The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

This week we’re joined by Todd Hayes, original US CEO of GameShark, the device that changed how a generation played games. From arcade beginnings to building a $252 million video game empire, Todd shares the story of bringing Action Replay to America, battling Sony in court, navigating Nintendo’s lockout chips, and launching the ambitious SharkWire online service for the N64. We also hear aboutthe return of GameShark for the modern era and his new GameShark Cheat Code Compendium, preserving the secrets behind gaming’s most legendary cheats.GameShark Kickstarter: https://tinyurl.com/4t6a96jbContents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 52:48 - GameShark Todd Hayes Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comGo 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 needsWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesThe Simpsons: Hit & Run Dreamcast Port: https://tinyurl.com/ystdsvx3Dark Sci-Fi SNES Shooter: https://tinyurl.com/2smj37y5Amiga Addams Family Secrets: https://tinyurl.com/3j356repNew Wii Game Announced: https://tinyurl.com/4u4f2hazReStory: Console Repair Game: https://tinyurl.com/39a95ctmApple iPod Comeback Rumours: https://tinyurl.com/7u3xpd2pNew ScummVM Documentary: https://www.scummdoc.com/ 

This week we’re catching up with Andy Robert of the legendary Thalamus Software, for a chat about one of the most fascinating careers of the 8-bit era. From discovering computers via library games and typing in listings, to writing for Zzap!64 and Commodore Format, Andy shares incredible stories from the golden age of the Commodore 64. We dig into Creatures, Mayhem in Monsterland and that infamous 100% review score, the realities of magazine bias, late-night map drawing, and the risks of going indie before “indie” was a thing. Plus, we fast-forward to the modern Thalamus revival, deluxe boxed releases, Amiga hits like Roguecraft, and why nostalgia still needs to be done properly.Thalamus: https://www.thalamus.shop/Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 41:26 - Andy Roberts Thalamus Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comGo to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!Leeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesSonic R Platformer Mod: https://tinyurl.com/mu6e538jLemmings Reloaded On C64: https://tinyurl.com/hh856em2Lost Beavis & Butt-Head Game: https://tinyurl.com/h8wt9um9The Last Of Us Demake: https://tinyurl.com/2abjtn6cGamebox For Classic Mac: https://manticore.nz/gamebox

This week on The Retro Hour, we’re getting hands-on with the unsung heroes of gaming: video game controllers! We’re joined by Christian Wenk, author of Trigger Happy, a stunning visual celebration of over 200 iconic (and sometimes downright bizarre) controllers from gaming history. From mushy Commodore joysticks to the ergonomic oddities of the N64 and beyond, Christian shares the nostalgic stories, design quirks, and sheer passion that fuelled his epic project. Trigger Happy: https://tinyurl.com/2s4nyfpcContents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 59:11 - Christian Wenk Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comGo to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!Leeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesPS3 Mod Breaks Limits: https://tinyurl.com/339xt3kyEscape 2049 Hits Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/5n7n7npeAtari ST Mini Teased: https://tinyurl.com/3af6pxhxYakuza Arcade Game Ported: https://tinyurl.com/dzx7nepsAtari Hotel Scaled Down: https://tinyurl.com/3j9atphjNew Saturn Console Successor: https://tinyurl.com/3nzbfn78Artist Makes Wi-Fi Visible: https://youtu.be/moBCOEiqiPs

What makes a truly great gaming community? Sean Baptiste, who helped grow Harmonix’s forum from a dozen diehards to hundreds of thousands of fans, shares what it really takes. From the secret struggles behind QA on Karaoke Revolution, to rocking out with the stars at the Grammys, Sean reflects on how fan feedback shaped Rock Band, how social media changed the game, and why authentic engagement still matters more than ever.Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 52:18 - Sean Baptiste Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comGo to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!Leeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesDan's Escapist Column: https://tinyurl.com/35srz7e8Mario 64 Dreamcast Port Impresses: https://tinyurl.com/chayc96wCombo Portable TV Demo: https://tinyurl.com/mp5fy7ckLost PS2-Style RPG Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/4rb98wfnCommodore Drive Turned PC: https://youtu.be/6loDwvG4CP87-Day Dark Souls Demake: https://tinyurl.com/2sp2bc57Yie Ar Kung-Fu Genesis Port: https://tinyurl.com/yc7y5pmx

