Larry J. Dunlap - The Games Network, Imperial Wars

Larry J. Dunlap - The Games Network, Imperial Wars

Author: Karl Kuras September 7, 2024 Duration: 4:04:09
Video Game Newsroom Time Machine
LeisureGamesHistoryVideo Games

The dawn of the home computer seemed to usher in the death of computing's networked past dominated by dumb terminals connected to mainframes, but a few visionaries foresaw a world in which the microcomputer technology invading millions of homes could be connected and the data networks already in consumer hands, such as cable TV and telephones, could usher in a new way of connecting people and distributing software.

Our guest, Larry J. Dunlap, was one such pioneer. The company he cofounded, The Games Network almost brought that dream to the world but tragically came up short.

Larry tells us of his early days as a musician, a recording entrepreneur, his entry into computing, the spectacular rise of The Games Network, its fall, and life after failure, his reinvention as an online game developer and today, as a novelist.

A fascinating life as told by a true storyteller.

Oh, and TV's Robin, Burt Ward, and D&D co-creator Dave Arnesson also play roles.

Recorded: September 2022

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Links:

If you can't see all the links, find them here:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/larry-j-dunlap-108388905

https://larryjdunlap.com/

https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Volume_1_Number_05_1983-02_Pumpkin_Press_US/page/n69/mode/2up

https://www.discogs.com/artist/822821-Stark-Naked-And-The-Car-Thieves

Replay August 19982, pg. 66

Gordon Walton Part 2 - EA - Origin

https://www.patreon.com/posts/53726080

Gordon Walton Part 1 - Epyx - Konami - Harpoon - Gametek

https://www.patreon.com/posts/52644122

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Arneson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Corporation

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/24/business/briefs-119250.html?searchResultPosition=1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halt_and_Catch_Fire_(TV_series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Ward

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Popeil

http://imperialwars.com/

http://intelgames.com/

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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