The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

Your weekly dose of retro gaming and technology news and interviews with industry veterans.

New episodes released every Friday!

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500 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes500

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Friday · 1 hr 54 min
542: Veronica Explains: Why Old Computers Were Better at Teaching Us – The Retro Hour EP542
This week, we’re joined by Veronica from the brilliant YouTube channel Veronica Explains for a journey through a lifetime of tinkering with technology. Veronica shares stories of growing up in a family of programmers, exploring the early Internet through Prodigy and GeoCities, inheriting a 50-year-old COBOL codebase, her love of the Commodore 64 and Amiga, the lost art of the computer manual, and why older computers often encouraged us to understand, repair and truly own the technology we used. Veronica Explains: https://veronicaexplains.net/ https://www.youtube.com/@VeronicaExplains Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 50:17 – Veronica Explains Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Xbox Backwards Compatibility Expands: https://lnk.ua/TLKK3aUEz Ruff ’n’ Tumble 2026: https://lnk.ua/mRTXvpXvM 3DO Classic Comes To Jaguar: https://lnk.ua/1usp847sO Conker 64 Footage Surfaces: https://lnk.ua/9Lb4R3KoH Sega Rally On Mega Drive: https://lnk.ua/NlQIztuNF Rare Nintendo FamicomBox Discovered: https://lnk.ua/dD0ixsVqO Homemade PS4 OLED Handheld: https://lnk.ua/qdxKaI6ME
July 24 · 1 hr 49 min
541: Colin McRae, Batman & AstroBurn: From Games to Hollywood… and Back - The Retro Hour EP541
This week's guest is Haz Dulull whose career has taken him from creating FMV and cinematics for games like Colin McRae Rally and Battalion Wars, to working on blockbuster films including The Dark Knight, Prince of Persia and The Chronicles of Narnia. He's returned to his gaming roots with his colourful new SNES style shoot ‘em up, AstroBurn. Astroburn: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3810660/Astro_Burn/ Built to Fail: The Inside Story of Blockbuster's Inevitable Bust: https://lnk.ua/zrymFBq2V Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 50:36 – Haz Dulull Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Monkey Ball Comes to Dreamcast: https://lnk.ua/ux2w9vqz0 Gloom Reforged Returns: https://lnk.ua/sVe6F0iTq Super Mario 64 on 3DO: https://lnk.ua/D3uCVFFQo The End of GAME: https://lnk.ua/EFsnZaDj6 Stains of Decay: https://lnk.ua/8Z1zOF5iX Lemmings on Pico-8: https://lnk.ua/wqGRgWysw Dungeon Lurker Interview: https://lnk.ua/U53TAZvj8 Patrons news Blink-182 Team Up With Pac-Man For Arcade Collaboration: https://lnk.ua/B0qOtMAeh Lemmings Reloaded Updates: https://lnk.ua/bfmMiD1BH
July 17 · 1 hr 41 min
540: Netflix DIDN’T Kill Blockbuster — Here’s What Really Happened - The Retro Hour EP540
This week, we’re joined by former Blockbuster franchisee Alan Payne, author of Built to Fail, for the inside story of the video & game rental giant’s spectacular collapse. Alan reveals why Netflix and streaming weren’t really to blame, how Blockbuster disastrously mishandled the switch from VHS to DVD, and why decisions such as scrapping late fees helped destroy the business from within. We also revisit the glory days of Friday-night rentals, Blockbuster’s video game business, Game Rush, the PlayStation 2 DVD boom and the story of the final store. Built to Fail: The Inside Story of Blockbuster's Inevitable Bust: https://lnk.ua/zrymFBq2V Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 40:08 – Blockbuster Alan Payne Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Ghostbusters C64 Remastered: https://lnk.ua/GFpHqvMaY Original Version Comparison: https://youtu.be/VITLJsgXCUQ Game Boy Camera Captures Jupiter: https://lnk.ua/3ar7dSylK Doom Ported to Obscure Console: https://youtu.be/nDe06uY5C40 Johnny Castaway Comes to PS1: https://lnk.ua/AfZPCsfdN Super Mario Maker GB: https://lnk.ua/QGBAQr7Fi Agent 64 Launches Next Month: https://lnk.ua/mpbP6dcXG
July 10 · 1 hr 49 min
539: OctaMED, Amigas and Dark 80s Music - The Retro Hour EP539