This week we welcome Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, for a chat about the retro tech behind his biggest hits. From discovering MIDI to refusing upgrades for decades, Norman explains how the Atari ST became the backbone of his workflow, powering Beats International, Freak Power and every Fatboy Slim track right up to Eat Sleep Rave Repeat. We talk step-time sequencing, floppy disks, crashing STs, pirate radio, bedroom studios and how a track made 25 years ago on an Atari is still charting today. Fatboy Slim: https://www.fatboyslim.net/Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 47:59 - Fatboy Slim Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comMake this the year you finally learn a new language and save up to 60% while you’re at it by heading to https://babbel.com/RETRO and getting started today  Leeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesMy Arcade Mini Sega Arcades: https://tinyurl.com/bderxanvRoad Rash Gets a Spiritual Successor: https://tinyurl.com/yc266zz7Final Build of Cancelled Resident Evil Game Boy Color Port Discovered: https://tinyurl.com/2rfetz22Roguecraft DX Comes to Retro Platforms: https://tinyurl.com/4pa8nc8jLong-Lost Mega Drive Sequel to Pit Fighter Found: https://tinyurl.com/3knexpjdThe Sega Saturn Gets a New Miami Vice-Style Game in 2026: https://tinyurl.com/53nc55jj

This week we’re joined by Mike Tucker and Quang DX from Bitmap Bureau to talk about the making of Terminator 2D: No Fate. We hear how their lifelong love of Terminator 2 turned into a three-year obsession, why so many classic T2 games missed the mark, and how this project set out to put that right. From painstakingly recreating iconic film moments in pixel art, to difficulty balancing, licensing hurdles, hidden Easter eggs, and expanding the Future War beyond the film, this is the story of how the Terminator game fans always wanted finally became reality.  Bitmap Bureau: https://www.bitmapbureau.com/Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 55:33 - Terminator 2D: No Fate Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comLeeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesSonic Lands on the Amiga: https://tinyurl.com/4rckwhvwCelebrate 50 Years of Jaws: https://tinyurl.com/348uw48eCES Retro Tech: https://tinyurl.com/3fwpynyhModder Creates Switch-Style Dock for the Nintendo 3DS: https://youtu.be/Kqn9QqYMQOMThe Iconic QuickShot II Joystick Returns in 2026: https://tinyurl.com/2p9pr8k9Support for the Sega Dreamcast Web Browser Ends After 25 Years: https://tinyurl.com/4c9ppapcStreets of Rage 2 New Era v3 Out Now: https://tinyurl.com/3xd8jrx3

Happy New Year!  As we kick off 2026, we’re treating everyone to something special: a FREE episode of The Retro Hour: After Hours, our podcast that’s usually exclusive to our Patreon supporters. After Hours is where Dan, Ravi, and Joe loosen the ties a bit and go deeper into retro gaming and technology. Longer chats, more personal opinions, and plenty of nostalgia that doesn’t always fit into the main show. This episode is a taste of what you get by joining our Patreon: • Loads of extra perks • A great way to support the podcast • Gold members get instant access to 50+ After Hours episodes, with new episodes every month 👉 To sign up, head to theretrohour.com In this episode: Dan, Ravi, and Joe look back over the last three decades of gaming and tech, sharing their personal top 5 innovations that truly changed the game forever. Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com PLAY Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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

It’s our absolute favourite episode of the year once again, the Retro Hour Christmas Quiz is back! 🎄🎮This year, Paul Drury and Oliver Wilmot are taking on hosting duties, armed with festive cheer and plenty of tricky questions. Meanwhile, Dan, Ravi and Joe have each drafted in some of our wonderful Patrons to join their teams, because what’s Christmas without a bit of friendly competition and chaos?Expect laughs, questionable answers, retro knowledge put to the test, and the all-important bragging rights as everyone battles it out to be crowned this year’s Retro Hour Christmas Super Quiz champions.So grab a mince pie, pour yourself something festive, and settle in for a proper Christmas treat with the Retro Hour gang.Merry Christmas to all our amazing listeners, we'll see you in 2026!Paul Drury co-hosts The Ted Dabney Experience podcast – interviews with the leading lights and supporting cast of the Golden Age of Arcades: https://www.teddabneyexperience.com/Check out Oliver Wilmot’s regular Yet Another Video Games Quiz at: https://www.facebook.com/anotherquizNamcos Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/namcosPlease visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.comPLAY Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com

