GDRI
@gdri.bsky.social
GDRI (Game Developer Research Institute) researches the history of video games and their creators. Since 2006.
Reposted by GDRI
Atari: There's no comparing it with any other video game.
Source: Electronic Games 1 (Winter 1981)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #atari
Source: Electronic Games 1 (Winter 1981)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #atari
February 9, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Atari: There's no comparing it with any other video game.
Source: Electronic Games 1 (Winter 1981)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #atari
Source: Electronic Games 1 (Winter 1981)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #atari
Reposted by GDRI
Hiroshi Ryūōin, mecha/character designer on Dennin Aleste, Spriggan 1 and 2, and Aleste Gaiden, worked on the Mark III version of R-Type—his first job in the video game industry. He also mentioned having worked briefly with Rieko Kodama shortly after joining Compile.
February 8, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Hiroshi Ryūōin, mecha/character designer on Dennin Aleste, Spriggan 1 and 2, and Aleste Gaiden, worked on the Mark III version of R-Type—his first job in the video game industry. He also mentioned having worked briefly with Rieko Kodama shortly after joining Compile.
Reposted by GDRI
Speaking of Yōichi Kubo, shortly after he joined Technosoft in april 1990, he designed 2 stages for Thunder Force AC, the arcade adaptation of Thunder Force III. He drew the background for the 4th stage + another one for a scrapped level.
xcancel.com/REONIDASPART...
xcancel.com/REONIDASPART...
February 8, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Speaking of Yōichi Kubo, shortly after he joined Technosoft in april 1990, he designed 2 stages for Thunder Force AC, the arcade adaptation of Thunder Force III. He drew the background for the 4th stage + another one for a scrapped level.
xcancel.com/REONIDASPART...
xcancel.com/REONIDASPART...
Reposted by GDRI
After completing development of Thunder Force IV and before working on a prototype of Thunder Force V for Mega Drive, TFIV lead graphic designer Yōichi Kubo began developing a beat 'em up for Mega Drive at Technosoft featuring characters with mechanised arms and legs.
xcancel.com/REONIDASPART...
xcancel.com/REONIDASPART...
x.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:22 AM
After completing development of Thunder Force IV and before working on a prototype of Thunder Force V for Mega Drive, TFIV lead graphic designer Yōichi Kubo began developing a beat 'em up for Mega Drive at Technosoft featuring characters with mechanised arms and legs.
xcancel.com/REONIDASPART...
xcancel.com/REONIDASPART...
Sion Sawa has posted numerous times about his father (Kazuo Sawa) in the past. Here are two other recent posts: (Hikaru Genji: Roller Panic) xcancel.com/sionic4029/s... (Battle Lane! Vol. 5, Kazuo's debut work) xcancel.com/sionic4029/s...
February 9, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Sion Sawa has posted numerous times about his father (Kazuo Sawa) in the past. Here are two other recent posts: (Hikaru Genji: Roller Panic) xcancel.com/sionic4029/s... (Battle Lane! Vol. 5, Kazuo's debut work) xcancel.com/sionic4029/s...
Reposted by GDRI
afaik this wasn't public knowledge until now... as revealed by his son: Kazuo Sawa, veteran game composer/programmer whose works include the many Famicom Kunio-kun games, Battle of Olympus & many others (on & off-record), passed away at some point during the last couple years... R.I.P.
X Cancelled | Verifying your request
xcancel.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:24 AM
afaik this wasn't public knowledge until now... as revealed by his son: Kazuo Sawa, veteran game composer/programmer whose works include the many Famicom Kunio-kun games, Battle of Olympus & many others (on & off-record), passed away at some point during the last couple years... R.I.P.
Reposted by GDRI
Sega had a huge lineup for the 1990 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Moonwalker, Phantasy Star II, and Golden Axe were some of the gems on display. Images: Beep! MD.
February 8, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Sega had a huge lineup for the 1990 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Moonwalker, Phantasy Star II, and Golden Axe were some of the gems on display. Images: Beep! MD.