Synth musician, performer and self-described “bleakwave” artist Paulee Alex Bow joins us. We explore dark ’80s music and an love for the Commodore Amiga. Paulee reveals how OctaMED became the heart of a modern hardware-synth setup, why original machines can't be replaced, and what it takes to perform live with two Amigas in tow. We also hear about the Arcade Dreams soundtrack, haunted synths, Amiga MIDI, car-boot retro discoveries and why the Amiga community can sometimes feel almost spiritual. Magical Synth Adventure: https://www.youtube.com/@magicalsynthadventure3216 Sonic State: https://www.youtube.com/@sonicstate/videos Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 48:21 - Paulee Alex Bow Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Worms Director’s Cut Expansion: https://lnk.ua/5kH00iGiR Romero Praises id Developers: https://lnk.ua/k0IOBSZGO PlayStation Ends Physical Releases: https://lnk.ua/lvs87s7yd Germany’s Preservation Project Collapses: https://lnk.ua/VFJe5qL8S Command & Conquer on Atari ST: https://lnk.ua/aQhG7CrtN Empire Interactive Quits 3DO: https://lnk.ua/aBXtA0qb6 Android Becomes a Wii U: https://lnk.ua/7jYPe7vxJ YouTube on Game Boy Color: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GlYnN9JK1k
July 3 · 1 hr 54 min
538: Commodore 64: The Birth of a Cultural Icon - The Retro Hour EP538
This week, we’re joined by legendary documentary makers Ant and Nic Caulfield, the team behind From Bedrooms to Billions, The Amiga Years and The Rubber-Keyed Wonder, as they return to celebrate one of the most iconic home computers ever made: the Commodore 64. Commodore 64: The Birth of a Cultural Icon on Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/TRJ0cmHX1 Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 56:23 – Commodore 64 Documentary Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Commodore Phone Price Drop: https://lnk.ua/L9Jyk0HoH Sonic Cartridges Return: https://lnk.ua/RbgJGWLAL Ecco Remaster Physical Edition: https://lnk.ua/1R9OKXgHb Neo Turbo Challenge Amiga: https://lnk.ua/Vl6vprJIb Wolfenstein 3D On Lynx: https://lnk.ua/gaL5jitCm 3DO Returns?: https://lnk.ua/hCMaWHfX6 Meshtastic On Commodore 64: https://lnk.ua/XlABpzaBa
June 26 · 1 hr 31 min
537: The Man Who Made Lemmings Work On Atari ST: DMA Design's Brian Watson - The Retro Hour EP537
This week we’re joined by Brian Watson, formerly of DMA Design who worked on the Atari ST version of Lemmings 1 and 2, and porting it to the Atari Lynx. He later worked for Iguana Entertainment, Acclaim, working on Turok, N64 audio drivers and clever memory systems used across dozens of games. Brian shares brilliant stories from the trenches of 16-bit and 32-bit development, the challenge of making ambitious games work on limited hardware, and what it was really like behind the scenes at DMA and Acclaim. Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 43:31 - Brian Watson Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Minecraft On PS2: https://lnk.ua/kNl3123pX Game Boy GTA: https://lnk.ua/LQySSpMoN Apidya Remake Pre-Orders: https://lnk.ua/23bg38SjW Dreamcast USB Controller: https://lnk.ua/MUJ4zS3Jz Retro Warehouse Haul: https://lnk.ua/Lbd1kmKIf Discord Social SDK: https://lnk.ua/6Wfh1bNoy
June 18 · 1 hr 50 min
536: The 7th Guest: The Inside Story with Trilobyte's Rob Landeros - The Retro Hour EP536
Rob Landeros joins us to share the incredible story behind Trilobyte and The 7th Guest, from discovering the Amiga and working at Cinemaware and Virgin, to teaming up with Graeme Devine and helping ignite the CD-ROM revolution with one of the most iconic FMV horror puzzlers of the 1990s. The 7th Guest Remake: https://the7thguestremake.com/ Diddly on Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/9XeHAcgxM Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 47:15 - The 7th Guest Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Godzilla Remaster Challenges GTA: https://youtu.be/w-veMlH2L-A PaulaNET Amiga Wi-Fi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhAg-fT83o8 Jet Set Radio Divides Fans: https://lnk.ua/tdyOdTeYH N64 Controller Guitar Pedal: https://lnk.ua/9IWlFwXIz Thief Remaster Announced: https://lnk.ua/XduraQixG Castlevania Mega Drive Port: https://lnk.ua/tOaxHv6wa Metro Siege Hits Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/RyOFar6cK Patrons news Final Fight 64 Homebrew: https://lnk.ua/awxAjBPf5 Perfect Dark VR Port: https://lnk.ua/bKQAOFZqH
