Monthly show looking back at video game news headlines from 30, 40, and 50 years ago from around the globe. Follow us on Twitter @videonewsr2 and consider supporting our patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=7594060
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February 1994
The world goes ga-ga over game violence;
Sega reports horrible losses &
Doom redefines PC gaming!
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 February 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:
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Links:
If you don't see all the links, find them here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/103514526
7 Minutes in Heaven: Batman The Animated Series
Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/103482653
https://www.mobygames.com/game/5525/batman-the-animated-series/
Corrections:
January 1994 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/january-1994-100523595
Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
https://ko-fi.com/post/PC-FX-Sales-W7W1SYM97
https://archive.org/details/AtariCorporationAnnualReport1994
1994:
Atari launches showcase 33
https://archive.org/details/cashbox57unse_18/page/33/mode/1up
Taito goes 3D
Sanyo Links With Taito On 3-D Video Game System, Newsbytes News Network, February 23, 1994
Aussie's launch game regulations
CRACKDOWN ON VIDEO GAMES, COURIER-MAIL, February 15, 1994 Tuesday
British politicians target sex and violence in games and anime
British politicians try to curb Japanese 'manga', Japan Economic Newswire, FEBRUARY 17, 1994, THURSDAY
Knesset bill calls for game censorship
KNESSET BRIEFS, The Jerusalem Post, February 17, 1994, Thursday, NEWS; Pg. 14
Singapore moves to ban games
Ban on video games with too much violence and sex, Agence France Presse -- English, February 19, 1994 08:02 Eastern Time
Video game violence scare reaches China
JOJO MOYES reports on recent allegations linking brutality and pornography in video games and real life violence., South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), February 20, 1994, Sunday Edition; Pg. 4
Sega takes the lead!
Sega gains in key video-game segment, United Press International, February 14, 1994, Monday, BC cycle
Sega enters electronics market
Sega to break into electronic notebook market, Japan Economic Newswire, FEBRUARY 14, 1994, MONDAY
Sega Moves Into Electronic Toys; Lead Item Is a Learning Aid, Pico, A Hit Among Japanese Preschool Set ADWEEK, February 14, 1994, All Southeast EditionSouthwest EditionWestern Advertising News Edition, Section: CLIENT NEWS
https://segaretro.org/IR_7000_Communicator
Howard Lincoln becomes Chairman of the Board
Howard Lincoln appointed chairman of the board of Nintendo of America, Inc., Business Wire, February 15, 1994, Tuesday
NINTENDO NAMES NEW CHIEF IN COMEBACK BID, Charleston Gazette (West Virginia), February 16, 1994, Wednesday, Section: News; Pg. P2D
Nintendo plots leap over Sega, USA TODAY, February 16, 1994, Wednesday, FINAL EDITION, Section: MONEY; Pg. 1B
Sega drops forecasts
Nikkei closes week on a higher note, Financial Times (London,England), February 19, 1994, Saturday, London; Section: World Stock Markets (Asia Pacific); Pg. 19
Sega blames strong yen for decline; Analysts say competition has eaten into margins, The Independent (London), February 19, 1994, Saturday, Section: BUSINESS & CITY PAGE; Page 19.
Sega sounds losses warning, Evening Standard (London), February 18, 1994, Section: Pg. 33
Soaring Sega grounded by European slump; Stock Tumbles 25% On Earnings Outlook, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), February 7, 1994, Section: INDUSTRY; Pg. 9
Nintendo workers first to feel NAFTA
NAFTA claims first U.S. victims: Nintendo takes Seattle plant south, The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia), February 7, 1994, Monday, FINAL EDITION, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. D9, Byline: SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Sega to beef up overseas production
Sega to step up overseas production, Japan Economic Newswire, FEBRUARY 25, 1994, FRIDAY
Sony gathers devs
Japan - Sony Links With 200 Video Game Software Firms,Newsbytes, February 1, 1994, Tuesday
Nintendo disses CDs
"Experts baffled by break-ins on Internet, St. Petersburg Times (Florida), February 13, 1994, Sunday, City Edition, BUSINESS; TECH TALK; Pg. 9H; DIGEST
Nintendo announces long-awaited format for Project Reality; 64-bit state-of-
the-art video game system will employ the fastest storage media available, Business Wire. February 10, 1994, Thursday"
Nintendo intends to play with solid state over CD-ROM, The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia), February 12, 1994, Saturday, FINAL EDITION, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. H3, Byline: N.Y. TIMES NEWS SERVICE
https://vgprintads.tumblr.com/post/77390106108/strider-genesismega-drive-simpsons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64
3DO slashes prices
3DO cuts price on multiplayer, United Press International, February 22, 1994, Tuesday, BC cycle
Matsushita cuts price of new video game, The Daily Yomiuri, February 19, 1994, Saturday
Matushita buys into Interplay
Universal Studios Parent Teams Up With Video, Computer Game Outfit, Associated Press Worldstream, February 10, 1994, Thursday 21:47 Eastern Time, Section: Financial pages
Laseractive goes 3D
