Comdex belongs to IBM
Xmas sales outlook dismal
Games get protected in Japan
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 November 1984.
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:
If you don't see all the links, find them here:
7 Minutes in Heaven: KnightLore
Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/157513930
https://www.mobygames.com/game/14733/knight-lore/
Corrections:
Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
October 1984 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/october-1984-137843011
October 1994 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/october-1994-151072694
Mortal Kombat Live Tour - https://youtu.be/nbOQIheheDc
1974:
1974 - Creative Computing debuts
https://archive.org/details/CreativeComputingv01n01NovemberDecember1974
1984:
Atari claims Coleco to exit UK console market
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-15/mode/1up
Coleco exits the UK market
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-29/mode/1up
Parker Brothers abandons UK
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-29/page/n4/mode/1up
https://www.sinclaircollection.site/?page_id=520 http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclair/Interface2/Cartridges/Interface2_RC_Unreleased.htm
Hi-Tech isn't UK's savior
Financial Notebook: Hi-tech myth / Employment falls in information, technology industry, The Guardian (London), November 2, 1984
Coinop earnings crater
Play Meter November 1, 1984, pg. 32.
Nintendo pushes VS. Paks and standards
Play Meter November 15, 1984, pg. 24
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_VS._System
Atari Games gets into systems
RePlay November 1984, pg. 16
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Games
https://www.mobygames.com/game/3929/star-wars/
https://www.mobygames.com/game/21280/star-wars-the-empire-strikes-back/
https://www.mobygames.com/game/17500/star-wars-return-of-the-jedi/
Konami buys Interlogic
https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19841115p/page/n13/mode/2up
Gung Ho - https://www.imdb.com/de/title/tt0091159/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_gung%20ho
Twin Galaxies looking for world records
https://archive.org/details/guinness1985book00mcwh/page/570/mode/2up?q=video+game
Play Meter, November 1, 1984 pg. 25
Colecovision rides Cabbage Patch Kid coattails
Rainbow Brite, Robots Give Cabbage Patch Kids Run for Money, The Associated Press, November 20, 1984, Tuesday, AM cycle, Section: Domestic News, Byline: By ROGER GILLOTT, AP Business Writer
Cabbage Patch/Colecovision Ad - https://youtu.be/lqZsOeEWDtw?si=k3zoqYsDuL00pxmB
IBM conquers Comdex
I.B.M. ENTRY UNCHALLENGED AT SHOW, The New York Times, November 19, 1984, Monday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section D; Page 1, Column 3; Financial Desk, Byline: By DAVID E. SANGER
Current well-behaved packages leave user dreams unfulfilled, Computerworld, November 19, 1984, Section: MICROCOMPUTERS; Small Talk; Pg. 57, Byline: Eric Bender, CW Senior Editor
Denise Carabet, The San Diego Union-Tribune, November 26, 1984 Monday, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. A-16
Comdex host to myriad micro debuts; Show features few surprises, Computerworld, November 19, 1984, Section: NEWS; Pg. 1, Byline: By Eric Bender, CW Staff
PERIPHERALS;THE ALLURE OF LASER PRINTERS, The New York Times, November 20, 1984, Tuesday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section C; Page 7, Column 1; Science Desk, Byline: By PETER H. LEWIS
Foreign vendors showcase wares at Comdex;Japanese, Australian, English vendors highlight product introductions in '84, Computerworld, November 26, 1984,Section: NEWS; Pg. 40, Byline: By Susan Blakeney, CW Staff
Apple ad spree continues
Apple Goes After Share of Mind Over Market; 'Event Marketing' Has Become Core Of No. 2's Strategy, ADWEEK, November 19, 1984, Eastern Edition, Byline: By Betsy Sharkey and Paul Farhi
APPLE'S MAC TAKING ON I.B.M. The New York Times, November 22, 1984, Thursday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section D; Page 1, Column 3; Financial Desk, Byline: By ANDREW POLLACK
No Headline In Original, U.S. News & World Report, November 19, 1984, Section: NEWSLETTERS: U.S. Business; TRENDS THAT SHAPE THE FUTURE; Pg. 75
Home computer sales slump in Xmas build up
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-22/page/n4/mode/1up
Leisure Sector Gives Madison Ave. Big Xmas Gift, ADWEEK, November 5, 1984, Eastern Edition, Byline: By Amy Saltzman, Bob Peischel, Jack Feuer, Betsy Sharkey, Paul Farhi, Dottie Enirco and Fran Brock
Atari cuts price of 800XL
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-22/page/n4/mode/1up
Computer Wars: Atari Announces Price Slash
The Associated Press, November 13, 1984, Tuesday, AM cycle, Section: Domestic News, Byline: By DIANE CURTIS, Associated Press Writer
