The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

Latest Episodes:

352: Guitar Hero & Rock Band - The History with Mike Dornbrook - The Retro Hour EP352 Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

We're launching a book!
Plus. we get the inside story on Harmonix Music Systems, the company who brought us the legendary party games Guitar Hero and Rock Band. How the company founders remortgaged their houses to make it happen, how they did an industry first and made a game featuring the Beatles music, and how their two leading games eventually became rivals!
Back The Retro Hour Book on Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3NTwV6Z

The Space Bar 25th anniversary re-release: https://www.zoom-platform.com/product/the-space-bar
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/
Use AI to optimise and run your Google Ads with stunning results! Get 3 months free access to the platform (only pay for your Google Ads) by using our promo code RETRO at https://myadbot.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
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
You've been playing Super Mario Bros wrong: https://bit.ly/3Tlts2h
Saucy 'lost' Sega FMV game from the '90s is found: https://bit.ly/3EmnuK3
Resident Evil 4 item screen released as a full game: https://bit.ly/3hzMYKX
Chop Goblin, retro FPS to completed in one go: https://bit.ly/3UtG8Fs

351: Infocom: The Inside Story with Mike Dornbrook - The Retro Hour EP351 Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

In the first of our epic 2 part interview, we go deep inside the world of Infocom with Mike Dornbrook. Infocom were one of the earliest video games companies, starting on university mainframes, their text adventures like Zork and Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy soon became cult classics on home micros.
The Space Bar 25th anniversary re-release: https://www.zoom-platform.com/product/the-space-bar
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.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
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
Spectrum Quake: https://bit.ly/3DWCXQR
Every US PS2 manual scanned: https://bit.ly/3Wxh6XC
Oregon Trail comes to Switch: https://bit.ly/3UqZlra
The Samurai collection: https://bit.ly/3UH1Be3
C64 accordian: https://bit.ly/3UsjRYu

350: Nostalgia Nerd's Gadgets, Gizmos & Gimmicks - The Retro Hour EP350 Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

We catch up with Peter Leigh aka Nostalgia Nerd for a chat about the history of personal tech, from the N-Gage to the Newton, the Atari Lynx to the Laser pen.
Nostalgia Nerd's Gadgets, Gizmos & Gimmicks book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fdqK0E
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/
Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Pascual Strømsnæs, Aron Szabo, Lance Bertoldie, Andri Byarkason
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
Silent hill 2 remake set to disappoint?: https://bit.ly/3TJr4mV
Amiga comes to Evercade: https://bit.ly/3gE9WQI
New 3D engine for Sierra games: https://bit.ly/3U7DjJT
Get a better picture from the GBA player: https://bit.ly/3SGSxnJ
Prototype Smashbros footage released: https://youtu.be/i3IOWaVDbx0

349: Civilization and Railroad Tycoon with Bruce Shelley - The Retro Hour EP349 Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

Our guest this week was named one of the "25 Game Gods" by PC Gamer, we chat to Bruce Shelley, who helped design Sid Meier’s Civilization and Railroad Tycoon.
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
BetterHelp - You deserve to be happy. Try the world's largest on-line therapy service and get 10% off your first month by using our link at http://www.betterhelp.com/retro
Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Liam Dobson, Gregory G, Neil Thomas
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
Resident Evil text adventure: https://bit.ly/3gfDtzZ
Perfect Dark decompiled: https://bit.ly/3zn3C6X
Brain cells learn to play Pong!: https://bit.ly/3eJWLNP
Modders recreate lost Mario Sunshine stage: https://bit.ly/3CR5i9E
Discmaster: https://bit.ly/3MRewaq
Mario Kart XXL GBA surfaces: https://bit.ly/3DhaHIp
GBA carts now run on Steam Deck: https://bit.ly/3TICI0H

348: Exploring Vintage Computers with Shelby from Tech Tangents - The Retro Hour EP348 Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

We explore the world of vintage computer collecting, restoration and upgrading with Shelby from the wonderful Youtube channel, Tech Tangents.
Tech Tangents on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/AkBKukU
Tech Tangents on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/techtangents
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
Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: David Burgess, Brett Alexander, Andrew, Timo Haanpää
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Amiga 37 - 15th and 16th October
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
Mario trailer is here: https://bit.ly/3rQuW9g
Doom running on NotePad: https://bit.ly/3es92pI
Pokemon yellow fan remake: https://bit.ly/3T1PSpI
Elden ring for Super Nintendo: https://bit.ly/3CUWKj0
Text adventure started 40 years ago is finally finished: https://bit.ly/3CVL7sn

