January 1984

Jack Tramiel leaves Commodore,

Apple advertises the Mac &

Amstrad enters the home computer market

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 January 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 our cohost. Check out his podcast here:

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Links:

Complete Links for this episode can be found here:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/100014130

7 Minutes in Heaven: Moon Dust

Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/100007281

https://www.jaronlanier.com/

https://www.mobygames.com/game/47859/moondust/

Corrections:

December 1983 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/december-1983-98325214

Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/

1974:

D&D is released

https://twitter.com/GameResearch_E/status/1751283969583141097?t=_dYbQapJicUWEGYRO-0Q8g&s=03

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons

Blue Sky operators catch Pong fever

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-blue-sky-oper/94003918/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-independent-fraudulent-order/94006031/

Atari sells Syzygy

https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_30/page/53/mode/1up

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari

Odyssey begins to get noticed

https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-magnavox-odyssey/81646620/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-magnavox-odyssey-profile/94005725/

The Times-Picayune, January 5 1974, Section 1, pg. 9

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnavox_Odyssey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_(1968_TV_program)

Despite funding cuts, high schools continue to add computers

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/01/16/archives/computers-flourish-as-classroom-tools-by-victor-k-mcelheny-high.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minicomputer

HP introduces programmable pocket calculator

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/01/17/archives/hewlettpackard-markets-pocket-calculator-doing-computers-job-many.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP-65

Watson Jr. steps down

Computerworld Jan 9, 1974, pg. 1,2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Watson_Jr.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Watson

Japan braces for oil embargo triggered downturn

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/01/06/archives/in-japan-oil-may-expose-ills-of-growth-japan-haunted-by-growth-ills.html

Computer animation conference to feature at 2nd Annual New York animation festival

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/01/09/archives/screen-2d-animation-festival-begins.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgCxCZNkQ9E

1984 meets suburban gridlock in kids book

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/01/13/archives/three-novels-one-by-an-american-from-england-by-dee-wells-285-pp.html

https://archive.org/details/endlesspavement00jack/mode/2up?view=theater

Travelers Insurance Co adopts SSNs

Computerworld Jan. 16, 1974 pg. 1

1984:

Chuck E Cheese grows up

https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_Volume_2_Number_04_1984-01_Pumpkin_Press_US/page/n13/mode/2up

https://chucke.fandom.com/wiki/Wolfman_Zapp

Chuck E Cheese isn't Bushnell's only restaurant edeavor

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/07/us/restaurantf-has-recipe-for-multimillion-dollar-computer-deals.html

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/12/19/silicon-valleys-power-restaurant-lion-compass-closing-after-35-years/

Unlicensed arcade shutters after killing

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/06/nyregion/a-video-arcade-the-city-...