March 1994

March 1994

Author: Karl Kuras May 30, 2024 Duration: 3:23:43
Video Game Newsroom Time Machine
LeisureGamesHistoryVideo Games

Sega previews Saturn at CES,

Commodore warns of bankruptcy &

Doom brings corporate networks to their knees

 

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 March 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/

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https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book

 

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Links:

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

https://www.patreon.com/posts/105189897

 

7 Minutes in Heaven: Mega Turrican

Video Version:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/104910543

    https://www.mobygames.com/game/16645/mega-turrican/

 

Corrections:

February 1994 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/february-1994-103514526

Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/

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

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

 

1994:

Coinop goes BIG!

    Edge March 1994, pg. 16

 

Coinop goes small

    Edge March 1994, pg. 14

    https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2021/03/zool-arcade/

 

Daytona gets new name

    Play Meter, March 1994, pg. 1

 

Irem shuts down arcade division

    Play Meter, March 1994, pg. 1

 

Karaoke goes CD

    https://archive.org/details/cashbox57unse_22/page/38/mode/1up?view=theater

    

US Rating System to be in place by Xmas

    VIDEO-GAME MAKERS WILL SET UP SYSTEM FOR RATING PRODUCTS, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 7, 1994, Monday, Section: Section B; Page 7, Column 6

 

UK Rating system to start in March

    https://archive.org/details/AmigaFormatMagazine_201902/Amiga_Format_Issue_057_1994_03_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n21/mode/2up

 

3DO issues ratings system

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n10/mode/1up?view=theater    

    https://www.mobygames.com/game/1824/hell-a-cyberpunk-thriller/cover/group-13661/cover-30908/

 

Current NextGen falters at CES

    Edge, March 1994, pg. 6

 

Sega Previews Saturn

    https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20056%20%28March%201994%29/page/n57/mode/2up   

    Edge, March 1994, pg. 6

 

Nintendo fools no one with SGi demos

    Edge, March 1994, pg. 6

 

Acclaim The Duel demo details

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater

    Gregory Fischbach Part 2 - Acclaim - https://www.patreon.com/posts/47720122

    Gregory Fischbach Part 1 - Activision - Acclaim - https://www.patreon.com/posts/46578120

 

3D tool makers show wares at CES

    https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/15/mode/1up?view=theater

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

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softimage_3D

    https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/17/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Sega of America announces 32X

    MONITOR, The Irish Times, March 15, 1994, CITY EDITION, Section: EDUCATION & LIVING; Pg. Supplement Page 12    

    SEGA TO ENTER 32-BIT VIDEO GAME MARKET IN FALL WITH PRICE BREAK ON HARDWARE, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 15, 1994, Tuesday, Section: Section B; Page 6, Column 4, Byline: BY DON CLARK

 

PSX shown to UK Devs

    Edge, March 1994, pg. 13

 

3DO announces new licensees and PC add-on card

    No Headline In Original, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 11, 1994, Friday, Section: Section B; Page 5, Column 4

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3DO_Interactive_Multiplayer#Licensed_systems

 

Microsoft WON'T provide an OS for Saturn

    Microsoft plays down Sega video game role, Financial Times (London,England), March 10, 1994, Thursday, London, Section: International Company News; Pg. 30, Byline: By LOUISE KEHOE and MICHIYO NAKAMOTO

 

Crystal Dynamics signs on for Saturn development

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater   

    https://www.mobygames.com/game/company:1281/platform:sega-saturn/sort:-date/page:1/

 

CD32 haralds CD revolution in UK

    MONITOR, The Irish Times, March 15, 1994, CITY EDITION, Section: EDUCATION & LIVING; Pg. Supplement Page 12

    

Nintendo announces Super Gameboy

    NINTENDO UNIT UNVEILS DEVICE, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 15, 1994, Tuesday, Section: Section C; Page 6, Column 6

 

Nintendo still smug, despite share price collapse

    Nintendo still at the top of its game, Despite sagging shares, firm outscores rivals in efficiency, profitability, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), March 28, 1994, Section: INDUSTRY; Pg. 9, Byline: BY ASAKO ISHIBASHI Staff writer

 

Nintendo profits expected to fall by 40%

    Nintendo group's pretax profit to fall 40%, daily says, Japan Economic Newswire, MARCH 31, 1994, THURSDAY, Dateline: TOKYO, March 31 Kyodo

    Sega Enterprises to raise dividend, skip share split, Japan Economic Newswire, MARCH 10, 1994, THURSDAY, Dateline: TOKYO, March 10 Kyodo

 

Acclaim reports record earnings!

    Playthings, March 1994, pg. 10

 

NBA Jam launch to match Mortal Kombat

    NBA Jams' Wins Acclaim; TriStar's New Cover Girl, Billboard, March 19, 1994, Section: HOME VIDEO; Shelf Talk; Pg. 68, Byline: by Elleen Fitzpatrick

 

Midway dumps Acclaim

    https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/31/business/company-news-nintendo-licensing-deal-rocks-acclaim-s-stock.html  https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/18/business/stocks-advance-on-good-inflation-news.html

    NINTENDO'S PROJECT REALITY GAME SYSTEM GETS LIFT IN ACCORD WITH WMS INDUSTRIES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 31, 1994, Thursday, Section: Section B; Page 7, Column 1, Byline: BY JIM CARLTON

 

Sega shows off Virtua Racing on Genesis

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n87/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Playmates Toys gets into games

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater    

    https://www.mobygames.com/company/1481/playmates-interactive-entertainment-inc/games/

