TCW Podcast Episode 085 - Computer Game BASICs

Now that we have explained how timesharing works, it's time to discuss games! In the 1960s, students and professional programmers alike created computer games that were played by dozens, if not hundreds of their peers on timeshared computers. In the early 1970s, some of these programs began to spread across the country thanks to the efforts of early pioneers in computer book and magazine publishing like Bob Albrecht and David Ahl. By the time the first microcomputers appeared in the late 1970s, these games were so widespread that they started being converted to platforms like the Apple II and TRS-80 as well.  As a result, games like Lunar Lander, Star Trek, and The Oregon Trail continued to be played decades after they were first created and became recognized as some of the earliest classic computer games.

Kill us all on sight reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Lc_1aNdZA

1969 Lander: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TkFCo4F0_U

Making Games by Year (Remaking Lunar Lander in Python): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJxNUdsnsos

Atari Lunar Lander: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McAhSoAEbhM

The Oregon Trail Franchise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fEWA3WGkZ0

The Oregon Trail Card Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg8lCvF1-Oc

Hamurabi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb9Z8FaaVZU

101 BASIC Computer Games: http://www.ccapitalia.net/descarga/docs/1975-101-basic-computer-games.pdf

Star Trek Text Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLKw4AU4KHU&t=86s

Star Trek C64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p6qQEDp0Ug

Hunt the Wumpus Text: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETjYJBJrfq4

Hunt the Wumpus Graphical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkWJMU16GrU

New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month!

TCW Email: [email protected] 

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's forthcoming book will be released through CRC Press!

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode -  Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download:http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode 

Outro Music: RolemMusic - Bacterial Love - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love 

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/