The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

We chat to Kirk Ewing, formerly of VIS Entertainment and veteran of the gaming industry, about creating controversial retro games like State of Emergency and JFK Reloaded. Kirk also shares his experiences as a presenter on the iconic TV show GamesMaster.  Zapbox: https://www.zappar.com/zapbox/ Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/...

We take a trip back in time to the golden age of point-and-click adventure games with special guest Dave Marsh, the mastermind behind the classic Shadowgate. Beyond Shadowgate Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3Xkvp0P 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 Babbel - languag...

We chat to industry legend Jason Kingsley, co-founder of Rebellion! From his early beginnings to the creation of one of the biggest independent game developers, Jason shares insights and memories that will take you on a journey through the evolution of gaming.  Leading the Rebellion on Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3l67Hbj Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books...

We chat to Jamie Smith, game designer at Sumo Digital and formerly Ubisoft about his retro gaming memories, how he entered the industry and working with legends like Martin Edmondson. 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 Hal...

We chat to the awesome Adrian Black from Youtube channel Adrian's Digital Basement about early computing and BBS memories, and some excellent tips on maintaining your retro collection. Adrian's Digital Basement: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE5dIscvDxrb7CD5uiJJOiw Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/ Check out PCBWay at https...

We chat to the wonderful James Schall about working at classic gaming shops like Virgin Games and Future Zone, his time as product marketing manager at Sega in the post Dreamcast era, and his current work resurrecting retro games at Secret Mode. Secret Mode: https://wearesecretmode.com/   Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/ Than...

We chat to LucasArts graphics legend Bill Tiller who worked on titles such as the hugely ambitious The Dig, the brilliant Curse of Monkey Island and Star Wars: Rebel Assault. A Vampyre Story - Super Deluxe: https://bit.ly/3GIryFP 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 Ge...

It's our annual retro gaming Christmas super quiz! Hosts Paul Drury from Retro Gamer/Edge magazine and quiz extraordinaire Oliver Wilmot put our teams to the test.  This year it's Dan & Joe, VS Ravi and DMA Designs legend Mike Dailly, but only one team will be crowned the champions!  Grab a mince pie, and enjoy! Merry Christmas to all our amazing listeners, we'll see you in 2023! Paul Drury co...

Join us for a BUMPER look back at 2022 and some of our favourite industry veterans who have joined us on the podcast this year! Have a very Merry Christmas and we'll see you next week for the Christmas quiz! Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/ Check out PCBWay at http://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Thanks to our latest Patr...

We get some useful tips on keeping your retro computers and consoles in top working order, with plenty of nostalgic memories with the brilliant Mark Payne from Mark Fixes Stuff. Mark Fixes Stuff: https://markfixesstuff.co.uk/ Mark Fixes Stuff Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markfixesstuff Back The Retro Hour Book on Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3NTwV6Z Please visit our amazing sponsors and help t...

With the World Cup being in full swing, we chat to New Star Games founder Simon Read about his journey from AMOS on the Amiga to making new retro inspired football games. New Star Games: https://www.newstargames.com/ Back The Retro Hour Book on Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3NTwV6Z Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/ Check out PCB...

We get the inside story on the classic Might and Magic games, and how Medal of Honor lead the way for FPS games in the 21st century.   Back The Retro Hour Book on Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3NTwV6Z 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 We need your help to ensure t...

We go inside the world of classics like Skate or Die, John Madden Football and PGA Tour Golf with former EA game director, Happy Keller. Back The Retro Hour Book on Kickstarter: https://bit.ly/3NTwV6Z 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 This episode is sponsored by Be...

If you'd like to back our book on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/retrohour/the-retro-hour-book Thanks so much for your support. 

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 Kicksta...

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...

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...

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 the...

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...

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...

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 pc...

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 t...

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 Boo...

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...

We're joined by a legend this week, NewTek founder and the 'father of desktop video', Tim Jenison, to hear the story of how the Commodore Amiga changed the movie and TV industry. Tim's Vermeer: https://www.sonyclassics.com/timsvermeer/   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 Th...