Newshour: Nintendo Saves The Video Game Industry (1988)

 

The 1983 video game crash was devasting to electronic entertainment. Nintendo in order to survive decided to produce home consoles. The Famicom was released in Japan in 1983 and the Nintendo Entertainment System came to North America in 1985. The video game industry remained intact due to Nintendo's new business strategy. The Famicom and NES was marketed as a toy. According to the report from Newshour in 1988 sales hit an estimate of $1.8 billion. Nintendo at the time had two major competitors. This included Sega and Atari. Going into the 1990s, competition would become known as the console wars. The technology was also becoming more advanced. The 8-bit era was considered high tech, but that would not compare to what would come later. Nintendo's rise demonstrates how globalization changed the world economy and culture. A Japanese corporation was seeing success internationally. When new forms of media are introduced, detractors tend to attack it. Some parents were concerned about the time children spent playing video games. Others objected to the focus on boys being the major demographic for sales. Some women complained that female characters were all damsels in distress in Nintendo's games. The 1988 news report criticizes a video game for girls that involved aerobics. Child psychologist Laura Kastner voices this complaint. Kastner did not understand video games are for everyone. Metroid  has female protagonist Samus , Kastner would rather have a game about a woman being promoted in a corporation. Regardless of detractors, Nintendo was able to function in the US. The biggest challenge is not from parents, competitors, or the false notion video games are a horrible influence.  US imposed multiple tariffs in 2025. The following year Nintendo sued the US government. The tariffs caused the increase in prices of Nintendo products. 

The Death of Ayatollah Khomeini (1989)

 

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini died in 1989. After intestinal bleeding and  cardiac arrest his decade long rule came to an end. This did not mean the Islamic Republic disappeared. A new process was made in selection of the leadership. Iran's senior clerics selected a new Supreme Leader. Ali Khamenei was selected for the post. Reports stated at the time the Supreme Leader position was going to be made ceremonial. The office was the most powerful one in the Islamic Republic. The post of president was won by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The presidential office was tasked with the actual running of government. Iran's system of succession explains why the targeted assassinations of the leadership in 2026 did not result in regime change. Khomeini's death caused grief among those in Lebanon and Shia Muslims in other West Asian countries. The news report mentions the Iran-Iraq War and how it harmed Iran's economy. What was omitted was that Saddam Hussein was armed by the West in an attempt to remove the theocratic government. The Iran-Contra affair revealed that the US was arming both sides of the war.  Former President Jimmy Carter acknowledged that Ayatollah Khomeini was seen as a heroic figure. This was because the Pahlavi monarchy was deposed by the Iranian Revolution. The West at the time had a desire to work with more moderate forces in Iran. After the support for the Pahlavi monarchy and Baathist Iraq, Iran was not willing to have diplomatic relations.    

Paul Biya's First Presidential Inauguration (1982)

 

Cameroon has one of the world's longest serving leaders. Paul Biya was  elected in 1982 and has remained president ever since. At the time he was seen as a reformer and a new wave of African leaders who wanted change in the political system. However, during the 1980s Biya was able to remove political rivals. Cameroon did not have a multi-party system until 1990. The opposition parties have claimed they are being harassed by the government. Allegations of electoral fraud have been made. Now the 90 year old head of state governs in a country and continent much different when Biya first entered government. It was 1964 when Paul Biya became director of the Cabinet of the minister of national education. The Constitution was revised to allow Paul Biya to run for president multiple times. The end of  presidential term limits caused public protests. Paul Biya would best be described as de-facto president for life. Frustration grows as the oil wealth has not been used to improve the standard of living in Cameroon. The outbreak of the Ambazonia War has caused more division in the country. Uncertainty remains about a post-Biya Cameroon. Cameroon might become like Togo, Chad, or formerly Gabon with dynastic succession.  

Yoweri Museveni Discusses The Hording of Commodities (1986)

 

Uganda after years of conflict was suffering from economic instability. Sugar continues to be an essential commodity for the country. During the  late 1980s the problem with hording and smuggling sugar was an issue, This was not the only commodity being horded. Yoweri Museveni who came to power in 1986 made the argument this was causing further damage to the economy. While there were laws against smuggling, hording was not challenged. When action was taken against it, detractors called it a communist plot. Museveni's response was that it was nothing more than greed from individuals seeking to take advantage of unfortunate circumstances. Corruption from both leaders and the business sector can create poor economic conditions. At the time President Museveni was seen as a reformer to African politics. The promise of a fair economic system in Uganda was not been realized. 

Desmond Tutu Wins The Nobel Prize (1984)

 

Desmond Tutu( 1931-2021)  was a priest, theologian, and anti-apartheid activist. He was one of the figures leading the fight against white minority rule. His efforts got him recognition and in 1984 he won the Nobel Prize. Tutu was criticized for taking a stance that was based on non-violent resistance . The Apartheid regime was inflicting serious harm to the black population with torture and police brutality. Peaceful methods would not be effective against a government based on violence. Tutu was interviewed by Dan Rather in this news report. Desmond Tutu explained South Africans were frustrated with the policy of constructive engagement. The policy really was a means of protecting the regime from international criticism. By 1994 the regime was defeated not by violent means, but through a democratic election. Tutu continued to remain active and also criticized the ANC for failing to adhere to its political promises . 

George Shultz Answers Questions About The Iran Contra Scandal (1986)

 

George P. Shultz (1920- 2021)  served as secretary of state under the Ronald Reagan administration. He went on Face The Nation to defend US policy in Latin America. The US was attempting regime change in Nicaragua by funding the Contras. The funds were generated from arms sales to Iran. Congress forbid this, but the Reagan presidency went ahead with covert action. Shultz in hi testimony denied having any knowledge of the arms for hostages agreement. The truth however was that he had knowledge of arms sales between December 1985 to May of 1986. The image of George P. Shultz being an honest figure in the Reagan administration  was more so a fabrication. Shultz during the interview states that the USA was being tough on terrorism and the arms embargo directed at Iran. The reality is that the US was sponsoring multiple terrorist organizations and armed groups globally. The scandal could no longer be covered up and members of Reagan's cabinet were charged. Shultz was able to avoid criminal charges, but that did not mean he was innocent of wrong doing. George P. Shultz was aware of the sale of TOW and HAWK missiles.