The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

Latest Episodes:

500: "No One Had Storyboarded Games Before - So I Did!" - Atari Legend Roger Hector - The Retro Hour EP500 Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

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

499: "Nintendo Made Us Cut the Bikini Girls from Duke Nukem 64" - Eurocom's Kev Harrison - The Retro Hour EP499 Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

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

498: “Arcade Lessons, Nintendo Secrets, and Omega 6” – Takaya Imamura & Junji Seki - The Retro Hour EP498 Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

This week we hear part two of our chat with Nintendo legend Takaya Imamura and game director Junji Seki. We hear about the creation of Omega 6: The Triangle Stars, blending manga, classic adventure game engines, and even a rock-paper-scissors battle system. Imamura reflects on his decades at Nintendo, from the high-stakes launch of the Switch to breaking free with new creative freedom, while Seki shares stories of arcades, founding his studio Happy Meal, and keeping the spirit of physical releases alive.
Leave us a message for Episode 500: https://theretrohour.com/message/
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
43:18 - Takaya Imamura & Junji Seki 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
Virtual Boy Coming To Switch Online: https://tinyurl.com/4epef4dk
iPod Clickwheel Games Preserved: https://tinyurl.com/5c9tsk8k
Acclaim Hosts First ‘Play Acclaim’: https://youtu.be/bckTJ7o8xdk
‘The Ark’ Horror For Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/mpwu5u7x
Indiana Jones Atlantis On ZX Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/ybd32fpd

497: “We Wanted Ocarina’s Opposite - That’s Why Majora’s Mask Got So Dark” - Takaya Imamura Interview - The Retro Hour EP497 Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

This week we welcome Nintendo legend Takaya Imamura, the visionary artist behind F-Zero, Star Fox, and Majora’s Mask. We hear some incredible stories from his three decades at Nintendo: from being interviewed by Shigeru Miyamoto, to creating Captain Falcon on a whim, to the wild one-year crunch that gave birth to Majora’s Mask. He reveals how a shrine in Kyoto inspired Fox McCloud, why Tingle was born out of pure exhaustion, and the surprising comic book roots of his latest project Omega Six. This chat was recorded live at Retromessa in Norway.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
44:22 - Takaya Imamura 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
Dreamcast Wireless Controller: https://tinyurl.com/yzr5kwdx
Fallout 1 3D: https://tinyurl.com/476fu3b4
Vectrex Mini Updates: https://tinyurl.com/3hs2sphw
Limited Run FMV Games: https://tinyurl.com/yc23t2fu
Clive Sinclair Comedy: https://tinyurl.com/56s3hyhr
Wolfhound Trailer: https://youtu.be/bBVXgchDEXk

496: "The SID Chip Was My First Love” - Jeroen Tel: Maniacs of Noise - The Retro Hour EP496 Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

This week we catch up with legendary C64 composer Jeroen Tel of Maniacs of Noise fame. Jeroen takes us back to the early days of programming music directly in machine code, pushing the SID chip to its limits, and soundtracking classics like Cybernoid, Hawkeye, Supremacy, and Turbo OutRun. From cracktros and demo parties, we hear the story of some of the most iconic game music of the 8-bit era. This episode was recorded live at Retromessa in Norway
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
43:56 - Jeroen Tel 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
LAN Party Adventures: https://tinyurl.com/h3kuyevt
Xbox 360 Softmod Is Coming: https://youtu.be/0gRHubim8DI
Llamasoft & Activision Evercade Collections: https://tinyurl.com/4fpcjtzb
Analogue 3D Updates: https://tinyurl.com/3hzc9mky
M64: https://tinyurl.com/yxea37te
JRPGs Getting Pulled Off Switch Store: https://tinyurl.com/yc4kruea

495: PS1 Demo Discs, Bedroom Coders and FMV Revival - Indie Games That Changed The World - The Retro Hour EP495 Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

We're joined by games journalist and author Aaron Potter to chat about his new book, 50 Indie Games That Changed the World. From the roots of the Indie scene with the 80's bedroom coders, the revival of lost genres like FMV games, and how modern indie titles are keeping classic computers and consoles alive.
50 Indie Games That Changed The World: https://tinyurl.com/4s3y5p27
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
37:29 - Aaron Potter Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Liverpool Gaming Market: https://www.liverpoolgamingmarket.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
Vectrex Mini Prototypes Showcased At Gamescom: https://tinyurl.com/mu798csw
The A1200 Revealed At Gamescom: https://tinyurl.com/2zydz45m
He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: https://tinyurl.com/2udcvjjf
Cubix: 3D Platformer For The Spectrum: https://yrgb.ru/
Bubsy 4D: https://tinyurl.com/2r9pa3vy