ATARI MAKES PLANS FOR STOCK OFFERINGS, The New York Times, November 14, 1984, Wednesday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section D; Page 4, Column 5; Financial Desk
https://discord.com/channels/431269689918750731/618928892232859659/1483821277230792834
Vaughn, Mullen Get CD Posts at WRG, ADWEEK, November 19, 1984, Eastern Edition, byline: By Gail Belsky
UK is"meh" on MSX
https://ia600609.us.archive.org/31/items/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-01/PopularComputing_Weekly_Issue_1984-11-01.pdf pg. 29
India says "yes" to BBC Micro
Acorn User, November 1984, pg. 10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-Conductor_Laboratory
https://bbcmicro.computer/scl-unicorn
USSR copies Apple
Byte November 1984, pg. 134
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agat_(computer)
Sinclair working on portable
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-08/page/n4/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-29/mode/1up
ICL goes QL
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-01/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Per_Desk
https://youtu.be/FdmoXjmPPHk?si=-djAjZ1Es0wDCKV2
No Headline In Original, The Associated Press, November 1, 1984, Thursday, AM cycle, Section: Business News
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROLM
Rolm workstations tie phone, micro;Desktop systems integrate voice, data communicationsions tie phone, micro, Computerworld, November 5, 1984, Section: NEWS; Pg. 2, Byline: By Eric Bender, CW Staff
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-22/mode/1up
QL gets 3rd party upgrades
https://ia600609.us.archive.org/31/items/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-01/PopularComputing_Weekly_Issue_1984-11-01.pdf
PC Jr gets new lease on life
THE USER-FRIENDLY VOTING BOOTH IS POISED TO COME ON LINE, The New York Times, November 4, 1984, Sunday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section 4; Page 6, Column 1; Week in Review Desk, Byline: By DAVID E. SANGER
Local governments tap micros for electoral activities, Computerworld, November 5, 1984, Section: NEWS; Pg. 16, Byline: By James Connolly, CW Staf
PCjr's second Halloween, Computerworld, November 5, 1984, Section: VIEWPOINT; Lecht on Science; Pg. 59, Byline: Charles P. Lecht;
Tandy 1000 debuts
Tandy Unveils $1,199 IBM-Compatible Computer, The Associated Press, November 8, 1984, Thursday, BC cycle, Section: Business News
Hitachi shoots for 32-bit supremacy
Hitachi Plans To Challenge U.S. Makers of 32-Bit Processors, The Associated Press, November 29, 1984, Thursday, BC cycle, Section: Business News
Byte November 1984, pg. 159
XTAR introduces 3D accelerator Byte November 1984, pg. 179
https://archive.org/details/PC_Tech_Journal_vol03_n09/page/n27/mode/2up?q=xtar+polygone
https://www.bitsavers.org/magazines/Digital_Design/Digital_Design_V15_N08_198508.pdf
Thorn-EMI fires internal devs
https://ia600609.us.archive.org/31/items/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-01/PopularComputing_Weekly_Issue_1984-11-01.pdf pg. 8
https://www.mobygames.com/company/5174/creative-sparks/
Games Workshop gets into computer games
https://www.mobygames.com/game/63565/tower-of-despair/
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-22/page/n68/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/company/3136/games-workshop-ltd/games/title:1/
Firebird buys Elite rights
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-29/page/n4/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game/1324/elite/
https://www.mobygames.com/game/46533/elite/
Timothy Leary gets into games
Timothy Leary: LSD `guru' leaps to floppy discs, The San Diego Union-Tribune, November 11, 1984 Sunday, Section: LIFESTYLE; Pg. D-1, Bline: Frank Green
https://www.mobygames.com/game/254/timothy-learys-mind-mirror/
PlayNet profiled
No Headline In Original, United Press International, November 4, 1984, Sunday, BC cycle, Section: Financial, Byline: By STEVE GEIMANN, UPI Business Writer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayNET
BBS gets busted
FREE-SPEECH ISSUES SURROUND COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARD USE, The New York Times, November 12, 1984, Monday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section A; Page 1, Column 1; Financial Desk, Byline: By ANDREW POLLACK
https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/04/magazine/of-bytes-and-bulletin-boards.html
The Night of the Hackers, Newsweek, November 12, 1984, UNITED STATES EDITION, Section: DISPATCHES; Pg. 17, Byline: RICHARD SANDZA
French paper Le Canard hacks French Nuclear program
Computer secrets tapped / France, The Guardian (London), November 29, 1984, From PAUL WEBSTER
Hackers unpack
Admitted hacker says he discovered Pentagon plans, United Press International, November 22, 1984, Thursday, AM cycle, Section: Domestic News, byline: By MICHAEL D. HARRIS
Move over modems, here come satellites!