June 11 · 1 hr 49 min
535: The Game That Took 37 Years to Finish: Ocean Software's Colin Porch - The Retro Hour EP535
This week we’re joined by veteran programmer Colin Porch, whose career took him through some of the biggest names in British gaming history, including Imagine, Software Projects and Ocean Software. Colin shares stories of Imagine’s dramatic collapse, converting arcade hits like Dragon’s Lair, Operation Wolf and Gryzor to home micros, the infamous lost Parasol Stars C64 port, and the technical wizardry behind bringing Head Over Heels to the Commodore 64, Atari ST and Amiga. Plus, we hear the incredible story of Return to Blacktooth, the Head Over Heels sequel Colin began in 1989 and has finally completed 37 years later. Return To Blacktooth: https://thalamusdigital.itch.io/ Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 48:17 – Colin Porch Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes RGL Teases The A1200: https://lnk.ua/GqyeXdPJ5 Commodore Teases June 16th Announcement: https://lnk.ua/OXRSP2jzO Crazy Taxi GenAI Response: https://lnk.ua/5JfoTfy1f Atari Toy Story Collection: https://lnk.ua/TJqoQuQ5j Resident Evil Code Veronica: https://lnk.ua/EDTxG2iaS Ocarina Of Time Remake: https://lnk.ua/6Two6Um7u Cuphead Devs’ Master System Spin-Off: https://lnk.ua/KnkMouiRw
June 5 · 1 hr 40 min
534: How Games Like Wipeout and Tony Hawk Changed the Music Industry - The Retro Hour EP534
This week we’re joined by video game music expert Matt Ombler, head of music and gaming partnerships at Laced, to explore the incredible world of game soundtracks, from Sonic on the Mega Drive and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater shaping a generation’s music taste, to Wipeout, Halo 2, retro sound chips, vinyl reissues and the growing importance of preserving game music history. Matt also shares stories from his journalism days interviewing legends like Nile Rodgers and Nobuo Uematsu, plus how he helped bring metal heavyweights including Howard Jones, Trivium and Polyphia into Cult of the Lamb’s Hymns of the Unholy project. Laced Records: https://www.lacedrecords.com/ Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 46:30 – Matt Ombler Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs PlayEXPO Blackpool tickets: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Sonic On ZX Spectrum Next: https://tinyurl.com/48fpsssy Legal Disc Ripping: https://tinyurl.com/2s4pufay Virtual OS Museum: https://tinyurl.com/2kz9r9aw Castlevania Rondo of Blood On Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/3x8ukbxn Amiga CD32 ODE: https://tinyurl.com/3p93uuam Final Fantasy XVI Demake: https://tinyurl.com/5yxeu5yp
May 29 · 1 hr 46 min
533: cyber.cafe: The 90s TV Show That Exposed the Internet's Wild Side - The Retro Hour EP533
This week, we’re joined by Wingham Rowan, creator and host of the pioneering ’90s ITV show cyber.cafe. Long before YouTube, Twitch, Tinder and social media, cyber.cafe explored the strange, funny and sometimes shocking human stories emerging from the early internet, from chat room romances and online communities to JenniCam, alien abductees, moral panics, bizarre websites and late-night web culture. Wingham shares brilliant behind-the-scenes stories from making one of the UK’s first TV shows to take the internet seriously, capturing a moment when the web was still mysterious, chaotic and full of possibility. cyber.cafe: https://www.ninetiesinternet.com/ Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 49:52 – cyber.cafe Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs PlayEXPO Blackpool tickets: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes MegaWiFi Online Play: https://tinyurl.com/4dd76pru Adventure of Node: https://tinyurl.com/mwfvr62j Elden Ring N64 Demake: https://tinyurl.com/3xjw88p2 Spyro E3 Statue Rescued: https://tinyurl.com/ydtj225p Windows CE On N64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGS9su_inBY Switch GBA Link Cable: https://tinyurl.com/5n9bj8p7
May 22 · 1 hr 55 min