We go Down Under with Powerhoof’s David Lloyd, the brain behind award-winning indie hits like The Drifter and Crawl. From hiding DOS games as a kid to creating their own game engine and scooping Game of the Year at the Australian Game Developer Awards. From swapping floppies in the schoolyard to creating retro-inspired adventures, and why the Sierra era still casts a long shadow over indie devs today. Powerhoof games: https://www.powerhoof.com/Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 1:00:00 - Powerhoof Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comLeeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesMy UFO Youth Book: https://tinyurl.com/42wdhyy7Retrobrighting Causes More Harm Than Good?: https://youtu.be/_n_WpjseCXANew Robin Hood Game for the C64 Impresses: https://tinyurl.com/rb7nj3tsRare Sonic Arcade Machine Goes to Auction: https://tinyurl.com/mfmd8c8fSpectrum Gets a New FPS: https://tinyurl.com/wha2ztrdM64 – A 4K FPGA Nintendo 64 Clone: https://tinyurl.com/5hcwhadnAcorn RiscOS Classic Returns on Steam: https://tinyurl.com/4akjdct5Windows 3.x Hotdog Stand Colour Scheme Origins: https://tinyurl.com/39x9nr7e

This week, we catch up with the legendary H0ffman to hear some tales from the demo scene trenches, Amiga wizardry, and porting classic arcade titles. From brigning Metal Gear and Knightmare from the MSX to the Amiga, to pushing Neo Geo boundaries with Sega classics, and how he accidentally created a global DJ community with a bit of Amiga code.  h0ffman Website: https://hoffman.home.blog/ h0ffman Itch: https://h0ffman.itch.io/ Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  57:27 - h0ffman Interview  Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Leeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 NES Blunder Spotted in Stranger Things: https://tinyurl.com/4m3yu3bu Turrican & Taito Hit Evercade: https://tinyurl.com/3mjkfe8e Dreamcast VMU Pro Preorders: https://tinyurl.com/59t5nwvy Mighty Final Fight Drops This Christmas: https://tinyurl.com/3nhs6835 DSpico – Open-Source DS Flash Cart Lands: https://tinyurl.com/mwv6fzbp New Dead Rising in the Works?: https://tinyurl.com/jx7m6t36 Stab N Dash Returns on Plus/4: https://tinyurl.com/mweuj6nv

This week we’re joined by industry veteran Michael Devine, former VP of Sales at The 3DO Company, key player at TDK Mediactive, and now CEO of Rockit Games, for an incredible look at four decades inside the games industry. From the “mind-blowing” M2 demos and the rise of Army Men, to the chaos of securing Hollywood licences and resurrecting Jaleco’s classic sports titles. Rock It Games: https://rockitgames.com/ Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  49:31 - Michael Devine Interview  Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Doncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/ Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Mario 64 on the PlayStation: https://tinyurl.com/mst4wr2v Zork goes open source: https://tinyurl.com/fscxdevf Xbox Crocs: https://tinyurl.com/nb5yhved Daytona USA returns: https://tinyurl.com/yvw3x72e Modern paper tape reader: https://tinyurl.com/28b5p7y4 TimeSplitters Rewind: https://www.timesplittersrewind.com/

This week, we’re joined by eXo, the visionary behind the colossal eXoDOS emulation project, dedicated to preserving DOS, Windows 3.x, and interactive fiction games in all their original (and often quirky) glory. We explore how eXo and a global team of volunteers are not just making old games playable again, but restoring everything from lost CD audio to obscure soundcard support and the belief that retro games should be remembered, and played exactly as they were. eXoDOS: https://www.retro-exo.com/exodos.html Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  51:49 - eXo Interview  Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Doncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Dreamcast Dream Disc 2025 Incoming: https://tinyurl.com/3cnwr6ek Woodgrain NES Almost Happened: https://tinyurl.com/ycx68xuc Codemasters Archive Project: https://tinyurl.com/s4m4kcpe Ridge Racer Hits the GBA: https://tinyurl.com/mub79zxk Duke Nukem 3D Gets Voxels: https://tinyurl.com/yezkyufe Hunter 360 Controller: https://tinyurl.com/ee2j5mtr

