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Play History

@playhistory.bsky.social
3.5K followers 45 following 2.2K posts

Independent games researcher, Ethan Johnson. Preserving gaming history! Patreon: tinyurl.com/pdp5pdrj YouTube: www.youtube.com/@play_history/videos Blog: thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com Editor of Gaming Alexandria

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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 12h
I highly recommend if you're interested in video game history to sign up for VGP Play. It's completely free, most of the interviews are in English, and they have interviewed over 400 people for this project already. vgpplay.com/home It's a remarkable resource - and I've helped a bit!
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Design Room @designroom.site · 20h
Big new story! The best 8,000 words you'll read on Vib-Ribbon today.
designroom.site
Vib-Ribbon: An oral history
Almost 27 years later, we round up the team behind NanaOn-Sha's procedurally generated playground to look at the legacy of PlayStation's wireframe rabbit.
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
One surprising get they got is Jeff Fredriksen, the one core member of the Dave Nutting team I have not interviewed! vgpplay.com/video?w=59858 Always wonderful to see the forgotten pioneers let people know about them.
vgpplay.com
Frederiksen: Il primo Arcade con una CPU - VGP PLAY
Jeff Frederiksen è uno dei pionieri meno raccontati ma fondamentali della storia degli arcade. In questa intervista ripercorriamo la nascita di Gun Fight, il primo videogioco arcade a utilizzare una C...
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
There's a whole subseries on the VGPPlay site dedicated to game musicians. This interview with Nintendo's Soya Oka is a particularly rare opportunity to hear about the creative process from inside the Big N. vgpplay.com/video?w=52015
vgpplay.com
Soyo Oka: Le dolci melodie di Nintendo - VGP PLAY
Nell'intervista esclusiva, Soyo Oka ci svela il processo creativo dietro alcune delle colonne sonore più iconiche di Nintendo. Da Super Mario Kart a Pilotwings, Oka racconta le sfide, le ispirazioni e...
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ourlostarcade.bsky.social @ourlostarcade.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Not content with what they did to Europe, the Germans created a gun game based on Bambi to fuel your trauma. Schießautomat (Shooting machine) was an influential Dale Gun-style cabinet released in 1956. See more from @cpi.pinball.horse: earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/2024/02/1963...
1957-02 Automatenmarkt. A photo of the Schießautomat machine by Wiegandt in West Germany.

https://www.antik-automaten.de/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=1709A color photo of a Schießautomat shooting game, showing off the crudely painted Bambi facsimile.

