December 1993

December 1993

Author: Karl Kuras February 23, 2024 Duration: 3:19:07
Video Game Newsroom Time Machine
LeisureGamesHistoryVideo Games

Night Trap gets Lieberman's panties in a bunch,
Id unleashes Doom &
Apple II is no more

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 December 1993. 
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

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Links:

In case you don't see all the links, please, find them here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/december-1993-99076522

7 Minutes in Heaven: Street Fighter II
Video Version:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/7-minutes-in-ii-99045806
    Nostalgia Nerd's video about the game - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haAxGfvCitE&t=447s
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/6239/street-fighter-ii/screenshots/c64/
    https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Street_Fighter_II

Corrections:
November 1993 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/november-1993-97323863
Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIPS_Technologies
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_Instinct_Gold
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_3DO_Company
    htps://sites.google.com/view/sources-why-we-hate-each-other/
    https://www.internethistorypodcast.com/

1993:
Capcom sues Data East
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater   
    RePlay Dec. 1993 pg. 32
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/6239/street-fighter-ii/
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/17110/fighters-history/

Tournament Battle brings networking to arcades
    https://archive.org/details/micromania-segunda-epoca-67/page/n41/mode/1up    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Street_Fighter_II#Tournament_Battle

Japanese mix video game and parks shows
    RePlay Dec. 1993, pg. 9
    https://segaretro.org/Amusement_Machine_Show_1993

Namco teams up with magic Edge    
    Play Meter Dec. 1993 pg. 3    
    https://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=832

WMS suspected of stock market shenanigans
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/07/business/redstone-tied-concern-invested-in-viacom.html  
    https://wondery.com/shows/business-wars/season/73/

Al Stone defects to Sega
    Play Meter Dec. 1993 pg. 18
    https://segaretro.org/Alan_Stone

Sega set for world domination
    RePlay Dec. 1993.  pg. 52
    http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/dreams-of-sega/

Sonic tops Q survey
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n53/mode/1up?view=theater

Bill Kunkel calls it for Say-Guh!
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n147/mode/1up?view=theater

3DO launch a dud
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20053%20%28December%201993%29/page/n16/mode/1up?view=theater

Atari announces Jaguar devs
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater
    
Atari launches Jaguar ad campaign
    https://archive.org/details/video-games-december-1993/page/n19/mode/2up?view=theater

Bit Hype forces Sega's hand
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20053%20%28December%201993%29/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater   
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20053%20%28December%201993%29/page/n70/mode/1up?view=theater
    
Nintendo announces Project Reality chip makers
    (December 20, 1993). NINTENDO PICKS 64-BIT CHIP SUPPLIERS. The Nikkei Weekly (Japan). https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3S8H-4KR0-000H-H3WP-00000-00&context=1516831.

Nintendo disses CDs
    Edge Dec. 1993, pg. 15
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleem!

Lieberman attacks video game violence
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/17/nyregion/toys-r-us-stops-selling-a-violent-video-game.html
    Our Commentary of the hearings - https://youtu.be/-dWCFp_hmNU?si=7dC4UG9X2VOEkiaF

Lethal Enforcers is on Genesis... and maybe coming to SNES
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/15901/lethal-enforcers/cover/group-103113/cover-279819/   
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n47/mode/2up?view=theater

Toys R Us stops selling Night Trap
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/17/nyregion/toys-r-us-stops-selling-a-violent-video-game.html

MK gets cut for Japan
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20053%20%28December%201993%29/page/n92/mode/1up?view=theater
    
Nintendo is only after kids...
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n37/mode/1up?view=theater    
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n34/mode/1up?view=theater

Nintendo releases game content guidelines
    Gamepro Dec. 1993, pg. 267

Video Game industry agrees on a rating system
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/09/business/industry-set-to-issue-video-game-ratings-as-complaints-rise.html
    Gregory Fischbach Part 2 - Acclaim - https://www.patreon.com/posts/47720122
    Gregory Fischbach Part 1 - Activision - Acclaim - https://www.patreon.com/posts/46578120

MPAA threatened to sue video game makers
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n34/mode/1up?view=theater

VictorMaxx Stuntmaster VR headset reviewed
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n153/mode/1up?view=theater

