Nintendo owns CES, The future belongs to the internet & EA disses Sega
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 September 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: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book
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Links: If you don't see all the links, find them here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/131691264
7 Minutes in Heaven: Zero Tolerance Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/131666929 https://www.mobygames.com/game/10115/zero-tolerance/
Corrections: August 1994 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/august-1994-123352781 Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega https://www.retroreversing.com/super-famicom-snes-sdk/ https://archive.org/details/st-report https://patentarcade.com/tag/alpex-computer-v-nintendo
1994: Street Fighter loses its luster A Warrior of Video Games, The New York Times, September 6, 1994, Tuesday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Financial Desk, Section: Section D; ; Section D; Page 1; Column 6; Financial Desk ; Column 6; Byline: By ANDREW POLLACK, Capcom's video game superhero, Mega Man, debuts this week in nationally syndicated cartoon series; Interactive software giant embraces Hollywood to create precedent-setting entertainment, Business Wire, September 7, 1994, Wednesday https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111301/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_2 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219458/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_14 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115421/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Action_Extreme_Team https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165046/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1 Joe Morici - Capcom - https://www.patreon.com/posts/37289815
CD duplicators expand their offerings "Keeping Track Of All Trades; Replicators Go Beyond The Basics, Branching Out Into Packaging,Distribution And More, Billboard, September 3, 1994, Section: CD REPLICATION; Spotlight; Pg. 86, Byline: BY PAUL VERNA The Expanding Universe Of Replication; Companies Roll Out The Format Welcome Mat, Opening The Door To CDROM And Others, Billboard, September 3, 1994, Section: CD REPLICATION; Spotlight; Pg. 84, Byline: BY STEVE TRAIMAN"
CD piracy explodes in Hong Kong Software pirates strike gold, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), September 15, 1994, Section: FEATURE; Pg. 25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=eEUNtQprsc0
Best Buy expands Best Buy Plans Southern Calif. Invasion; Discounter Promises 'New Shopping Experience', Billboard, September 10, 1994, Section: Pg. 5, Byline: BY EILEEN FITZPATRICK
Woolworth UK hit hard by drop in computer software sales Kingfisher offshoots turn in mixed performance, Financial Times (London,England), September 14, 1994, Wednesday, London, Section: UK Company News; Pg. 25,
Rhino sees slowdown Rhino runs deeper into red at midway, Financial Times (London,England), September 20, 1994, Tuesday, Section: UK Company News; Pg. 26, Byline: By GARY EVANS
Video game slump hits Wong Video-game slump hits firm, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), September 30, 1994, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. 18 Raymond Yap - Wong's International, Mondex - https://www.patreon.com/posts/108390526
Playmates shifts to games Post-TMNT Playmates Goes Vid, Ad Day, September 19, 1994, Section: NEW PRODUCTS; Pg. 17
Software Toolworks becomes Mindscape THE SOFTWARE TOOLWORKS, INC. BECOMES MINDSCAP , INC., PR Newswire, September 30, 1994, Friday - 19:34 Eastern Time
Strauss Zelnick to head BMG "Ex-IBM chief to head Canadian films group, Financial Times (London,England), September 15, 1994, Thursday, London; Section: International Company News; Pg. 27, Byline: By LOUISE KEHOE and REUTER Ex-Film Executive Chosen To Head Bertelsmann Unit, The New York Times, September 14, 1994, Wednesday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Financial Desk, Section: Section D; ; Section D; Page 8; Column 5; Financial Desk ; Column 5; Byline: By SALLIE HOFMEISTER, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss_Zelnick