https://archive.is/Zv4GB
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Chris Chapman @savestate.site · 03/10/2026
Oops, made a video! Hey, remember that Blizzard scandal? No, not that one. Not that either. Or that. I'm talking about the Windows 95 registry snooping, obviously! If you're drawing a blank, I've got just the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLFRa...
youtube.com
When Blizzard Shipped Malware | Save State
Almost thirty years ago, Blizzard took a step too far. All sources: https://savestate.site/when-blizzard-shipped-malware/ This channel is 100% Patreon-funded: https://patreon.com/savestatesite Music: Hazy Moon / Tokyo Xanadu ex+ / Copyright © Nihon Falcom Corporation Starcraft footage by JadedZerg @ World of Longplays: https://longplays.org/infusions/longplays/longplays.php?cat_id=2&longplay_id=3955 Diablo 4 footage by RavonixXx - No copyright gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DB7fhi4Te0
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Join us for our special GAMING HISTORIAN event! www.twitch.tv/play_history I talk about writing the Channel F and Atari on Nintendo episodes, as well as discussing Norm's legacy in our field. It's a celebration! #livestream #videogamehistory
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Several of the Japanese interviews on the site are actually in English, so do check them out. There's three separate interviews with Scott Tsumura, for example, about his long career at various companies. vgpplay.com/collection?s...
vgpplay.com
Tsumura: L'era di IREM - VGP PLAY
Dalla nascita di Moon Patrol a Kung-Fu Master, fino alla rivoluzione delle conversioni arcade. Scott ripercorre gli anni in cui IREM diventa una fabbrica di icone e in cui l’industria arcade giappones...
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Tomorrow night, Gamespace is showing off the unreleased Ms. Gorf and exhibiting the glitch art work of Jamie Fenton! suture.blue/glitchngames I'll be coming by to check it out.
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Computer Chronicles Revisited @deviledeggpress.com · 02/10/2026
The October 2026 issue of "Computer Chronicles Revisited" is now available. This month, I cover a November 1989 episode on portable computers, including new machines from IBM & Apple, the battle of Poqet vs. Portfolio, and no fewer than three Dynabooks! www.computerchronicles.blog/computer-chr...
computerchronicles.blog
Computer Chronicles Revisited 139
Download the October 2026 issue, where The Computer Chronicles discusses new portable computers
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
TOMORROW at 7PM CST, I'll be doing a commentary for the two episodes I wrote for @gaminghistorian.bsky.social www.twitch.tv/play_history Come along and you'll hear the real dirty laundry about where Norm keeps his Hot Seat.
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
TOMORROW at 7PM CST, I'll be doing a commentary for the two episodes I wrote for @gaminghistorian.bsky.social www.twitch.tv/play_history Come along and you'll hear the real dirty laundry about where Norm keeps his Hot Seat.
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Kevin Bunch (ubersaurus) @atariarchive.org · 02/10/2026
Wrangling a sick household this week has left me kind of frazzled, so I almost forgot that the latest Intellivision Archive video has gone live! Enjoy two really solid games and one absolutely failed by the system’s controller youtu.be/ARQnf7wLRiA
youtu.be
Night Stalker, Sub Hunt & Space Hawk - Intellivision Archive Episode 9
YouTube video by Atari Archive
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
VGP Play has interviewed some people who are since deceased (including a very important one forthcoming). Here's one they did with the late Manny Gerard: Warner overseer of Atari and as New York as they come. vgpplay.com/video?w=56122
vgpplay.com
Manny Gerard: L'uomo che licenziò Nolan Bushnell - VGP PLAY
Manny Gerard fu una figura chiave nei primi anni della rivoluzione videoludica. Vicepresidente esecutivo di Warner Communications, fu l’artefice dell’acquisizione di Atari nel 1976 e colui che prese l...
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The latest episode of the Kent Vol. 2 readthrough is up! youtu.be/2ibQjJAi_SM In which Alex @theycreateworlds.bsky.social and @ftb1979.bsky.social compete for the character with the most Northeastern accent.
youtu.be
The Ultimate History of Video Games Vol. 2 - Readthrough (Part 5)
YouTube video by Play History - Extras
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Brian Clark (bclarkomp) @onemillionpower.com · 01/10/2026
This new video that brings together players from fighting games, arcades, Souls, speedrunning, MMOs and more to explore what difficult games teach us—and why finally overcoming them can feel so rewarding! Thanks to @tedbob84.bsky.social for the amazing thumbnail! youtu.be/XLr4vxSFSIc
youtu.be
The Reward of the Impossible: Why We Play Difficult Games
YouTube video by One Million Power
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They Create Worlds @theycreateworlds.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Before Dragon Quest, a manga editor brought together a rising artist, writer, and young programmer through Shōnen Jump, Enix, and a shared love of games. youtu.be/wLWILPMutzo #DragonQuest #DragonWarrior #YujiHorii #AkiraToriyama #KazuhikoTorishima #KoichiNakamura #JRPG #VideoGameHistory
youtu.be
TCW 267 - Dragon Quest Part 1
YouTube video by They Create Worlds Podcast
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A new update post for Patrons! Some rough outlines on future plans, expanded historical deep dives, an a reminder to WATCH YOUR PATREON SUBSCRIPTIONS! www.patreon.com/PlayHistory/...
patreon.com
Episode #8 Update (2026-09-30) | Play History
Getting business out of the way first! In the next few days I'll be changing my Patreon over to the pay by month model, as necessitated by t
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Just today, they posted a new interview with Robert Woodhead of Wizardry fame to speak about the original game and its extended legacy. vgpplay.com/video?w=62873
vgpplay.com
Robert Woodhead: 45 anni di Wizardry - VGP PLAY
A 45 anni dalla nascita di Wizardry, il co-creatore Robert Woodhead ripercorre le origini di uno dei giochi che hanno contribuito a definire il GDR su computer. Dalle esperienze sul rivoluzionario sis...
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ourlostarcade.bsky.social @ourlostarcade.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A precursor to the kinetoscope, the Electrotachyscope was a German invention that showed zoetrope-esque photo animation in a box. In 1893, fifty of these machines in coin-operated form were placed at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
A model of the coin-operated Electrotachyscope, produced in Berlin circa 1891-1893.An image of the inner workings of the tachyscope, a photo-based zoetrope device. It features an athletic man running.

