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Video Game Newsroom Time Machine

Video Game Newsroom Time Machine

Karl Kuras 227 episodes Nov 5, 2026

Video Game Newsroom Time Machine is a monthly podcast that revisits video game news headlines from 30, 40, and 50 years ago. It looks at how games were reported around the world and traces the industry’s history through old news items. The show is hosted by Karl Kuras and points listeners to its Twitter account and Patreon for support.

Episodes

Paul Schindler - The Computer Chronicles, Byte.com
Paul Schindler - The Computer Chronicles, Byte.com Nov 5, 2026 02:12:37 Few TV programs have as thoroughly catalogued the history of the computer industry as The Computer Chronicles did. Paul Schindler was the show's software reviewer.  We talk about his path to becoming a reviewer and what life was like after the show, including his time at Byte.com Recorded: July 2025 Video Version: https://youtu.be/sg-V5z-xDIY?si=19tIb5_hIHq5Q5m7 Get us on your mobile device: Andro
Juan 'Juanete' Jose Muglia
Juan 'Juanete' Jose Muglia Aug 31, 2026 02:23:21 Juan 'Juanete' Jose Muglia As microcomputers opened up a world of programming, digital art and games to kids in North America, Europe and Japan, the developing world was left out of the plans of most software developers.  Crackers and software pirates filled this void creating future generations of talented coders and artists, to say nothing of legions of computer game fans. Juan 'Juanete' Jose Mu
Marylou Badeaux - Warner Records, Computer Entertainer, Video Game Update, Video Take-Out
Marylou Badeaux - Warner Records, Computer Entertainer, Video Game Update, Video Take-Out Jun 30, 2026 02:24:48 The history of video game magazines have given us some amazing publications that have helped historians understand the past in ways we otherwise would never be able to. One publication, a newsletter produced by mail-order retailer Video Take-Out, has emerged as probably the most significant source for information about the industry in the 80s, Video Game Update and Computer Entertainer.  Marylou B
November 1994
November 1994 Jun 18, 2026 03:48:51 Video Game profits collapse, PC sales boom & The Next Gen battle begins in Japan 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 November 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 World
November 1984
November 1984 May 6, 2026 03:10:25 Comdex belongs to IBM Xmas sales outlook dismal Games get protected in Japan 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 November 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
Gary Bracey - Part 2 - Ocean, Telstar, Digimask
Gary Bracey - Part 2 - Ocean, Telstar, Digimask Apr 28, 2026 02:06:45 For computer gamers in the 1980s and 90s, few companies were more ever-present than Ocean, a powerhouse in publishing, through their massive ad campaigns and amazing film licenses and coin-op conversions. Our guest today, Gary Bracey, was the VP of Development at Ocean and oversaw the production of many a classic, such as Batman, Green Beret and Robocop, to say nothing of being their in-house go-t
Gary Bracey - Part 1 - Ocean
Gary Bracey - Part 1 - Ocean Apr 15, 2026 01:28:52 For computer gamers in the 1980s and 90s, few companies were more ever-present than Ocean, a powerhouse in publishing, through their massive ad campaigns and amazing film licenses and coin-op conversions. Our guest today, Gary Bracey, was the VP of Development at Ocean and oversaw the production of many a classic, such as Batman, Green Beret and Robocop, to say nothing of being their in-house go-t
Phil Adam - Spectrum Holobyte, SPA, Interplay, Amico
Phil Adam - Spectrum Holobyte, SPA, Interplay, Amico Mar 12, 2026 03:54:06 Phil Adam's career has spanned more than 40 years, from pioneering work marketing titles for Spectrum Holobyte, playing a pivotal role in bringing Tetris to the West, working at Interplay during the RPG renaisance and his current work as head of Amico. Highs and lows in a career that has seen gaming grow up and maybe, find its youthful core once again. Recorded May-July 2025 Video Version: https:/
October 1994
October 1994 Feb 18, 2026 04:16:04 Japan goes after arcades, Nintendo's Famicon gets its first licensee & Gamers come together online 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 October 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
Tom Kalinske - Mattel, Sega, Leap Frog
Tom Kalinske - Mattel, Sega, Leap Frog Oct 15, 2025 02:22:28 Few events in video game history are more legendary than the Console War between Sega and Nintendo.  Our guest today was one of the generals of that war, the head of Sega of America, Tom Kalinske.   Tom's story is not just a story of Sega though, he started out in advertising, helping create the still iconic Flintstone's vitamins, he redefined Barbie's image, helped save Mattel from bankruptcy aft
October 1984
October 1984 Aug 26, 2025 03:01:46 Japan goes after arcades, Nintendo's Famicon gets its first licensee & Gamers come together online 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 October 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
Richard Bartle - Part 2 - Designing Virtual Worlds
Richard Bartle - Part 2 - Designing Virtual Worlds Aug 17, 2025 01:30:55 After spending almost 2 decades trying to make MUD a viable commercial project, Richard returns to academia after publishing his seminal book, Designing Virtual Worlds, and begins teaching and researching game worlds and player behavior. We delve deep into the study of games, talk about why it's important and the future of virtual worlds, the morality of being a god, both as a designer and a gamer

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