They Create Worlds

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The games we love reveal something true about who we are, and about the world that made them. They Create Worlds is a podcast about the people, technology, and forces that built the video game industry.

Through video game history, the show looks at how culture, business, and technology shaped what we play, tracing the choices and circumstances that led to the games so many people around the world enjoy.

Each episode digs into where games came from, who made them, and why they were made the way they were. Business decisions, technological shifts, and creative choices all shaped what ended up on screen, and the show covers all of it together, not just one piece in isolation.

Hosted by Alex Smith and Jeffrey Daum, They Create Worlds grew out of long conversations about the strange corners of the industry and the patterns that only show up when you look across companies, platforms, and decades. That conversational feel remains, built on careful research, clear structure and editing that makes even the deepest topics easy to listen to.

History turns out to be less settled than it looks. New documents surface, memories conflict, and the clean stories about why things happened the way they did rarely survive contact with the evidence. The show digs into all of that, following the creative and business forces that pushed and pulled on each other, and uncovering the human stories that lie beneath the games so many people around the world enjoy.

New episodes are released twice a month.

Episodes

Monday Jan 01, 2024

Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 1

Monday Jan 01, 2024

TCW Podcast Episode 201 - Advanced Balls and Paddles Part 1

In this two-part exploration of advancements in ball and paddle games beyond Pong, we delve into the human fascination with balls and trace the evolution of coin-operated games leading to Pong's creation. Ramtek's contributions, especially with Wipe Out and Clean Sweep, spurred Atari to experiment with new ideas, resulting in Pin Pong. Other companies like Midway and Exidy also entered the scene with TV Flipper and TV Pinball, respectively. The narrative culminates with a detailed examination of the Breakout story, shedding light on subtle nuances often overlooked. The exploration concludes with the monumental success of Breakout upon its launch.

TCW 107 - Storytime with a Book: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/storytime-with-a-book/

Screenshots of Whirlwind Bouncing Ball & Extras: https://retrocomputingforum.com/t/footage-of-bouncing-ball-on-whirlwind/2124

Whirlwind Bouncing Ball Simulator: https://www.retrogamedeconstructionzone.com/2021/07/the-whirlwind-bouncing-ball-simulator.html

Amiga Bouncing Ball Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ga41edXw3A

Tennis for Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PG2mdU_i8k

International Mutoscope Play Hockey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=EVdxkIz3pGg

Chicago Coin Goalee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMZE-4C7o8M

Chicago Coin Slap Shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_GiV7OgFi0

TCW 165 - Allied Leisure: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/allied-leisure/

TCW 051 - Sons of Pong: http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/sons-of-pong/

German Elimination/Quadrapong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOV9c8WkWsw

Barrel Pong Replica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPhSuF70Xhk