Hollywood welcomes Siliwood, Saturn and Playstation begin fight for Japanese consumers & 3DO declared DOA
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 June 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/113403594
7 Minutes in Heaven: Space Ace (SNES) Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/113313328 https://www.mobygames.com/game/24930/space-ace/
Corrections: May 1994 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/may-1994-110575391 Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ https://www.reddit.com/r/playstation/comments/p5o3d0/1995_prelaunch_playstation_brochure_promotional/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sega_arcade_system_boards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruis%27n_USA https://youtu.be/nrUWIHasHPQ?si=vCitZXMwn3UdXXNZ 1994: Playmates sees video games as path to diversification Playmates Toys wins with video games arm, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), June 9, 1994, Section: BUSINESS; Pg. 2
Sega goes to Epcot Sega is largest exhibitor at Disney's Innoventions Pavilion at Epcot Center; unveils model of 10,000 square foot exhibit at CES, Business Wire, June 22, 1994, Wednesday https://youtu.be/xhBPuiPY8uY?si=vQVOuYF_Y2jQUzDE
Sega signs deals with Coca Cola and Hudson in Japan Sega Makes Deals With Coke, Hudson, Newsbytes, June 3, 1994, Friday Sega heads on-line telecom karaoke venture, Multimedia System Will Transmit Over ISDN Networks, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), June 6, 1994 Sega announces massive bond issue TOKYU TO ISSUE 40 BILLION yen IN BONDS, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), June 13, 1994, Section: CORPORATE FINANCE; Pg. 16 Sega Enterprises to raise 100 bil. yen with CBs, Japan Economic Newswire, JUNE 8, 1994, WEDNESDAY
Siliwood fever has become a pandemic! GEFFEN RECORDS AND JASMINE MULTIMEDIA DEBUT VID GRID, NEW MULTIMEDIA INTERACTIVE VIDEO GAME WITH LARGEST NUger 320 x 240 Video for Windows(TM) and Innovative Game Technology, PR Newswire, June 13, 1994, Monday - 08:30 Eastern Time Online Services Compete For Attention, Newsbytes, June 16, 1994, Thursday New Line Cinema and Havas form interactive joint venture, Business Wire, June 1, 1994 Fox Interactive Leaps Quickly Into Game Software Fray, Billboard, June 4, 1994 GTE Interactive Media makes public debut with introduction of innovative line of interactive electronic entertainment; Leading edge creative talent, proprietary technologies and four-year proven track record bring platform diverse, Business Wire, June 20, 1994, Monday Time Warner Interactive and Byron Preiss Multimedia Co. ink a multi-title affiliate label distribution deal, Business Wire, June 29, 1994, Wednesday SNL' Now Showing On GameTek CD-ROM, Billboard, June 11, 1994, Section: THE ENTER*ACTIVE FILE; Pg. 66 Disney Software to Top Christmas Wish Lists in '94, Business Wire, June 24, 1994, Friday Virgin makes sale to Blockbuster, Financial Times (London,England), June 30, 1994, Thursday, Section: Pg. 29 Studios Put New Spin On Game Spinoffs, Billboard, June 18, 1994, Copyright 1994 Billboard Publications, Inc., Section: THE ENTER*ACTIVE FILE; Pg. 52 Full Moon Entertainment and Philips Media Games to partner in videogame development; Philips to transform feature films into games, Business Wire, June 28, 1994, Tuesday SPA and Shareware makers resist ISDA Software Publishers To Rate Computer Games, Newsbytes, June 16, 1994, Thursday Nostalgia and dissapointment mar ECTS https://segaretro.org/File:Edge_UK_009.pdf pg. 14 A New Generation Of Pac-Man Arrives, Billboard, June 4, 1994, Section: THE ENTER*ACTIVE FILE; Pg. 88 Bill Stealey to return http://www.kultmags.com/Play%20Time/1994/Play%20Time%201994-06.rar pg. 19 Howard Lincoln delivers CES keynote King of the Video Game Jungle commands spotlight at Summer CES; Nintendo chairman to deliver keynote address and Nintendo to command largest exhibit space, Business Wire, June 23, 1994, Thursday CES - Video Industry & 20's Hollywood Compared, Newsbytes, June 23, 1994, Thursday It's All In The Games; Q&A With Nintendo's Howard Lincoln, Billboard, June 25, 1994 Acclaim announces Turok Acclaim and Nintendo announce 64-bit video game system development agreement; Acclaim unveils first Valiant Comics title for Nintendo Ultra 64(TM), Business Wire, June 23, 1994, Thursday Malibu Comics signs deal with Sony Imagesoft, Business Wire, June 23, 1994, Thursday