532: Elite Systems: Inside the 80s Arcade Conversion Powerhouse - The Retro Hour EP532
This week, we’re joined by Elite Systems co-founder Steve Wilcox for a journey through one of the most important names in British gaming history. Steve shares how a family business in the West Midlands evolved from mail-order cassette games into a major force of the 8-bit era, publishing hits like Airwolf, Commando, Ghosts ’n Goblins, Bomb Jack and Paperboy. Chuckie Egg for iOS: https://tinyurl.com/2hpsvj7a Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 48:26 – Elite Systems Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs PlayEXPO Blackpool tickets: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Myst And Riven Remakes: https://tinyurl.com/mt76kcn6 Dr Mario Plus/4 Fan Game: https://tinyurl.com/2ztwvy6b Dreamcast Wii Remote Support: https://tinyurl.com/4nsapkf5 Veins Of Iron: https://veinsofiron.com/ Taxi Boy Released: https://tinyurl.com/5b4bdjxs Time Crisis Returns: https://tinyurl.com/3hvrjfus Football Manager On Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/usdu5bvx
May 15 · 1 hr 45 min
531: Inside Psygnosis: WipEout, PlayStation and the Rave Generation - The Retro Hour EP531
Inside Psygnosis: WipEout, PlayStation and the Rave Generation - The Retro Hour EP531 This week we’re joined by former Psygnosis PR manager Glen O’Connell for a brilliant journey through one of the most exciting eras in British gaming. Glen shares stories from Liverpool’s arcade and computer shop scene, his move from rave music promotion into games, and his time at Psygnosis during the huge shift from Amiga and Atari ST to CD-ROM, Saturn and PlayStation. We hear how WipEout fused club culture, cutting-edge design and licensed music to help define the PlayStation generation, plus memories of Destruction Derby, G-Police, Formula One, Rage, EA, Burnout, Need for Speed and plenty more. Stuart's current project: https://www.wireadmin.com Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 43:38 – Glen O'Connell Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs PlayEXPO Blackpool tickets: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Neo Geo Crossplay Revival: https://tinyurl.com/33xx8nah Bomberman Online Returns: https://tinyurl.com/mwk7xepp Bloodstone For ZX Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/zn677unx BioCreeps For NES: https://tinyurl.com/ytd9zuaw Switch As Wii U GamePad: https://tinyurl.com/4c58vbcb Star Fox 64 Remake: https://www.youtube.com/live/ePZeyh5q9R8
May 8 · 1 hr 47 min
530: Inside Gargoyle Games: Stuart Cox on Light Force, Scooby-Doo and ThunderCats - The Retro Hour EP530
This week, we’re joined by Stuart Cox, artist at the legendary Midland studio Gargoyle Games, for a brilliant trip through the golden age of British 8-bit development. Stuart shares how he went from the Dragon 32 and early arcade obsessions to working on Scooby-Doo, Light Force, Shockway Rider, Hydrofool, ThunderCats and more, with stories of rapid-fire development, clever tricks to push the ZX Spectrum, digitised graphics, Rob Hubbard’s incredible turnaround times, the truth behind the “Wolf” and “Samurai Dawn” confusion, and even the lost ThunderCats NES port. A proper behind-the-scenes look at one of the UK’s most fascinating 1980s game studios. Stuart's current project: https://www.wireadmin.com Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 50:41 – Gargoyle Games Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes A1200 Delayed: https://tinyurl.com/yfzd3wdd Tomb Raider Side-Scroller: https://tinyurl.com/msn72sab Tomb Raider On N64: https://tinyurl.com/bdfz8zds C64 And Spectrum Handhelds: https://tinyurl.com/mwv2bj88 Zapped To The Past: https://tinyurl.com/2rvzth58 Cancelled Simpsons Game Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/4444m3aa Ask.com Shuts Down: https://tinyurl.com/mr467yby Resident Evil Teaser Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJPu1spHqfk
May 1 · 1 hr 50 min
529: Nightdive, Stardock and the Business of Saving Classic Games: Larry Kuperman - The Retro Hour EP529
