TCW Podcast Episode 261 - StarFox Before Star Fox, there was a developer in Britain building copy protection tools, a dinner party that opened the right door, and a Game Boy prototype game that could do something it was never supposed to do. Jez San's Argonaut Software caught Nintendo's attention at CES and was invited to Japan. The meeting led to a two million dollar deal to build a custom chip to bring real 3D to the SNES. A team of Argonaut programmers moved to Japan and worked alongside Shigeru Miyamoto and Katsuya Eguchi to build one of the most technically ambitious games on the system. The Super FX chip made it possible, and a Kyoto fox shrine gave it its identity. Star Fox sold well, but its late arrival in the SNES lifecycle meant a nearly completed Star Fox 2 was shelved and not released until the SNES Classic. The collaboration that made it all possible did not end on the warmest terms. Nintendo retained some of Argonaut's programmers, and San walked away feeling the partnership had given Nintendo far more than it had given Argonaut. TCW 017 - The British 8-bit Computer Market - Hardware: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW017-the-british-8-bit-computer-market-hardwareTCW 018 - The British 8-bit Computer Market - Software: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW018-the-british-8-bit-computer-market-softwareTCW 049 - Old and Elite: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW049-old-and-eliteSkyline Attack (C64): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXb1IlVOTVMStar Wars (Atari - Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJv94FPRddAStarGlider (ZX Spectrum): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0nxTSc-4osTCW - 130: Uncle Clive's Radionics: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW130-uncle-clives-radionicsTCW 131 - Sir Clive of ZX: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW131-sir-clive-of-zxSinclair C5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjiiayrKiukMicro Men: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXBxV6-zamMTCW 244 - The History of Commodore Pt 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW244-the-history-of-commodore-pt-1TCW 245 - The History of Commodore Pt 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW245-the-history-of-commodore-pt-2TCW 246 - The History of Commodore Pt 3: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW246-the-history-of-commodore-pt-3TCW 247 - The History of Commodore Pt 4: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW247-the-history-of-commodore-pt-4Nintendo president Yamauchi gives a speech at Spaceworld 95: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V8tUea4Hbs&t=36sTCW 198 - The History of Handheld Games Part 1: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW198-the-history-of-handheld-games-part-1TCW 199 - The History of Handheld Games Part 2: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW199-the-history-of-handheld-games-part-2TCW 200 - The History of Handheld Games Part 3: https://www.theycreateworlds.com/episodes/TCW200-the-history-of-handheld-games-part-3Pilotwings (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A1hX1rGRfYX (Game Boy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LETr1NoteMMScmuplations - Star Fox 1993 Developer Interview: https://shmuplations.com/starfox/Starblade (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqWhFddNopMStarglider 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg3uQM83dl8Thunderbirds S1E1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLiH4xrCITIStarfox SNES Box Art: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/1659-star-foxFushimi Inari Shrine: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.htmlStarFox Coms (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkjR_9WVAHcStarfox Prototype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rsRTCExBLAStarFox (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EkVHxE0Y8I   New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month! TCW Email: [email protected] BlueSky: @theycreateworlds.bsky.social Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworldsAlex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.comAlex's book: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1