Video Game Newsroom Time Machine

IBM introduces the PCJr

Coleco ships the Adam

Infocom disses graphics

 

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 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:

 

7 Minutes in Heaven: Beach Head

Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/96037276

https://www.mobygames.com/game/19932/beach-head/

 

 

Corrections:

October 1983 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/october-1983-94392565

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

Chronicles Revisited Podcast 14 — Touch the Screen! Touch the Screen! https://www.smoliva.blog/post/chronicles-revisited-podcast-014/

The Computer Chronicles 40th Anniversary with S.M. Oliva https://www.patreon.com/posts/computer-40th-s-95453094

https://www.cashbox-magazine.com/about

https://www.mobygames.com/game/11121/chiller/

 

 

1973

Video Games take center stage at MOA show

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_18/page/51/mode/1up

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_21/page/47/mode/1up

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_19/page/55/mode/1up

 

Atari asks ops to steer clear of copycats

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_19/page/61/mode/1up

 

German arcade owners seeth

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_21/page/48/mode/1up

 

Heathkit offers budget priced calculator kit

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-11.pdf pg. 89

 

Electronic watches on the rise

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-11.pdf pg. 5

 

Video Phone shown at CeBit

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1973/Poptronics-1973-11.pdf pg. 19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzdCKBZP4Jo

 

 

1983-11

Williams loses $6 million in fourth quarter

Games People, Nov. 19, 1983, pg. 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecVcA3l6v3E

 

Atari is the (coinop) come-back kid

RePlay Nov. 1983, pg. 123

 

Battle of the Cons

Replay, Nov. 1983, pg. 15

 

Tokyo Amusement Machine Show side steps laser craze

Replay Nov. 1983, pg. 23

Games People Nov. 28, 1983, pg. 9

Replay Nov. 1983, pg. 86

 

Monitor maker TSK cuts credit

Games People, Nov. 19, 1983, pg. 1

 

Activision to lay off a quarter of its workforce

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/12/business/activision-sets-layoffs-for-90.html

 

Odyssey2 is no more

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-8/page/120/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Starpath bows out

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-8/page/117/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Fox drops out of games

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/10/business/fox-quitting-video-games.html

 

Milton Bradley expects losses

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/15/business/milton-bradley-expects-deficit.html

 

Vectrex debuts 3D Imager

https://archive.org/details/logical_gamer_novdec83/page/5/mode/2up

 

Spectravideo's Compumate gets reviewed

Personal Computer News, Nov. 23, 1983 pg. 38

 

Amiga to release computer/game combo machine

https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_02_No_01_1983-11_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n105/mode/2up

 

Berlin Consumer Trade Show sees micros and video games galore

http://www.atarimuseum.de/gamesum.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharp_MZ

https://www.videospielgeschichten.de/die-fans-fragen-klaus-ollmann-antwortet/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips_Videopac%2B_G7400

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/IFA_(Messe)#1970%E2%80%931990

http://www.kultmags.com/mags.php?folder=Q1BVLzE5ODM=

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp7z5j6N5lhyqNEEtxz1bnkhjCTbJ_rqS&si=GVvJ9SIMYkaOO7av

 

TI stock shoots up

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/01/business/a-seesaw-day-for-computers.html

 

IBM Introduces the PC Jr

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/02/business/the-debut-of-ibm-s-junior.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/02/business/ibm-s-speedy-redirection.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/06/business/week-in-business-japan-s-car-makers-are-sent-a-message.html

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

 

Small Idaho company to supply PCJr keyboard

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/26/business/advanced-input-s-ibm-coup.html

 

Atari and Coleco hike prices

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/10/business/atari-coleco-raise-computer-prices.html

Personal Computer News Nov. 9, 1983, pg. 6

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/12/business/commodore-corp-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-sept-30.html?searchResultPosition=1

 

Atari backs away from home computers

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-8/page/119/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Coleco lowers Adam shipment targets

Toy & Hobby World November 1984, pg. S1

https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_02_No_01_1983-11_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n11/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/logical_gamer_novdec83/page/5/mode/2up

 

JCPenney and KMart pass on Adam

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/15/business/penney-s-holiday-line-omits-adam-computer.html

 

Adam shipments lower than expected

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/24/business/dow-declines-0.20-in-heavy-trading.html

 

Adam review

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/29/science/personal-computers-the-new-adam-arrives-for-a-test.html

 

Cabbage Patch Doll Mania ensues

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/29/us/adoptable-dolls-aren-t-having-any-trouble-finding-homes.html

