30 years ago: Computer industry booms as consoles slump, Nintendo announces Ultra64 & The internet gets scary 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 August 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/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book Get us on your mobile device: Android: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly92aWRlb2dhbWVuZXdzcm9vbXRpbWVtYWNoaW5lLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz iOS: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine 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/VGNRTM Send comments on Mastodon @
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[email protected] Links: If you don't see all the links, find them here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123352781/edit 7 Minutes in Heaven: Cliffhanger (Amiga) Video Version: https://youtu.be/KZ7J9qEpqxI https://www.mobygames.com/game/29830/cliffhanger/ Corrections: July 1994 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/july-1994-part-1-116538490 https://www.patreon.com/posts/july-1994-part-2-116538674 Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ Defunctland Jim Henson Series - https://youtu.be/BVoGf1JTVeI?si=PBwUInz2t7hBe-Eq https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_superhighway https://en.namu.wiki/w/RX-78%20Gundam https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/SPECIAL https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW164 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cook Wrestling with Games - XBAND - https://youtu.be/k_5M-z_RUKA?si=tuuDxPGj6GnTPc-B https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service) 1994: Canada to get their own ratings New VCR proves 6 heads are better than 1, The Toronto Star, August 11, 1994,Thursday, FINAL EDITION, Section: FAST FORWARD; Pg. F2, byline: BY ROBERT WRIGHT TORONTO STARON THE EDGE California presses forward with video game violence bill https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3018-egm2-issue-02-august-1994/ pg. 29 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-13-mn-45306-story.html IDSA board selected Mattel takes a second look at games Mattel Hires Sega Executive, The Associated Press, August 2, 1994, Tuesday, BC cycle Square goes public CORPORATE PROFILE: SQUARE, Jiji Press Ticker Service, AUGUST 5, 1994, FRIDAY Japanese companies playing with fire "As derivatives proliferate, so do worries Companies try to control risks from transactions intended to rein in costs but which can backfire, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), August 15, 1994, Section: FINANCE; Pg. 13, Byline: BY ASAKO ISHIBASHI Staff writer" Acclaim buys Valiant ACCLAIM ACQUIRES VOYAGER COMMUNICATIONS FOR $65 MILLION Marks Company's Diversification into Comic Book Publishing, Business Wire, August 2, 1994, Tuesday https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_book_collecting#Bust_of_the_speculator_market UK video rental market embraces games... illegally Games Spark Sagging U.K. Vid Biz; But Many Don't Have Licenses To Rent Them, Billboard, August 13, 1994, Section: HOME VIDEO; Pg. 76, Byline: BY PETER DEAN Sonic out to zap the 'swapping' boom, The Scotsman, August 23, 1994, Tuesday, Byline: By Chris Mullinger UK teens tune out to games MEDIA GUARDIAN: LUST FOR NASTIES AND HARD NEWS, The Guardian (London), August 8, 1994, Section: THE GUARDIAN FEATURES PAGE; Pg. T17 Sega announces US theme park Universal Teams With Sega on Theme Park, Disneyland Annex Scaled Back, The Associated Press, August 12, 1994, Friday, AM cycle, Section: Business News, Byline: By E. SCOTT RECKARD, AP Business Writer Report: Sega Plan to Open 50 High-Tech Theme Parks in U.S., The Associated Press, August 16, 1994, Tuesday, BC cycle, Section: Business News Sega buys Data East Pinball Sega acquires Data East Pinball, Business Wire, August 26, 1994, Friday Doom coming to arcades DOOM IS ALL AROUND US, Business Week, August 1, 1994, Business and Industry, Section: Pg. 72; https://doom.fandom.com/wiki/Trivia https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/112509-share-your-epic-doom-related-stories/ Atari Games President passes Play Meter, August 1994, pg. 32 Hasbro readies to enter VR market No Headline In Original, ADWEEK, August 15, 1994, Eastern Edition, Byline: By Jennifer Comiteau and Penny Warneford, with Cathy Taylor https://www.unseen64.net/2018/10/04/hasbro-toaster-virtual-reality-console/ Begone Project Reality, all hail Ultra 64 https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3018-egm2-issue-02-august-1994/ pg. 28 Sega teams up with Hitachi in Japan HITACHI SALES TO HELP SEGA MARKET VIDEO GAMES, Jiji Press Ticker Service, AUGUST 3, 1994, WEDNESDAY Sega, Hitachi Sales link up to sell video game machine, Japan Economic Newswire, AUGUST 3, 1994, WEDNESDAY Sega buys Cross Products The leading video game development tool, Business Wire, August 15, 1994, Monday https://segaretro.org/Cross_Products https://web.archive.org/web/19961227100911/http://www.crossprod.co.uk/ Jaguar CD to launch by Xmas https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3018-egm2-issue-02-august-1994/ pg. 29 ATARI CORP. ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 1994 RESULTS, PR Newswire, August 1, 1994, Monday - 19:55 Eastern Time, Section: Financial News Sanyo gives console market a TRY SANYO TO RELEASE INTERACTIVE GAME MACHINE TRY, Jiji Press Ticker Service, AUGUST 31, 1994, WEDNESDAY 3DO announces losses Video Game System Company Posts $ 16.1 Million First-Quarter Loss, The Associated Press, August 11, 1994, Thursday, AM cycle, Section: Business News COMPANY NEWS; SHARES OF 3DO SOAR ON FORECAST FOR NEW SYSTEM, The New York Times, August 24, 1994, Wednesday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Financial Desk, Section: Section D; ; Section D; Page 3; Column 1; Financial Desk ; Column 1; 3DO UNVEILS PLANS TO BOOST POWER OF GAME PLAYERS, WALL STREET JOURNAL, August 25, 1994, Thursday, Section: Section B; Page 8, Column 4, Byline: BY JIM CARLTON ANOTHER KEY EXEC DEPARTS O&M'S, INTERACTIVE GROUP; 3DO POWERS UP TO MEET COMPETITION; INTERACTING:; OTHER NEWS: Advertising Age, August 29, 1994, Section: Pg. 14 Mortal Friday gets $10 million budget ACCLAIM'S 'MORTAL KOMBAT II' PREPARED TO STRIKE ON 'MORTAL FRIDAY,' SEPTEMBER 9; Company Spending Over $10 Million on Global Launch, Business Wire, August 4, 1994, Thursday https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_121/page/n29/mode/2up Acclaim buys into FMV Playthings, August 1994, pg. 19 https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_061_August_1994/page/n157/mode/1up?view=theater Macromedia and Microware want to bring PCs and ITV together Agreement to Make Computer Programs Available for Interactive TV Use, The Associated Press, August 1, 1994, Monday, AM cycle, Section: Business News, Byline: By STEVEN P. ROSENFELD, AP Business Writer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macromedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microware Computer industry profits boom Not drowning, waving at profits, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), August 2, 1994 Tuesday, Late Edition, Section: COMPUTERS; Mass Storage; Pg. 34 SPA reports huge boom in sales "NORTH AMERICAN PC SOFTWARE SALES REACH $1.48 BILLION, IN FIRST QUARTER 1994; HOME EDUCATION SALES LEAD GROWTH -- UP 128%, PR Newswire, August 8, 1994, Monday - 14:29 Eastern Time, Section: Financial News" CDRom bundles discouraging sales Dataquest Consumer Survey Shows Where CD-ROM Title Developers Can Be Successful, Business Wire, August 8, 1994, Monday Sirius Publishing to release long-awaited 5-ft. 10-Pak Volume II, Business Wire, August 8, 1994, Monday https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-08/page/n15/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/14/mode/2up Flash memory prices tumbling Not drowning, waving at profits, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), August 2, 1994 Tuesday, Late Edition, Section: COMPUTERS; Mass Storage; Pg. 34 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory Cyrix to take on AMD Infoworld August 8, 1994, pg. 5 Employers begin to crackdown on games Games they play, The Times, August 1, 1994, Monday, Section: Business, Byline: Jon Ashworth Microsoft targets "loosely supervised Executives" SUNDAY, August 7, 1994; Playing Games at Work, The New York Times, August 7, 1994, Sunday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Magazine Desk, Section: Section 6; ; Section 6; Page 12; Column 1; Magazine Desk ; Column 1; MacPlay expands lineup Playthings, August 1994, pg. 44 Ad