SATELLITE BROADCAST NETWORK, INC.; Satellite receiver system, Computerworld, November 19, 1984, Section: COMMUNICATIONS; Network Services; Pg. 41
New service for personal computers offers direct link to satellite, Christian Science Monitor (Boston, MA), November 20, 1984, Tuesday, Section: National; Pg. 11, Byline: By David F. Salisbury, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
You haven't lived until you've died in MUD ad
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-22/page/n46/mode/1up
Hackers reviewed by New York Times
PERSONAL COMPUTERS; THE BOOKS GET BETTER ON NONTECHNICAL TOPICS, The New York Times, November 6, 1984, Tuesday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section C; Page 5, Column 1; Science Desk, Byline: By ERIK SANDBERG-DIMENT
IN SHORT, The New York Times, November 11, 1984, Sunday, Late City Final , Edition, Section: Section 7; Page 32, Column 1; Book Review Desk; Review
Micro Hobby launches in Spain
https://archive.org/details/MicroHobby057/MicroHobby/MicroHobby_001/page/n31/mode/2up
https://microhobby.speccy.cz/mhforever/
Japan recognizes video game copyirghts
https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19841101p/page/n16/mode/1up
Commodore sees loophole in Amiga battle
https://ia600609.us.archive.org/31/items/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-01/PopularComputing_Weekly_Issue_1984-11-01.pdf
Game music gets busted
https://ia600609.us.archive.org/31/items/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-01/PopularComputing_Weekly_Issue_1984-11-01.pdf
https://youtu.be/6kFu5ojgnQU?si=3E6Tqg2Mi1vMQEnX
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-08/page/n4/mode/1up
UK PC clones get busted
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-08/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_86
IBM eyes Mexico for factory
BUSINESS DIGEST,The New York Times,November 28, 1984, Wednesday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section D; Page 1, Column 1; Financial Desk; summary
https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/19/business/mexico-rejects-ibm-control-for-new-plant.html
Computer Museum finds permanent home
First Computer Museum Opens On Boston's Waterfront, The Associated Press, November 14, 1984, Wednesday, PM cycle, Section: Domestic News, Byline: By BART ZIEGLER,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Computer_Museum,_Boston
Acorn Video profiled
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-11-15/page/n13/mode/1up
Datacopy announces Model 700 scanner
DATACOPY; Announces major new product and software offerings, Business Wire, November 1, 1984, Thursday
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datacopy
IBM mainframe strategies revealed
IBM seeks mart leverage via customer revenue, Computerworld, November 26, 1984, Section: COMPUTER INDUSTRY; Pg. 97, Byline: By John Desmond, CW Staff
Hong Kong transfer disrupts toy supplies
Playthings, November 1984, pg. 61
Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy goes Fourth
COSMIC HITCHHIKER, United Press International, November 24, 1984, Saturday, BC cycle, Section: Domestic News, Byline: By WILLIAM C. TROTT, United Press International
Visicorp RIP
VISICORP IS MERGING INTO PALADIN, The New York Times, November 3, 1984, Saturday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section 1; Page 29, Column 3; Financial Desk, Byline: By ANDREW POLLACK
Spreadsheets cited most used micro software, Computerworld, November 26, 1984, Section: MICROCOMPUTERS; Pg. 90
https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1984-11-rescan/page/n11/mode/1up
Franklin RIP
Franklin to free assets in effort to settle with creditors; Legal battles with Apple placed New Jersey-based manufacturer in financial, straits, Computerworld, November 12, 1984, Section: COMPUTER INDUSTRY; Pg. 138
Mylstar RIP
Play Meter November 15, 1984, pg. 8
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