https://museudelcinema.girona.cat/eng/colleccio_objectes_fitxa.php?id=7844A mass-produced version of the Electrotachyscope viewing station, coin-operated, circa 1892.
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Among their most surprising gets is Ken Kutaragi, who is notoriously evasive when it comes to talking about his past with Sony. vgpplay.com/video?w=60141 The video is in Japanese and only subtitled in Italian, but the people at VGP Play said English subtitles are a possibility.
vgpplay.com
Kutaragi: Il Padre di PlayStation - VGP PLAY
Dall’Akihabara degli anni ’60 ai vertici di Sony, Ken Kutaragi è l’ingegnere che ha dato vita a PlayStation. Dopo aver lavorato in segreto al chip del Super Nintendo e superato il clamoroso strappo co...
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Jason Dyer @jdyer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Next on All the Adventures, I look into the Japanese computer game based on the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy, and why such a thing would be made in the first place. (Part 1 of 2!) bluerenga.blog/2026/09/29/h...
bluerenga.blog
Happy Bushman (1983)
Recently I played Genma Taisen, published by Pony Canyon in Japan in March 1983 to coincide with the accompanying film. It was an official conversion of an animated film to a game; the “first…
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Kevin Bunch (ubersaurus) @atariarchive.org · 29/09/2026
Learning that Galaxy Game is getting restored gave me cause to recall witnessing the Spacewar reunion that took place back in 2018. To date this is still the only public recording of the event I'm aware of, even though the Smithsonian video recorded it: www.atariarchive.org/the-spacewar...
atariarchive.org
The Spacewar Reunion, Atari Archive
This is an audio recording I made of the Spacewar! reunion that took place at the Smithsonian Museum of American History on Nov. 29, 2018
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The Italian site VGP Play has interviewed over 100 people involved in video games and other pop culture - all on video. Here's an interview they did with Coleco executive Bert Reiner, telling stories about Nintendo and more. vgpplay.com/video?w=58233
vgpplay.com
Reiner: L'ascesa e caduta di Coleco - VGP PLAY
In questa intervista esclusiva, Bert Reiner, uno dei protagonisti della storia di Coleco Industries, ripercorre il cammino dell’azienda dagli anni pionieristici del Telstar, al successo internazionale...
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Chris Chapman @savestate.site · 28/09/2026
Uploaded eight years ago today: the odd tale of a celebrity, a trading card, a lawsuit, and 20 years of lasting consequences for a beloved franchise. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQALp...
youtube.com
The Mentalist and the Monster: Uri Geller vs. Pokémon | Retrohistories
The odd tale of a celebrity, a trading card, a lawsuit, and 20 years of lasting consequences for a beloved franchise. Retrohistories is funded entirely through the contributions of supporters on Patreon. If you enjoyed this video and are interested in helping me make more, the link is https://www.patreon.com/retrohistories Additional voiceover by Phendan, check out his channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK0YFnd__NLH2_gPTFZdwMQ Music from Overclocked Remix: Blue Haze by Rozovian, WillRock http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02361 The Climb Above by Sentient Pulse http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03504 Rain Prayer by PROTO-DOME http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02203 Shades of Red by halc http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02216 Clips from GamesMaster (C) Hewland International/Channel 4 Clips from the Pokémon anime (C) The Pokemon Company Cards from the Pokémon TGC (C) The Pokemon Company Clip from Ghostbusters (C) Columbia Pictures Footage from Pokémon Red, Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Black and Pokémon Go recorded by Chris Chapman Nintendo - School’s Out - 2min - Directed by Anthony Atanasio by Atanasio + Martinez https://vimeo.com/40731939 Footage from GamesMaster from SeeNoEvil’s remasters http://www.bookofthedead.ws/gamesmaster_forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=61 ユリ・ゲラー、スプーン曲げを生披露!「緊急来日!ユリ・ゲラーVS矢追純一超常記者会見」(1) by maidigitv https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YZY4qF6sDQ 【世界まる見え!】 ユリ・ゲラーは超能力スパイだった!? uploaded by christian pachis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLcFG8TGUnY In giro per il Pokémon Center di Tokyo! by Pokémon Millennium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmTWyHznbbY Second Interview with Masamitsu Hidaka – Many Interesting Points! by Pokébeach http://www.pokebeach.com/2008/07/second-pokemon-interview-with-masamitsu- hidaka-many-interesting-points
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SEGA-16 @sega-16.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The Sega Channel was an exciting time in Sega's history. One of the major players in its creation was Doug Glen, who worked to bring the Sega games to cable TV, take on Nintendo, and expand Sega's software offerings to a wider audience. www.sega-16.com/2026/09/inte...
Thumbnail for Sega-16's interview with former Sega of America Group VP Doug Glen.
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ourlostarcade.bsky.social @ourlostarcade.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Candid photos from an arcade inside of Chicago's wonderful Union Station, circa 1971. Oh to have been there for the end of the EM age...
A floor view of the arcade inside of Union Station in Chicago. Features notable games like Sega's Periscope, Sega's Helicopter, shooting games, and a pitch and bat baseball game.

