August 1994

30 years ago:
Computer industry booms as consoles slump,
Nintendo announces Ultra64 &
The internet gets scary

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 August 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 Worlds is our cohost.  Check out his podcast here:
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Links:
If you don't see all the links, find them here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/123352781/edit

7 Minutes in Heaven: Cliffhanger (Amiga)
Video Version: https://youtu.be/KZ7J9qEpqxI
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/29830/cliffhanger/

Corrections:
July 1994 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/july-1994-part-1-116538490
        https://www.patreon.com/posts/july-1994-part-2-116538674
Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/
    Defunctland Jim Henson Series - https://youtu.be/BVoGf1JTVeI?si=PBwUInz2t7hBe-Eq
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_superhighway
    https://en.namu.wiki/w/RX-78%20Gundam
    https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/SPECIAL
    https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW164    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cook
    Wrestling with Games - XBAND - https://youtu.be/k_5M-z_RUKA?si=tuuDxPGj6GnTPc-B
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service)    
    
    

1994:
Canada to get their own ratings
    New VCR proves 6 heads are better than 1, The Toronto Star, August 11, 1994,Thursday, FINAL EDITION, Section: FAST FORWARD; Pg. F2, byline: BY ROBERT WRIGHT TORONTO STARON THE EDGE

California presses forward with video game violence bill
    https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3018-egm2-issue-02-august-1994/   pg. 29  
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-13-mn-45306-story.html

IDSA board selected    

Mattel takes a second look at games
    Mattel Hires Sega Executive, The Associated Press, August 2, 1994, Tuesday, BC cycle

Square goes public
    CORPORATE PROFILE: SQUARE, Jiji Press Ticker Service, AUGUST 5, 1994, FRIDAY

Japanese companies playing with fire
    "As derivatives proliferate, so do worries Companies try to control risks from transactions intended to rein in costs but which can backfire, The Nikkei Weekly (Japan), August 15, 1994, Section: FINANCE; Pg. 13, Byline: BY ASAKO ISHIBASHI Staff writer"

Acclaim buys Valiant
    ACCLAIM ACQUIRES VOYAGER COMMUNICATIONS FOR $65 MILLION Marks Company's Diversification into Comic Book Publishing, Business Wire, August 2, 1994, Tuesday
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_book_collecting#Bust_of_the_speculator_market

UK video rental market embraces games... illegally
    Games Spark Sagging U.K. Vid Biz; But Many Don't Have Licenses To Rent Them, Billboard, August 13, 1994, Section: HOME VIDEO; Pg. 76, Byline: BY PETER DEAN
    Sonic out to zap the 'swapping' boom, The Scotsman, August 23, 1994, Tuesday, Byline: By Chris Mullinger
UK teens tune out to games
     MEDIA GUARDIAN: LUST FOR NASTIES AND HARD NEWS, The Guardian (London), August 8, 1994, Section: THE GUARDIAN FEATURES PAGE; Pg. T17
    
Sega announces US theme park
    Universal Teams With Sega on Theme Park, Disneyland Annex Scaled Back, The Associated Press,  August 12, 1994, Friday, AM cycle, Section: Business News, Byline: By E. SCOTT RECKARD, AP Business Writer
    Report: Sega Plan to Open 50 High-Tech Theme Parks in U.S., The Associated Press, August 16, 1994, Tuesday, BC cycle, Section: Business News

Sega buys Data East Pinball
    Sega acquires Data East Pinball, Business Wire, August 26, 1994, Friday

Doom coming to arcades
    DOOM IS ALL AROUND US, Business Week, August 1, 1994, Business and Industry, Section: Pg. 72;   
    https://doom.fandom.com/wiki/Trivia    
    https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/112509-share-your-epic-doom-related-stories/

Atari Games President passes
    Play Meter, August 1994, pg. 32

Hasbro readies to enter VR market
    No Headline In Original, ADWEEK, August 15, 1994, Eastern Edition, Byline: By Jennifer Comiteau and Penny Warneford, with Cathy Taylor   
    https://www.unseen64.net/2018/10/04/hasbro-toaster-virtual-reality-console/

Begone Project Reality, all hail Ultra 64
    https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3018-egm2-issue-02-august-1994/  pg. 28
    
Sega teams up with Hitachi in Japan
    HITACHI SALES TO HELP SEGA MARKET VIDEO GAMES, Jiji Press Ticker Service, AUGUST 3, 1994, WEDNESDAY        
    Sega, Hitachi Sales link up to sell video game machine, Japan Economic Newswire, AUGUST 3, 1994, WEDNESDAY

