Codex Rex – The Video Game History Podcast

Episode 33 – Quake

Post author By vegantyler
Post date July 9, 2025

Codex Rex

Episode 33 - Quake

00:00 / 2:59:02

We tell the story of Quake, the FPS that revolutionized online play, but had a troubled and turbulent development cycle. This is the fifth part in our continuing series about id Software.

Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LhM82lrs0AGfqC-wKjygbRt0BHF3HUDtcI19oLNggyE/

Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

Episode 32 – DOOM

Post author By vegantyler
Post date July 2, 2025

Codex Rex

Episode 32 - DOOM

00:00 / 2:47:18

Listen to the tale of DOOM, a demon-filled and gory shooter that fundamentally changed the course of gaming forever. This is the fourth part in our continuing series about id Software.

Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17q7ONAAR0GNGNIGUAY_GMvEvgQx5Tpuh9o_8ZfixXik/

Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

Episode 31: Wolfenstein 3D

Post author By vegantyler
Post date June 25, 2025

Codex Rex

Episode 31: Wolfenstein 3D

00:00 / 2:11:51

In this episode we discuss Wolfenstein 3D, a fast-paced and bloody game that is sometimes called the “grandfather of 3D shooters.” This is the third part in our continuing series about id Software.

Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UlRGeIfJFMH2TqPrSIelTiWBqpqK9jc1LGS2gBsBvAY

Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

Episode 30: Commander Keen

Post author By vegantyler
Post date June 18, 2025

Codex Rex

Episode 30: Commander Keen

00:00 / 2:17:38

In our continuing series about id Software, we speak about the creation of Commander Keen, a side scrolling game about a boy genius that would form the foundation for id’s future projects.

Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dLI9Fk-2FuSVQf6eHlug-1sqGywr1-FiH1Dj4IJr7BA/

Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

Episode 29: id Software – Prologue

Post author By vegantyler
Post date June 11, 2025

Codex Rex

Episode 29: id Software - Prologue

00:00 / 3:13:00

In the first episode of a new series, Tyler tells Dachz stories of the people who founded id Software, including tales of industry legends John Romero and John Carmack, and the circumstances that brought them together.

Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/112baWGctB-5XTmyIkHZBg74jMWJnOtkCJpyg1HTNxEo/

Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 28: Katamari Damacy

Post author By vegantyler
Post date February 5, 2024

Codex Rex

Episode 28: Katamari Damacy

00:00 / 2:33:51

Tyler tells Dachz the story of Keita Takahashi, and how he created the cult classic Katamari Damacy. Then, the two discuss Takahashi’s career and his unique style of creating games.

Sources for this episode can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g38WaV45gYBmooXl_ViJ3nyRtmZZNCgHSDpN8PurKQI/edit?usp=sharing

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Interview: Louis Castle

Post author By vegantyler
Post date January 28, 2024

Codex Rex

Interview: Louis Castle

00:00 / 1:33:58

Dachz and Tyler interview Louis Castle about his role in co-founding Westwood Studios and his contributions to the Command & Conquer series of real-time strategy games.

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 27: The Founding Fathers of Wargaming

Post author By vegantyler
Post date December 24, 2023

Codex Rex

Episode 27: The Founding Fathers of Wargaming

00:00 / 2:21:28

Dachz tells the stories of several people who helped to invent modern wargaming.

Sources for this episode can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRrEh9XB1CyFc8HQ0LCXUVtLSm5np8S0tg9h2cHa3Ytd57od6QzatXMS7-xEbMZNh28E9GJF5KpM6an/pub

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games, Wargames

Episode 26: Pokémon

Post author By vegantyler
Post date May 25, 2023

Codex Rex

Episode 26: Pokémon

00:00 / 2:32:49

In the second part of this story, Tyler explains how Game Freak created Pokémon, and how the game series became a multi-billion dollar franchise.

Sources for this episode can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1shJgb3WW5DkHkNG6bNbAO0WsEYcJU-JTaEDEOr3mm0A/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 25: Game Freak

Post author By vegantyler
Post date May 17, 2023

Codex Rex

Episode 25: Game Freak

00:00 / 1:50:50

In part one if this story, Tyler tells the tale of Game Freak, a Japanese indie gaming company that would create a cultural phenomenon.

Sources for this episode can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1shJgb3WW5DkHkNG6bNbAO0WsEYcJU-JTaEDEOr3mm0A/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 24: Adventure and Easter Eggs

Post author By vegantyler
Post date August 15, 2022

Codex Rex

Episode 24: Adventure and Easter Eggs

00:00 / 1:43:51

Tyler tells a story of how cave exploration, D&D, and the early internet, led to the first adventure games. Then, he discusses how the mistreatment of programmers at Atari led to the popular idea of hiding ‘easter eggs’ in video games.

Sources for this episode can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AvbdikRVKNrfb49L8wAiySx71A3W30yG1cJS7F0Wz9M/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 23: Tetris

Post author By vegantyler
Post date July 23, 2022

Codex Rex

Episode 23: Tetris

00:00 / 1:09:18

Dachz tells the story of Tetris and the legal battles that ensued over the game’s publishing rights.