Katzenberg out at Disney Now Playing: Disney in Turmoil, The New York Times, September 23, 1994, Friday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Financial Desk, Section: Section D; ; Section D; Page 1; Column 3; Financial Desk ; Column 3; Byline: By BERNARD WEINRAUB with GERALDINE FABRIKANT, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisneyWar https://www.amazon.com/Men-Who-Would-King-DreamWorks/dp/0547520271
Battletech Centers go online L.A.-Vegas link makes virtual a new reality, The Hollywood Reporter, September 2, 1994, Friday DISNEY'S GAME LINK, Variety, September 12, 1994 - September 18, 1994, Section: SPECIAL REPORT: INTERTAINMENT; Update; Pg. 33
Nicastro's to co-CEO WMS Neil D. Nicastro appointed co-chief executive officer of WMS Industries, Business Wire, September 12, 1994, Monday
Arnie's Place closes down Scrappy Arcade Owner Gives Up the Fight, The New York Times, September 20, 1994, Tuesday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Metropolitan Desk, Section: Section B; ; Section B; Page 4; Column 1; Metropolitan Desk ; Column 1; ; Biography, Byline: Arnie Kaye, Special to The New York Times, Dateline: WESTPORT, Conn., Sept. 19 https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/20/nyregion/scrappy-arcade-owner-gives-up-the-fight.html?searchResultPosition=1 http://arniesplacearcade.com/pictures.html
Nintendo owns CES https://archive.org/details/edge-012-september-1994/page/10/mode/2up?view=theater https://archive.org/details/edge-012-september-1994/page/44/mode/1up?view=theater
RPGs, adventures and doom clones abound on pc at ces https://archive.org/details/computer-gaming-world-issue-122-september-1994/page/22/mode/1up?view=theater Sega bypasses Japanese distributors SEGA DECIDES TO SELL DIRECT TO RETAILERS, Computergram International, September 13, 1994
EA disses Saturn No Headline In Original, Consumer Electronics, September 19, 1994, Section: NOTEBOOK, Vol. 34, No. 38
3DO's next gen system is a dog... https://archive.org/details/edge-012-september-1994/page/6/mode/2up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panasonic_M2
ESRB rates its first game No Headline In Original, Consumer Electronics, September 12, 1994, Section: NOTEBOOK, Vol. 34, No. 37
Mortal Kombat II breaks records Acclaim's 'Mortal Kombat II' breaks video game and film industry records with $50 million opening week, Business Wire, September 22, 1994, Thursday
Sega and Nintendo plan big Xmas ad spends Sega and Nintendo Prepare to Do Battle Over Holiday Season Sales, Wall Street Journal (3 Star, Eastern (Princeton, NJ), Edition), , September 21, 1994, Business and Industry, Section: Pg. B10; Vol. CCXXIV; No. 57; ISSN: 0099-9660
EA sees CD future Electronic Arts Shifts Focus to CD-ROM Video Games, Wall Street Journal (3 Star, Eastern (Princeton, NJ) Edition), September 7, 1994, Business and Industry, Section: Pg. B4; Vol. CCXXIV; No. 47; ISSN: 0099-9660
CDi gets new slogan A NEW STRATEGY FOR CD-I PHILIPS LOWERS PRICE, CHANGES SLOGAN TO DRIVE SALES, Advertising Age, September 26, 1994, Section: Pg. 14 https://youtu.be/TgtBDVRwKCQ?si=77kblLoNQUYxSl16
China seen as growth market by Nintendo Nintendo to launch game software production in China, Japan Economic Newswire, SEPTEMBER 6, 1994, TUESDAY, Dateline: TOKYO, Sept. 6 Kyodo Taiwan firm to compensate Nintendo, Singapore Business Times, September 18, 1994
Sanyo avoids face off with Matsushita Sanyo to market 32-bit computer game, Report From Japan, September 1, 1994 https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7327486440387289088/
Konix lives Aiming to succeed where others have failed - MSU's CD systems look set to find their way into homes world-wide / Growth from Technology, Financial Times (London,England), September 8, 1994, Thursday, London, Section: UK Company News; Pg. 30, Byline: By ALAN CANE https://www.konixmultisystem.co.uk/index.php?id=interviews&content=wyn
Myst coming to laseractive https://segaretro.org/Myst_(Mega_LD) Pioneer gets LaserActive with 'Myst' software hit; Redford eco entertainment also set for format, The Hollywood Reporter, September 6, 1994, Tuesday, Byline: Scott Hettrick https://segaretro.org/Legacy
