The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

Latest Episodes:

530: Inside Gargoyle Games: Stuart Cox on Light Force, Scooby-Doo and ThunderCats - The Retro Hour EP530 May 08, 2026

Show notes

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

529: Nightdive, Stardock and the Business of Saving Classic Games: Larry Kuperman - The Retro Hour EP529 May 01, 2026

Show notes

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

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

528: The Man Behind the Atari Jaguar: John Mathieson- The Retro Hour EP528 Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

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

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

527: The Untold Story of the Amstrad Scene PD Libraries, Magazines and More - The Retro Hour EP527 Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

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

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

526: Galloping Ghost: The Story of America’s Biggest Arcade - The Retro Hour EP526 Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

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

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

525: 9/9/99: What Really Happened on Dreamcast Launch Day - The Retro Hour EP525 Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

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

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

524: Confessions of a Pirate BBS SysOp: The Arcadia Story - The Retro Hour EP524 Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

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

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

523: What It Was REALLY Like Working at Sony PlayStation in the 90s - The Retro Hour EP523 Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

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

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

522: The Untold Story of TDK Mediactive: Nintendo, Star Wars & More - The Retro Hour EP522 Mar 13, 2026

Show notes

This week we’re joined by Vincent Bitetti, former CEO of TDK Mediactive, for a fascinating look at one of gaming’s most unusual industry journeys. Starting in the early days of BBS networks and sound-effect licensing, including iconic properties like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Babylon 5, Vincent helped pioneer digital media distribution before leading TDK’s push into video games during the CD-ROM boom. We discuss how TDK evolved from an audio hardware giant into a multimedia powerhouse, their links to Nintendo and the GameCube era, and the art of spotting market opportunities before they explode.

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
49:14 – TDK Mediactive Interview

The Retro Hour VIDEO Version: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroHourPodcast

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

Show notes

Nintendo PlayStation Prototype Found: https://tinyurl.com/yz2u7yh5
Street Fighter 2 Amazing New Spectrum Version: https://tinyurl.com/ra7f3m4
Mad Dog McCree In ScummVM: https://tinyurl.com/3zsx2xhs
Game Boy Camera Phone Transfer: https://tinyurl.com/uktvuhtn
Saturn’s Last Mystery Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/2u9wde5b

521: The Story Behind the Vectrex Mini - The Retro Hour EP521 Mar 06, 2026

Show notes

This week we’re joined by David Oghia, the man behind the upcoming Vectrex Mini. We explore his journey from discovering the ZX81 in the early 80s to working on official Star Wars publications and visiting Skywalker Ranch, before diving into the revival of one of gaming’s most unique consoles. David explains why the original vector-display Vectrex remains so special, the challenges of recreating it with modern hardware, and how the Kickstarter campaign unexpectedly smashed its funding goal. We also discuss games, overlays, controllers and what the future might hold for the reborn Vectrex brand.

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
46:05 – Vectrex Mini 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

Show notes

Triforce Arcade Emulation: https://tinyurl.com/ycxwe6hw
Rave Racer On Consoles: https://tinyurl.com/38mbt8pu
Remote Vintage Mainframes: https://tinyurl.com/mryykp8k
Evercade Wireless Controller: https://tinyurl.com/5bjmj36x
Unreal Tournament 2004 Patch: https://tinyurl.com/4cutcc3d
Hyper Sentinel Fusion: https://tinyurl.com/mrdeupdt