This week, we chat with Randell Jesup, former Senior Software Engineer at Commodore Amiga Inc. From his pioneering work with 80's online gaming platform PlayNET and the revolutionary Amiga OS. Discover how PlayNET evolved into Quantum Link and AOL, the challenges of developing high-performance drivers, and the innovative spirit that drove Amiga's s…

This week, we chat with legendary game developer David Jones, the creative mind behind the iconic Magic Knight series. David delves into the fascinating history of creating some of the most beloved 8-bit adventure games of the 1980s, from his innovative use of the TRS-80 Model III for Spectrum development to developing the storytelling and gameplay…

We sit down with Paul Hartnoll of the legendary electronic duo Orbital. Paul takes us on a nostalgic journey, sharing his first gaming experiences and the early home systems that sparked his passion for technology. Plus the impact of Orbital's music featuring on classics like Wipeout, Test Drive 4 and creating music on the Atari ST. 00:00 - The Wee…

This week, we're joined by legendary game designer and artist Mark Healey. From his early days with a Commodore 64, working on the classic KGB Super Spy, to his pivotal role in iconic Bullfrog titles like Theme Park and Dungeon Keeper, Mark shares the stories and inspirations behind his work. Hear about his experiences with industry giants like the…

This week on the podcast, we sit down with the pioneering game designer Nicole Lazzaro, renowned for her work on iconic titles like The Sims, Myst, and Diner Dash. From playing Colossal Cave Adventure on shared computers to studying Psychology and Film at Stanford, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of emotions in games. Contents: 0…

We catch up with the legendary Joe Bonar as he discusses his journey from the early days of the GameCube to developing on quirky systems like the Nokia N-Gage. Joe gives us an insider’s look into the creation of groundbreaking titles like Burnout, Tron 2.0, and Sonic Rivals. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 39:09 - Joe Bonar Intervie…

This week, we're joined by Sam Dicker, a pioneer who helped shape the sound and fury of iconic games like Defender and Sinistar. We explore his time at Williams Electronics and joining the early Amiga crew, Sam shares his stories behind the creation of game-changing sounds and making the legendary Amiga 'boing ball' demo that wowed CES in 1984. Con…

We continue our celebrations of 40 years of the Amstrad CPC with part 2 of our chat with Roland Perry. This episode dives into the Sinclair acquisition, the transformation of Amstrad after incorporating the Spectrum, the expansion of the CPC line into high-end models, and a peek at some intriguing unreleased prototypes. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's…

Join us on a special journey back in time with Roland Perry, the visionary tech consultant behind the legendary Amstrad CPC, as we celebrate 40 incredible years of this iconic machine. In this not-to-be-missed episode, Roland takes us from his early days tinkering with electronics in school, through the founding of Ambit International, right up to …

This week, we have a virtual sit-down with Lee Jacobson, the creative force behind the cult classic dark adventure game 'Harvester' and the groundbreaking 'Command Adventures: Starship' and the B-movie style 1994 FPS 'The Fortress of Dr. Radiaki', sharing behind-the-scenes tales from the early days of FPS and adventure games. Contents: 00:00 - The …

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Ken Levine, the mastermind behind Bioshock, to explore his gaming roots and creative journey. From his early fascination with electro-mechanical games to the immersive worlds of Ultima Underworld and Civilization, Ken unfolds the layers behind Bioshock's immersive narrative and art deco influences. We'll a…

This week we're joined by Kate Fox, the Macintosh Librarian, to explore the world of retro Apple tech. Kate shares how Apple's educational programs and early experiences with technology shaped her career. We'll delve into the creation of her Youtube channel and her AI assistant Maccy, the allure of the NeXT computers, and the intrigue of third-part…

We chat with industry legend Sheri Graner Ray, tracing her journey from her early days at Origin Systems, where she shaped the fantastical realms of Ultima, to her pioneering role at Her Interactive in creating the first-ever CD-ROM titles aimed at females, along with the challenges that entailed. Beyond her technical achievements, we delve into he…

We catch up with Alastair Low of LowTek Games, as we explore how classic consoles like the NES and Dreamcast are getting a new lease on life. Alastair shares his journey from early gaming memories to developing the huge NES hit 'Flea' and the new sequel, the impact of NES Maker and the success of these retro projects. https://lowtek.games/ Flea 2 K…

This week, we talk to Carl Malamud, heralded as "The Father of Internet Radio". We trace Carl's journey from the early buzz of bulletin board systems to setting up the first-ever Internet radio station back in 1992. Carl shares tales from the creation of his flagship show "Geek of The Week," where Internet legends like Tim Berners-Lee took the mic,…

This week we're joined by the awesome John Riggs, renowned for his YouTube channel and contributions to the NES and indie gaming scenes. John walks us through his earliest gaming memories, his arcade roots, and his journey into the heart of YouTube. From collaborating with Metal Jesus Rocks to the therapeutic joys of 'Open Cart Surgery'. John also …

Dive into a fascinating journey with Ali Motisi, the mastermind behind 'Full Void' and the founder of Out of the Bit, as we explore the captivating world where retro meets modern. Discover how Commodore Amigas are being used to craft stunning graphics and soundscapes for today's gaming giants like PlayStation 5 and Xbox. From the formation of Out o…

In this week’s episode, we're joined by Dominic Wheatley, a true pioneer in the gaming industry and co-founder of the iconic Domark. From the groundbreaking 'Eureka!', securing iconic James Bond and Star Wars licenses, to the merger with Eidos, launching the era of Tomb Raider. Catalis Group: https://www.catalisgroup.com/ Testronic: www.testronicla…

In this week’s episode, we dive into the remarkable world of AmigaKit, a beacon of nostalgia in the modern age, with its Managing Director, Matthew Leaman. Discover how this unique company thrives as a full-time Amiga retailer, providing an extensive range of hardware and software that breathes new life into the classic Amiga computers. Plus, we fi…

We dive into the fusion of retro gaming and modern music with Richard Faulkner who is creating game soundtracks for the Spectrum Next. We discuss the challenges and triumphs of composing with retro hardware, the role of MIDI and synths, and the vibrant resurgence of the Spectrum scene. Richard shares his journey from nostalgic tunes to cutting-edge…

We have a virtual sit-down with the talented artist and producer, Andy Crawshaw, to hear about his remarkable contributions to iconic titles like 'Alien Hominid', 'Excalibur 2555 AD', and the genre-defining 'Everybody's Gone to the Rapture'. We'll delve into his experiences developing for platforms ranging from the PS1 to the GBA, and explore how A…

On this week's show, we delve into the lesser-known realms of video game history with Lewis Packwood, author of new book 'Curious Video Game Machines.' Lewis unveils a world beyond the mainstream narrative of gaming giants, exploring the intriguing and obscure: from a wargame computer made of calculators to voice-recognising LaserDisc machines and …

In this week's episode, we're joined by Mike Fischer, former Product Manager and Vice President at Sega of America, who gives us an insider's view of SEGA's vibrant culture and the strategic relationship between its American and Japanese branches. He touches on the impact of iconic titles like Sonic the Hedgehog and reminisces about marketing strat…

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. Atari 2600+: https://at…

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. If you'd like to receive the show, and unlock 38 previous episodes, please consider joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/retrohour In this episode from January 2023, Da…