Episodes

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

    487: “We Cold-Called Nintendo After a Few Ciders” The Story of Enigma Variations - The Retro Hour EP487
    Jul 3 2025
    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/

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    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 34 mins
  • 486: He Cracked Games at 14, Then Made Game Genie and Rock n’ Roll Racing - The Retro Hour EP486

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

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    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 41 mins
  • 485: Psygnosis to PSN: Phil Gaskell on Shaping Sony’s Early Playstation Era - The Retro Hour EP485

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

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    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 33 mins
  • 484: The Man Who Tried To Save the Amiga: Petro Tyschtschenko - The Retro Hour EP484

    484: The Man Who Tried To Save the Amiga: Petro Tyschtschenko - The Retro Hour EP484
    Jun 13 2025
    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/
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    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 37 mins
  • 483: Last Action Hero to Chronicles of Riddick: Cos Lazouras Tells All - The Retro Hour EP483

    483: Last Action Hero to Chronicles of Riddick: Cos Lazouras Tells All - The Retro Hour EP483
    Jun 5 2025
    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
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    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
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    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 27 mins
  • 482: Medal of Honor: The Inside Story with Chris Cross - The Retro Hour EP482

    482: Medal of Honor: The Inside Story with Chris Cross - The Retro Hour EP482
    May 29 2025
    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
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    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 38 mins
  • 481: Tony Warriner & Stoo Cambridge’s UrbX Warriors: A Masterpiece for the ZX Spectrum Next - The Retro Hour EP481

    481: Tony Warriner & Stoo Cambridge’s UrbX Warriors: A Masterpiece for the ZX Spectrum Next - The Retro Hour EP481
    May 23 2025
    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/
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    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 22 mins
  • 480: Diablo, StarCraft & Comix Zone: Stieg Hedlund Reveals All - The Retro Hour EP480

    480: Diablo, StarCraft & Comix Zone: Stieg Hedlund Reveals All - The Retro Hour EP480
    May 15 2025
    This week we hear about the incredible career of game designer Stieg Hedlund! From his early days tinkering with BASIC on a Bally Astrocade to shaping some of the most iconic titles of the '90s like Comiz Zone, The Ooze, and the legendary Diablo.

    Contents:

    00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
    42:26 - Stieg Hedlund 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/
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    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
    Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

    Show notes

    Ecco The Dolphin Remastered: https://tinyurl.com/37hdwzw3
    Lost Lynx game is revived: https://tinyurl.com/58nav3y3
    Fallout 1 and 2 Lost Source Code Found: https://tinyurl.com/297mzhec
    Batman on the Sinclair QL: https://tinyurl.com/2wttffa4
    Bubsy The Purrfect Collection: https://tinyurl.com/5n98dbxy
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 26 mins