Sega buys Cross Products
    The leading video game development tool, Business Wire, August 15, 1994, Monday    
    https://segaretro.org/Cross_Products    
    https://web.archive.org/web/19961227100911/http://www.crossprod.co.uk/
    
Jaguar CD to launch by Xmas
    https://www.retromags.com/files/file/3018-egm2-issue-02-august-1994/  pg. 29
    ATARI CORP. ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 1994 RESULTS, PR Newswire, August 1, 1994, Monday - 19:55 Eastern Time, Section: Financial News

Sanyo gives console market a TRY
    SANYO TO RELEASE INTERACTIVE GAME MACHINE TRY, Jiji Press Ticker Service, AUGUST 31, 1994, WEDNESDAY

3DO announces losses
    Video Game System Company Posts $ 16.1 Million First-Quarter Loss, The Associated Press, August 11, 1994, Thursday, AM cycle, Section: Business News
    COMPANY NEWS; SHARES OF 3DO SOAR ON FORECAST FOR NEW SYSTEM, The New York Times, August 24, 1994, Wednesday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Financial Desk, Section: Section D; ; Section D; Page 3; Column 1; Financial Desk ; Column 1;           
    3DO UNVEILS PLANS TO BOOST POWER OF GAME PLAYERS, WALL STREET JOURNAL, August 25, 1994, Thursday, Section: Section B; Page 8, Column 4, Byline: BY JIM CARLTON         
    ANOTHER KEY EXEC DEPARTS O&M'S, INTERACTIVE GROUP; 3DO POWERS UP TO MEET COMPETITION; INTERACTING:; OTHER NEWS: Advertising Age, August 29, 1994, Section: Pg. 14

Mortal Friday gets $10 million budget
    ACCLAIM'S 'MORTAL KOMBAT II' PREPARED TO STRIKE ON 'MORTAL FRIDAY,' SEPTEMBER 9; Company Spending Over $10 Million on Global Launch, Business Wire, August 4, 1994, Thursday
    https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_121/page/n29/mode/2up
Acclaim buys into FMV    Playthings, August 1994, pg. 19      
    https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_061_August_1994/page/n157/mode/1up?view=theater

Macromedia and Microware want to bring PCs and ITV together
    Agreement to Make Computer Programs Available for Interactive TV Use, The Associated Press, August 1, 1994, Monday, AM cycle, Section: Business News, Byline: By STEVEN P. ROSENFELD, AP Business Writer  
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macromedia   
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microware
    
Computer industry profits boom
    Not drowning, waving at profits, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), August 2, 1994 Tuesday, Late Edition, Section: COMPUTERS; Mass Storage; Pg. 34

SPA reports huge boom in sales
    "NORTH AMERICAN PC SOFTWARE SALES REACH $1.48 BILLION, IN FIRST QUARTER 1994; HOME EDUCATION SALES LEAD GROWTH -- UP 128%, PR Newswire, August 8, 1994, Monday - 14:29 Eastern Time, Section: Financial News"
CDRom bundles discouraging sales    
    Dataquest Consumer Survey Shows Where CD-ROM Title Developers Can Be Successful, Business Wire, August 8, 1994, Monday
    Sirius Publishing to release long-awaited 5-ft. 10-Pak Volume II, Business Wire, August 8, 1994, Monday
    https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-08/page/n15/mode/2up
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/14/mode/2up

Flash memory prices tumbling
    Not drowning, waving at profits, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), August 2, 1994 Tuesday, Late Edition, Section: COMPUTERS; Mass Storage; Pg. 34   
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory

Cyrix to take on AMD
    Infoworld August 8, 1994, pg. 5

Employers begin to crackdown on games
    Games they play, The Times, August 1, 1994, Monday, Section: Business, Byline: Jon Ashworth

Microsoft targets "loosely supervised Executives"
    SUNDAY, August 7, 1994; Playing Games at Work, The New York Times, August 7, 1994, Sunday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Magazine Desk, Section: Section 6; ; Section 6; Page 12; Column 1; Magazine Desk ; Column 1;

MacPlay expands lineup
    Playthings, August 1994, pg. 44

Ad game business booming in Germany
    https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1994-08/page/n29/mode/2up

Media Vision collapse profiled
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/10/mode/2up
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/12/mode/2up