3DO to show 25 titles at CES 3DO TO SHOWCASE HOT NEW TITLES AT SCES; RETAILERS CALL 3DO A HIT WITH CONSUMERS, Business Wire, June 21, 1994, Tuesday
Japanese devs support 3DO Video game software giants plan 3DO titles; Capcom to develop Super Street Fighter II Turbo for 3DO, Business Wire, June 23, 1994, Thursday
Goldstar launches 3DO system GOLDSTAR MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY ENTRY CONTINUES WITH DEBUT OF 3DO INTERACTIVE MULTIPLAYER SYSTEM, PR Newswire, June 23, 1994
Jaguar games and peripherals on show ATARI CORPORATION ANNOUNCES IT HAS THE RESOURCES IN PLACE TO FULFILL ITS BUSINESS PLAN FOR 1994, PR Newswire, June 29, 1994, Wednesday - 09:01 Eastern Time ATARI CELEBRATES 150+ JAGUAR LICENSEES; EXPANDED LIST INCLUDES PROMINENT NEW NAMES, PR Newswire, June 23, 1994, Thursday - 07:55 Eastern Time
Jaguar goes multiplayer online Phylon's simultaneous Voice-plus-Data technology in new Jaguar system, from Atari Corp., Business Wire, June 27, 1994, Monday https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Jaguar
Atari finances sound for 94 ATARI CORPORATION ANNOUNCES IT HAS THE RESOURCES IN PLACE TO FULFILL ITS BUSINESS PLAN FOR 1994, PR Newswire, June 29, 1994, Wednesday - 09:01 Eastern Time
Sega looks to the younger set Sega leverages its expertise in interactive technology to broaden its audience; new Sega Club joins the Sega toy division to attract new, younger customers, Business Wire, June 24, 1994, Friday
VirctorMaxx shows off first consumer level VR CHICAGO COMPANY UNVEILS WORLD'S FIRST AFFORDABLE VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET FOR HOME USE AT CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, PR Newswire, June 21, 1994, Tuesday - 18:41 Eastern Time
Get fit with your SNES One of the most eagerly awaited products of the year arrives at the, Consumer Electronics Show, courtesy of Life Fitness and Nintendo, Business Wire, June 22, 1994, Wednesday Aura Systems enters into exclusive distribution agreement for Interactor and AuraSound products for the Australia and New Zealand market Business Wire, June 6, 1994, Monday INTERACTIVE VIDEO GAME IS A HIT WITH BASEBALL ENTHUSIASTS, PR Newswire, June 21, 1994, Tuesday - 08:27 Eastern Time
Summer CES 95 gets new home 1995 - New Venue, New Name For Summer CES, Newsbytes, June 27, 1994, Monday Redemption comes under suspicion in Oklahoma Play Meter, June 1994, pg. 18
Devs sign up to support 32X Over two dozen of video game industry's leading software publishers commit to Sega's Genesis 32X; Sega leads all competitors in delivering full 32-bit action at low price, Business Wire, June 2, 1994 Sega signs Truemotion Sega and Duck announce inclusion of "TrueMotion", Business Wire, June 21, 1994, Tuesday https://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php/Duck_TrueMotion_1
Sega starts affiliate label program Sega launches affiliate label program with Rocket Science Games, Business Wire, June 23, 1994, Thursday
Next Gen duels it out on Japanese TV https://segaretro.org/File:Edge_UK_009.pdf
Sony reveals PSX architecture details Sony Computer Entertainment unveils technology behind new home video game system; LSI Logic's custom CPU to give PlayStation competitive edge in video game hardware market, Business Wire, June 15, 1994, Wednesday
