Episodes

  • 470: GOG: Meet the Heroes Saving Your Favourite Childhood Games - The Retro Hour EP470

    470: GOG: Meet the Heroes Saving Your Favourite Childhood Games - The Retro Hour EP470
    Mar 7 2025
    We chat with Marcin Paczyński, Senior Business Development Manager at Good Old Game, and Adam Ziółkowski, Technical Engineer, to hear about their new Preservation Program. Launched in November 2024, this initiative is dedicated to ensuring classic games remain playable on modern and future systems. We hear about the challenges of maintaining compatibility, the process of updating and bug-fixing classic titles, and GOG’s commitment to DRM-free gaming.

    GOG Preservation Program: https://www.gog.com/en/gog-preservation-program

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    44:05 - Good Old Game 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

    The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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

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    Website: http://theretrohour.com
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    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
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    Show notes

    Terminator 2D No Fate: https://tinyurl.com/2jcsa8mn
    RIP Skype: https://tinyurl.com/3ahrj2cp
    Lost PC game Big Brother archived online: https://tinyurl.com/33kt64td
    Sonic Unleashed 360 Recomp: https://tinyurl.com/pe34prja
    Bandai Namco want to license out classic IPs: https://tinyurl.com/4ez98jhn
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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • 469: Behind the Scenes of GTA 3 & Guitar Hero with Kelly Sumner - The Retro Hour EP469

    469: Behind the Scenes of GTA 3 & Guitar Hero with Kelly Sumner - The Retro Hour EP469
    Feb 28 2025
    In part two of our epic interview with Kelly Sumner, we move beyond Commodore and into his time at GameTek and Take-Two Interactive. Kelly shares behind-the-scenes stories from the launch of GTA 3 and his experiences working with the Houser brothers. We also dive into his time as CEO of RedOctane, where he helped turn Guitar Hero into a global phenomenon.

    Recreational Music: https://reactionalmusic.com/

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    41:18 - Kelly Sumner 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

    The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/
    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

    Sonic & The Moon Facility playable demo: https://tinyurl.com/2yjjezte
    MSX laptop: https://tinyurl.com/3e5rzs44
    Samurai Pizza Cats game: https://youtu.be/jErZx5DekeI
    Nightmare Busters: https://tinyurl.com/3njnctrs
    Official WinRAR bag: https://in.tern.et/en-gb
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 31 mins
  • 468: What Really Killed Commodore? UK MD Kelly Sumner Tells All - The Retro Hour EP468

    468: What Really Killed Commodore? UK MD Kelly Sumner Tells All - The Retro Hour EP468
    Feb 21 2025
    In the first part of our epic two part interview, we sit down with Kelly Sumner, former Managing Director of Commodore UK, to hear the highs and lows of his 15-year journey at the legendary company. From starting as a trainee engineer in 1979 to marketing the iconic Amiga and C64, Kelly shares never-before-heard stories about selling the Amiga 1000, the infamous C64GS flop, CDTV’s retail struggles, and his surprising appearance on GamesMaster!

    Recreational Music: https://reactionalmusic.com/
    Kelly Sumner on GamesMaster: https://youtu.be/oZ4XbkJ2sIA

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    43:35 - Kelly Sumner 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

    The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/
    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 cloud save support: https://tinyurl.com/stk3vu65
    1 in 4 Gen Z Brits owns a retro gaming console: https://tinyurl.com/2emuu7cv
    Flesh Made Fear: https://youtu.be/_n55OCtkM4U
    E-Reader handheld console: https://inkconsole.com/
    The new Shinobi: https://tinyurl.com/46xpav7u
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 34 mins
  • 467: The Games of a Lifetime with Jaz Rignall - - The Retro Hour EP467

    467: The Games of a Lifetime with Jaz Rignall - - The Retro Hour EP467
    Feb 14 2025
    We catch up with legendary games journalist Julian 'Jaz' Rignall about his epic new book, The Games of a Lifetime, which is a video game time machine that takes you on an incredible journey from the very dawn of the industry, through the decades to the present day. It’s essentially video game history from the inside, seen through the eyes of Jaz Rignall, a hardcore gamer, who ended up becoming a journalist who launched iconic game magazines like ZZAP!64, CVG and Mean Machines.