Victormaxx announces Cybermaxx
    Virtual Reality Headset For PCs A Reality, Newsbytes News Network, August 5, 1994  
    http://videogamekraken.com/cybermaxx-by-victormaxx

Mice go 3D
    Echoes of Silicon Valley, Agence France Presse -- English, August 04, 1994 08:13 Eastern Time, Section: Domestic, non-Washington, general news item, Dateline: PALO ALTO, California, Aug 4    
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/304724946528

Microprose to bring Magic to PC    
    IT'S IN THE CARDS' FOR MICROPROSE(R) AND WIZARDS OF THE COAST(R);PR Newswire, August 10, 1994, Wednesday - 17:23 Eastern Time, Section: State and Regional News
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/530/magic-the-gathering/   
    https://www.mobygames.com/game/6274/magic-the-gathering-battlemage/

Star Trek licenses are a mess
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/14/mode/2up

TEN to bring SimCity online
    Total Entertainment Network will feature online debut of popular SimCity, game, Business Wire, August 10, 1994, Wednesday
    
The web becomes a scary place
    E-mail evil, The Jerusalem Post, August 4, 1994, Thursday, Section: OPINION; Pg. 6,  Byline: SANDY ROVNER

Siliwood goes Online
    DISNEY, AMERITECH, BELLSOUTH AND SOUTHWESTERN BELL PLAN ALLIANCE TO DEVELOP AND OFFER VIDEO SERVICES, PR Newswire, August 8, 1994, Monday - 13:31 Eastern Time, Section: Financial News

Fujitsu brings habitat back to USA
    Fujitsu to start 'cyberspace' game business in U.S., Japan Economic Newswire, AUGUST 10, 1994, WEDNESDAY

Computer Porn outpacing UK lawmakers
    https://archive.org/details/Atari_ST_User_Issue_103_1994-08_Europress_GB/page/n39/mode/2up

Labor promises telecommunications reform
    Party line for fun and games, The Times, August 5, 1994, Friday, Byline: Emma Woollacott   
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Communications

Interactive TV license purchasers default
    SOME TOP BIDDERS AT AIRWAVE AUCTION FAILING TO PAY UP, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania), AUGUST 12, 1994, FRIDAY, SOONER EDITION, Section: BUSINESS, Byline: BLOOMBERG BUSINESS NEWS

Acorn enters set top box market
    https://archive.org/details/AcornUser145-Aug94/page/n7/mode/2up
    
Ziff Davis buys Compute
    ZIFF-DAVIS ACQUIRES ASSETS OF COMPUTE MAGAZINE; COMPUTER LIFE AND FamilyPC'S ADVERTISERS TO GET UNEXPECTED BONUS CIRCULATION, PR Newswire, August 8, 1994, Monday - 19:06 Eastern Time

Teenage reviewers on the rise
    Teenage games writers get to call the shots, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), August 2, 1994 Tuesday, Late Edition, Section: COMPUTERS; Pg. 40, Byline: Amy Harmon

Computer game book rights up for grabs
    Book Notes, The New York Times, August 3, 1994, Wednesday, Late Edition - Final, Distribution: Cultural Desk, Section: Section C; ; Section C; Page 20; Column 5; Cultural Desk ; Column 5;,Byline: By Sarah Lyall    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_novels_based_on_video_games

Disney gets MYST rights
    Out of the 'Myst': Disney plays game for book, film; Hit CD-ROM software is going Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter, August 11, 1994, Thursday, Byline: Scott Hettrick

Stormfront to simulate strike season
    PENDING BASEBALL STRIKE PROMPTS VIDEO GAME DEVELOPER TO PINCH HIT FOR REAL THING, PR Newswire, August 12, 1994, Friday - 09:02 Eastern Time, Section: Financial New     
    Real Unreal Baseball, The Associated Press, August 17, 1994, Wednesday, PM cycle, Section: Sports News, Byline: By JIM LITKE, AP Sports Writer
    Indians overtake White Sox in AL Central; Braves, Expos torrid in Nintendo, Baseball League, Business Wire, August 21, 1994, Sunday

Leonard Herman releases Phoenix
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-13-mn-45306-story.html  pg. 32
    
Nintendo ordered to pay $208 million
    Nintendo U.S. unit told to pay 208 mil. dlrs in damages, Japan Economic Newswire, AUGUST 2, 1994, TUESDAY 
    https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-08/page/14/mode/2up
    No Headline in Original, Ad Day, August 8, 1994, Section: Corridor Talk Pg. 38, byline: Kevin Kerr

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