Movies and games should stay in their own lanes
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/10/arts/home-video-290893.html    
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/28/business/market-place-home-software-s-treasure-hunt.html
    William Volk - Activision, Avalon Hill, Lightspan, PlayScreen - https://www.patreon.com/posts/william-volk-95625819
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/6142/the-horde/

Interactivity is the new hype word.
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n5/mode/1up?view=theater  
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater
    Gary Carlston- Broderbund - https://www.patreon.com/posts/50036733
    
Edge sees the future in 3D
    Edge Dec. 1993, pg. 3

Id to make modding Doom easy
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n57/mode/1up?view=theater
    American McGee - id - spicy horse - ea - https://www.patreon.com/posts/45549970

Origin announces Interactive Movie
    https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1993.12/page/n11/mode/1up    '    https://archive.org/details/bioforge
    
Sierra sees stars
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n93/mode/1up?view=theater
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n95/mode/1up?view=theater  
    https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1993.12/page/n11/mode/1up

Standardization is the future
    https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1993-12_OCR/page/n45/mode/1up?view=theater    
    https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1993-12_OCR/page/n41/mode/1up?view=theater   
    https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1993-12_OCR/page/n35/mode/1up?view=theater

Bill Gates wants Little Johnny to learn to be an office drone
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/07/business/microsoft-aims-for-younger-market.html   
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Home#Kids   
    https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1993/12/14/495893.html?pageNumber=58
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/12/business/sound-bytes-a-glimpse-into-the-future-as-seen-by-chairman-gates.html

Ahead Inc readies virtual guitar
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/26/business/interface-people-and-technology-are-virtual-groupies-included.html    
    https://archive.org/details/virtual-guitar/PXL_20211230_050908168.jpg   
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/20009/quest-for-fame/    https://www.ebay.com/itm/173062395733   
    https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19941120&slug=1942916   
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexdonnini/details/experience/
    Michael Dornbrook Part 2 - Infocom - Guitar Hero - https://www.patreon.com/posts/44632017

Sierra buys Coktel Vision
    Amiga Joker Dec. 1993, pg. 10    
    https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1993-12/page/28/mode/1up   
    https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_113/page/n11/mode/1up
    Ken Williams - Sierra https://www.patreon.com/posts/42700706
    https://www.mobygames.com/company/1127/coktel-vision/

Maxis breaks free from Broderbund    
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/24/business/company-reports-broderbund-stock-tumbles-on-growth-concerns.html

Sinclair gets into software retailing
    https://archive.org/details/PCZone009   pg. 55     
    https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_11_February_1994/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater

RIP Apple II
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIe   
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/26/business/the-executive-computer-from-novelty-to-necessity-reminiscences-of-a-pc-fanatic.html

Amiga dead?  Not at the World of Commodore show in Cologne it ain't
    https://archive.org/details/CommodoreUserIssue1231993Dec/page/n9/mode/1up

Brian Moriarty leaves The Dig
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-12/page/n15/mode/1up?view=theater
    
3DO goes online in Omaha
    https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_113/page/n13/mode/1up   
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_West   

Businesses see the future of commerce in Mosaic
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/business/business-technology-a-free-and-simple-computer-link.html
    https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/09/garden/interactive-video-armchair-activities.html
    
Fantastic Four movie pushed back
    https://archive.org/details/video-games-december-1993/page/n14/mode/1up?view=theater
    https://archive.org/details/video-games-december-1993/page/n14/mode/1up?view=theater
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20053%20%28December%201993%29/page/n27/mode/1up?view=theater


Quotes of the Month:
    Edge Dec. 1993 pg. 43
    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20053%20%28December%201993%29/page/n53/mode/1up?view=theater


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


Ever wonder what gamers were actually talking about decades ago, before online forums and endless hot takes? Each month, Video Game Newsroom Time Machine hosted by Karl Kuras does exactly that, dusting off the headlines and magazine pages from the past. This isn't just a nostalgia trip; it's a grounded look at the industry's turning points as they happened. You'll hear about the surprising announcements, the forgotten controversies, and the hardware launches that had everyone buzzing-from arcade trends in Japan to home computer wars in Europe and North America. The podcast specifically revisits news from exactly 30, 40, and 50 years prior, creating a unique layered perspective on how video game culture evolved. It’s like sitting in a newsroom from a different era, piecing together the stories that shaped the games we remember today. Tune in for a monthly dose of context, where the past conversations about pixels and processors feel surprisingly fresh and directly connected to the present.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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