The Ted Dabney Experience
The Ted Dabney Experience

The Ted Dabney Experience

The Ted Dabney Experience

Overview
Episodes

Details

The Ted Dabney Experience. Intimate conversations with leading lights from the golden age of video arcade gaming. A podcast project by Richard May, Paul Drury (Retro Gamer magazine) and Tony Temple (author of Missile Commander). Brought to you in association with The American Classic Arcade Museum (US) and Arcade Archive (UK).

Recent Episodes

TDE EP42 - Atari UK Cofounder Alistair Crooks
JUL 19, 2025
TDE EP42 - Atari UK Cofounder Alistair Crooks
<p class="">Despite lacking any knowledge whatsoever of the amusement industry, Kellogg’s sales manager Alistair Crooks and eccentric former RAF airman Phil Smith convinced a young Nolan Bushnell that they were the right men to introduce Atari’s Pong to the United Kingdom in 1973. Swiftly moving from importing to manufacturing, the company arguably grew too fast and was ill positioned to weather the perfect storm of the OPEC Oil Crisis and the Three Day Week, ultimately lasting only fourteen months. This is a nuts-and-bolts yet captivating tale of what might have been, recounted with modesty and good humour.</p> <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > <img data-stretch="false" data-image="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg" data-image-dimensions="2000x2000" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="" data-load="false" elementtiming="system-image-block" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg?format=1000w" width="2000" height="2000" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 100vw" onload="this.classList.add(&quot;loaded&quot;)" srcset="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg?format=100w 100w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg?format=300w 300w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg?format=500w 500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg?format=750w 750w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg?format=1000w 1000w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg?format=1500w 1500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/a745e076-e966-4f89-b93f-3a76c99ff20e/tde42.jpg?format=2500w 2500w" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-loader="sqs"> </figure>
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-1 MIN
TDE EP41 - GCC Cofounder & Ms. Pac-Man Co-creator Doug Macrae
MAY 11, 2025
TDE EP41 - GCC Cofounder & Ms. Pac-Man Co-creator Doug Macrae
<p class="">Doug Macrae founded General Computer Corporation in 1981 with Kevin Curran whilst still an MIT student and would go on to employ many other MIT students, including previous guests Steve Golson and Jonathan Hurd. We talk with Macrae at length about the disruptive business model and general chutzpah of the fledgling company, and what can only be described as GCC playing high-stakes chess with the biggest videogame company in town, Atari Inc. They went on not only to make such inventive arcade titles as Food Fight and Quantum for Atari, but also created one of the most successful coin-ops of all time for Bally Midway, Ms. Pac-Man.</p> <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > <img data-stretch="false" data-image="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg" data-image-dimensions="2000x2000" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="" data-load="false" elementtiming="system-image-block" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg?format=1000w" width="2000" height="2000" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 100vw" onload="this.classList.add(&quot;loaded&quot;)" srcset="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg?format=100w 100w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg?format=300w 300w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg?format=500w 500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg?format=750w 750w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg?format=1000w 1000w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg?format=1500w 1500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/d1e1cf42-ac3c-4a1e-867c-4fbc754afbd2/logo_02.jpg?format=2500w 2500w" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-loader="sqs"> </figure>
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-1 MIN
TDE EP40 - Atari Project Manager John Ray
FEB 12, 2025
TDE EP40 - Atari Project Manager John Ray
<p class="">John Ray joined Atari Inc in 1977 as a hardware engineer, learning the ropes with 1978’s Fire-Truck, arguably the first truly co-op arcade game and a distinctive arcade presence due in no small part to his analogue circuitry audio. Ray was also involved with the Atari-licensed versions of Namco’s Dig Dug and Xevious, the awesome arcade version of Tetris and — into the 1990s — the hugely popular San Francisco Rush racing series.</p> <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > <img data-stretch="false" data-image="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg" data-image-dimensions="2000x2000" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="" data-load="false" elementtiming="system-image-block" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg?format=1000w" width="2000" height="2000" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 100vw" onload="this.classList.add(&quot;loaded&quot;)" srcset="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg?format=100w 100w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg?format=300w 300w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg?format=500w 500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg?format=750w 750w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg?format=1000w 1000w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg?format=1500w 1500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/f4f47108-fdd1-4882-94ab-16305fbbc4d7/tde_40_johnray.jpg?format=2500w 2500w" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-loader="sqs"> </figure>
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-1 MIN
This is The Ted Dabney Experience
AUG 1, 2024
This is The Ted Dabney Experience
<p class="">The Ted Dabney Experience is a podcast project by Richard May, Paul Drury (Retro Gamer magazine) and Tony Temple (author of Missile Commander - A Journey to The Top of an Arcade Classic). We host in-depth conversations with the creative leading lights and supporting cast from the Golden Age of coin-op Video Arcade gaming. </p> <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > <img data-stretch="false" data-image="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg" data-image-dimensions="4000x4000" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="" data-load="false" elementtiming="system-image-block" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg?format=1000w" width="4000" height="4000" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 100vw" onload="this.classList.add(&quot;loaded&quot;)" srcset="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg?format=100w 100w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg?format=300w 300w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg?format=500w 500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg?format=750w 750w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg?format=1000w 1000w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg?format=1500w 1500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/8abbd6de-6e9e-4958-ad81-6829fbed0953/LOGO_QUAD.jpg?format=2500w 2500w" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-loader="sqs"> </figure>
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-1 MIN
TDE EP39 - Rob Quinn of Stern
JUL 31, 2024
TDE EP39 - Rob Quinn of Stern
<p class="">Rob Quinn joined Stern just as the company was branching out from it's core pinball business to explore the brave new world of videogames. Rob talks about his involvement with the company's early hit, Berzerk, his experiments with laser disc technology and his personal misgivings about how the company was managed.</p> <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > <img data-stretch="false" data-image="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg" data-image-dimensions="2000x2000" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="" data-load="false" elementtiming="system-image-block" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg?format=1000w" width="2000" height="2000" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 100vw" onload="this.classList.add(&quot;loaded&quot;)" srcset="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg?format=100w 100w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg?format=300w 300w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg?format=500w 500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg?format=750w 750w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg?format=1000w 1000w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg?format=1500w 1500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ddb01a1da2df3551200cc26/755dea40-90cc-49f3-989f-d1e32a3c508b/LOGO.jpg?format=2500w 2500w" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-loader="sqs"> </figure>
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-1 MIN