 

Playmates revenue drops

    Playmates sales fall 10pc to $ 1.42b in saturated market, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), March 22, 1994, Section: Business; Pg. 3, Byline: By CARRIE LEE

 

EA signs Shaq and Jordan

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n25/mode/1up?view=theater

    

Commodore Australia closes down

    IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM FOR COMMODORE; COMPUTER VISION, Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), March 21, 1994 Monday, Late Edition, Section: COMPUTERS; Pg. 50

Commodore warns of imminent bankruptcy    

    https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/26/business/company-news-computer-pioneer-signals-bankruptcy-near.html?searchResultPosition=1

    https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-071/page/n11/mode/2up  https://archive.org/details/amazing-computing-magazine-1994-03/page/n81/mode/2up

 

VFX1 brings VR home

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater    

    https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/12/mode/1up?view=theater   

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFX1_Headgear  https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-03/page/n19/mode/2up

 

New World bought by NTN

    https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_116/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater

 

MCA announces game studio

    https://www.mobygames.com/company/1982/universal-interactive-inc/  

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Broderbund signs up affiliates

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Rocket Science goes full Siliwood

    https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_116/page/n14/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Microsoft's got game

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n10/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Newton gets games

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater

    

Sierra goes big on CGI

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Tsunami wants to inject you into a game

    https://www.mobygames.com/game/1478/blue-force/trivia/    

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Dragon's Lair comes to CDRom

    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n18/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Shareware confusion rises

    https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-03/page/n25/mode/2up?q=shareware   

    https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1994.03/page/n5/mode/2up

 

Company networks get Doom-ed!

    https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_116/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Microsoft announces Microsoft Network

    Microsoft to test PC network, Financial Times (London,England), March 14, 1994, Monday, London, Section: International Company News; Pg. 19

 

IBM and Videotron team up

    https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/12/business/company-news-videotron-and-ibm-to-explore-interactive-technology.html   

    https://techmonitor.ai/technology/ibm_previews_its_powerpc_403ga_emebedded_microcontroller_chip   

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerPC_400#PowerPC_403   

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=gJaSV-oulLE   

    https://books.google.ca/books?id=aeQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62&dq=videoway+popular+mechanics&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixn-r1wrTpAhWPbs0KHbhTC6AQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=videoway%20popular%20mechanics&f=false

    https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/groupe-videotron-lte

    

Japanese recession hits Akihabara

    https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/05/world/tokyo-journal-electronics-district-hits-hard-times.html?searchResultPosition=1    

    Survey reveals some winners amid chilly business climate, The Daily Yomiuri, March 28, 1994, Monday   

    https://www.triptojapan.com/blog/akihabara-exploring-tokyo-s-electric-town

 

Discounting takes Japanese retail by storm

    Cheap and cheerful: Changing patterns of Japanese retailing, Financial Times (London,England), March 15, 1994, Tuesday, London, Section: Pg. 24, Byline: By EMIKO TERAZONO

 

Rhino Group grows

    Enlarged Rhino advances to Pounds 2m, Financial Times (London,England). March 4, 1994, Friday, London, Section: UK Company News; Pg. 24, Byline: By PAUL TAYLOR

 

UK mag publisher Impact calls it quits

    THE GAMES OF CHANCE; You don't need to live in the metropolis to make a million from mags, The Guardian (London), March 10, 1994, Section: THE GUARDIAN FEATURES PAGE; Pg. 17    

    https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-106   

    https://archive.org/details/amiga-force-16/page/n11/mode/2up?view=theater   

    https://segaretro.org/Impact_Magazines

 

Dark Horse Comics gets into games mag business

    https://archive.org/details/max-overload-01/mode/2up  

    https://archive.org/details/AmigaFormatMagazine_201902/Amiga_Format_Issue_057_1994_03_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n19/mode/2up

    

Move over cover disks...CDs are here!

    https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/9/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Multimedia Porn becomes harder to ignore

    https://archive.org/details/AcornUser140-Mar94/page/n21/mode/2up   

    https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_116/page/n9/mode/2up   

    https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-071/page/n29/mode/2up

    https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-03/page/n17/mode/2up

 

McGraw Hill publishes Best of Byte

    https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/01/science/peripherals-the-bytes-of-the-past-emerge-as-a-book.html?searchResultPosition=1  

    https://archive.org/details/bestofbyte0000rana

 

Japan buys more chips abroad

    Japan, U.S. emphasize 3 sectors for foreign chips Tokyo Relieved No Guarantee Sought, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), March 28, 1994, Section: ECONOMY; Pg. 2, Byline: BY HIROSHI NAKAMAE Staff writer

    

Girls need to get into games

    A TOOL FOR WOMEN, A TOY FOR MEN: VIDEO GAMES HELP BOYS GET A HEAD START, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 16, 1994, Wednesday, Section: Section B; Page 1, Column 6, Byline: BY WILLIAM M BULKELEY

 

Carmen Sandiego goes around the world

    https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/8/mode/1up?view=theater  

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_in_the_World_Is_Carmen_Sandiego%3F_(game_show)#International_versions

 

Magic the Gathering takes gaming market by storm

    Playthings, March 1994, pg. 18

 

Linux launched

    https://twitter.com/WeAreRSGroup/status/1768186561227538885/photo/1

 

RIP John Candy

    https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/05/obituaries/john-candy-comedic-film-star-is-dead-of-a-heart-attack-at-43.html?searchResultPosition=7



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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