May 29, 2024
Sega previews Saturn at CES,
Commodore warns of bankruptcy &
Doom brings corporate networks to their knees
These stories and many more on this episode of theVGNRTM!
This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and aroundthe video game industry in March 1994.
As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and thoseare of course always a bit behind the actual events.
Alex Smith of They Create Worlds is our cohost. Check out hispodcast 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/105189897
7 Minutes in Heaven: Mega Turrican
Video Version:https://www.patreon.com/posts/104910543
https://www.mobygames.com/game/16645/mega-turrican/
Corrections:
February 1994 Ep -https://www.patreon.com/posts/february-1994-103514526
Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play:https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicktoons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famicom_Disk_System
1994:
Coinop goes BIG!
Edge March 1994, pg. 16
Coinop goes small
Edge March 1994, pg. 14
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2021/03/zool-arcade/
Daytona gets new name
Play Meter, March 1994, pg. 1
Irem shuts down arcade division
Play Meter, March 1994, pg. 1
Karaoke goes CD
https://archive.org/details/cashbox57unse_22/page/38/mode/1up?view=theater
US Rating System to be in place by Xmas
VIDEO-GAME MAKERS WILL SET UP SYSTEM FORRATING PRODUCTS, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 7, 1994, Monday,Section: Section B; Page 7, Column 6
UK Rating system to start in March
https://archive.org/details/AmigaFormatMagazine_201902/Amiga_Format_Issue_057_1994_03_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n21/mode/2up
3DO issues ratings system
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n10/mode/1up?view=theater
https://www.mobygames.com/game/1824/hell-a-cyberpunk-thriller/cover/group-13661/cover-30908/
Current NextGen falters at CES
Edge, March 1994, pg. 6
Sega Previews Saturn
https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20056%20%28March%201994%29/page/n57/mode/2up
Edge, March 1994, pg. 6
Nintendo fools no one with SGi demos
Edge, March 1994, pg. 6
Acclaim The Duel demo details
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater
Gregory Fischbach Part 2 - Acclaim -https://www.patreon.com/posts/47720122
Gregory Fischbach Part 1 - Activision -Acclaim - https://www.patreon.com/posts/46578120
3D tool makers show wares at CES
https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/15/mode/1up?view=theater
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_Technologies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softimage_3D
https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/17/mode/1up?view=theater
Sega of America announces 32X
MONITOR, The Irish Times, March 15, 1994,CITY EDITION, Section: EDUCATION & LIVING; Pg. Supplement Page12
SEGA TO ENTER 32-BIT VIDEO GAME MARKET INFALL WITH PRICE BREAK ON HARDWARE, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 15,1994, Tuesday, Section: Section B; Page 6, Column 4, Byline: BY DONCLARK
PSX shown to UK Devs
Edge, March 1994, pg. 13
3DO announces new licensees and PC add-on card
No Headline In Original, WALL STREETJOURNAL, March 11, 1994, Friday, Section: Section B; Page 5, Column4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3DO_Interactive_Multiplayer#Licensed_systems
Microsoft WON'T provide an OS for Saturn
Microsoft plays down Sega video game role,Financial Times (London,England), March 10, 1994, Thursday, London,Section: International Company News; Pg. 30, Byline: By LOUISEKEHOE and MICHIYO NAKAMOTO
Crystal Dynamics signs on for Saturn development
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater
https://www.mobygames.com/game/company:1281/platform:sega-saturn/sort:-date/page:1/
CD32 haralds CD revolution in UK
MONITOR, The Irish Times, March 15, 1994,CITY EDITION, Section: EDUCATION & LIVING; Pg. Supplement Page12
Nintendo announces Super Gameboy
NINTENDO UNIT UNVEILS DEVICE, WALL STREETJOURNAL, March 15, 1994, Tuesday, Section: Section C; Page 6,Column 6
Nintendo still smug, despite share price collapse
Nintendo still at the top of its game,Despite sagging shares, firm outscores rivals in efficiency,profitability, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), March 28, 1994, Section:INDUSTRY; Pg. 9, Byline: BY ASAKO ISHIBASHI Staff writer
Nintendo profits expected to fall by 40%
Nintendo group's pretax profit to fall 40%,daily says, Japan Economic Newswire, MARCH 31, 1994, THURSDAY,Dateline: TOKYO, March 31 Kyodo
Sega Enterprises to raise dividend, skipshare split, Japan Economic Newswire, MARCH 10, 1994, THURSDAY,Dateline: TOKYO, March 10 Kyodo
Acclaim reports record earnings!