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

https://youtu.be/qR0aVHlXpvM?si=PoN1JgbZkmkA39Hi

 

Aquarius discounted

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1983/11/27/issue.html

 

Commodore teases TED

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-11-24/mode/1up?view=theater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_Plus/4

 

Comdex to be swamped by PC clones

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Byte/80s/Byte-1983-11.pdf pg. 7

 

Tandy to enter PC compatible market

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/30/business/tandy-computer-s-hard-test.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandy_1000

 

HP moves to reduce OS options

Personal Computer News, Nov. 2, 1983 pg. 3

 

Reflex launches Hercules

Personal Computer News, Nov. 2, 1983 pg. 3

 

Apple outlook flat

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/08/business/apple-sees-flat-profit-outlook.html

 

Apple funds IBM clone adapter

Personal Computer News, Nov. 23, 1983 pg. 2, 5

Personal Computer News, Nov. 30, 1983, pg. 4

 

Microsoft Debuts Windows

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/13/business/wekk-in-business-more-good-news-about-inflation.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/11/business/microsoft-displays-window-program.html?searchResultPosition=1

Personal Computer News, Nov. 30, 1983, pg. 4, 6

 

Lightpens, the interface choice of the future

https://archive.org/details/1983-11-computegazette/page/n33/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-02/page/n5/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/1983-11-compute-magazine/page/n170/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/Info-64_Issue_2_Winter_83-84_1983_Cybertech_US/page/n13/mode/2up

 

Newbrain to return from the dead

Personal Computer News, Nov. 2, 1983 pg. 3

 

Electron deliveries fall short

Personal Computer News, Nov. 2, 1983 pg. 2

Personal Computer News, Nov. 30, 1983, pg. 2

 

Acorn second processor sticker shock

Personal Computer News, Nov. 30, 1983, pg. 2

 

Dynasty Computer corp wants to sell you a computer in your home

https://www.retromags.com/files/file/5858-electronic-games-hotline-volume-2-no-7-november-6-1983/ pg. 2

http://www.atariprotos.com/othersystems/sorcerer/hardware/smartalec.htm

 

Broderbund announces partnership with TI

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-8/page/119/mode/1up?view=theater

Toy and Hobby World Nov. 1984, pg. S12

https://www.retromags.com/files/file/5858-electronic-games-hotline-volume-2-no-7-november-6-1983/ pg. 8

https://archive.org/details/1983-11-computegazette/page/n49/mode/2up

 

Infocom disses graphics

https://archive.org/details/1983-11-computegazette/page/n23/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/1983-11-computegazette/page/n29/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/family-computing-03/page/n15/mode/2up

 

EA brings album cover aesthetics to game software packaging

https://archive.org/details/family-computing-03/page/n15/mode/2up

 

Quicksilva arrives in the US

https://archive.org/details/1983-11-computegazette/page/n133/mode/2up

 

Mirror Group jumps into software

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-11-17/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Computer magazines boom

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/09/business/boom-in-computer-magazines.html

 

Hobby Computer magazine debuts

http://www.kultmags.com/mags.php?folder=SGFwcHkgQ29tcHV0ZXIvMTk4Mw==

 

Info64 debuts

https://archive.org/details/Info-64_Issue_2_Winter_83-84_1983_Cybertech_US

 

GameLine adds stock info and email

https://www.retromags.com/files/file/5858-electronic-games-hotline-volume-2-no-7-november-6-1983/ pg. 2

 

Time exits Teletext

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/22/business/time-inc-drops-teletext-experiment.html

 

Online education may be the future

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/20/us/from-1500-miles-professor-teaches-his-class-by-computer.html

 

Bond plays games

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUc4GkMN1qs

RePlay Nov. 1983, pg. 178

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-8/page/117/mode/1up?view=theater

 

Atari 5200 ad mentioned in Videogaming and computergaming illustrated

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS-pingC-xY

https://archive.org/details/Videogaming_and_Computer_Gaming_Illustrated_1983-11_Ion_International_US/page/n3/mode/1up

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/09/business/advertising-changes-by-atari-and-ibm.html

 

Japan agrees to loosen restrictions on the Yen

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/13/business/wekk-in-business-more-good-news-about-inflation.html

 

New study finds games designed to be addictive

Games People, Nov. 19, 1983, pg. 1

https://archive.org/details/mindatplaypsycho0000loft/page/n9/mode/2up

 

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