Arcade operators fear the VCS
Nintendo trounces Atari in court
and
The PS2 takes Japan by storm
These stories and a very tired Karl on this month's episode of the Video Game Newsroom Time Machine
This month we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in April of 1980, 1990, 2000.
As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events..
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Correction: Tiertex did not do Back to the Future 2, it was Images Software Ltd.
1980:
FCC lets Ma Bell go online
https://www.nytimes.com/1980/04/08/archives/computer-curb-lifted-for-phone-companies-fcc-in-decontrol-move.html?searchResultPosition=2
The Ludites are back... and their wearing berets
https://www.nytimes.com/1980/04/11/archives/raiders-in-france-destroy-two-computer-centers.html?searchResultPosition=3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_directe_(armed_group)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite
Warner, Mattel, and Coleco report record profits
Playthings, April 1980, pg. 11
Toy & Hobby World, April 1980
AMD is making it rain
https://www.nytimes.com/1980/04/30/archives/companies-compete-to-lure-employees-california-computer-suppliers.html?searchResultPosition=11
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Micro_Devices
https://www.nytimes.com/1980/04/08/archives/intel-reports-higher-profits.html?searchResultPosition=17
Game Consoles are the up and coming thing... just not at toy retailers.
Playthings, April 1980, pg. 55
Arcade game operators fear the VCS
Play Meter, April 1980, pg. 36
Inflation grips the arcade industry... and the industry fights back!
Replay, April 1980, pg. 29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_funds_rate
Cinematronics sues Atari over Asteroids
Play Meter April 1980, pg. 41
Play Meter October 15, 1981 pg. 148
https://tinyurl.com/ybhc4gxy
TSR opens UK office
Playthings, April 1980, pg. 10
https://www.webcitation.org/655ldIQOO?url=http://www.thekyngdoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Turnbull_(game_designer)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_(game)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_Workshop
SSI brings wargaming to the digital world
https://archive.org/details/CreativeComputingbetterScan198004/page/n44/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Billings
1990:
Nintendo can sue retailers that carry unlicensed NES carts
Playthings April 1980
https://casetext.com/case/atari-games-corp-v-nintendo-of-america
The arcade is coming home
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_Geo_(system)
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20009%20%28April%201990%29#page/n29/mode/2up
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20009%20%28April%201990%29#page/n42/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue31Apr90/page/n8/mode/1up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNtfVTaSLOg&list=PLjnUa-_dnEnMFh2ANIXDqLShwMuDu2Ols
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pSYKXaFK0M&list=PLjnUa-_dnEnMFh2ANIXDqLShwMuDu2Ols&index=26
The GX4000 is on its way
https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue31Apr90/page/n8/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000
Sega expands Master System licensees to European companies
https://archive.org/details/computer-and-videogames-101/page/n8/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/zero-magazine-06/page/n8/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/sega-master-system/us-gold-ltd/
https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/sega-master-system/image-works/
https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/sega-master-system/titus-interactive-sa/
Atari turns a profit
https://www.atariarchives.org/atarileaks/timeline.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_g-JIfV3sg&feature=youtu.be
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-24-fi-2005-story.html
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-09-fi-1502-story.html
Playthings April 198
US Memories shuts down.
https://archive.org/details/1990-04-compute-magazine/page/n7/mode/1up
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-26-fi-922-story.html
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-28-fi-1464-story.html
https://tinyurl.com/yafagpwh
https://tinyurl.com/y7obdfup
Madden gets updated Roster data disk
https://archive.org/details/1990-04-compute-magazine/page/n125/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Madden_Football_(1988_video_game)
Super Mario Ice Capades
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuuhn2cfVUE
https://www.mariowiki.com/Mario_Ice_Capades
https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue31Apr90/page/n9/mode/1up
2000:
PS2 launches in Japan.
https://archive.org/details/mm63_20190722/page/n10/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2#Reception
Xbox finally revealed
https://archive.org/details/mm63_20190722/page/n4/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_(console)
Nintendo does what everyone knew they would... delay the Dolphin...AND the Gameboy Advance
https://archive.org/details/mm63_20190722/page/n5/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameCube
Conker is no longer a nice guy...
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20129%20%28April%202000%29#page/n39/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/game/n64/conkers-bad-fur-day
Final Fantasy is going online
https://archive.org/stream/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20129%20%28April%202000%29#page/n33/mode/2up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_XI
Fallout 3 to go 3D
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-2000-04/page/n11/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallout_(series)#Van_Buren_(Black_Isle_Studios'_Fallout_3)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Buren_(video_game)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TvcanIELcY
Origin shuts down the Ultima 9 boards
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_189/page/n34/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_IX:_Ascension#Reception
Protestors go after Midway
https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3941-gamepro-issue-139-april-2000/ pg. 36
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/93462/Midway_Protests.php
Cavedog is gone but Chris Taylor is hitting it big
https://archive.org/details/mm63_20190722/page/n68/mode/1up
https://www.mobygames.com/company/wargaming-seattle
Infogrames goes through another COO
https://archive.org/details/NextGen64Apr2000/page/n11/mode/1up
3Dfx cuts 20% of its workforce
https://archive.org/details/NextGen64Apr2000/page/n11/mode/1up
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/meet-3dfxs-new-ceo/1100-2447005/
https://www.forbes.com/2000/12/18/12183dfx.html#24c92428637f
https://www.barrons.com/articles/barrons-100-most-influential-women-in-finance-tricia-griffith-51584709204
Hasbro is going to defend its Atari rights
https://archive.org/details/NextGen64Apr2000/page/n11/mode/1up
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-2000-04/page/n118/mode/1up
Psychic sues Pokemon
https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3941-gamepro-issue-139-april-2000/ pg. 34
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abra,_Kadabra,_and_Alakazam#Controversy
EA buys up Dreamworks Interactive
https://archive.org/details/NextGen64Apr2000/page/n18/mode/1up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danger_Close_Games
Freeloader.com is bringing free games to you
https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_088_2000-04_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n22/mode/1up
https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/freeloadercom-to-shut-down
Recommended Links:
They Create Worlds: https://tcwpodcast.podbean.com/
Digital Antiquarian: https://www.filfre.net/
The Arcade Blogger: https://arcadeblogger.com/
The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
Sound Effects by Ethan of History of How We Play.