Source: Chicago History Museum, ST-60004603-0001.A man plays Target Zero by Bally while a child walks by. A woman plays Chicago Coin's Speedway while another watches.

Source: Chicago History Museum, ST-60004603-0041.Two women laugh joyously while one plays Speedway by Chicago Coin.

Source: Chicago History Museum, ST-60004603-0043.
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
A very good article looking at the backroom deals and legal wranglings that form the modern state of the Tetris IP. thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-bizarre-...
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
The Bizarre, Murky History of Soviet-Born Tetris
Behind the beloved game lies a struggle over mathematical ideas, erased collaborators, offshore millions, and copyright power.
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
And yes, the CM story gets more complicated. Tweakbod identified this 1978 commercial for a Breakout and Pong-style game table by Bally Japan (which itself is a crazy story as it is NOT affiliated with Bally Mfg). So be careful when you say "first" folks.
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VGDensetsu @vgdensetsu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Head-On TV CM (scan taken from the October 15, 1979 issue of Game Machine)
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Now technically, technically, we also know that Sega in Japan created a commercial to advertise their game Samurai which aired in February 1980. This one has yet to be located, but it's likely the very first dedicated TV ad for an arcade game.
https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19800315p/page/n2
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ourlostarcade.bsky.social @ourlostarcade.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A unique take on pinball from Deutschland, with the German Alarm by T. H. Bergmann. Not quite a bingo, boxy and stylish, it goes to show what other countries can get up to when they get the chance.
A promotional photo for the T. H. Bergmann pinball Alarm.

https://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2867&picno=41398Photo of a surviving Alarm pinball in Germany.

https://www.flippertreff.de/start/forum/topic/4930-alarm-bergmann/A close-up of the art on the Alarm playfield.

