Jack buys Atari
Imagine goes belly up
Nintendo's Famicom gets Zapped
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 July 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
Get us on your mobile device:
Android: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly92aWRlb2dhbWVuZXdzcm9vbXRpbWVtYWNoaW5lLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz
iOS: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine
And if you like what we are doing here at the podcast, don't forget to like us on your podcasting app of choice, YouTube, and/or support us on patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/VGNRTM
Send comments on Mastodon @videogamenewsroomtimemachine@oldbytes.space
Or
twitter @videogamenewsr2
Or
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm
Or
videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com
Links:
If you don't see all the links, find them here:
7 Minutes in Heaven: Pit Fall 2
Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/7-minutes-in-ii-115206120
https://www.mobygames.com/game/6946/pitfall-ii-lost-caverns/
Corrections:
June 1984 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/june-1984-112063864
Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
https://www.arcade-museum.com/Arcade/space-flight
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings#Motion_pictures
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076929/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2
1974:
Atari makes Pong cute
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1974/CB-1974-07-06-I.pdf
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1974/CB-1974-07-20.pdf
https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/tv-basketball
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1974/CB-1974-07-27.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Pong
Bluesky hucksters descend on video games
The Franchise Hustlers, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 1974, page 8
Barcode scanning comes to supermarkets
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/70s/1974/Poptronics-1974-07.pdf pg. 22
https://www.nytimes.com/1974/10/04/archives/electronic-checkout-speeds-food-buying-checkout-speeded.html
Xerox Parc gets out the painbrush
https://archive.org/details/197407PccV2N6/page/n5/mode/2up
1984:
CES takeaways
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/50/mode/2up
Atari gets tight with announcements
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/60/mode/1up?view=theater
Atari announces Super Chip games
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/60/mode/1up?view=theater
Atari announces new console and computer games
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/60/mode/1up?view=theater
5200 RIP
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/61/mode/1up?view=theater
Coleco sweetens Adam deal
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/56/mode/2up
Jack Attack
July 2
Jack buys Atari
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/61/mode/1up?view=theater
Warner sells Atari operations, Warner sells Atari operations, United Press International, July 2, 1984, Monday, AM cycle
Warner sells Atari operations, United Press International, July 2, 1984, Monday, BC cycle, Section: Financial
July 3
Tramiel Buys Atari, Sets Sights On Former Company, The Associated Press,July 3, 1984, Tuesday, PM cycle
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/03/business/warner-sells-atari-to-tramiel.html?searchResultPosition=1
July 4
"Home computer veteran to challenge high end of market, Financial Times (London,England) July 4, 1984, Wednesday, Section: SECTION II; International Companies; Pg. 17"
July 6
Widespread Layoffs Begin Under New Leader, The Associated Press, July 6, 1984, Friday, BC cycle
July 10
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/14/business/commodore-trade-secrets.html?searchResultPosition=11
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-07-19
July 13
No Headline In Original, PR Newswire, July 13, 1984, Friday
July 16
A Tough Man for a Tough Job, Newsweek, July 16, 1984, UNITED STATES EDITION, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. 50
July 19
Warner omits payout in reshape, Financial Times (London,England), July 19, 1984, Thursday, Section: SECTION I; Pg. 20, Byline: BY TERRY DODSWORTH IN NEW YORK
July 23
Atari Tells Agencies to Freeze and Puts Networks at Ease, ADWEEK, July 23, 1984, Eastern Edition, Length: 514 words, Byline: By Gail Belsky
July 27
https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-07-26
CHINAGLIA PURCHASES CONTROL OF COSMOS, The New York Times, July 27, 1984, Friday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section A; Page 15, Column 1; Sports Desk
July 30
"ADVERTISING; Consolidating Domestically at Wells, The New York Times, July 30, 1984, Monday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section D; Page 7, Column 4; Financial Desk, Byline: By Philip H. Dougherty
Tramiel's Atari Picks Wells, Rich; DDB Is Out
ADWEEK, July 30, 1984, Eastern Edition, Byline: By Gail Belsky"
Imagine management splits
Home Computing Weekly No. 71, July 17-23
https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/industry/publishers/imagine_crash0185.htm
Popular Computing Weekly, 19 July 1984, pg. 5
Popular Computing Weekly, 5-11 July 1984
https://youtu.be/ZoDh61sgCOg?si=h4ML1gsN2kVbDXWM
Sierra On-Line no more!
