TCW Podcast Episode 222 - D&D & Video Games 1E

In the first part of this series, we explore the various influences leading to the creation of Dungeons & Dragons. This episode is an edited version of our livestream, delving into the rise in popularity of war games, board games, and miniatures. Avalon Hill, a major company in this field, published The General magazine, which helped players connect for games. Through opponent-wanted ads resembling today’s unmoderated forums and the discovery of games like Kriegsspiel and Stratego, we witness the evolution of elements that would eventually lead to the early role-playing game (RPG).

Livestream 2024 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahP86-2H8lc

Playing at the World - Jon Peterson (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/3YokLZC

The Elusive Shift - Jon Peterson (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/3C8cHVq

Game Wizards - Jon Peterson (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/48uCtzi

Afrika Korps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHOtUG4JvlQ

SGS Afrika Korps: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1266640/SGS_Afrika_Korps/

Gettysburg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Cw6nzrPgw

The General Magazine: https://www.vftt.co.uk/ah_mags.asp?ProdID=PDF_Gen

What is Kriegsspiel?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKVeR4n-u1w

Chancellorsville: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmJjNI4CO70

Computer Chronicles Revisited: https://www.smoliva.blog/

Strategos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategos_(game)

Secrets of Blackmore on Amazon Prime Video (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/4fsUSyA

How to Play DIPLOMACY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l53oL0ptt7k

Yes Mr Ford: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0-AD3bFjF8

Siege of Bodenburg: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Bodenburg

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds - Save 30% by signing up through the website and not the iOS App!

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode - Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode

Outro Music: RoleMusic - Bacterial Love: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 221 - North to Hellgate London

In a pseudo part three of our look at Condor and Blizzard North, we explore the troubles the company faced after a year and a half of crunch. David, Max, and Eric were all burned out along with the rest of the staff. David was going through a divorce and had trouble putting his heart into figuring out what the next game would be. Due to lack of leadership and a proper chain of command, many employees felt frustrated switching games over and over. At the same time, the expansion, Lord of Destruction, was completed after a year of development with no crunch. Through a combination of bad corporate structure, not empowering middle management, factionalism, and troubles with Blizzard's corporate owners being bought and sold amid their own scandals, David, Eric, Max, and Bill Roper from Blizzard South went on to form Flagship Studios and work on Hellgate: London. Unfortunately, the game was not well received due to expectations exceeding the financial and technical hurdles that needed to be overcome. There is a lot more to this story, so prepare yourself as we leave one hell for another!

Thor - Game Studio Gambles: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NLb9-DPspgA

Thor - Email Mike: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1ilUpXkGxbo

Karateka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKqk9kosCs4

Dale Carnegie - How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034

Flagship Studios: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagship_Studios

Fate Longplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGH577lznLk&list=PL112CEBA37FF962EE

Mythos Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fEsOrRvZ58

Hellgate London E3 2005 Cinematic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xG9puQZJ1c

Hellgate London E3 Bill Roper Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh1EQhHQPbQ

US/China WOW Model Differences: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtI2GcUPEFQ

Hellgate London Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiKbGoiIHqo

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds - Sign up through the website not the iOS App!

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode - Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode

Outro Music: RoleMusic - Bacterial Love: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

TCW Podcast Episode 220 - Diablo 2

We continue exploring the Diablo franchise with Diablo 2 and the journey of the team at Blizzard North. This episode covers the history of the Hellfire expansion for Diablo 1 and how it came to be developed by Sierra Online. A directive was issued for Blizzard North to focus on creating Diablo 2. The team aimed not just to create a bigger dungeon but to expand the game’s overall scope. However, the development of Diablo 2 faced challenges like feature creep, excessive gaming, and the absence of a game design document. These issues led to a year and a half of crunch time to complete the game. Despite these difficulties, Diablo 2 was released to phenomenal success.

Hellfire Monk Playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJlxnFfxRM4

David Brevik on Diablo Hellfire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4bDFgcuH-I

Warcraft Adventures - Lord of the Clans (Lets Play): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7JZu__7KTs

Thor - Overworked % Amazon Game Studios: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IVdaysrIS74

Thor - Blizzard Working Conditions: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B2mqnuRalYA

Thor - Blizzard Pay: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/a8aumvAq5gM

Thor - Value vs Income from a Job: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8s3wa5kL6RY

TCW 054 - Blizzard - Vikings and WarCraft: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/blizzard-vikings-and-warcraft/

TCW 055 - Blizzard - Hellfire and The World… of WarCraft: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/blizzard-hellfire-and-the-world%E2%80%A6-of-warcraft/

Diablo II from 2000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_MoFDWJees

Diablo II LOD Playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM7gA_xD7vE

Original StarCraft Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAXDv--grUE

Diablo II TV Commercial (Its Everywhere): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzBp9ECiodc

Diablo II TV Commercial (Evil Has Survived): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RvRK5qf6Lc

TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode - Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode

Outro Music: RoleMusic - Bacterial Love: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/