Time Warner picks up Rise of the Robots Time Warner Interactive to release "Rise of the Robots" on CD-ROM and Floppy in United States; TWi also to release "Rise" on 10 interactive platforms in Europe, Business Wire, September 6, 1994, Tuesday, Dateline: MILPITAS, Calif. Sega bets on Cornhuskers "Sega Sports opens college football season by predicting this weekend's winners on the new ""College Football National Championship"" video game;Nebraska Cornhuskers take national championship on Sega Sports field, Business Wire, September 2, 1994, Friday" Shaq goes multiple media ive, EA Hope Shaq Game/CD Promo Hits Nothing But Net, Billboard, September 24, 1994, Section: ARTISTS & MUSIC; Pg. 10, Byline: BY MARILYN A. GILLEN
Chaos Studios renamed Gamepro September 1994 pg. 161 Tensions between Intel and Compaq heat up Compaq-Intel spat is fascinated dread, Financial Times (London,England), September 20, 1994, Tuesday, Section: Pg. 21, Byline: By LOUISE KEHOE and ALAN CANE
PowerPC alliance unravels BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY; Computing's Bold Alliance Falters, The New York Times, September 14, 1994, Wednesday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Financial Desk, Section: Section D; ; Section D; Page 1; Column 3; Financial Desk ; Column 3;
Target moving out of PC business No Headline In Original, Consumer Electronics, September 12, 1994, Section: NOTEBOOK, Vol. 34, No. 37
MOS technology sold STARTING FROM ASHES OF OLD FIRM COMMODORE'S NORRISTOWN PLANT CAN BE SOLD TO A START-UP COMPANY, U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT SAID., The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 24, 1994 Saturday FINAL EDITION, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. D01 CONTENDER FOR FIRM ADVERTISES FOR HELP ONE BIDDER FOR COMMODORE IS ALREADY SEEKING WORKERS. THE OTHER BIDDER SAYS IT WANTS THE RESUMES, TOO., The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 22, 1994 Thursday FINAL EDITION, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. C01 Der PC-Pionier stellte Antrag auf Konkurs, Handelsblatt, September 13, 1994, Business and Industry, Section: Pg. 11; ISSN: 0017-7296
Wing Commander budget to break records Computer Gaming World, September 1994 pg. 12 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmetropolitan
Activision brings back 2600 classics ACTIVISION'S NEW ATARI 2600(TM) ANTHOLOGY - A REAL BLAST FROM THE PAST; ORIGINAL BEST-SELLING HITS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR WINDOWS EARLY '95, PR Newswire, September 20, 1994, Tuesday - 15:02 Eastern Time, Section: Financial News
Monty Python comes to CDRom COMPUTER GAMES: THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN; Jack Schofield on something very silly a CD-ROM celebration of Monty Python, The Guardian (London), September 22, 1994, Section: THE GUARDIAN ONLINE PAGE; Pg. T7 The Information Super Highway is destined to fail "The information highway heads for the exit lane, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), September 13, 1994 Tuesday Late Edition, Section: NEWS; Features; Pg. 15"
Ads will make the interactive world go round. into the ring, ADWEEK, September 5, 1994, All Southeast EditionSouthwest EditionWestern Advertising News Edition, Section: SPECIAL REPORT, Byline: By Michael Schrage The future belongs to content "start your content engines, ADWEEK, September 5, 1994, All Southeast EditionSouthwest EditionWestern Advertising News Edition, Section: SPECIAL REPORT, byline: By Michael Krantz" FCC to investigate interactive TV bidders FCC probing interactive video bidders, The Hollywood Reporter, September 1, 1994, Thursday
AT&T pushes The Edge over a ledge AT&T Scraps Plan to Sell Gear For Video Game, Wall Street Journal (3 Star, Eastern (Princeton, NJ) Edition), September 1, 1994 AT&T PULLS PLUG ON EDGE 16, Consumer Electronics, September 5, 1994, Section: THIS WEEK'S NEWS, Vol. 34, No. 36; Pg. 15 WHEN IT COMES TO NEW MEDIA, AT&T'S NOT PLAYING GAMES; AT THE MOVIES: TWO-WAY TV; RETAILERS SIGN ON TO INTERACTIVE TV; COMPUSERVE TO BE INTERNET PROVIDER; OTHER NEWS: , Advertising Age, September 05, 1994, Section: Pg. 13 BellAtlantic, Time Warner and Viacom face delays Discord and Delay for Bell Atlantic Network, The New York Times, September 9, 1994, Friday, Late Edition - Final, Section: Section D; ; Section D; Page 1; Column 3; Financial Desk ; Column 3; Byline: By EDMUND L. ANDREWS,