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/52/mode/2up
Coleco numbers continue down
Control Data, Coleco Post Sharply Lower Profits, The Associated Press, July 19, 1984, Thursday, AM cycle
No Headline In Original, United Press International, July 19, 1984, Thursday, BC cycle, Section: Financial
COLECO AND CONTROL DATA FALL - Correction Appended, The New York Times, Correction Appended,Section: Section D; Page 3, Column 2; Financial Desk, Length: 472 words, Byline: By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
Playthings July 1984
Milton Bradley sees turnaround
Profits Up 45 Percent At Toymaker, The Associated Press, July 20, 1984, Friday, BC cycle
No Headline In Original, United Press International, July 20, 1984, Friday, BC cycle, Copyright 1984 U.P.I., Section: Financial, Length: 302 words, Dateline: LOS ANGELES
Toys Hobbies & Crafts, July 1984, pg. 10
Bally positive despite games downturn
BALLY-MANUFACTURING; Financial results, Business Wire, July 26, 1984, Thursday
Activision losses high
ACTIVISION; Financial results, Business Wire, July 26, 1984, Thursday
Interest rates put more pressure on coinop
Replay July 1984, pg. 3
Conversion kits take center stage!
Play Meter July 15, 1985
Replay July 1984, pg. 4
Play Meter July 15, 1985 pg. 43
Mylstar continues suit against Bally
Play Meter July 15, 1985 pg. 16
Mylstar brings people to FMV
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-07-21.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lfIpajVaAI
Universal moves into restaurant/arcade biz
Restaurant-game center to open, The Japan Economic Journal,,July 17, 1984, Section: SPECIAL U.S. SECTION; Pg. 11
Photon zaps onto the scene
Close Encounters on Photon, Newsweek, July 23, 1984, UNITED STATES EDITION, Copyright 1984 Newsweek, Section: ENTERTAINMENT; Pg. 62, Length: 580 words, Byline: LYNN LANGWAY with BARBARA BURGOWER in Dallas
Stern Electronics files for Chapter 11
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-07-28.pdf
Twin Galaxies shuts down
Play Meter July 15, 1984 pg. 18
Industry giants pass
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-07-21.pdf
Family computer goes lightgun
AM Life July 1, 1984, 58
CPC goes on sale
Home Computing Weekly No. 69 July 3-9
https://www.devuego.es/blog/2023/01/10/press-start-cinco-duros/
Sinclair looks overseas
Home Computing Weekly No. 69 July 3-9 pg. 5
QL confusion
Popular Computing Weekly July 26, pg. 5
Acorn and BBC extend deal
Popular Computing Weekly July 19, pg. 5
Sanyo and Canon to launch MSX in Europe
Sanyo to ship MSX PCs to Europe, The Japan Economic Journal, July 17, 1984, Section: ELECTRICALS & ELECTRONICS; Pg. 15 CANON TO EXPORT MSX PERSONAL COMPUTERS TO EUROPE, JULY 17, 1984, TUESDAY
Commodore unveils C16
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/56/mode/2up
Korea joins the chip wars
Massive investment would cause oversupply; Trilateral friction in microchip business seen among Japan, U.S. and Korea, The Japan Economic Journal, July 24, 1984, Section: Pg. 20, Byline: By TETSURO WADA
Mastertronic joins with Galactic
Home Computing Weekly No. 71 July 17-23, 1984 pg. 5
Mastertronic saves Carnell Software
Popular Computing Weekly July 19, pg. 5
Okimate brings color to the Commodore
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/57/mode/1up?view=theater
Pitfall Harry is yours to command!
https://archive.org/details/program-pitfall/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/57/mode/1up?view=theater
WarGames gets real
No Headline In Original, The Associated Press, July 17, 1984, Tuesday, AM cycle
https://www.zerothreesecurity.com/index.php/about-us/founder
The history of games revealed
https://archive.org/details/book_video_games/page/n77/mode/2up
The book of adventure games
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/50/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/the-book-of-adventure-games/page/n185/mode/2up
Activision sues Microdeal
Popular Computing Weekly 26 July, 1984, pg. 1, 2
Tax cuts for computer purchases slashed
PERSONAL FINANCE;LIMITING TAX BREAKS FOR COMPUTERS The New York Times, July 1, 1984, Sunday, Late City Final Edition, Section: Section 3; Page 11, Column 1; Financial Desk
1984 - the Year of the VCR
Sales of Color TVs and VCRs Booming, The Associated Press, July 15, 1984, Sunday, AM cycle, Section: Washington Dateline, byline: By NORMAN BLACK, Associated Press Writer
Video game palsy is the new scare
LA Games get high tech boost
A reporter's Olympics notebook;How Do I Thank Thee? Let Me Count the Ways, United Press International, July 26, 1984, Thursday, BC cycle, Section: Sports News, Byline: By RONALD E. COHEN
The Last Starfighter released
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/60/mode/1up?view=theater
'Ghostbusters,'' ''Gremlins'' still top box office after six weeks, United Press International, July 16, 1984, Monday, AM cycle, Section: Domestic News, Byline: By FRANK SANELLO, UPI Entertainment Reporter
Sirius files for Chapter 11
https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-3-4/page/56/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