Sources can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f2TM9rqJmEH7DnlI_Jf9SlP4seklSwMnYBKwIYcv5qk/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 22: Nintendo 64

Post author By vegantyler
Post date June 24, 2022

Codex Rex

Episode 22: Nintendo 64

00:00 / 2:25:38

Tyler tells the story of the Nintendo 64, and how Nintendo tried to reclaim the 90s console market with innovation and brand power.
Sources for this episode can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uANn126Osf3HlOpT1oDlCfX-ZJ8Z0dXj6–IWrliiiI/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 21: Tamagotchi

Post author By vegantyler
Post date April 5, 2022

Codex Rex

Episode 21: Tamagotchi

00:00 / 1:41:46

Tyler tells a story about the Tamagotchi and the virtual pet craze of the late 1990s.

Sources for this episode can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k-ORUKS02fnsUQa1JhbdhPhWzLLZ_qW6ChktmzJo43Y/edit?usp=sharing

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 20: PlayStation

Post author By vegantyler
Post date December 30, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 20: PlayStation

00:00 / 1:38:31

Tyler discusses the history of the PlayStation and how Sony become a powerful force in the console market.

Sources for the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TTqnvwTaynMetg4kTqQtxlZaeYvI6MFuWFdLYWckXsQ/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 19: Tennis for Two

Post author By vegantyler
Post date October 15, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 19: Tennis for Two

00:00 / 1:07:30

Dachz tells a story about the life of physicist William Higinbotham and the creation of the first video game, Tennis for Two.

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 18: Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto

Post author By vegantyler
Post date September 10, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 18: Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto

00:00 / 1:39:36

Dachz tells a story about DMA Design, and the events that led to them publishing two popular game series: Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto. Sources for the episode can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mAi7mtDnZGMGy2onXzOhh38NOHShC09uBTj5lp8qyo/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 17: Sega Saturn

Post author By vegantyler
Post date August 10, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 17: Sega Saturn

00:00 / 1:40:21

Tyler tells a story about the Sega Saturn and the events that led to Sega’s decline in the console market.
Sources for the episode can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1voFekloooJbxgq3BBLFpxM7FQktu3LyIe9_9-qsF7BI/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 16: Flow in Video Games

Post author By vegantyler
Post date July 7, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 16: Flow in Video Games

00:00 / 1:42:41

Dachz and Tyler discuss the psychological concept of “Flow” and how it relates to gaming, as well as why we seek out video games as entertainment.

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 15: 3DO Interactive Multiplayer

Post author By vegantyler
Post date June 13, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 15: 3DO Interactive Multiplayer

00:00 / 1:46:04

Tyler tells a story about the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, an innovative 90s console that suffered a series of missteps, but set many of the standards of modern gaming. Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X4lnvoYpFC5U02WgHzl7aaiIFUT7n3QAj2T9aG-t2BI/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 14: Electronic Arts

Post author By vegantyler
Post date June 6, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 14: Electronic Arts

00:00 / 1:43:01

Tyler tells a story about gaming industry legend Trip Hawkins and the founding of video game company Electronic Arts.
Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X4lnvoYpFC5U02WgHzl7aaiIFUT7n3QAj2T9aG-t2BI/

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 13: Magnavox Odyssey

Post author By vegantyler
Post date May 6, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 13: Magnavox Odyssey

00:00 / 1:05:48

Dachz tells a story about Ralph Baer, and the creation of the first video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey.

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 12: Gothic

Post author By vegantyler
Post date April 2, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 12: Gothic

00:00 / 1:16:48

Dachz tells a story about the 2001 game Gothic and the German studio Piranha Bytes. Tyler gets excited by the discussion of an advergame called “Swamp Chicken.”

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 11: Atari Jaguar

Post author By vegantyler
Post date March 5, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 11: Atari Jaguar

00:00 / 1:44:42

In the first of a new series about the 5th generation of consoles, Tyler tells Dachz the story of the Jaguar, Atari’s last-ditch effort to compete in the console market.

Sources for this episode can be found at:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XuGBy2k9QaUlVMNzSLTeEqHJaae3NcEjSFJCSExSdKQ

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 10: SCUMM

Post author By vegantyler
Post date February 10, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 10: SCUMM

00:00 / 1:25:39

Dachz tells a story about Ron Gilbert and the creation of the SCUMM Engine, which was used to create several cult classic Lucas Arts games, like Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island.

Tags Conversation, Gaming, History, Video Games

Episode 9: Satellaview

Post author By vegantyler
Post date January 15, 2021

Codex Rex

Episode 9: Satellaview

00:00 / 1:22:25

Tyler tells Dachz a story about the obscure Super Famicom add-on, the Satellaview, which allowed users in Japan to download games from satellite transmissions. Sources for this episode can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1We8R9gDFlzU_7M3p2yUZqfox1ZORFbC80r5NkgfJT4g/