This week, we catch up with the ever-inventive Ctrl-Alt-Rees in his brand new studio. Rees shares his latest projects, retro tech obsessions, and the bizarre story of a Japanese teaching computer with a paper screen. We hear his thoughts on modern Atari’s surprising comeback, his favourite (and most hated) handhelds, the quirks of the Jaguar scene, and why Windows 95 still holds up 30 years later.  ctrl-alt-rees on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ctrlaltrees Podcast and website: https://ctrl-alt-rees.com/ Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  56:32 - ctrl-alt-rees Interview  Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Doncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 GameTank: Next-Gen 8-Bit Hardware: https://tinyurl.com/25fvsyku Atari 50: Namco DLC: https://tinyurl.com/47w8ztfc Eternal Hunters: New SNES RPG Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/mt6s387t Taito Offers $650 Bounty on Lost Tech: https://tinyurl.com/npr3m35b Commodore Name Battle Heats Up: https://tinyurl.com/46n7c3za Jurassic Systems Revives 1993 Hacker Vibes: https://jurassicsystems.com/

From hating Pong to working for Atari, this week we chat with Matt Householder.  From his early days at Gaming Devices Inc. and designing the arcade classic Krull, through to joining Atari right after the video game crash and witnessing the dramatic Amiga chipset saga from the inside. Matt reveals what it was really like working under Jack Tramiel, converting GEM for the Atari ST in record time, and why developers had to sell snacks from their desks just to survive. He then takes us into the golden years at Epyx, creating World Games and the smash hit California Games, before moving on to 3DO, where a secret project he managed ended up helping fund Diablo. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  54:26 - Matt Householder Interview  Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Doncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Solid Aluminium Xbox Prototype Actually Works: https://youtu.be/0OMP8JvGWNY Lost Destruction Derby 2 Saturn Prototype Unearthed: https://tinyurl.com/5c75zhxa James Pond Makes a Comeback on Modern Consoles: https://tinyurl.com/2s4j38wd Castlevania Amiga Remake Gets CD32 Upgrade: https://tinyurl.com/47624rsa Castlevania Comes to the Atari 2600 (!): https://tinyurl.com/2k5ub8f5 Sonic Finally Lands on the GX4000: https://tinyurl.com/bdm5svj2 Worms Turns 30 – Team17’s Classic Celebrated: https://tinyurl.com/mrvtutnc

This week we're joined by Sierra legend Mark Crowe, co-creator of the Space Quest series and one half of the iconic Two Guys from Andromeda. Mark reveals how he went from never touching a computer to helping define the golden age of adventure gaming, working alongside Roberta Williams, Disney, and a hapless space janitor named Roger Wilco. Plus, we hear about the long-awaited reunion that brought Space Venture to life. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  58:10 - Mark Crowe Interview  Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd 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 Sugar Ghouls: https://tinyurl.com/4kjjxvw2 Amiga Addict Amiga Format issue: https://tinyurl.com/53vsfmtd The A1200: https://tinyurl.com/538trdxx MD Engine: https://tinyurl.com/yea8r8fn New Barcode Battler cards: https://tinyurl.com/y33362mk Intellivision Amico prototype sold: https://tinyurl.com/9ze43yf8 Deep Sea Horror Shooter Inspired By Star Fox 64: https://tinyurl.com/ymn9je3r

This week's show features Erik Simon, co-founder of the legendary Thalion Software, the minds behind Lionheart, Ambermoon, and No Second Prize. Erik shares hilarious and jaw-dropping tales from the golden age of Amiga development, how the demo scene shaped Thalion’s “make the impossible happen” ethos, why Lionheart used every Amiga graphics mode.  Recorded live at Amiga 40 in Germany. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  46:59 - Erik Simon Interview  Amiga Report Archive: https://bigbookofamigahardware.com/amigareport/ This Week In Retro: https://www.rmcretro.com/this-week-in-retro Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Cardiff Gaming Market: https://www.cardiffgamingmarket.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd 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 This ‘In The Hunt’ Tech Demo Shows What the 16-Bit Generation Lost: https://tinyurl.com/mw94hsup Cambridge University Rescues Data from Old Floppy Disks: https://tinyurl.com/yc6tse6u Vampire’s Veil – A New Castlevania-Inspired Indie: https://tinyurl.com/ycx3n3zh Ymir Emulator Hits 90% Sega Saturn Compatibility: https://tinyurl.com/3a9c6z23 Fear Effect Returns with New Features: https://tinyurl.com/mttcdftj Bubble Bobble Remastered for C64: https://tinyurl.com/5ftruknf

