December 1983

Toys push games off of shelves, GUIs vie for supremacy & Coinops' laserdisc dreams dashed   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 December 1983. 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: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/ and order his book here: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/book   Get us on your mobile device: Android: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly92aWRlb2dhbWVuZXdzcm9vbXRpbWVtYWNoaW5lLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz iOS: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine   And if you like what we are doing here at the podcast, don't forget to like us on your podcasting app of choice, YouTube, and/or support us on patreon! https://www.patreon.com/VGNRTM   Send comments on Mastodon @[email protected] Or twitter @videogamenewsr2 Or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm Or [email protected]   Links: (If you can't see all the links for this episode, please, check out this episode on our patreon page for the complete set.)   7 Minutes in Heaven: Porky's Video Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/7-minutes-in-98182124 https://www.mobygames.com/game/22975/porkys/     Corrections: November 1983 Ep - https://www.patreon.com/posts/november-1983-96193251 Ethan's fine site The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/     1973 Coinop braces for oil-crisis fallout https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_23/page/43/mode/1up https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_24/page/42/mode/1up http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/space-invaders-and-nishikado/   Ball and paddle goes color https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_23/page/43/mode/1up http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-nutting_21.html https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_23/page/n47/mode/1up   Kee Games teams up with Atari https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_24/page/42/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kee_Games https://archive.org/details/cashbox05unse_9/mode/2up?view=theater   1983 Marschfield kicks games out https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/08/us/massachusetts-town-exiles-pac-man-and-all-that.html https://eu.wickedlocal.com/story/marshfield-mariner/2021/09/23/marshfield-ma-coin-machine-industries-association-supreme-court-ban-pacman-donkeykong-look-back/8241109002/   AMOA a dud Play Meter Dec. 31, 1983   Laserdisc is DOA in the UK https://archive.org/details/play-meter-december-15-1983/page/60/mode/2up Kevin Hayes - Atari - Namco https://www.patreon.com/posts/50612798   Laserdisc games coming home... just not any time soon. Play Meter Dec. 1, 1983   Sente debuts the Sente Computer System NewsBytes 12/20/83 - Entering the Snakepit - A Winner: https://arcadeblogger.com/2019/11/10/bally-sente-saviour-of-the-arcades/ Games People Dec. 18, 1983, pg. 1 https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/videogames/search/gallery?manuf_id=63 https://youtu.be/dSwR9ra57uk?si=nY7UQORTBVaK-mLa   Battle of the Cons is over RePlay, Dec. 1983 pg. 13 Play Meter Dec. 1, 1983   Rosen steps down Playthings, Dec. 1983, p. 11 RePlay, Dec. 1983, pg. 18   Nintendo profits drop (DECEMBER 21, 1983, WEDNESDAY). NINTENDO'S CONSOLIDATED NET DOWN 2.3 PCT. Copyright 1983 Jiji Press Ltd.Jiji Press Ticker Service. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3SJD-P360-001B-N1P6-00000-00&context=1516831.   Nintendo buys Pizza Time franchise (December 6, 1983). Family restaurant will be opened in Vancouver. The Japan Economic Journal. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3S8H-1MS0-000H-H0FJ-00000-00&context=1516831. https://archive.org/stream/0966961706/0966961706_djvu.txt pg. 114     Atari opens first Atari Adventure location https://archive.org/details/Atari_Coin_Connection_Volume_7_Number_11_December_1983 https://atari-computermuseum.de/aac.htm https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fpaot66m84vm41.jpg   Dragon's Lair merch on the way Playthings, Dec. 1983 http://www.dragons-lair-project.com/games/related/merchandise/trading_cards_stickers.asp   Video game prices drop as toys take Xmas center stage Playthings, Dec. 1983   Intellivision System Changer launched https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/page/130/mode/1up?view=theater https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/page/143/mode/1up?view=theater https://retroconsoles.fandom.com/wiki/System_Changer   Wagner out at Mattel Playthings, Dec. 1983 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-02-19-me-412-story.html   Warner sells movie and TV rights https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/22/business/warner-will-sell-existing-contracts.html (December 23, 1983, Friday). Warner sells film contracts for $350m. Financial Times (London,England). https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3S8H-29G0-000F-5467-00000-00&context=1516831.   Atari teams with Activision to bring games home (December 16, 1983, Friday, AM cycle). Atari, Activision To Broadcast Video Games to Homes. The Associated Press. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3SJ4-K6B0-0011-5089-00000-00&context=1516831. NewsBytes 12/20/83 - Software Through the Airwaves   Romox test units hit the streets https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/page/141/mode/1up?view=theater   Vidco brings piracy to the 2600 https://www.retrothing.com/2006/06/vintage_video_g.html Electronic Games Hotline Dec. 4, 1983 pg. 4   Move over 5200 joystick, 5200 controller buttons shoddy too! https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/page/135/mode/1up?view=theater   Comdex fails to impress https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/06/science/personal-computers-windows-and-gateways-loom-in-near-future.html   VisiOn launch fails to impress https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews039-07Dec1983/page/n5/mode/2up   Really, windows? Who needs it? https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews041-21Dec1983/page/n5/mode/2up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VNS8TE4XhU&t=250s   Apple introduces Lisa development tools https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1983-12_OCR/page/n9/mode/1up   Sierra's Homeword makes word processing easy https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/page/142/mode/1up?view=theater http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2014/08/homeword-sierra-onlines-easy-to-use.html https://archive.org/details/Creative_Computing_1983-12/page/n195/mode/2up?view=theater   EA gets into productivity https://archive.org/details/Creative_Computing_1983-12/page/n69/mode/2up?view=theater https://archive.org/details/Creative_Computing_1983-12/page/n161/mode/2up?view=theater   Tandy goes PC compatible https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/01/business/tandy-s-personal-computer.