347: The Story of The XBox with Co-Creator Kevin Bachus - The Retro Hour EP347 Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

We go inside Microsoft back in the late 90s to hear the story of the original Xbox, Direct X, Microsoft's failed attempt to buy Nintendo and lots more with Kevin Bachus.
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/
Get 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro
Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Bernd, The Amiga Show, Rob Hull
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Amiga 37 - 15th and 16th October
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
EmuVR: https://www.emuvr.net/
NES OS: https://notin.tokyo/nesos/
Device brings back harddrive clicking: https://bit.ly/3EoUIc8
Zelda texture bug: https://bit.ly/3ElFyod
SNK VS Capcom for C64: https://bit.ly/3CCcW8S
Half Life 2 VR mod: https://bit.ly/3ebHNzQ

346: Celebrating The Atari ST & Jaguar with ctrl-alt-rees - The Retro Hour EP346 Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

We chat to Youtuber ctrl-alt-rees about classic Atari machines like the ST, Falcon and Jaguar, and learn some lesser-known stories about unreleased systems like the Atari Sparrow and Panther.
ctrl-alt-rees: https://www.youtube.com/c/ctrlaltrees/
https://ctrl-alt-rees.com
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/
Check out PCBWay at pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Richard Baker, RetroPassion Ltd
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Amiga 37 - 15th and 16th October
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
Blockbuster video game championship is back: https://bit.ly/3RthGlb
Maniac Mansion comeback?: https://bit.ly/3BVnAGj
Sega Saturn controller port hack: https://bit.ly/3LWVNcX
C64 OS: https://c64os.com/
C64 OS video: https://youtu.be/MVeW2ZlV2WU
Fan uses Super Mario Maker 2 to make a full "classic" Mario: https://bit.ly/3rjdIRI

345: 3D Construction Kit & Incentive Software - The Retro Hour EP345 Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

We get the inside story of Incentive Software and the classic 3D Contruction Kit which allowed users to create 3D worlds on platforms like the ZX Spectrum, C64 and Amiga with special guest Paul Gregory.
Paul's website: https://www.indigobeetle.co.uk/
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/
BetterHelp - You deserve to be happy. Try the world's largest on-line therapy service and get 10% off your first month by using our link at http://www.betterhelp.com/retro
Get 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Amiga 37 - 15th and 16th October
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
Golden Eye 007 comes to Xbox and Switch: https://bit.ly/3UBacjc
Intel's retiring the Pentium: https://bit.ly/3UvWvBS
Operation Wolf is back: https://bit.ly/3xKzAZR
Atari 50 updates: https://bit.ly/3xLJBWI
Phantom Fury: https://bit.ly/3SrnhcN

344: The Point & Click Adventure Revival with Wadjet Eye Games - The Retro Hour EP 344 Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

Point & Click adventure games are going through a major revival at the moment, and we chat to Dave Gilbert from indie studio Wadjet Eye Games. Inspired by classics from Sierra and Infocom, they specialise in the adventure genre, with some stunning pixel art and stories.
Wadjet Eye Games: http://www.wadjeteyegames.com/
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/
Check out PCBWay at pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Dave Moyle, Paul Wilcock
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Amiga 37 - 15th and 16th October
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
Guy completes every N64 game: https://bit.ly/3QJS7Mt
Portable Amstrad CPC464: https://bit.ly/3dmb8Hh
Wolfenstein 3D on Sega Master System: https://bit.ly/3DstMaW
Gargoyles remaster: https://bit.ly/3qFKpbG
Intellivision Amico non-exclusives: https://bit.ly/3ROOs1n
Civitas 2230 kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3S9MlVs

343: Bringing Metal Gear Solid & Oddworld to the PC - The Retro Hour EP343 Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

We chat to the fascinating Michael Case who started his career working on adult games for the Atari 2600, and then brought some of the biggest PlayStation titles to the PC.
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/
Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Luke Challis
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/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Upcoming events:
Amiga 37 - 15th and 16th October
Notts VGA Festival - https://www.nottsvge.com/ - 17th & 18th December 2022
Show notes:
Rare's lost Game Boy competitor is found: https://bit.ly/3eBEMsm
Microprose retro style flight sim: https://bit.ly/3D7RnxC
MS-DOS games recreated in AI: https://bit.ly/3d1zaaq
Evercade EXP announced: https://bit.ly/3DcN5oG
Japan's war on Floppy Disks: https://bit.ly/3RxGw4v
Old skool gamer mag Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3Qzx13k

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