The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

Latest Episodes:

490: "I Only Found Out My Game Was in a Magazine Years Later" Rob Smith, Retro Inventor - The Retro Hour EP490 Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

This week’s guest is Rob Smith: the mad‑scientist of the retro scene. Rob takes us on a tour of his wild inventions—from a disco‑themed floppy‑disk cleaning workstation that actually plays tunes, to a full‑scale whack‑a‑mole game controlled by an Amiga via Arduino and AMOS, and his glowing levitating Boing Ball built with magnets and LEDs. He also talks about the Retro Directory, disc backup stations, and his journey from VIC 20 BASIC to making modern retro PD titles.
Rob Smith's website: https://robsmithdev.co.uk/
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
47:48 - Dave Isherwood 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
Atari Classics in Volkswagen Vehicles: https://tinyurl.com/wfner8j2
Paprium Flash Cart Release: https://tinyurl.com/2ucerftm
Metro’s Top 20 Amiga Games: https://tinyurl.com/ftz5y86h
Grant Sinclair Gamercard: https://tinyurl.com/nzc9uuem
Atari x Pac-Man Collection – Limited Edition 2600+: https://tinyurl.com/47ar835w
Atari 50 Namco DLC: https://tinyurl.com/bd8xczzs
Modern SNES Handheld in Development: https://tinyurl.com/45c8u3jn

489: “Don’t Press OK – It Will Destroy Your PC!”: QA Testing at Virgin with Dave Isherwood - The Retro Hour EP489 Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

his week, we go behind the scenes of ’90s game testing with QA veteran Dave Isherwood! From the chaos of Virgin Interactive’s wild office parties to uncovering show-stopping bugs just hours before launch. Hear about the day Virgin fell apart, the mystery of the deadly red screen, and why he had to fake losing video game tournaments.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
37:37 - Dave Isherwood Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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
Commodore 64 Ultimate Edition: https://www.commodore.net/
Rare Sega Genesis Re-Release: https://tinyurl.com/5n6ftw5a
Worms Forever Game Boy Mod: https://tinyurl.com/8j86zb7b
Beat ’Em Up Collection – QUByte Classics: https://tinyurl.com/mr4nuuxk
YouTuber Copyright Lawsuit: https://tinyurl.com/jbdjdmr5

488: "My Spectrum Caught Fire on Boxing Day!" - RetroBytes - The Retro Hour EP488 Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re joined by John from the awesome YouTube channel RetroBytes - a creator who dives into the obscure corners of computing history. From his childhood memories of a flaming Spectrum, to restoring Unix workstations, the beauty of operating systems that time forgot, and why Gopher might’ve beaten the web, if not for one fatal mistake.
RetroBytes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RetroBytesUK
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
40:03 - RetroBytes Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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
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
Events:
The Amiga at 40: https://tinyurl.com/4wu2866h
NottsVGE: https://www.nottsvge.com/
RetroMessa: https://www.retromessa.no/
Show notes
Xbox Mass Lay Offs: https://tinyurl.com/47t45sum
New Jazz Mag: https://www.supercellphonegamer.com/
GameCube to Switch 2 Dock: https://tinyurl.com/5k32x59t
Flipping Good Game: https://tinyurl.com/bddecmvz
3D Print with Accuracy: https://tinyurl.com/37t6zwsz

487: “We Cold-Called Nintendo After a Few Ciders” The Story of Enigma Variations - The Retro Hour EP487 Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re joined by Darren Melbourne and Mark Greenshields to unravel the untold story of British software house Enigma Variations. From bargain licensing deals for Postman Pat and Bugs Bunny to cold-calling Nintendo after a few ciders. Plus, their recent efforts to preserved lost classics, the truth behind NES Lion King, and why some of their best work never saw the light of day... until now.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
32:53 - Darren Melbourne and Mark Greenshields Interview
Games That Weren't: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/
Antstream: https://www.antstream.com/
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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
Animaniacs for GBA: https://tinyurl.com/y3u3ahsk
Postal 2 Redux: https://tinyurl.com/32f4f54x
Game Boy Camera on Switch 2: https://tinyurl.com/y5t7phw3
Playdate FMV Game: https://tinyurl.com/vtacmh6e
Windows 95 on PS2: https://tinyurl.com/2nttad7w

486: He Cracked Games at 14, Then Made Game Genie and Rock n’ Roll Racing - The Retro Hour EP486 Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

We’re joined by Allen Anderson, a veteran SNES coder, and one of the key programmers behind Rock n’ Roll Racing. Starting as a teenage game cracker in Arkansas, he shares how hacking games led him into the industry, the chaos of SNES development with homemade dev kits, and how he programmed the Game Genie under insane deadlines, and the story behind the legendary cancelled Sega Saturn title, Propaganda.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
38:20 - Allen Anderson Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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:
Switch 2 Emulation Issues: https://youtu.be/A3ylCAr0dbs
Maplin Returns: https://tinyurl.com/23w9xy5p
Duke Nukem Netflix Project: https://tinyurl.com/yc8euk4h
Turrican CPC Remaster: https://tinyurl.com/mr3se7jp
Linux Format Closes: https://tinyurl.com/5e9dhzcx