This week, we’re joined by Larry Kuperman, former VP of Business Development at Nightdive Studios, former Business Development Manager at GameStop, Stardock veteran, and co-founder of the IGDA Ann Arbor Chapter. Larry shares incredible stories from the business side of games, from discovering Wolfenstein 3D on a mighty 486, selling custom PCs in the ’90s, and Stardock’s early digital distribution gamble, to GameStop’s attempt to compete with Steam and Nightdive’s mission to bring classics like Turok, System Shock, Star Wars: Dark Forces and more back to life. We also dig into DRM, lost source code, game preservation, and why classic games are art worth saving. Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 49:20 – Larry Kuperman Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Nottingham Gaming Market: https://www.nottinghamgamingmarket.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes VCF Bomb Scare: https://tinyurl.com/c4k2kb27 Resi 4 On Dreamcast: https://tinyurl.com/ud4v8t69 Commodore 64C Returns: https://commodore.net/ GoatBeat Hits C64: https://tinyurl.com/4cebch5b Majora’s Mask On Vita: https://tinyurl.com/8dzxj937 Warhammer Classics Return: https://youtu.be/crVfMM3by_k
April 23 · 1 hr 39 min
528: The Man Behind the Atari Jaguar: John Mathieson- The Retro Hour EP528
This week, we’re joined by John Mathieson, the hardware designer best known as the father of the Atari Jaguar. John takes us through an extraordinary career that began at Sinclair Research on the ZX Spectrum, before moving through ambitious and often misunderstood projects including Loki, the Konix Multisystem, Atari’s Panther and Jaguar, and later the Nuon. Along the way, he shares brilliant behind-the-scenes stories about working with Clive Sinclair, Jeff Minter and the Tramiel-era Atari team, and reflects on the technical ideas, challenges and missed opportunities behind some of gaming’s most fascinating machines. Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 53:08 – John Mathieson Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Nottingham Gaming Market: https://www.nottinghamgamingmarket.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Stunt Car Racer 60FPS Update: https://tinyurl.com/48auryjz Stunt Car Racer Multiplayer: https://tinyurl.com/4juw2a99 Pokémon Adventure Demo: https://tinyurl.com/2bcntp4u Crystian And The Lost Crystals: https://tinyurl.com/4ju936w9 DS And PSP Screen Fix: https://tinyurl.com/4mphcth5 SuperSega Creator Returns: https://tinyurl.com/5eezr29v Sega RPG Returns: https://tinyurl.com/nw8jupxa
April 16 · 1 hr 41 min
527: The Untold Story of the Amstrad Scene PD Libraries, Magazines and More - The Retro Hour EP527
On this week’s podcast, we celebrate 42 years of the Amstrad CPC with special guest Jo Cook, who takes us deep inside the Amstrad scene of the late 80s and 90s. From growing up with a CPC 464 and helping run the legendary King Arthur’s Domain PD library and Merlin-Serve, to writing for Amstrad Action and seeing the community evolve into the modern day, Jo shares a warm, funny and fascinating insider’s view of one of Britain’s most beloved computer scenes. UK Amstrad Group: https://www.ukag.org.uk/ Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 49:16 – Amstrad Group Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Nottingham Gaming Market: https://www.nottinghamgamingmarket.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes New Neo Geo Hardware?: https://tinyurl.com/n8eheyw9 Mac OS X on Wii: https://tinyurl.com/4rzxpk76 Eclipse Blade Emerges: https://tinyurl.com/23eewcua Miracle Boy on Atari ST: https://tinyurl.com/453duhke Ground Zero Terror: https://tinyurl.com/42me5wh8 Mario on Master System: https://tinyurl.com/4bn4zzpx
April 10 · 1 hr 44 min
526: Galloping Ghost: The Story of America’s Biggest Arcade - The Retro Hour EP526
On this week’s podcast, we’re joined by Galloping Ghost Arcade owner Doc Mack and filmmaker Craig Bass to explore the story behind one of the most legendary arcades on the planet. From Doc’s earliest memories of Pong and the golden age of the arcade, to rare prototypes like Primal Rage 2 and the making of Craig’s upcoming documentary Ghostlord and the Quest for Dark Presence, this is a fascinating look at arcade history, preservation, and the passion that keeps these classic games alive. Ghostlord movie: https://www.ghostlordsquest.com/ Galloping Ghost arcade: https://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/ Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 46:30 – Galloping Ghost Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes DVD on Dreamcast: https://youtu.be/ntj_tUHKAaE Castle Adventure for Amstrad: https://tinyurl.com/29dt5k46 PS1 Emulator Adds VR: https://tinyurl.com/2hzn7e6x Pond Versus Bond: https://tinyurl.com/yau26n3j C64 Impossible Mission Sequel Announced: https://youtu.be/lMvGh1azQ7o Dolphin Adds Game Boy Player: https://tinyurl.com/ycy3rdnp