Reposted by GDRI
From the VGHF's Mark Flitman collection (https://archive.gamehistory.org/folder/205c628c-5d0a-4de8-a5a5-782f31706ac0), here's 1994 internal Acclaim data on the (U.S.?) sales of their (many!) Simpsons games. Looks like Bart's Nightmare on SNES did the best....
February 8, 2026 at 4:50 PM
From the VGHF's Mark Flitman collection (https://archive.gamehistory.org/folder/205c628c-5d0a-4de8-a5a5-782f31706ac0), here's 1994 internal Acclaim data on the (U.S.?) sales of their (many!) Simpsons games. Looks like Bart's Nightmare on SNES did the best....
Reposted by GDRI
Tempest 2000
Source: Next Generation 14 (February 1996)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #atari
Source: Next Generation 14 (February 1996)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #atari
February 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Tempest 2000
Source: Next Generation 14 (February 1996)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #atari
Source: Next Generation 14 (February 1996)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #atari
Reposted by GDRI
Cosmotank: Target locked on. Fire!
Source: Game Player's Strategy Guide to Game Boy Games Volume 1, Number 1 (Summer 1990)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #nintendo
Source: Game Player's Strategy Guide to Game Boy Games Volume 1, Number 1 (Summer 1990)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #nintendo
February 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Cosmotank: Target locked on. Fire!
Source: Game Player's Strategy Guide to Game Boy Games Volume 1, Number 1 (Summer 1990)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #nintendo
Source: Game Player's Strategy Guide to Game Boy Games Volume 1, Number 1 (Summer 1990)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #nintendo
Reposted by GDRI
Interesting thing here (to me, anyway): Compile made the original MSX version of this Godzilla game (in 1985), but it looks like the Game Boy version had a different staff, with future Yuke's co-founder Yukinori Taniguchi as programmer.
www.mobygames.com/game/20213/g...
www.mobygames.com/game/20213/g...
February 6, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Interesting thing here (to me, anyway): Compile made the original MSX version of this Godzilla game (in 1985), but it looks like the Game Boy version had a different staff, with future Yuke's co-founder Yukinori Taniguchi as programmer.
www.mobygames.com/game/20213/g...
www.mobygames.com/game/20213/g...
Reposted by GDRI
Via @ftb1979.bsky.social and @katewillaert.bsky.social, digitised from a VHS tape of an August 2000 Daria marathon and uploaded to YouTube over Christmas... here, after 25 years, is Ulala's VMA appearance:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HwW...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HwW...
(August, 2000) Space Channel 5 MTV Awards Dance Video of The Year Nominees Commercial
YouTube video by VHS Archival
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Via @ftb1979.bsky.social and @katewillaert.bsky.social, digitised from a VHS tape of an August 2000 Daria marathon and uploaded to YouTube over Christmas... here, after 25 years, is Ulala's VMA appearance:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HwW...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HwW...
Reposted by GDRI
Going through the 1995 E3 Show Dailies. There are some amazing trade-only ads in these that I don't know have ever been reproduced
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Going through the 1995 E3 Show Dailies. There are some amazing trade-only ads in these that I don't know have ever been reproduced
Reposted by GDRI
From a 1990 issue of EGM: Toho itself actually published a (Compile-developed) Game Boy version of Godzilla - as an action puzzle game - in the U.S.!
February 6, 2026 at 5:55 PM
From a 1990 issue of EGM: Toho itself actually published a (Compile-developed) Game Boy version of Godzilla - as an action puzzle game - in the U.S.!
