

Playing D&D on a computer is super easy
https://archive.org/details/CreativeComputingbetterScan198007/page/n67/mode/2up
https://classicreload.com/dungeon-masters-assistant-vol-1-encounters.html
https://www.mobygames.com/game/neverwinter-nights

1990:
Play Meter features PlayChoice
Play Meter, July 1990, pg. 29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayChoice-10

NEC signs ICOM to develop for TG16 CD
Plaything, July 1990, pg. 10
https://www.mobygames.com/company/rabid-entertainment-inc

EA goes 16 bit on Genesis
Plaything, July 1990, pg. 10
https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/genesis/electronic-arts-inc/
https://videogamenewsroomtimemachine.libsyn.com/michael-katz-interview-part-2

Mario goes four colors
Playthings, July 1990
https://archive.org/details/NintendoComicsSystemBookCollection/mode/2up

Nintendo sues Galoob over Game Genie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Galoob_Toys,_Inc._v._Nintendo_of_America,_Inc.
Toys and Hobby, July 1990, pg. 14

9 year old sues Nintendo... and LJN... and Major League Baseball
https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Computer_Entertainment_Issue_18_July_1990 pg. 22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1F0bh4aVhQ

Tynesoft goes bust
https://archive.org/details/CommodoreUserIssue821990July/page/n91/mode/2up
https://www.mobygames.com/company/tynesoft-computer-software
http://www.stairwaytohell.com/articles/KBlake.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dJXgJ1c4vY
https://www.mobygames.com/game/superman-the-game
https://www.mobygames.com/game/superman-the-man-of-steel__

Nuclear War is coming to the C64
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_73/page/n19/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game/nuclear-war
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/nuclear-war/

Infocom is no more
https://archive.org/details/thegamesmachine-32/page/n77/mode/2up

Apogee offers free "try-out" games
https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Computer_Entertainment_Issue_18_July_1990 pg. 22

2000:
Sony announces $300 launch price
https://archive.org/details/NextGen67Jul2000/page/n20/mode/1up
https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Launch_price

Bleem gets court order against Sony
https://archive.org/details/NextGen67Jul2000/page/n19/mode/1up

Bleem is coming to the Dreamcast
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20132%20%28July%202000%29#page/n41/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleem!

Bleem on Xbox?
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20132%20%28July%202000%29#page/n43/mode/1up
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-12-11-the-history-of-bleem

Microsoft buys Bungie
https://archive.org/details/MicromanaTerceraEpocaSpanishIssue66/page/n3/mode/1up
https://web.archive.org/web/20060502035147/http://bungie.net/Inside/CustomPage.aspx?section=History&subsection=Main&page=6

The Sims gets an expansion pack
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_192/page/n35/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game-group/sims-1-series
https://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2013/03/17/bacon-wrapped-weapons-for-call-of-duty/

Can you smell what the iSmell is cooking?
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_192/page/n35/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISmell

Microprose halts development of M1 Tank Platoon 3
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-2000-07/page/n8/mode/1up
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076257/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac

New Internet Computer Company releases a new internet computer
https://archive.org/details/MicromanaTerceraEpocaSpanishIssue66/page/n15/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Internet_Computer

Logitech launches Personal Broadcasting software
https://archive.org/details/MicromanaTerceraEpocaSpanishIssue66/page/n15/mode/1up
https://www.itreseller.ch/Artikel/3902/Logitech_Video_fuer_jedermann.html
https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/56459-98
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2002/05/13/daily31.html

Micromania magazine has a guide to online abbreviations and emoticons.
https://archive.org/details/MicromanaTerceraEpocaSpanishIssue66/page/n15/mode/1up

Infogrames kills GT Interactive
https://archive.org/details/NextGen67Jul2000/page/n20/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari,_Inc._(Atari_SA_subsidiary)

 

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.