{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"December 1980","description":"Gene Lipkin leaves Atari Electronic toys are heading for a cliff and Digital information services go corporate These stories and many more on this episode of the Video Game Newsroom Time Machine This episode we will look back at the biggest stories in and around the video game industry in December of 1980. As always, we'll mostly be using magazine cover dates, and those are of course always a bit behind the actual events. Send comments on twitter @videogamenewsr2 Or Instagram https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vgnrtm Or videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com 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 Links: Corrections: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/General_Computer_Corporation https:\/\/www.mobygames.com\/company\/general-computer-corporation  https:\/\/www.mobygames.com\/developer\/sheet\/view\/developerId,343\/   1980: Gene Lipkin leaves Atari Replay, Dec. 1980, pg. 10 http:\/\/www.atarimuseum.com\/articles\/10yranniversary\/cut2pin.html  https:\/\/books.google.de\/books?id=sy8EAAAAMBAJ&amp;amp;pg=PA152&amp;amp;lpg=PA152&amp;amp;dq=gene+lipkin&amp;amp;source=bl&amp;amp;ots=R4C2CM7gzm&amp;amp;sig=ACfU3U2ETkAXNpGOsq2ypyp8gFO8lM6nGA&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;sa=X&amp;amp;ved=2ahUKEwjVqceun7btAhWGCuwKHQ53AwMQ6AEwD3oECBIQAg#v=onepage&amp;amp;q=gene%20lipkin&amp;amp;f=false  https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Atari https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/WarnerMedia https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ray_Kassar Gottlieb signs deal with Sigma Replay, Dec. 1980 pg. 10 https:\/\/www.mobygames.com\/game\/new-york-new-york https:\/\/videogamenewsroomtimemachine.libsyn.com\/joe-morici-interview Toy business Chaos https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1980\/12\/23\/archives\/a-troubled-season-in-toyland-heated-rivalry-buyer-caution-depress.html?searchResultPosition=2  https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Merlin_(console) https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Simon_(game) https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Game_%26_Watch https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Game_%26_Watch:_Super_Mario_Bros.   D&amp;amp;D co-developer gets into computer game design https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/CreativeComputingbetterScan198012\/page\/n173\/mode\/1up  https:\/\/www.mobygames.com\/game\/apple2\/raf-the-battle-of-britain\/screenshots\/gameShotId,984390\/  http:\/\/www.4dintsys.com\/projects.htm https:\/\/videogamenewsroomtimemachine.libsyn.com\/joel-billings-interview Reader's Digest buys The Source https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/80-microcomputing-magazine-1980-12\/page\/n53\/mode\/1up  https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Source_(online_service) https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AOL#1983%E2%80%931991:_Early_years  https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reader%27s_Digest Nexis is born https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/Kilobaud198012\/page\/n13\/mode\/1up https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LexisNexis  Recommended Links: 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\/ The History of How We Play: https:\/\/thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com\/ Retro Asylum: http:\/\/retroasylum.com\/category\/all-posts\/ Retro Game Squad: http:\/\/retrogamesquad.libsyn.com\/  Sound Effects by Ethan of History of How We Play. ","author_name":"Video Game Newsroom Time Machine","author_url":"http:\/\/videogamenewsroomtimemachine.libsyn.com\/website","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/17366756\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/92319086"}