March 1984

Video Game Newsroom Time Machine

Pizza Time goes bust,

Amiga announces a computer &

Nintendo launches the VS

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 March 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/

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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/march-1984-104469980

7 Minutes in Heaven: Dolphin's Rune/Dolphin's Pearl

Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/104389483

https://www.mobygames.com/game/21190/the-dolphins-pearl/

Game Manual: https://archive.org/details/c64man_dolphins-rune

Ecco the Dolphin 7 Minutes in Heaven: https://www.patreon.com/posts/7-minutes-in-80192007

Corrections:

February 1984 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/february-1984-102404099

Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-la-pinball-or/145438040/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-san-francisco/145438150/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance_Electronic_Disc

https://www.mobygames.com/game/38079/cosmic-chasm/

https://www.mobygames.com/game/82890/cube-quest/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomy_Tutor

https://retrocomputing.stackexchange.com/a/15340

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_80186#In_personal_computers

1974:

Atari introduces Gran Track 10

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_37/page/58/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_38/page/54/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_36/page/52/mode/2up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYcNvAAeu6k

https://www.facebook.com/100057102354061/videos/1111919918819701/

Wurlitzer ends manufacturing

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_37/page/59/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_35/page/44/mode/1up?view=theater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wurlitzer

1984:

Laserdisc games galore!

https://archive.org/details/198403VideoGamesExpress/mode/1up

Play Meter 15th, 1984, pg. 56

Replay March 1984, pg. 10

https://www.dragons-lair-project.com/games/

Centuri turns it around

No Headline In Original, PR Newswire, March 14, 1984, Wednesday, Dateline: HIALEAH, Fla., March 14

The battle begins with Sente vs. VS!

Replay March 1984, pg. 10

https://sergiostuff.com/category/nintendo-vs-dualsystem/

https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/punch-out

Exidy goes interchangeable

Replay March 1984, pg. 10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exidy#First_Star_Software_games

https://www.classicarcademuseum.org/exidy-max-a-flex-system

https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/boulder-dash--data

Bills pile up at Pizza Time

Company Deferring Some Debts, The Associated Press, March 9, 1984, Friday, PM cycle, Section: Business News, Byline: By LORETTA NOFFSINGER, Associated Press Writer

Bankruptcy Threat Issued, The Associated Press, March 16, 1984, Friday, AM cycle

Pizza Time Theater enters Chapter 11

Curtains for the Pizza Time Theatre, Financial Times (London,England), March 30, 1984, Friday, Section: SECTION I; Pg. 18, Byline: By Louise Kehoe in San Francisco

Joneva Barry - Chuck E. Cheese, Kadabrascope - https://www.patreon.com/posts/joneva-barry-e-101938460

Roger Hector - Atari, Disney, Sega, Namco, Sente - https://www.patreon.com/posts/72058794

Owen Rowley - Chuck E Cheese, Autodesk - https://www.patreon.com/posts/owen-rowley-88533133

Bally buys Sente

BALLY-MANUFACTURING; Acquires Sente Technologies Division of Pizza Time Theatre Inc., Business Wire, March 29, 1984, Thursday

Chip shortage looms

Play Meter March 1st, 1984, pg. 16

Jay Balakrishnan - HESWare, Radical, Dynamics, Solid State Software - https://www.patreon.com/posts/jay-balakrishnan-103071267

Goldman Sachs quantifies the Crash

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-12/page/182/mode/1up?view=theater

Battle for Warner is over...

Warner buys back Murdoch's stake with aid from Chris-Craft, Financial Times (London,England), March 19, 1984, Monday, Section: SECTION I; Pg. 16, Byline: BY WILLIAM HALL IN NEW YORK

https://archive.org/details/masterofgamestev00bruc

Atari cuts another 200

Atari cuts jobs in restructuring, Financial Times (London,England), March 21, 1984, Wednesday, Section: SECTION II; International Companies; Pg. 19, Byline: BY LOUISE KEHOE IN SAN FRANCISCO

A Year After Layoffs, Atari Foresees Better Times in '84, The Associated Press, March 11, 1984, Sunday, BC cycle

Coleco losses dwarf expectations

COLECO LOSES $35 MILLION IN QUARTER, The New York Times, March 8, 1984, Thursday, Late City Final Edition, C, Section: Section D; Page 1, Column 3; Financial Desk, Byline: By DAVID E. SANGER

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/08/business/coleco-loses-35-million-in-quarter.html

Coleco announces massive layoffs

No Headline In Original, The Associated Press, March 28, 1984, Wednesday, AM cycle, Section: Business News, Byline: By S.W. BELL, AP Business Writer, Dateline: AMSTERDAM, N.Y.

Massive losses can't bring Mattel's spirits down

Mattel, Despite $171 Million Loss, Optimistic About Future, The Associated Press, March 15, 1984, Thursday, AM cycle, Byline: By ROGER GILLOTT, AP Business Writer

Mattel reaches new financing agreement with creditor banks, Financial Times (London,England), March 15, 1984, Thursday, Section: SECTION II; International Companies; Pg. 27, Byline: BY PAUL TAYLOR IN NEW YORK

Intellivision reborn!