Compuserve moves to the internet WHEN IT COMES TO NEW MEDIA, AT&T'S NOT PLAYING GAMES; AT THE MOVIES: TWO-WAY TV; RETAILERS SIGN ON TO INTERACTIVE TV; COMPUSERVE TO BE INTERNET PROVIDER; OTHER NEWS: , Advertising Age, September 05, 1994, Section: Pg. 13#
Online services days numbered The Executive Computer; In the On-Line Market, the Name of the Game Is Internet, The New York Times, September 25, 1994, Sunday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Financial Desk, Section: Section 3; ; Section 3; Page 7; Column 1; Financial Desk ; Column 1;
XBAND to launch as Genesis exclusive Sega and Catapult sign agreement to support XBAND game modem and network service, Business Wire, September 6, 1994, Tuesday, Catapult Video-Game Modem Gets a Boost From Sega, Nintendo, Wall Street Journal (3 Star, Eastern (Princeton, NJ) Edition), September 7, 1994, Section: Pg. B8; Vol. CCXXIV; No. 47; ISSN: 0099-9660 T-HQ announces debt and equity financings, Business Wire, September 19, 1994, Monday
Playstation to go online... in France Sony, France Telecom link in video game business, Japan Economic Newswire, SEPTEMBER 16, 1994, FRIDAY
CDRom gets online updates RealTime Moving Quickly Into Sports Arena; BMG, Nederlander Behind New CD-ROM Supplier, Billboard, September 17, 1994, Section: THE ENTER*ACTIVE FILE; Pg. 68, Byline: MARILYN A. GILLEN
Mondex aims to revolutionize payments A Visionary Pushes Toward the Cashless Revolution, American Banker, September 15, 1994, Business and Industry, Section: Pg. 12; Vol. 159; No. 178; ISSN: 0002-7561 https://www.patreon.com/posts/108390526?collection=481857
Futurist sees internet as savior of democracy Books and Authors, The Associated Press, September 2, 1994, Friday, BC cycle, Section: Entertainment News, Byline: By ELIZABETH WEISE, Associated Press Writer https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318765343_The_Virtual_Community_Homesteading_on_the_Electronic_Frontier
UK magazine market collapses GAMES MAGAZINES: A MILLION CRUEL CUTS, The Guardian (London), September 22, 1994, Section: THE GUARDIAN ONLINE PAGE; Pg. T3 Atari and Sega bury the hatchet Sega and Atari Announce Longterm Licensing Agreements, Equity, Investment, and Resolution of Disputes, Business Wire, September 28, 1994, Wednesday Nintendo sues TSMC NINTENDO FI ES SUIT AGAINST TAIWAN COMPANY TO STOP COUNTERFEITING OF VIDEO GAME SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS, PR Newswire, September 13, 1994, Tuesday - 16:47 Eastern Time 919 921 COUNTERFEIT CHIP SUIT, Consumer Electronics, September 19, 1994, Section: THIS WEEK'S NEWS, Vol. 34, No. 38 https://archive.org/details/AtariCorporationAnnualReport1994
Nintendo wins in Taiwan Court Taiwan firm to compensate Nintendo, Singapore Business Times, September 18, 1994
9th Circuit rebukes Apple Apple's Copyright Suit Against Rivals Rejected, The Associated Press, September 19, 1994, Monday, AM cycle, Section: Business News, Byline: By BOB EGELKO, Associated Press Writer George Forman KOs Power Punch II in court No Headline In Original, Consumer Electronics, September 5, 1994, Section: NOTEBOOK, Vol. 34, No. 36; Pg. 12 Acclaim mocap comes to the big screen Acclaim Motion Capture Technology Tapped For Warner Bros. 'Batman Forever'; Special Effects to Employ Motion Capture, Business Wire, September 1, 1994, Thursday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZrZK9-stCM
Watch the future of computing on your TV https://archive.org/details/jcnhomecomputing/Home.Computing.1.XviD-VHSRip.avi PCTV, INC. ANNOUNCES NEW @OME O FICE COMPUTER SHOWS AS PART OF FALL LINEUP OF TV PROGRAMS, PR Newswire, September 13, 1994, Tuesday - 06:57 Eastern Time
Photoshop gets layered Byte September 1994 pg. 30
Pulp Fiction wins Palm D'Or THE MOVIE JUNKIE; The critics hated it, the audience hurled abuse: stand by for Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, The Guardian (London), September 19, 1994, Section: THE GUARDIAN FEATURES PAGE; Pg. T8
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