494: “Sonic R’s Soundtrack Has a Life of Its Own” - Richard Jacques, The Sound of 90s SEGA - The Retro Hour EP494 Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

This week’s episode comes live from Retromessa 2025 in Norway, where we were joined on stage by legendary video game composer Richard Jacques. From creating music on a ZX Spectrum at age 11 to scoring iconic titles like Sonic R, Jet Set Radio, Headhunter, and Mass Effect, Richard shares his incredible journey through Sega’s golden years, live orchestras at Abbey Road, and the unexpected afterlife of a song that became a meme.
Richard's website: https://www.richardjacques.com/home
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
54:42 - Richard Jacques Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Liverpool Gaming Market: https://www.liverpoolgamingmarket.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 Laserdisc Emulation Has Just Taken a Major Leap Forward: https://tinyurl.com/yc3t492v
The Settlers II Finally Settles on Amiga 29 Years Late: https://tinyurl.com/y5xjjyvh
Modder Builds Windows 98 Handheld Using Original Hardware: https://tinyurl.com/2v7j2y37
Happy 30th Birthday to Internet Explorer: https://tinyurl.com/452j77md
Parenting Like It’s 1999: https://tinyurl.com/2etae5m7

493: “Flash Games Should Never Have Died” – Alex Johansson, Experimental Game Maker - The Retro Hour EP493 Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

This week we are joined by award-winning experimental designer, educator and game maker Alex Johansson of ALYO Games. He is the mind behind wild alt-controller creations like Muppet Boxing, syringe-powered co-op games and his new Morse code-based strategy title Morse. We dive into the wonderfully strange world of odd inputs, discuss why Flash games should have been preserved, explore how gaming can reach older and underserved communities, and hear how Alex’s love for tactile play has taken him from cardboard-box cockpits to the heart of the ham radio scene.
Alex's website: https://alexvscoding.itch.io/
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
43:13 - Alex Johansson Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Crawley Gaming Market: https://www.crawleygamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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
Heretic and Hexen remasters: https://tinyurl.com/k6ueyunb
PS1 clone will also play Sega CD and Sega Saturn: https://tinyurl.com/fvd37ypa
Monty Mole games: https://tinyurl.com/mtskfsxh
AOL is turning off its dial-up after 34 years: https://tinyurl.com/4f95wrf6
40 years of the Amiga as an album tribute by Allister Brimble: https://tinyurl.com/2d4a5c85

492: “My Teacher Said I Wasn’t That Good” – The Story of Worms with Andy Davidson - The Retro Hour EP492 Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

This week, we chat with Andy Davidson, the creator of the legendary game Worms. Andy shares how a quirky artillery game made on a school Amiga evolved into one of the most recognisable franchises in gaming history. From ripping sprites out of Lemmings for a laugh, to a five-minute pitch that landed him a publishing deal with Team17, plus some updates on the upcoming Worms Director's Cut 1.5 for the Amiga!
Andy Davidson on X: https://x.com/totalwormage
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
35:31 - Andy Davidson Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Crawley Gaming Market: https://www.crawleygamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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
Rare's 40th Anniversary Blue Plaque: https://tinyurl.com/yfvut7sc
Rare Evercade Collection: https://tinyurl.com/bdd3emcb
Rare Vinyl Set: https://tinyurl.com/4puzktvw
Rick Dangerous Mega Drive Port: https://tinyurl.com/ydr25k9f
Zelda Homage NES-Style Spin-Off: https://tinyurl.com/4ahudfru
Groundbreaking Game Descent’s Anniversary: https://tinyurl.com/tddfybfa

491: Croc Was Meant to Be Yoshi - Then It All Changed! - Matt Porter, Argonaut Programmer - The Retro Hour EP491 Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

This week we’re joined by Matt Porter, former programmer at Argonaut Software and one of the key developers behind Croc: Legend of the Gobbos. Matt shares inside stories from the development of titles like Creature Shock, Scooby-Doo Mysteries, and SWAT: Global Strike Team, delves into the challenges of porting games across wildly different platforms, and teases some fascinating lost betas and unreleased gems he’s been finding on 30-year-old hard drives.
Dovetail Games: https://dovetailgames.com/
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
37:40 - Matt Porter Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Sheffield Gaming Market: https://www.sheffieldgamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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
James Pond Revival and AI Campaign: https://tinyurl.com/9wafa3zx
Bitmap Bureau Terminator Game Delay: https://tinyurl.com/yry357hp
Game Gear Camera Mod Using GBC Hardware: https://tinyurl.com/msrus64r
Rare 3DO M2 Console Withdrawn from Sale: https://tinyurl.com/4z6hv5h7
Super Mario Bros. Remastered Coming to PC: https://tinyurl.com/4dmy62vk

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