Reposted by GDRI
from Hamster's stream, some photos of the Cool Boarders team at UEP Systems circa '96, which was 6 devs at most (not counting outsourced helpers)—all but one of em came fresh out of school with zero practical experience, but somehow managed to make Cool Boarders from scratch in ~6 months
February 6, 2026 at 1:35 PM
from Hamster's stream, some photos of the Cool Boarders team at UEP Systems circa '96, which was 6 devs at most (not counting outsourced helpers)—all but one of em came fresh out of school with zero practical experience, but somehow managed to make Cool Boarders from scratch in ~6 months
Reposted by GDRI
The latest Game History Hour Podcacst has Frank joined by guest host Kate Willaert to interview Jeremy Parish, media curator at Limited Run Games, author ('Works' series), YouTuber, and podcaster: https://gamehistory.org/episode-149-jeremy-parish-works/
February 5, 2026 at 9:25 PM
The latest Game History Hour Podcacst has Frank joined by guest host Kate Willaert to interview Jeremy Parish, media curator at Limited Run Games, author ('Works' series), YouTuber, and podcaster: https://gamehistory.org/episode-149-jeremy-parish-works/
Reposted by GDRI
Reposted by GDRI
jp game developer in the 90's: so we're making a bass fishing game
composer: oh hell yeah i got you [adds "drop the bass" sample]
jp game developer: no no like the fish
composer: what fish?
composer: oh hell yeah i got you [adds "drop the bass" sample]
jp game developer: no no like the fish
composer: what fish?
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 AM
jp game developer in the 90's: so we're making a bass fishing game
composer: oh hell yeah i got you [adds "drop the bass" sample]
jp game developer: no no like the fish
composer: what fish?
composer: oh hell yeah i got you [adds "drop the bass" sample]
jp game developer: no no like the fish
composer: what fish?
February 2 was the 30th anniversary of the Saturn release of Return to Zork in Japan. Former System Sacom programmer: Saturn and PlayStation versions were ported by System Sacom. xcancel.com/honda_ken/st...
February 5, 2026 at 7:01 AM
February 2 was the 30th anniversary of the Saturn release of Return to Zork in Japan. Former System Sacom programmer: Saturn and PlayStation versions were ported by System Sacom. xcancel.com/honda_ken/st...
Reposted by GDRI
Flashback: The Quest for Identity: The First CD-ROM Game in a Cartridge!
Source: Mega Play Vol. 4, No. 2 (April 1993)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #sega
Source: Mega Play Vol. 4, No. 2 (April 1993)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #sega
February 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Flashback: The Quest for Identity: The First CD-ROM Game in a Cartridge!
Source: Mega Play Vol. 4, No. 2 (April 1993)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #sega
Source: Mega Play Vol. 4, No. 2 (April 1993)
Scan Source: RetroMags
#retrogaming #sega
Reposted by GDRI
Memetron gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.p...
Memetron - GDRI :: Game Developer Research Institute
gdri.smspower.org
January 28, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Memetron gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.p...
Reposted by GDRI
How did Virgin go from music to games like Command and Conquer, The 7th Guest, Aladdin, and The Lion King? We explore the rise and fall of Virgin Games, from early development and European distribution to major licenses and corporate collapse.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEM3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEM3...
TCW 251 - Virgin Games
YouTube video by They Create Worlds Podcast
www.youtube.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:40 PM
How did Virgin go from music to games like Command and Conquer, The 7th Guest, Aladdin, and The Lion King? We explore the rise and fall of Virgin Games, from early development and European distribution to major licenses and corporate collapse.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEM3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEM3...
Reposted by GDRI
This 1996 U.S. print ad for Core Design's arcade tank game Shellshock plays up the 'attitude' big-time, '90s style. [Ad scanned by VGHF from CD-ROM Today.]
February 3, 2026 at 6:25 PM
This 1996 U.S. print ad for Core Design's arcade tank game Shellshock plays up the 'attitude' big-time, '90s style. [Ad scanned by VGHF from CD-ROM Today.]
Reposted by GDRI
Another look at this 2003 Electronics Boutique catalog - https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/6bedff02-8620-49e7-ab95-33258145130a - reveals a $100 mail-in gift voucher if you bought a Nokia N-Gage & two games. (Well, did you?)
February 3, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Another look at this 2003 Electronics Boutique catalog - https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/6bedff02-8620-49e7-ab95-33258145130a - reveals a $100 mail-in gift voucher if you bought a Nokia N-Gage & two games. (Well, did you?)