http://videogamekraken.com/laseractive-by-pioneer-corporation
Pioneer Develops 3-D Software For Laser Disk Player, Newsbytes, February 23, 1994, Wednesday
https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/44971/PEASJ1012/3D-Museum
https://youtu.be/bF2Y6v6GXhE?si=ZV-wsiG4HRiwZhaw
NEC launches Laseractive
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20055%20%28February%201994%29/page/n81/mode/1up?view=theater
Sega looks to license Saturn tech
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n17/mode/2up
Court dismisses Fairchild claims
Nintendo wins patent infringement ruling; federal judge dismisses Fairchild, Semiconductor lawsuit, Business Wire, February 17, 1994, Thursday
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4095791A/en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System_Game_Pak#Design_change
Commodore takes on Sega
Amiga Format, Feb. 1994, pg. 10
Sega announces CDX
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20055%20%28February%201994%29/page/n61/mode/1up?view=theater
https://segaretro.org/Sega_Multi-Mega
JVC to launch X-Eye
https://segaretro.org/Wondermega
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20055%20%28February%201994%29/page/n61/mode/1up?view=theater
Sonic goes Third
Release of the new "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" takes country by storm, Wednesday, Feb. 2
Sega celebrates "Hedgehog Day" with release of "Sonic 3", Business Wire, February 2, 1994, Wednesday
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_3#Release
Nintendo goes big on Ken Griffey promotion
Nintendo's promotional grand slam; limited-edition Griffey baseball card, available with new Nintendo video game, Business Wire, February 28, 1994, Monday
Nintendo doesn't like vowels
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n117/mode/1up?view=theater
Viacom goes multimedia
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater Viacom's win only a start Much lies ahead in merging companies, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, February 16, 1994, Wednesday, Section: BUSINESS; Section F; Page 1
Acclaim shows off animation system
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater
https://youtu.be/qgsyw9r-sc4?si=mOi8bIyDF6nM39G7
Gregory Fischbach Part 2 - Acclaim - https://www.patreon.com/posts/47720122
Core goes it alone
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater
Game makers go after Chinese pirates
Mainland Super Marios upset overseas video-game makers, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), February 19, 1994, Business; Pg. 1
https://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/11/the-chinese-gaming-console-with-the-jackie-chan-seal-of-approval/
Microsoft wants further action against fakers, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), February 22, 1994, Business; Pg. 1
MAS Systems brings arcade controls into the home
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20055%20%28February%201994%29/page/n63/mode/1up?view=theater
https://kotaku.com/arcade-stick-pioneers-die-in-tragic-accident-1846700437
Doom gets reviewed
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n3/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n35/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n43/mode/2up
Artist Graphics brings 3D acceleration to the PC
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_115/page/n9/mode/2up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmKKyiTCWNc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xONCBNipb8k
Master your games with the Games Master
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n17/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_123/page/n151/mode/1up?q=master&view=theater
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n31/mode/2up
A1200 CD drive a no go
https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-070/page/n10/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-070/page/n13/mode/1up
Xplora 1 released
https://www.mobygames.com/game/11394/xplora-1-peter-gabriels-secret-world/
https://archive.org/details/cashbox57unse_20/page/26/mode/1up?view=theater
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7EKnhIG6zY&list=PLqIy1v23IZFyTQUIdgVecQ0so94iiF48z
Aris goes MPEG
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamesLC2/Electronic%20Games%20LC2%20Issue%2017%20%28February%201994%29/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater
Microprose's international offices go un-renamed
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-02/page/n17/mode/2up
Thalion loses key talent
Amiga Format, Feb. 1994, pg. 10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalion_Software
Apple announces entry into settop box market
BUSINESS IN BRIEF Apple plans interactive device for TV sets, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, February 11, 1994, Friday, BUSINESS; Section D; Page 3
Japan's Pioneer, U.S. Oracle Corp. Announce Multimedia Tie-up, Associated Press Worldstream, February 16, 1994, Wednesday 04:35 Eastern Time
HP licenses CD32
https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-070/page/n13/mode/1up
Atari ST User reviews The Whole Internet
https://archive.org/details/wholeinternetuse00krol/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/Atari_ST_User_Issue_097_1994-02_Europress_GB/page/n89/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