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandy_2000   PCJr gets tested https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/27/science/personal-computers-the-little-ibm-finally-arrives-for-a-test.html   Computers are the hottest item this Xmas... https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/10/business/under-1983-christmas-tree-expect-the-home-computer.html https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/mode/1up?view=theater https://vgpavilion.com/mags/1983/12/18egh/text/ pg. 1 https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/25/nyregion/the-guilt-of-computerless-parents.html   JCPenney drops computers NewsBytes 12/20/83 Next Casualty   Coleco tries to calm markets https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/02/business/market-placevartanig-g-vartan-split-view-on-coleco-continues.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/01/business/coleco-says-its-adam-is-in-very-short-supply.html https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/09/business/coleco-can-t-savor-a-success.html https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/page/136/mode/1up?view=theater   Commodore plagued by defective machines Electronic Games Hotline Dec. 4, 1983, pg. 2   Atari announces Translator for the XL https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/mode/1up?view=theater http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-translator-_29943.html   Apple gets sprites https://vgpavilion.com/mags/1983/12/18egh/text/ pg. 4 https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_02_No_02_1983-12_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n19/mode/2up   Apple to enter home computer market https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-2-9/mode/1up?view=theater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIc   Computer game sales expected to rise dramatically in 1983 Playthings, Dec. 1983   TI99 software draught is over electronic Games Hotline Dec. 4, 1983 pg. 2   MSX unites Japanese appliance makers (DECEMBER 22, 1983, THURSDAY). TOKYO REPORT; SALES DRIVE FOR 'MSX' LAUNCHED. Copyright 1983 Jiji Press Ltd.Jiji Press Ticker Service. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3SJD-P320-001B-N1F3-00000-00&context=1516831. CHARLES SMITH. (December 12, 1983, Monday). Adoption of MSX brings a new era. Financial Times (London,England). https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3S8H-2C80-000F-51NS-00000-00&context=1516831.   Speccy hits 1 million https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-12-22/page/n3/mode/2up   British hunger for computers outstrips supply By Jason Crisp. (December 12, 1983, Monday). 'They're walking off the shelves'; BRITAIN'S HOME COMPUTER BOOM. Financial Times (London,England). https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3S8H-2C70-000F-51JX-00000-00&context=1516831. https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews041-21Dec1983/page/n3/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews041-21Dec1983/page/n5/mode/2up   The Welsh give it another go https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews039-07Dec1983/page/n23/mode/2up   Manic Miner moves publishers https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-12-08   Hungarian software makes a splash in the UK https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-12-01   Marvel gets Adventure-ous https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-12-22 https://www.mobygames.com/group/256/scott-adams-questprobe-series/   Richard Scarry signs deal with Coleco https://vgpavilion.com/mags/1983/12/18egh/text/ pg. 4 https://www.mobygames.com/game/174878/richard-scarrys-best-electronic-word-book-ever/   Might & Magic: Adventure Number 1: The Lava Pits of Aznar goes on sale https://archive.org/details/Creative_Computing_1983-12/page/n339/mode/2up?view=theater https://www.mobygames.com/game/132448/might-magic-the-lava-pits-of-aznar/   Quicksoft goes shareware https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1983-12_OCR/page/n9/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC-Write   Penguin Publishing enters software market https://archive.org/details/MicroAdventurer02-Dec83/page/n5/mode/2up https://www.mobygames.com/game/26582/the-warlock-of-firetop-mountain/screenshots/ https://www.mobygames.com/company/8195/puffin-books-ltd/   Microsoft gets into book publishing electronic Games Hotline Dec. 4, 1983 pg. 3   6502 goes 16 bit https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1983-12_OCR/page/n8/mode/1up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDC_65C816 https://www.westerndesigncenter.com/wdc/index.php   Hey baby, I got a gig on 12 inches... https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1983-12_OCR/page/n9/mode/1up   Online banking gaining steam By PHILIP T. SUDO. (December 2, 1983, Friday). Pronto Tailored for More Systems; Home Banking Program Supported by Apple, IBM Computers. The American Banker. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3S8H-5Y90-000F-R551-00000-00&context=1516831.   Shopping goes online https://archive.org/details/family-computing-04/page/n55/mode/2up https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/69/CUC-International-Inc.html   Compuserve introduces online ads https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1983-12_OCR/page/n9/mode/1up   Political scandal inspires Japanese computer game Play Meter Dec. 15, 1983 pg. 92   PBS brings computer education to US TV By DAVID O. TYSON. (December 2, 1983, Friday). Chase Promoting Public TV Series; Bank Is Taking Out Full-Page Ads in Newspapers To Boost 'Academy on Computers,' a 12-Week Course. The American Banker. https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:3S8H-5Y80-000F-R54S-00000-00&context=1516831.   Automan premieres https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/03/arts/tv-notes-cbs-tops-fall-sweeps-fifth-time.html https://youtu.be/kA1NT4I0s34?si=sAQgPQyUimj-hqIi   Quotes of the Month: https://archive.org/details/family-computing-04/page/n69/mode/2up Al Lowe - Sierra https://www.patreon.com/posts/29977733 https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-12-15/page/n3/mode/2up?view=theater   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