They Create Worlds

https://feed.theycreateworlds.com/feed.xml

523.9K

Downloads

257

Episodes

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

Friday Dec 15, 2023

The History of Handheld Games Part 3

Friday Dec 15, 2023

TCW Podcast Episode 200 - The History of Handheld Games Part 3

In our concluding episode exploring the evolution of handheld games, we kick off with the Amiga and the allure of bouncing balls before delving into the Atari Lynx, an early and captivating handheld console. Despite its appeal, the Lynx struggled against challenges like its high price, the limited library of engaging games, and subpar battery life, ultimately being overshadowed by the Nintendo Game Boy—a device well-suited for puzzle games. Sega's Game Gear, whose origin may have stolen its design from Nintendo or Epyx- It's complicated. The Game Gear was notable but never had a lasting impact. Gunpei Yokoi took a daring leap with the Virtual Boy, which unfortunately flopped, returning to familiar ground with the Game Boy Pocket. Yokoi's departure coincided with the rise of Pokémon, injecting new vitality into handheld gaming. Yokoi later founded his own company, contributing to the development of Bandai's Wonderswan. This prompted Nintendo's response with the Game Boy Color. Despite various attempts, no other company has managed to dethrone Nintendo as the undisputed king of handheld consoles.

Brownest of the brown Liquors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n39897a9hNk

Amiga Bouncing Ball CES 4K: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlAhRJjOhDg
Atari Lynx Cooler Than You Think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXZUX8803Wg

Lynx - Chip's Challenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw4EFHGemfQ

Lynx - Blue Lightning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKUJsqDux6A

Lynx - Gauntlet The Third Encounter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZplHuUekqF8

Lynx - Kalax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBPNolD7Fmc

Lynx - California Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAc8Su1huLE

Game Boy - Super Mario Land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGLmpjWTTnI

Game Boy - Tetris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQwohHgrk2s

Game Boy - Doctor Mario: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU9rkqHSiTg

Game Boy - Allyway: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nyoNner2NH0

Game Boy JP Launch Commercial 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkOk_E_3J0E