The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

Mark Healey talks about his journey from the C64's KGB Super Spy to Bullfrog classics like Theme Park and founding Media Molecule.

This week, we chat with pioneering game designer Nicole Lazzaro, known for her work on The Sims, Myst, and Diner Dash.

We get an insider’s look into the creation of groundbreaking titles like Burnout, Tron 2.0, and Sonic Rivals.

This week, we're joined by Sam Dicker, a pioneer who worked for Williams Electronics and joined the early Amiga crew.

We continue our celebrations of 40 years of the Amstrad CPC with part 2 of our chat with Roland Perry

Join us on a special journey back in time with Roland Perry, the visionary tech consultant behind the legendary Amstrad CPC

This week, we have a virtual sit-down with Lee Jacobson, the creative force behind the cult classic dark adventure game 'Harvester'

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Ken Levine, the mastermind behind Bioshock

This week we're joined by Kate Fox, the Macintosh Librarian, to explore the world of retro Apple tech.

Sheri Graner Ray: From Ultima's realms to pioneering CD-ROM games for females and advocating gender inclusivity in gaming

Delve into the world of NES homebrew with the creator of the smash hit 'Flea'

This week, we talk to Carl Malamud, heralded as "The Father of Internet Radio"

We chat to John Riggs, renowned for his YouTube channel and contributions to the NES and indie gaming scenes

Explore how Ali Motisi's Out of the Bit uses Amigas for PS5/Xbox games in 'Full Void' - a retro-modern tech fusion!

Dominic Wheatley, Domark co-founder and gaming pioneer, shares his iconic journey.

Explore AmigaKit with Matthew Leaman, a deep dive into the world of Amiga retail, reviving classics, and the new A600GS!

Exploring retro gaming's new beat with Richard Fawlkner on Spectrum Next - from nostalgic chiptunes to modern tracks & community spirit.

Join us for a retro ride with Andy Crawshaw, exploring his journey from 'Alien Hominid' to 'Rapture', and the evolution of game artistry.

We delve into the lesser-known realms of video game history with Lewis Packwood

In this week's episode, we're joined by Mike Fischer, former Product Manager and Vice President at Sega of America

We chat with Ben Jones, the mastermind behind the new Atari 2600+, about his journey from childhood Atari enthusiast to Commercial Director of Retro at Plaion. We delve into the design and audience of the Atari 2600+, the challenges of incorporating modern tech into a classic, and Ben's personal connection to Atari's legacy.

As it's our annual week off from the main podcast, we thought we'd treat you to a special episode of one of our monthly Patron's only podcasts, The Retro Hour After Hours.

It's our favourite episode of the year, we let our hair down and find out who will be crowned this year's Retro Hour Christmas Super Quiz champions!

Dive into a spectacular nostalgia trip with us as we revisit the standout moments of 2023!

We delve into Ed Magnin's impactful work at Cinemaware and MicroProse, exploring the evolution of gaming from the Apple II to mobile platforms

We chat with the fascinating Conrad Barski, creator of "FlipOut!" for the Atari Jaguar. He discusses the game's development, reflecting on the Jaguar's unique hardware and the creative challenges he faced.

We chat with Douglas Rapport who shaped the sound of classics like Fallout, Fallout 2, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Re-live the days of classic computer and video game magazines and cover disks

We dive into the history of horror games with Dan Richardson, the producer of TerrorBytes

In week's show, dive deep into the 1990s Italian Amiga scene with Paolo D'Urso

In part two of our epic interview with the SCUMM Engine's co-creator Aric Wilmunder, we venture further into its evolution through the lens of iconic titles

It's our 400th episode! In the first of an epic two-part interview, we chat with Aric Wilmunder, the co-creator of the legendary SCUMM Engine, which enabled some of the best adventure games of all time, including Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, and Loom.

We're joined by BAFTA-nominated composer and sound designer Ross Tregenza. From his early days of falling in love with the Commodore 64's SID chip to lending his audio magic to legendary games like TimeSplitters, Crysis, and Team Sonic Racing, Ross has crafted audio experiences that resonate with gamers worldwide. In this episode, we unravel Ross's journey, explore his inspirations, and get a glimpse into the magic that brings video games to life.

In this episode, we chat with artist Wil Overton, famed for his manga-style covers on Super Play magazine in the early '90s. Wil's journey led him from N64 Magazine, where his Perfect Dark cover caught the eye of Rare, to working at the esteemed gaming company itself.

We explore the classic adventure Obsidian, a 1997 masterpiece believed by its ardent fans to be as monumental as Myst.

We chat with Richie Shoemaker, the former deputy editor of the iconic PC gaming magazine, PC Zone.

We get the full story of one of gaming's most intriguing legends.

This week, we dive into the enduring legacy of the Commodore 64

We chat with Grant Kirkhope and David Wise, iconic video game composers from Rare. Dive deep into their creative process, challenges, and legacy in the world of video game music, from 'Banjo-Kazooie' to 'Donkey Kong Country'.

We chat to the legendary Chris Hinsley, one of the lead programmers at Mikro-Gen

This week we chat with industry luminary, Joby Otero. From his early artistic explorations on platforms like the TI99 and Atari 400 to groundbreaking titles like Darkseed and MDK, Joby's journey is a masterclass in evolution and innovation. Discover the stories behind unpublished gems like "Evolver", the artistic collaboration with H.R. Giger, and the creation of the expansive True Crime series.

Remember the joy of opening a game case and finding a detailed manual inside?

Diving into Michael Rubinelli's journey through EA, Midway, THQ & more

This week, we're in conversation with Daniel Crocker from Wave Game Studios, the force behind some remarkable new titles for the Sega Dreamcast

We chat with Eva Pascoe, co-founder of Cyberia, Britain's first internet cafe.