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-12/page/179/mode/1up?view=theater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revco

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellivision#INTV_Corporation_(1984%E2%80%931990)

2600 goes to Turkey

ATARI; Signs agreement with Turkish firm to manufacture and distribute video game products in Turkey, Business Wire, March 20, 1984, Tuesday https://www.reddit.com/r/TheCinemassacre/comments/1afkuz2/the_first_atari_2600_commercial_in_turkey_80s/

http://www.atariboxed.com/index.php?go=output&sort=T1.Modul_Complete_Title,%20T1.Modul_Complete_Model,%20T1.Modul_Complete_TV,%20T1.Modul_Complete_Label&dir=DESC&rows_per_page=50&select_system=1&select_company=49

Odyssey RIP

Pioneer Home Video Game Is Dropped, The Associated Press, March 20, 1984, Tuesday, AM cycle, Byline: By TOM EBLEN, Associated Press Writer First Home Video-Game Maker Calling It Quits, The Associated Press, March 21, 1984, Wednesday, PM cycle, Byline: By TOM EBLEN, Associated Press Writer

Nintendo may show off console at summer CES

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-12/page/182/mode/1up?view=theater

Goodbye Video Game Update including Computer Entertainer...

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-12/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/electronic-fun-with-computers-and-games-volume-2-number-5-march-1984/page/4/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Games_Volume_02_Number_12_1984-03_Reese_Communications_US/page/n5/mode/2up

Julian 'Jaz' Rignall - Computer and Video Games, ZZAP!64, Mean Machines, Future Publishing, Virgin, IGN - https://www.patreon.com/posts/julian-jaz-and-97565043

Jerry Wolosenko - Synapse - https://www.patreon.com/posts/42014024

Amiga announces 68000 based home computer

Infoworld March 26, 1984, pg. 13

Infoworld March 19, 1984 pg. 20

https://www.landley.net/history/mirror/atari/museum/mickey.html

https://theretrohour.com/amstrad-cpc-40th-anniversary-with-roland-perry-pt-1-the-retro-hour-ep425/

Mac distribution widens

Infoworld March 26, 1984, pg. 11

Infoworld March 26, 1984, pg. 16

Apple IIx rumors begin

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-12/page/184/mode/1up?view=theater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIGS

https://archive.org/details/Creative_Computing_1984-03/page/n43/mode/2up

Intel licenses chip designs to Sanyo

BOTH 8- AND 16-BIT MODELS; Tokyo Sanyo will make Intel-compatible MPUs, The Japan Economic Journal, March 13, 1984, Section: ELECTRICALS & ELECTRONICS; Pg. 9

Commodore and IBM become Intel licensees

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/10/business/ibm-is-licensed-to-makeintel-chip.html?searchResultPosition=1 https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-15/mode/1up?view=theater

Don Greenbaum - Commodore - https://www.patreon.com/posts/don-greenbaum-67077078

Commodore goes brit

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-29/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHJ6vVxJLlQ

IBM slashes PC prices in Europe

Infoworld March 26, 1984, pg. 11

Creative Computing reviews the TS 2068

https://archive.org/details/Creative_Computing_1984-03/page/n93/mode/2up

Timex calls it quits

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-01/mode/1up?view=theater

InfoWorld March 19, 1984 pg. 16

Sinclair admits QL is a mess

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-08/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-15/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-29/page/n31/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-22/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

QL peripheral makers multiply

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-29/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

Developers abandon QL for CPC

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-15/mode/1up?view=theater

Sir Clive's portable TV impresses

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-29/page/n15/mode/1up?view=theater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV80

Sinclair EV to be made by Hoover

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-08/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

Imagine begins Bandersnatch and Psyclapse ad blitz

https://archive.org/details/computer-and-videogames-029/page/n153/mode/2up

Imagine bungles deal

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-08/mode/1up?view=theater

http://redparsley.blogspot.com/2016/08/input-magazine-retrospective.html

https://archive.org/details/Input_Vol_1_No_01_1997_Marshall_Cavendish_GB

Imagine announces price cut

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-08/page/n2/mode/1up?view=theater

https://archive.org/details/Big_K_Issue_03_1984_Jun/page/n15/mode/2up

Bug Byte won't give up on Miner Willie

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-22/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/mattie-goes-mining/