This week, we’re joined by former Amiga Report editor, writer, and This Week in Retro host Jason Compton, who takes us into the golden age of 90s computing news. From chasing stories during Commodore’s dramatic collapse (“we may not make more chips, but we can sell the floor scrubber!”) to the birth of one of the first online tech magazines, Jason recalls the chaos, creativity and sheer enthusiasm that kept the Amiga community alive long after the headlines faded.  Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  50:34 - Jason Compton Interview  Amiga Report Archive: https://bigbookofamigahardware.com/amigareport/ This Week In Retro: https://www.rmcretro.com/this-week-in-retro Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Cardiff Gaming Market: https://www.cardiffgamingmarket.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd 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 Atari Jaguar 3D shooter announced: https://tinyurl.com/yc2adedu Street Racer retro collection coming to Steam: https://tinyurl.com/ta65wv33 deadmau5 teams with Atari for new 7800 game: https://tinyurl.com/9tjfdftb NightVein gothic run-and-gun for Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/3jd9j4tk Flashback unofficially ported to Sega Saturn: https://tinyurl.com/4psmpxtf The Old Blue Workbench: https://triumph.no/oldblue/

For years, it’s been one of gaming’s biggest urban legends, how much did Michael Jackson really work on the music for Sonic the Hedgehog 3? In part two of our exclusive chat with Roger Hector, former Director of the Sega Technical Institute, we get the full story. Roger reveals how Jackson’s unexpected visit to STI turned into hands-on involvement with Sonic 3’s soundtrack. Plus, we explore Roger’s time leading the legendary Sonic team, the cross-cultural chaos of 1990s Sega, and the pressure of delivering a new Sonic game every Christmas. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  42:20 - Roger Hector Interview  Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Cardiff Gaming Market: https://www.cardiffgamingmarket.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd 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 Blood – Nightdive Studios: https://tinyurl.com/3kmam6e8  Lego Game Boy Modded: https://tinyurl.com/5fnjxb4p Kraken ZX Multiclone: https://tinyurl.com/pbukjp Unofficial GBA Port of an SNES Horror Classic: https://tinyurl.com/mspschwa Sega Saturn Tomb Raider 2: https://tinyurl.com/y5m77rsc

This week marks our milestone 500th episode, and we’re celebrating in style with part one of an epic two-part chat with industry legend Roger Hector. From working under Nolan Bushnell and Al Alcorn in the very earliest days of Atari, to helping bring classics like Super Breakout and Battlezone to life, Roger shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories of arcades, coin-ops, and pioneering design that shaped the future of video games. From overflowing Pong machines to storyboarding games before anyone else thought to do it. Thanks for all your messages of support, here's to 500 more episodes! Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  44:12 - Roger Hector Interview  1:29:01 - Listener Messages Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd 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 Raspberry Pi 500+: https://tinyurl.com/3xzyzbku Lost Sega 1970s Game Blueprints Found: https://tinyurl.com/43wm6drf Imagine’s Infamous ‘Megagame’ Revived: https://tinyurl.com/3xzyzbku Wizordum Retro FPS Hits Consoles: https://tinyurl.com/2t7urusc Silent Hill Game Boy Remake: https://tinyurl.com/4bxk5jhp Sunsoft’s City Hunter Returns After 35 Years: https://tinyurl.com/mvcr4sr8

This week we chat with designer Kev Harrison, whose career began at Eurocom working on Duke Nukem 64 and Duke Nukem: Zero Hour. Kev shares what it was like adapting Duke’s outrageous world for Nintendo, from cutting bikini girls to sneaking in Simpsons gags, as well as why his team saw Duke as a tongue-in-cheek Bruce Campbell figure while publishers insisted he was a deadly serious hero. We also cover his years bringing Bond, Star Wars, Predator and Hellboy to consoles, packed with stories from one of the UK’s busiest studios of the late 90s and 2000s. Leave us a message for Episode 500: https://theretrohour.com/message/ Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  43:47 - Kev Harrison Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/ Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour 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 Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd 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 Recreates Blast Processing Ad to Take on Mario Kart: https://youtu.be/CYOfP1a7xjc Lost Scooby Doo Computer Cartoon May Be Resurrected: https://tinyurl.com/yeu64w28 Mute Crimson: https://tinyurl.com/5d9b7xf8  Vampire Apollo A6000: https://a6000.net/ Golden Axe Ported to the Atari 2600: https://tinyurl.com/4dfy5dsw