game business booming in Germany https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-08/page/n29/mode/2up Media Vision collapse profiled https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/10/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/12/mode/2up Victormaxx announces Cybermaxx Virtual Reality Headset For PCs A Reality, Newsbytes News Network, August 5, 1994 http://videogamekraken.com/cybermaxx-by-victormaxx Mice go 3D Echoes of Silicon Valley, Agence France Presse -- English, August 04, 1994 08:13 Eastern Time, Section: Domestic, non-Washington, general news item, Dateline: PALO ALTO, California, Aug 4 https://www.ebay.com/itm/304724946528 Microprose to bring Magic to PC IT'S IN THE CARDS' FOR MICROPROSE(R) AND WIZARDS OF THE COAST(R);PR Newswire, August 10, 1994, Wednesday - 17:23 Eastern Time, Section: State and Regional News https://www.mobygames.com/game/530/magic-the-gathering/ https://www.mobygames.com/game/6274/magic-the-gathering-battlemage/ Star Trek licenses are a mess https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/14/mode/2up TEN to bring SimCity online Total Entertainment Network will feature online debut of popular SimCity, game, Business Wire, August 10, 1994, Wednesday The web becomes a scary place E-mail evil, The Jerusalem Post, August 4, 1994, Thursday, Section: OPINION; Pg. 6, Byline: SANDY ROVNER Siliwood goes Online DISNEY, AMERITECH, BELLSOUTH AND SOUTHWESTERN BELL PLAN ALLIANCE TO DEVELOP AND OFFER VIDEO SERVICES, PR Newswire, August 8, 1994, Monday - 13:31 Eastern Time, Section: Financial News Fujitsu brings habitat back to USA Fujitsu to start 'cyberspace' game business in U.S., Japan Economic Newswire, AUGUST 10, 1994, WEDNESDAY Computer Porn outpacing UK lawmakers https://archive.org/details/Atari_ST_User_Issue_103_1994-08_Europress_GB/page/n39/mode/2up Labor promises telecommunications reform Party line for fun and games, The Times, August 5, 1994, Friday, Byline: Emma Woollacott https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Communications Interactive TV license purchasers default SOME TOP BIDDERS AT AIRWAVE AUCTION FAILING TO PAY UP, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania), AUGUST 12, 1994, FRIDAY, SOONER EDITION, Section: BUSINESS, Byline: BLOOMBERG BUSINESS NEWS Acorn enters set top box market https://archive.org/details/AcornUser145-Aug94/page/n7/mode/2up Ziff Davis buys Compute ZIFF-DAVIS ACQUIRES ASSETS OF COMPUTE MAGAZINE; COMPUTER LIFE AND FamilyPC'S ADVERTISERS TO GET UNEXPECTED BONUS CIRCULATION, PR Newswire, August 8, 1994, Monday - 19:06 Eastern Time Teenage reviewers on the rise Teenage games writers get to call the shots, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), August 2, 1994 Tuesday, Late Edition, Section: COMPUTERS; Pg. 40, Byline: Amy Harmon Computer game book rights up for grabs Book Notes, The New York Times, August 3, 1994, Wednesday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Cultural Desk, Section: Section C; ; Section C; Page 20; Column 5; Cultural Desk ; Column 5;,Byline: By Sarah Lyall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_novels_based_on_video_games Disney gets MYST rights Out of the 'Myst': Disney plays game for book, film; Hit CD-ROM software is going Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter, August 11, 1994, Thursday, Byline: Scott Hettrick Stormfront to simulate strike season PENDING BASEBALL STRIKE PROMPTS VIDEO GAME DEVELOPER TO PINCH HIT FOR REAL THING, PR Newswire, August 12, 1994, Friday - 09:02 Eastern Time, Section: Financial New Real Unreal Baseball, The Associated Press, August 17, 1994, Wednesday, PM cycle, Section: Sports News, Byline: By JIM LITKE, AP Sports Writer Indians overtake White Sox in AL Central; Braves, Expos torrid in Nintendo, Baseball League, Business Wire, August 21, 1994, Sunday Leonard Herman releases Phoenix https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-13-mn-45306-story.html pg. 32 Nintendo ordered to pay $208 million Nintendo U.S. unit told to pay 208 mil. dlrs in damages, Japan Economic Newswire, AUGUST 2, 1994, TUESDAY https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/14/mode/2up No Headline in Original, Ad Day, August 8, 1994, Section: Corridor Talk Pg. 38, byline: Kevin Kerr 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
USA