We speak to the man who brought some of your favourite games to the English-speaking world!

We chat with David L. Craddock and Richard Moss, the creators of 'First Person Shooter'

On this week's podcast, we journey into the heart of the classic strategy game, Age of Empires 2, with none other than its Lead Designer, Mark Terrano

We delve into the fascinating world of Bulletin Board Systems with Al's Geek Lab, the creator of the awesome YouTube series 'Back to the BBS'. We explore how BBSs laid the groundwork for today's Internet, the artistic flair of ANSI art, and the enduring allure of BBS games and mods and why the scene is thriving again today.

Join us for a deep dive into the iconic 1984 video game "Montezuma's Revenge" with its creator, Rob Jaeger. Delve into the mind of a then 16-year-old game designer and discover the untold stories of this gaming masterpiece, including features that didn't make it to the final cut.

We have a long-overdue catch up with Daniel Ibbertson AKA Slope's Game Room, including breaking down the ill-fated Intellivision Amico. Promising to bring back the classic brand, the Amico's repeated delays, leadership changes, and potential cancellation have left it shrouded in uncertainty. DJ Slope, renowned for his comprehensive gaming history content, brings his insight into this saga, discussing the console's initial vision, the issues it faced, the intriguing lineup of games that were slated for release, and what the Amico's journey means for the wider retro gaming industry.

We chat to the creator of the beloved kid's TV and book series, Arthur. From TV to PC, we'll explore how Marc and the team at Living Books crafted an engaging, fun, and educational experience for kids back in the 90s. If you're a retro gaming enthusiast or an Arthur fan, you won't want to miss this nostalgic journey back to Elwood City's digital domain.

We sit down with Brian Lowe, a veteran in the gaming industry, known for his work at Strategic Simulations and Midway.

Born from a chance encounter with a low-priced Sega Dreamcast at video game shop, The Dreamcast Junkyard has grown from a personal blog into a thriving online community.

We talk to Oliver Harper, the director of “Here Comes a New Challenger”, a documentary about the legendary Street Fighter 2. Oliver shares his passion for the game, his process of making the documentary, and some of the fascinating stories and insights he uncovered along the way.

Check out the captivating journey of Neill Glancy, from pixel artist to lead designer. We explore his work at DMA Design, Iguana Entertainment, and more, touching on classics like Walker, the ill-fated Walker 2 and the troubled development of the first South Park games.

We chat with Stephen Jones, the founder of Checkmate Digital, a company that makes Amiga-inspired desktop computer cases. Stephen shares his journey from developing Amiga products in the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as the Checkmate A1500 and the Siamese System, to his return to the scene with new products and his love for the Amiga community.

In this episode, we chat with former Microsoft engineer-turned YouTuber, Dave Plummer, who played a crucial role in developing iconic software like the Windows Task Manager, 3D Pinball Space Cadet, and the peculiar story of how he sneaked Microsoft BOB into every copy of Windows XP!

We chat to the developer of the amazing new Dreamcast dungeon crawler Harlequest, to find out what goes into developing new titles on Sega’s legendary console in 2023.

We get the inside story on the development of legendary sci-fi strategy game Homeworld. Co-creator Rob Cunningham shares some memories from the early days, and a sneak preview of the upcoming Homeworld 3.

We chat with Vic Pflug from indie game group Wormwood Studios who create retro-style games, inspired by classics like Eye of the Beholder & Lands of Lore.

We're joined by the wonderful Rolf Mohr to chat about his incredible career, starting at Core Design on games like Universe and Curse of Enchantia, working on the infamous abadoned Superman Lives movie, and classics like the Ratchet & Clank series.

This week, we have a long-overdue catch-up with Neil from RMC and fellow cave-dwellers Alex and Richard. We'll be talking about their wonderful museum, restoring arcades and classic systems, and keeping retro gaming alive for a new generation.

A true legend on the show this week, we chat with Mickey Mantle who oversaw titles like Myst, Kid Pix and the Living Books franchise at Brøderbund, and played an integral role in the early days of Pixar alongside Steve Jobs and Ed Catmull.

Join us for a chat with Andrew Greenberg, veteran game designer at Holistic Design, where he worked on classics like Emperor of the Fading Suns, Dracula Unleashed, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

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.

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.

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.

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 Edmonson.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

We've just launched a book!

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!

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.

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.

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.

We explore the world of vintage computer collecting, restoration and upgrading with Shelby from the wonderful Youtube channel, Tech Tangents.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We catch up with Rare legends Kev Bayliss and Paul Machacek at Retromessa in Norway to hear some incredible stories from inside Rare in the 90s.

The Renegades Who Redefined Gaming

We take a trip back to the heyday of Atari and chat to developer Rich Adam who worked on legendary titles like Missile Command and Gravitar.

We chat to Reflections founder Martin Edmonson about the making of classics like Shadow of The Beast, Destruction Derby and the Driver series!

We're joined by the wonderful Ed Rotberg who was a core member of Atari's coin-op team from 1979 onwards, and worked on classics like Battlezone, S.T.U.N. Runner and Blasteroids.

We chat to Core Design legend Peter Connelly who worked on classics like Tomb Raider 3, The Last Revelation and The Angel of Darkness to get a fascinating inside look.

We chat to Rare legend Paul Machacek to hear the fascinating story of the company's portable games, including Battletoads, the Double Dragon crossover and the cancelled Super Battletoads game.

We catch up with documentary makers Ant & Nic Caulfield to chat about their latest project, dedicated to the history of the Amiga 500. What made it so special? Did piracy help or harm the machine and lots of our memories in this very nostalgic episode.