    Buy Jaz's book here: https://jazbook.com/

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    40:17 - Jaz Rignall 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

    The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/
    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

    Programming language for making NES games: https://tinyurl.com/mrx7jvzt
    Doomlings on the MSX: https://tinyurl.com/msyn3c38
    Balatro C64 sad update: https://tinyurl.com/mrxftszr
    Combined Arms RTS: https://tinyurl.com/yrxrysr7
    14% of Americans retro game: https://tinyurl.com/4huhnfz7
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 38 mins
  • 466: Deus Ex, System Shock & Origin Systems: Harvey Smith Tells All - The Retro Hour EP466

    466: Deus Ex, System Shock & Origin Systems: Harvey Smith Tells All - The Retro Hour EP466
    Feb 7 2025
    This week, we chat to Harvey Smith, the legendary designer behind Deus Ex, System Shock, and Area 51! From his early days playing D&D and Ultima Underworld to working at Origin Systems on Super Wing Commander. We hear about the challenges of designing Deus Ex, working alongside Warren Spector, and the technical innovations that made it a classic!

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    37:43 - Harvey Smith 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

    The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/
    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

    Mortal Kombat II for 3DO: https://tinyurl.com/mjf9hewr
    PS2 memory card that can run your entire library: https://youtu.be/mdxDRtfEXNg
    Dream Ride – a new Skidmarks style game for the Dreamcast: https://tinyurl.com/vnysuarv
    Tang FPGA console: https://tinyurl.com/pp3jhzun
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 40 mins
  • 465: ZX Spectrum, GamesMaster & Retro Nostalgia with Rose Tinted Spectrum - The Retro Hour EP465

    465: ZX Spectrum, GamesMaster & Retro Nostalgia with Rose Tinted Spectrum - The Retro Hour EP465
    Jan 31 2025
    This week, we chat to Dave from the wonderfully nostalgic Youtube channel Rose Tinted Spectrum. From growing up in the arcades of Blackpool to his love of ZX Spectrum budget games, his hilarious takedowns of classic gaming TV, and why he really isn’t a fan of The Bitmap Brothers!

    Rose Tinted Spectrum: https://www.youtube.com/@RoseTintedSpectrum

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    39:45 - Rose Tinted Spectrum Interview

    Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:

    Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com

    The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/
    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

    New AVGN game: https://youtu.be/ffmrpIeHLzU
    The Retro Tap: https://tinyurl.com/3etpych9
    Heavy Recoil Mega Drive port: https://tinyurl.com/3ew6zcr8
    The end for Blu-ray/Minidisc?: https://tinyurl.com/ycyerkv3
    Atari Karts re-run: https://tinyurl.com/575jhu6c
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 29 mins
  • 464: Bringing Mortal Kombat Home: The Crazy Story of the Mega Drive Port - The Retro Hour EP464

    464: Bringing Mortal Kombat Home: The Crazy Story of the Mega Drive Port - The Retro Hour EP464
    Jan 24 2025
    Paul Carruthers, the programming wizard behind the Sega Mega Drive’s iconic Mortal Kombat port, joins us this week to share his incredible journey. From his early gaming memories and passion for puzzle games to the challenges of co-founding Astral and developing titles like Archipelagos, Paul delves into the intricacies of game development. He offers an insider’s perspective on bringing the arcade phenomenon Mortal Kombat to home consoles, discussing the hurdles of limited hardware and the origins of the famous blood code.

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    38:01 - Paul Carruthers Interview

    Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:

    Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com

    The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/
    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 online Half-Life & Counter-Strike: https://tinyurl.com/4ajujn88
    Amiga F-Zero style racer: https://youtu.be/Z9-Z79e2t_c
    Atari Jaguar Livewire: https://youtu.be/E1mRvi8qzE0
    Doomguy swaps weapons for wine: https://tinyurl.com/ybpy399f
    Broken Sword for Evercade: https://tinyurl.com/3j58ftn8
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 33 mins
  • 463: ScummVM: Keeping Classic Games Alive - The Retro Hour EP463

    463: ScummVM: Keeping Classic Games Alive - The Retro Hour EP463
    Jan 17 2025
    This week, we’re joined by Eugene Sandulenko, project lead of the legendary ScummVM, to explore how this essential tool preserves gaming history. From its origins to supporting classics like Blade Runner and lesser-known gems, Eugene shares fascinating stories about reverse engineering, community passion, and overcoming challenges like LucasArts’ legal battles. Plus, we discuss how ScummVM adapts to modern trends, supports countless platforms, and even improves the retro gaming experience without losing its charm.

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    41:03 - Eugene Sandulenko 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

    The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/
    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

    Capcom and Bandai Namco handheld: https://tinyurl.com/3nnvwms3
    Atari handheld: https://tinyurl.com/2j95myyk
    Kero Quest 64: https://tinyurl.com/wnb8ay3b
    House of the Dead 2 remake: https://tinyurl.com/4kjjx8uc
    Atari prototype found: https://tinyurl.com/5xeszd5s
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 31 mins