April 3 · 1 hr 51 min
525: 9/9/99: What Really Happened on Dreamcast Launch Day - The Retro Hour EP525
On this week’s podcast, we’re joined by Alexander Danielian, the Electronics Boutique retail manager whose Sunset Galleria store became Sega’s official US Dreamcast launch location on the legendary 9/9/99 release day. Alexander takes us inside one of the wildest retail events in gaming history, from building Dreamcast hype against all odds and working directly with Sega and Bernie Stolar, to the midnight queues, tournament atmosphere, sell-out crowds and the chaos caused by faulty launch copies of Sonic Adventure. It’s a brilliant insider story from the shop floor at the exact moment Sega made its last great hardware stand. Alex's Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultimategamersvault/ Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 55:09 – Alexander Danielian Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Evercade Nexus Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/yut6zatr Alien Breed On Speccy: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhf5hw Lost Dreamcast Game Returns: https://tinyurl.com/5ac8wmhu Unreleased GBC Platformer: https://tinyurl.com/2fsj9rcc Prince Of Persia Flipper: https://tinyurl.com/27nrue37 GTA IV Beta Found: https://tinyurl.com/3rwpyxvx
March 27 · 1 hr 49 min
524: Confessions of a Pirate BBS SysOp: The Arcadia Story - The Retro Hour EP524
Step back into the underground world of 90s dial-up piracy as we’re joined by Beast of Quartex, SysOp of Arcadia, once the largest pirate bulletin board system in the UK. From trading disks in the post to running a five-line elite BBS packed with the latest cracked Amiga games, Beast shares how the scene really worked: the hierarchy, the rivalries, and the race to release first. Plus, the secret world of crackers and couriers, and the moment it all came crashing down when FAST raided his operation. Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 50:08 – Beast of Quartex Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Sega 32X Elite-Style Game: https://youtu.be/rR-arrDKu3s Double Baboon Ninja: https://tinyurl.com/3fb748tm Xbox 360 PS3 Wii U Retro: https://tinyurl.com/yeyn8w6p Final Fantasy IX Animated Series: https://tinyurl.com/4fsm7b22 PS2 Emulator iOS: https://tinyurl.com/4kefxjpp New Steve Jobs Video: https://youtu.be/EoM2Y2KO6kU
March 20 · 1 hr 54 min
523: What It Was REALLY Like Working at Sony PlayStation in the 90s - The Retro Hour EP523
Alex Sulman joins us to share his journey from typing in code on the ZX Spectrum to designing major titles at Sony, Blizzard, DICE and beyond. We hear about his early days in QA at Sony Cambridge, working on classics like Medievil, Frogger and Primal, and hear behind-the-scenes stories from PlayStation’s golden era, the launch of the PS2 and PS3. Alex also discusses developing 24: The Game, contributing to God of War 3, and bringing his experience to Diablo 3, along with insights into how games were really made during the 90s and early 2000s—and how a simple fanzine helped launch his career. Dev to Dev podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/dev-to-dev/id1836754572 Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 57:56 – Alex Sulman Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes Ex-Xbox Icon Joins Commodore: https://tinyurl.com/3mn8m48b Lost Star Wars Xbox Game: https://tinyurl.com/2s3sz3w6 New Atari Jaguar Racer: https://tinyurl.com/bdfhdpke Nightdive Sin Remaster Update: https://youtu.be/Tw5DMMTfk5o Monkey Island C64 Port: https://tinyurl.com/msct5wnn Mega CD Dev Kit Milestone: https://tinyurl.com/mry7m64s Defender Of The Crown Remake: https://tinyurl.com/2rzj577c