485: Psygnosis to PSN: Phil Gaskell on Shaping Sony’s Early Playstation Era - The Retro Hour EP485 Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

This week, we chat with game developer and producer Phil Gaskell, whose career spans from typing BASIC on a ZX81 to shaping titles at Psygnosis, Sony Playstation and Warthog. Phil shares behind-the-scenes tales of early PlayStation days, cancelled games, missed payrolls and mafia connections at Gizmondo, and rebooting iconic games like Lemmings and Super Stardust HD.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
36:41 - Phil Gaskell Interview
Our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroHourPodcast/videos
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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:
Atari beats ChatGPT: https://tinyurl.com/54pr4bxw
PS1 custom motherboards: https://tinyurl.com/mtrdfb3j
Head Over Heels sequel: https://tinyurl.com/4whtcrnn
Mario Kart 64 on Dreamcast: https://tinyurl.com/jjk8uhyt
Discord on Windows 95: https://youtu.be/wxdn30G2LE8

484: The Man Who Tried To Save the Amiga: Petro Tyschtschenko - The Retro Hour EP484 Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

This week we hear about the turbulent post-Commodore years with former Amiga Technologies President, Petro Tyschtschenko. From scrambling to find buyers after Commodore’s collapse to selling Amiga 1200s out of a warehouse in India, Petro shares his story, from the courtroom battles, the backroom deals, and the community spirit that refused to let the Amiga die.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
41:51 - Petro Tyschtschenko Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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:
The Story Behind Resident Evil 2 Cover Art: https://tinyurl.com/muhvzmz4
The G'aime: https://tinyurl.com/bkspfsbw
Let’s Buy Commodore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN8r4LRcOXc
MK Collection: https://tinyurl.com/226ty4tj

483: Last Action Hero to Chronicles of Riddick: Cos Lazouras Tells All - The Retro Hour EP483 Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

This week we welcome Cos Lazouras, a true veteran with over three decades in the games industry. From blagging his way into Bits Studios to working with Vin Diesel on The Chronicles of Riddick, Cos shares incredible stories from working on Spider-Man, The Simpsons, Wolverine and Last Action Hero including why that one remains his most ‘disastrous’ game. And his incredible new 80's themed point & click adventure.
VICE Undercover: https://tinyurl.com/476ucjzb
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
32:47 - Cos Lazouras Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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
The Bagman for Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/8scuchxj
Game Boy Camera Manager: https://tinyurl.com/5n78v92s
Atari ST turns 40: https://tinyurl.com/mwbzf2v2
Azaran Island: https://tinyurl.com/msphwu2h
New Contra arcade: https://youtu.be/5FX6HJl9uZ8

482: Medal of Honor: The Inside Story with Chris Cross - The Retro Hour EP482 May 29, 2025

Show notes

This week we’re joined by Chris Cross, the original lead designer of Medal of Honor, who cut his teeth at Blizzard on Warcraft II and Diablo, worked on Small Soldiers: Squad Commander, survived Trespasser: The Lost World, and brought us gritty realism in Homefront. Chris shares some amazing behind-the-scenes stories, from Spielberg’s influence and arcade obsessions, to why he loved PS1 development and what went wrong (and right) on some of the most ambitious projects of the '90s and early 2000s.
Brain Arcade Podcast: https://coffeewithcross.com/brainarcade
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
38:59 - Chris Cross Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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
Wii U Game Pad replacement: https://tinyurl.com/264vu8rn
OutRun on Game Boy Colour: https://tinyurl.com/4z7mdtbe
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - Words of Vengeance: ttps://tinyurl.com/3v2b4t36
Retro ruler: https://tinyurl.com/yvp8vbu3
AROS Live USB: https://tinyurl.com/2b2bu3ae

481: Tony Warriner & Stoo Cambridge’s UrbX Warriors: A Masterpiece for the ZX Spectrum Next - The Retro Hour EP481 May 23, 2025

Show notes

This week, we chat with two legends of the British gaming scene, Tony Warriner (Revolution Software) and Stoo Cambridge (Sensible Software), who’ve teamed up to create UrbX Warriors, an incredible new title for the ZX Spectrum Next.
UrbX Warriors Kickstarter: https://tinyurl.com/yvhw43et
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
32:29 - Tony Warriner & Stoo Cambridge Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
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
Mario 64 Trigger Found: https://tinyurl.com/52ffytrb
Metal Gear for Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/47fdc9uw
Microsoft Revives Edit: https://tinyurl.com/3z56yt3b
Visit 1975 Microsoft: https://tinyurl.com/58nupxu4
Sega Saturn New Fighter: https://tinyurl.com/2wpf4cxs

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