Don't call Playstation a multimedia machine! Sony soft-pedals high-tech game machine Multimedia Capabilities Outstrip Functions Of Current Software, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), June 6, 1994
Alias Research to make Ultra 64 tools Nintendo chooses Alias Research Inc. to create advanced content tools for 64-bit home video game system, Business Wire, June 9, 1994, Thursday Alias To Develop 3-D Nintendo Graphics Tools, Newsbytes, June 15, 1994, Wednesday Nintendo hints at 32 bit VR System https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_59/page/n55/mode/2up
Newsweek declares 3DO DOA Lost in Cyberspace, Newsweek, June 13, 1994 , UNITED STATES EDITION, Section: BUSINESS; Start-Ups; Pg. 40 SPECTRUM HOLOBYTE ISSUES CLARIFICATION, PR Newswire, June 9, 1994, Thursday - 08:00 Eastern Time
Jaguar software begins to trickle in https://segaretro.org/File:Edge_UK_009.pdf pg. 14 Blockbuster/THQ announces Catapult modem Blockbuster/Davis Video Launch Phone-Based Game Co, Newsbytes, June 7, 1994, Tuesday
Sega wants to appeal to girls Game Makers Finally Targeting Girls, Billboard, June 4, 1994, Section: THE ENTER*ACTIVE FILE; Pg. 88 https://segaretro.org/Sega_Girls_Task_Force https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/5/27/18526122/sega-girls-task-force-female-players Tiger Electronics rules handhelds https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_59/page/n215/mode/2up Amiga users wait with bated breath https://archive.org/details/amazing-computing-magazine-1994-06/page/n7/mode/2up
Acorn delves into PC compatibility https://segaretro.org/File:Edge_UK_009.pdf pg. 18 Wing Commander goes FMV https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_119/page/n13/mode/1up
TNG may be over, but the voyage continues on CDRom Star Trek Next Generation CD-ROM For MPC, Newsbytes, June 9, 1994, Thursday
Pajitnov endorses Spectrum Holobyte games ALEXEY PAJITNOV, CREATOR OF 'TETRIS(R),' TO ENDORSE SPECTRUM HOLOBYTE'S LINE OF COMPUTER PUZZLE GAMES, PR Newswire, June 10, 1994, Friday - 07:59 Eastern Time Surf is UP https://segaretro.org/File:Edge_UK_009.pdf pg. 11
Japanese Ministry Council to review telecommunication regulations Private council to consider multimedia rules, Report From Japan, June 22, 1994 Media Futures: Japan plays catch-up with US - At first sight advanced information networks might seem like another instance of Japan stealing a march on its competitors in a key new technology. The truth is rather different, Financial Times (London,England), June 13, 1994, Monday, Section: Pg. 15, Byline: By MICHIYO NAKAMOTO
Jurassic Park merch surpasses $1 Billion JURASSIC PARK' MERCHANDISE SURPASSES $1 BILLION AT RETAIL WORLDWIDE; PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO STAMPEDE OUT OF RETAIL STORES, PR Newswire, June 1, 1994, Wednesday - 07:29 Eastern Time
Microsoft to bring interactive TV to Japan Microsoft and NTT Announce Interactive Television Agreement, Business Wire, June 22, 1994, Wednesda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NetShow NTT AND SILICON GRAPHICS TO BUILD INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA SERVICES SYSTEM FOR JAPAN PR Newswire, June 8, 1994, Wednesday - 00:36 Eastern Time NTT links sight, sound - and companies Telephone giant forges far-flung alliances in effort to strengthen multimedia position, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), June 27, 1994, Section: INDUSTRY DIGEST; Pg. 21
The Financial Times profiles Square A role-play revolution - A Japanese businessman has found that a western approach to motivation has helped deliver spectacular results, Financial Times (London,England), June 28, 1994, Tuesday, London, Section: Management (The Growing Business); Pg. 14, Byline: By EMIKO TERAZONO
Comic book bubble burst fallout continues https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_59/page/n213/mode/2up
Atari Games RIP (sorta) Play Meter, June 1994, pg. 3
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
