Phil Adam - Spectrum Holobyte, SPA, Interplay, Amico

Phil Adam - Spectrum Holobyte, SPA, Interplay, Amico

Author: Karl Kuras March 12, 2026 Duration: 3:54:06
Video Game Newsroom Time Machine
LeisureGamesHistoryVideo Games

Phil Adam's career has spanned more than 40 years, from pioneering work marketing titles for Spectrum Holobyte, playing a pivotal role in bringing Tetris to the West, working at Interplay during the RPG renaisance and his current work as head of Amico.

Highs and lows in a career that has seen gaming grow up and maybe, find its youthful core once again.

Recorded May-July 2025

Video Version: https://youtu.be/iK3wUGg213s

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Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Ward
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Lisa
https://www.mobygames.com/game/224/gato/
https://www.mobygames.com/company/689/sphere-inc/
https://www.mobygames.com/person/3490/gilman-louie/
https://www.mobygames.com/company/151/microprose-alameda/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maxwell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CP/M
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP/M
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_and_Information_Industry_Association
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-chip
https://celestialseasonings.com
BBC Tetris documentary - https://youtu.be/6ohCy4ktA5w?si=ntZ50BWV2gAQFQu4
https://www.mobygames.com/game/1655/red-storm-rising/
https://www.mobygames.com/game/2637/flight-of-the-intruder/
https://www.mobygames.com/game/1222/simcity-enhanced-cd-rom/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathias_Rust
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexey_Pajitnov
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bing_Gordon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplay_Entertainment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davidson_%26_Associates
https://www.interplay.com/
https://www.indiedb.com/company/big-world-technology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chameleon_(console)
https://amicoentertainment.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-chip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bhMdhcdfMY&pp=ygUVYW1pY28gY29uc29sZSBoYW5kc29u
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RalliSport_Challenge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Pool_(video_game)

Copyright Karl Kuras 2026

 


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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