May 1982

Jun 26, 2022

Magnavox debuts the Odyssey
Sinclair goes color with the Spectrum
Gamers grow up

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 May 1982.
As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events.

Mads from the Retro Asylum is our cohost. You can find his other fine podcasts here:
http://retroasylum.com
and
https://playthroughpod.com/

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Links:
7 Minutes in Heaven: Fantasy
Video Version - https://www.patreon.com/posts/7-minutes-in-may-68261930
https://www.mobygames.com/game/fantasy

Corrections:
April 1982 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/66505131
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_game
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko
https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/tag/spacewar/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-first-popular-video-game-kicked-off-generations-virtual-adventure-180971020/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanders_Associates
https://www.samsung.com/uk/tvs/tv-buying-guide/what-size-tv-should-i-get/

1942
LaGuardia thinks pinball is responsible for naked cops
https://www.nytimes.com/1942/05/18/archives/brass-in-a-pinball-device-equals-77-police-buttons.html?searchResultPosition=1

1952
JetLink flight trainer gets updated for the computer age
https://www.nytimes.com/1952/05/29/archives/jet-link-trainer-undergoing-tests-earthbound-classroom-is-able-to.html?searchResultPosition=2

1972
Magnavox debuts the Odyssey
https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/11/archives/magnavox-unveils-tv-game-simulator.html?searchResultPosition=1

Nolan Bushnell signs Magnavox demo visitor log
Ralph Baer - Video Games: In the Beginning pg. 76

1982
Tron to bring computer graphics to the big screen
https://archive.org/details/InterfaceAge198205/page/n71/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/Softline_1982_05/page/n27/mode/1up

Disney sues over Robotron
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/04/business/disney-title-suit.html?searchResultPosition=4

Inflation and dwindling manufacturing is killing coin op profit margins
Replay May 1982 pg. 14,
Play Meter May 15, 1982, pg. 24

New Jersey arcade age restriction unconstitutional
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/01/nyregion/the-region-video-game-law-upset-in-jersey.html?searchResultPosition=2

Increasing legal action banning games unites industry
Play Meter May 1, 1982, pg. 15
Play Meter May 1, 1982 pg. 39

Midway eyeing legal action against video game books
Play Meter May 1, 1982, pg. 24

Chuck E Cheese opens 100th store
Play Meter May 1, 1982, pg. 25

Arcade games advertised in Electronic Games magazine
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGames/Electronic%20Games%20Issue%203%20%28May%201982%29/page/n13/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGames/Electronic%20Games%20Issue%203%20%28May%201982%29/page/n99/mode/2up

Bally announces Mr. and Mrs. Pacman Pinball
Games People Pay Late May 1982 pg. 5
https://pinside.com/pinball/machine/mr-and-mrs-pac-man

VCS Pacman is racking up sales
Play Meter, May 15, 1982, pg. 36

Bally signs deal with CBS
Games People Pay Late May 1982 pg. 5
RePlay May 1982, pg. 17

CountUp to the Crash
Coleco announces entry into VCS and Intellivision market
https://archive.org/details/creativecomputing-1982-05/page/n77/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-2600/pac-man

Games by Apollo has problems with their freshman title
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGames/Electronic%20Games%20Issue%203%20%28May%201982%29/page/n8/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/company/apollo-inc

Mattel's sales soar
Playthings, May 5, 1982, pg. 15
Toy & Hobby World April-May 1982

Video Technology Ltd. introduces the Creativision
https://archive.org/details/creativecomputing-1982-05/page/n75/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTech_CreatiVision
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzpAz0-U3eo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_TMS9918

Industry survey shows 50% of electronic users are adults
Playthings May 5, 1982, pg. 40

ZX Spectrum premieres at Earl's Court
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1982-05-06/page/n4/mode/1up

Grundy launches the NewBrain
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1982-05-06/page/n4/mode/1up

Software piracy spawns an industry
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/09/business/copycatting-in-the-software-patch.html?searchResultPosition=8

Apple sues copycat
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/14/business/apple-computer-is-suing-franklin.html?searchResultPosition=2
https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1070
https://archive.org/details/softalkv2n09may1982/page/76/mode/1up

Apple pushes for tax code change
https://archive.org/details/1982-05-compute-magazine/page/n9/mode/1up
http://hackeducation.com/2015/02/25/kids-cant-wait-apple

Apple cancels distribution deals
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/07/business/apple-is-upheld-on-termination.html?searchResultPosition=3
https://archive.org/details/softalkv2n09may1982/page/n168/mode/1up

SSI introduces yearly updates
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_2.3/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_2.3/page/n5/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/strategic-simulations-inc/offset,200/so,1d/list-games/

Wizardry continues with Knight of Diamonds
https://archive.org/details/softalkv2n09may1982/page/14/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/Softline_1982_05/page/n15/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game/wizardry-knight-of-diamonds-the-second-scenario
https://www.theycreateworlds.com/transcripts/tcw114

Scott Adams' updates Adventureland
https://archive.org/details/1982-05-compute-magazine/page/n181/mode/1up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iytuoI001Cg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmD2lT5oeOE
https://www.mobygames.com/game/scott-adams-graphic-adventure-1-adventureland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speak_%26_Spell_(toy)
https://www.indieretronews.com/2021/12/stunt-car-racer-classic-stunt-car-game.html

EA is born!
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6935981871193341953/

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/

Sound Effects by Ethan Johnson of History of How We Play.

Copyright Karl Kuras

 

Find out on the VGNRTM
https://www.patreon.com/posts/68285778
https://videogamenewsroomtimemachine.libsyn.com/april-1982