Novotrade details

First All-Hungarian Stock Corporation Ventures Into Video Gaming, The Associated Press, March 3, 1984, Saturday, BC cycle, Byline: By ROLAND PRINZ, Associated Press Writer

https://www.stayforever.de/2024/04/ddr-computer-sft-14/

https://www.ddr-museum.de/de/blog/2020/genex-geschenkdienst

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genex

https://archive.org/details/genexhauptkatalog1986

Hudsonsoft goes Speccy

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-29/mode/1up?view=theater

https://www.mobygames.com/game/company:1360/platform:zx-spectrum/sort:-date/page:1/

https://www.mobygames.com/game/19608/cannon-ball/

Geoff Crammond takes to the skies

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-29/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVNAippFbAs

https://www.mobygames.com/person/6244/geoffrey-j-crammond/

Mythos puts Karsten Köper on the map

https://archive.org/details/atari-club-magazin-1984-3/page/6/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/atari-club-magazin-1984-3/page/10/mode/2up

http://thethalionsource.w4f.eu/Artikel/Mythos.htm

XOR brings Football Manager to the gridiron

Infoworld March 12, 1984, pg. 22

https://www.mobygames.com/company/1848/xor-corporation/

Palace software to leverage movie licenses

https://archive.org/details/home-computing-weekly-052

Enter the 'bookware'

https://archive.org/details/Acorn_User_Number_020_1984-03_Adn-Wesley_GB/page/n7/mode/2up

https://worldofspectrum.net/publisher/11213/

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-08/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

Addison-Wesley launches line of games for girls

Infoworld March 26, 1984, pg. 20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsgYqUjtPj8

https://www.mobygames.com/company/23943/rhiannon-software/

https://www.wearelivinginthefuture.com/p/space-girls-gaming-obsolescence

https://archive.org/details/wozaday_Lauren_of_the_25th_Century

Angelsoft founded

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-12/page/190/mode/1up?view=theater

https://www.mobygames.com/company/1107/angelsoft-inc/

Synergistic abandons publishing

https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Games_Volume_02_Number_12_1984-03_Reese_Communications_US/page/n13/mode/2up

Lotus goes for integration

https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1984-03/page/n10/mode/1up?view=theater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Symphony_(MS-DOS)

http://oldvcr.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-commodore-plus4-3-plus-1-and.html

https://archive.org/details/Ahoy_Issue_03_1984-03_Ion_International_US/page/n9/mode/2up

Egghead Softwear is slashing prices

https://archive.org/details/Creative_Computing_1984-03/page/n205/mode/2up

Comptiq brings US games to Japan

Comptique will market U.S.-made game packages, The Japan Economic Journal, March 13, 1984, Section: SPECIAL U.S. SECTION; Pg. 13

https://www.mobygames.com/company/6942/comptiq/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptiq

MSX looks to be a dud

https://archive.org/details/home-computing-weekly-052/page/n31/mode/2up

Sega to export 70,000 SC300's

Personal computers, The Japan Economic Journal, March 6, 1984, Section: NEWS PACKAGE; Pg. 18

MAX RIP

Commodore withdraws from toy business, The Japan Economic Journal, March 13, 1984, Section: SERVICE/LEISURE/FOOD; Pg. 18

Robotron ships with dual controller holder

https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-12/page/184/mode/1up?view=theater

https://forums.atariage.com/topic/166814-robotron-dual-controller-holder/

Violence in Gaming debate comes to the C64

https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Volume_2_Number_06_1984-03_Pumpkin_Press_US/page/n77/mode/2up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqPymlvBrSA

Alladin's Castle finally beats Mesquite

Play Meter 15th, 1984, pg. 13

Computer hacking laws proposed

https://archive.org/details/home-computing-weekly-053/page/n15/mode/2up

Piracy has Apple in a tizzy

No Headline In Original, United Press International, March 10, 1984, Saturday, PM cycle

Japanese Industry backs MITI

KEIDANREN SUPPORTS MITI'S SOFTWARE PROTECTION BILL, Copyright 1984 Jiji Press Ltd.Jiji Press Ticker Service, MARCH 13, 1984, TUESDAY

https://www.keidanren.or.jp/en/profile/pro001.html

Video Nasties Bill gets games amendment

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-22/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Recordings_Act_1984

UK Libraries clash with software publishers

https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-03-29/mode/1up?view=theater

Are computer graphics art?

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/27/science/colorful-graphics-aren-t-for-everybody.html

https://blisscast.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/mindset-computer-vyper-game/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindset_(computer)

Smart devices invade homes

A Year After Layoffs, Atari Foresees Better Times in '84, The Associated Press, March 11, 1984, Sunday, BC cycle

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/08/garden/the-digital-revolution-breeds-smart-new-appliances.html

Seiko introduces the smartwatch

https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1984-03/page/n10/mode/1up?view=theater

https://www.namokimods.com/en-eu/blogs/namokitimes/seiko-originals-the-uc-2000-a-smartwatch-from-1984

RIP Mike Kogan

Replay March 1984, pg. 10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kogan

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

chuck e cheese

atari

commodore

commodore 64

ecco

dolphin's pearl

dolphin's rune

nintendo

nes

famicom

vs

amiga

appleii

palace

retro

video games

alladins castle

robotron

commodore max

addison-wesley

rhiannon software

bookware

thalion

geoff crammond

novotrade

hudsonsoft

spectrum

ql

amstrad

imagine

sinclair

timex

intel

pc clones

odyssey

magnavox

coleco

intellivision

exidy

laserdisc

dragon's lair