https://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2867&picno=56177
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the original Aloof Wife @cpi.pinball.horse · 24/09/2026
scans: Sega 1970s video game flyers 21 flyers total, most not scanned publicly before. pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2026/09/scan... #retroarcade #videogames #sega #showa #japan #scans
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F_T_B @ftb1979.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Found by Jumpman at Gaming Alexandria after multiple people including myself have looked for it - The long lost American Xevious arcade commercial! Found in a Phillies vs Mets game, of all things.
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Video Game History Foundation @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
We've passed over 5000 out-of-print magazines in our digital archive! This is a big milestone that wouldn't have been possible without our community of supporters, collaborators, and industry partners. And it's about to keep growing. Learn more...
gamehistory.org
VGHF Digital Archive passes 5000 magazines. Here's what's next. | Video Game History Foundation
We've passed a big milestone for our digital archive. Let's talk about where our magazine collection is going next...
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
We're all busy clowning on Xbox - but we could be clowning on Kent instead! www.twitch.tv/play_history Join us for another chapter in our epic(?) readthrough of Volume 2. More consoles, less context: Just how you like it.
The Xbox 360 "Red Ring of Death" system failure.
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Kent Vol. 2 reading continues tomorrow at 7PM CST! Join us as we plunge into the mid-2000s and see how video game history is shaped (and misinterpreted) by our favorite author. www.twitch.tv/play_history
twitch.tv
Play_History - Twitch
Telling the stories of Video Game History and exploring the History of How We Play!https://twitter.com/GameResearch_Ehttps://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ — Play_History streams live on Twitch!...
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Kent Vol. 2 reading continues tomorrow at 7PM CST! Join us as we plunge into the mid-2000s and see how video game history is shaped (and misinterpreted) by our favorite author. www.twitch.tv/play_history
twitch.tv
Play_History - Twitch
Telling the stories of Video Game History and exploring the History of How We Play!https://twitter.com/GameResearch_Ehttps://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ — Play_History streams live on Twitch!...
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🏳️‍⚧️Jet Set Willært (Critical Kate) @katewillaert.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
What’s a video game history book where you really really loved the cover?
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Checked in today to see that the @gaminghistorian.bsky.social video on the Channel F has passed 1 million views. I know this is a bit weird with YouTube's recent changes, but I'm glad this episode has reached people and added something substantial to the video landscape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nio3hYAx_Tc
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
1983-11-23 Chicago Tribune pg Section 5 02. A profile about the Laserdisc arcade craze, post-Dragon's Lair.
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Presservation @presservation.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
40 years ago: Sega Master System arrived in America with an ad campaign that made it look like the coolest thing ever. (It was, in fact, pretty cool.)
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Another year, another time to update the Video Game History Booklist! thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/2020/08/27/t... If there are books you feel are missing (historical research books, not retro art books and the like) let me know!
thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com
The Video Game History Booklist
The Video Game History Book List is a chronological list of books in physical, digital, and webpage format which aspiring game researchers can use to find reading material related to the developmen…
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Gaming Alexandria @gamingalexandria.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Complete dumps of 4 non-retail iQue Player consoles obtained by members of iQueBrew have been released by jhynjhiruu along with an article all about the Chinese Nintendo 64 created by BroadOn in partnership with Nintendo. Enjoy! www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2026/09/i...
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Jason Dyer @jdyer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
All the Adventures turns to Australia and their most succesful home-grown computer, the Microbee. I give the story of how the Microbee came to be and explore one of the games published by their software branch. bluerenga.blog/2026/09/18/e...
bluerenga.blog
Eye of Min (1983)
In the 1960s, Qantas wanted to improve their flight reservation system. At the time, reservation clerks would get tickertapes from travel agents and enter flights manually; every single sales offic…
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John Andersen @johnandersen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Several years ago I was able to get in touch with former SEGA executive Hideki Sato. He originally joined SEGA in 1971 to work in R&D. He agreed to answer a couple of questions via email, one of which had been on my mind for a while: Who at SEGA designed Heavyweight Champ released in 1975? (1/4)
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Jimmy Maher @digiantiquarian.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This Week on The Digital Antiquarian: "The Lamentable Later Life of Lemmings" www.filfre.net/2026/09/the-...
filfre.net
» The Lamentable Later Life of Lemmings The Digital Antiquarian
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Chris Kohler @kohler.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Symphony of the Night design documents on display at the Konami booth at TGS. The mock screenshot is incredible
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Computer Chronicles Revisited @deviledeggpress.com · 18/09/2026
The series of mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate shenanigans that led to Kevin O'Leary forming the greatest CD-ROM shovelware operation of the 1990s, The Learning Company, remains one of the great cautionary tales about hypergrowth capitalism. www.computerchronicles.blog/computer-chr...
computerchronicles.blog
The Learning Company
How Kevin O'Leary spent the 1990s destroying the most notable computer game companies of the 1980s
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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Did an interview today with Mr. Jerry Wolosenko, a long time game industry executive. We'll be following up in the future, but props to Karl at Video Game Newsroom Time Machine as well as the @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social collection which had an interview with Jerry to reference.
1995-02 Electronic Games pg 22.

https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/012a1a84-5c0c-4c5f-84fa-af0080c4ccd3
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