Playthings, March 1994, pg. 10
NBA Jam launch to match Mortal Kombat
NBA Jams' Wins Acclaim; TriStar's New CoverGirl, Billboard, March 19, 1994, Section: HOME VIDEO; Shelf Talk;Pg. 68, Byline: by Elleen Fitzpatrick
Midway dumps Acclaim
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/31/business/company-news-nintendo-licensing-deal-rocks-acclaim-s-stock.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/18/business/stocks-advance-on-good-inflation-news.html
NINTENDO'S PROJECT REALITY GAME SYSTEM GETSLIFT IN ACCORD WITH WMS INDUSTRIES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 31,1994, Thursday, Section: Section B; Page 7, Column 1, Byline: BYJIM CARLTON
Sega shows off Virtua Racing on Genesis
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n87/mode/1up?view=theater
Playmates Toys gets into games
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater
https://www.mobygames.com/company/1481/playmates-interactive-entertainment-inc/games/
Playmates revenue drops
Playmates sales fall 10pc to $ 1.42b insaturated market, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), March 22,1994, Section: Business; Pg. 3, Byline: By CARRIE LEE
EA signs Shaq and Jordan
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n25/mode/1up?view=theater
Commodore Australia closes down
IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM FOR COMMODORE;COMPUTER VISION, Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), March 21, 1994Monday, Late Edition, Section: COMPUTERS; Pg. 50
Commodore warns of imminentbankruptcy
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/26/business/company-news-computer-pioneer-signals-bankruptcy-near.html?searchResultPosition=1
https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-071/page/n11/mode/2uphttps://archive.org/details/amazing-computing-magazine-1994-03/page/n81/mode/2up
VFX1 brings VR home
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater
https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/12/mode/1up?view=theater
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFX1_Headgearhttps://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-03/page/n19/mode/2up
New World bought by NTN
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_116/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater
MCA announces game studio
https://www.mobygames.com/company/1982/universal-interactive-inc/
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater
Broderbund signs up affiliates
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater
Rocket Science goes full Siliwood
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_116/page/n14/mode/1up?view=theater
Microsoft's got game
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n10/mode/1up?view=theater
Newton gets games
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater
Sierra goes big on CGI
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater
Tsunami wants to inject you into a game
https://www.mobygames.com/game/1478/blue-force/trivia/
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n11/mode/1up?view=theater
Dragon's Lair comes to CDRom
https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-03/page/n18/mode/1up?view=theater
Shareware confusion rises
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-03/page/n25/mode/2up?q=shareware
https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1994.03/page/n5/mode/2up
Company networks get Doom-ed!
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_116/page/n13/mode/1up?view=theater
Microsoft announces Microsoft Network
Microsoft to test PC network, FinancialTimes (London,England), March 14, 1994, Monday, London, Section:International Company News; Pg. 19
IBM and Videotron team up
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/12/business/company-news-videotron-and-ibm-to-explore-interactive-technology.html
https://techmonitor.ai/technology/ibm_previews_its_powerpc_403ga_emebedded_microcontroller_chip
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerPC_400#PowerPC_403
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=gJaSV-oulLE
https://books.google.ca/books?id=aeQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62&dq=videoway+popular+mechanics&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixn-r1wrTpAhWPbs0KHbhTC6AQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=videoway%20popular%20mechanics&f=false
https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/groupe-videotron-lte
Japanese recession hits Akihabara
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/05/world/tokyo-journal-electronics-district-hits-hard-times.html?searchResultPosition=1
Survey reveals some winners amid chillybusiness climate, The Daily Yomiuri, March 28, 1994,Monday
https://www.triptojapan.com/blog/akihabara-exploring-tokyo-s-electric-town
Discounting takes Japanese retail by storm
Cheap and cheerful: Changing patterns ofJapanese retailing, Financial Times (London,England), March 15,1994, Tuesday, London, Section: Pg. 24, Byline: By EMIKOTERAZONO
Rhino Group grows
Enlarged Rhino advances to Pounds 2m,Financial Times (London,England). March 4, 1994, Friday, London,Section: UK Company News; Pg. 24, Byline: By PAUL TAYLOR
UK mag publisher Impact calls it quits
THE GAMES OF CHANCE; You don't need to livein the metropolis to make a million from mags, The Guardian(London), March 10, 1994, Section: THE GUARDIAN FEATURES PAGE; Pg.17
https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-106
https://archive.org/details/amiga-force-16/page/n11/mode/2up?view=theater
https://segaretro.org/Impact_Magazines
Dark Horse Comics gets into games mag business
https://archive.org/details/max-overload-01/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/AmigaFormatMagazine_201902/Amiga_Format_Issue_057_1994_03_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n19/mode/2up
Move over cover disks...CDs are here!
https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/9/mode/1up?view=theater
Multimedia p*rn becomes harder to ignore
https://archive.org/details/AcornUser140-Mar94/page/n21/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_116/page/n9/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-071/page/n29/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-03/page/n17/mode/2up
McGraw Hill publishes Best of Byte
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/01/science/peripherals-the-bytes-of-the-past-emerge-as-a-book.html?searchResultPosition=1
https://archive.org/details/bestofbyte0000rana
Japan buys more chips abroad
Japan, U.S. emphasize 3 sectors for foreignchips Tokyo Relieved No Guarantee Sought, The Nikkei Weekly(Japan), March 28, 1994, Section: ECONOMY; Pg. 2, Byline: BYHIROSHI NAKAMAE Staff writer
Girls need to get into games
A TOOL FOR WOMEN, A TOY FOR MEN: VIDEOGAMES HELP BOYS GET A HEAD START, WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 16,1994, Wednesday, Section: Section B; Page 1, Column 6, Byline: BYWILLIAM M BULKELEY
Carmen Sandiego goes around the world
https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1994-03/page/8/mode/1up?view=theater
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_in_the_World_Is_Carmen_Sandiego%3F_(game_show)#International_versions
Magic the Gathering takes gaming market by storm
Playthings, March 1994, pg. 18
Linux launched
https://twitter.com/WeAreRSGroup/status/1768186561227538885/photo/1
RIP John Candy
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/05/obituaries/john-candy-comedic-film-star-is-dead-of-a-heart-attack-at-43.html?searchResultPosition=7
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 WePlay.
Copyright Karl Kuras