

The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)
The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)
Your weekly dose of retro gaming and technology news and interviews with industry veterans.
New episodes released every Friday!
New episodes released every Friday!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 12, 2025 • 1h 52min
510: “We Hid Gabe Newell in Our Game!” – Powerhoof - Making Retro Point & Click Adventures – The Retro Hour Podcast EP510
We go Down Under with Powerhoof’s David Lloyd, the brain behind award-winning indie hits like The Drifter and Crawl. From hiding DOS games as a kid to creating their own game engine and scooping Game of the Year at the Australian Game Developer Awards. From swapping floppies in the schoolyard to creating retro-inspired adventures, and why the Sierra era still casts a long shadow over indie devs today.
Powerhoof games: https://www.powerhoof.com/
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
1:00:00 - Powerhoof Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Leeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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
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
My UFO Youth Book: https://tinyurl.com/42wdhyy7
Retrobrighting Causes More Harm Than Good?: https://youtu.be/_n_WpjseCXA
New Robin Hood Game for the C64 Impresses: https://tinyurl.com/rb7nj3ts
Rare Sonic Arcade Machine Goes to Auction: https://tinyurl.com/mfmd8c8f
Spectrum Gets a New FPS: https://tinyurl.com/wha2ztrd
M64 – A 4K FPGA Nintendo 64 Clone: https://tinyurl.com/5hcwhadn
Acorn RiscOS Classic Returns on Steam: https://tinyurl.com/4akjdct5
Windows 3.x Hotdog Stand Colour Scheme Origins: https://tinyurl.com/39x9nr7e

Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 56min
509: “This Shouldn’t Be Possible on an Amiga 500!” – H0ffman - Demoscene and Game Ports – The Retro Hour Podcast EP509
This week features H0ffman (Ian Ford), a renowned demo-scene musician and coder known for his impressive Amiga ports and DJ tools. He shares fascinating tales from the demo scene and his porting adventures, like adapting Metal Gear and Knightmare to the Amiga. H0ffman discusses the intricate balance between enhancing audio and maintaining gameplay fidelity, as well as the nostalgia tied to MSX ports. He also reveals how his Amiga DJ software helped foster a global community and reflects on the resurgence of Amiga hardware and software.

Nov 28, 2025 • 1h 49min
508: "The 3DO M2 demo was mind-blowing... we were dying to ship it!" – Michael Devine (Former 3DO VP of Sales) – The Retro Hour Podcast EP508
This week we’re joined by industry veteran Michael Devine, former VP of Sales at The 3DO Company, key player at TDK Mediactive, and now CEO of Rockit Games, for an incredible look at four decades inside the games industry. From the “mind-blowing” M2 demos and the rise of Army Men, to the chaos of securing Hollywood licences and resurrecting Jaleco’s classic sports titles.
Rock It Games: https://rockitgames.com/
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
49:31 - Michael Devine Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Doncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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
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
Mario 64 on the PlayStation: https://tinyurl.com/mst4wr2v
Zork goes open source: https://tinyurl.com/fscxdevf
Xbox Crocs: https://tinyurl.com/nb5yhved
Daytona USA returns: https://tinyurl.com/yvw3x72e
Modern paper tape reader: https://tinyurl.com/28b5p7y4
TimeSplitters Rewind: https://www.timesplittersrewind.com/

Nov 21, 2025 • 1h 54min
507: "A Single MP3 is Bigger Than the NES Library!" – eXo on Emulation, BBS Days & Saving DOS Classics – The Retro Hour Podcast EP507
This week, we’re joined by eXo, the visionary behind the colossal eXoDOS emulation project, dedicated to preserving DOS, Windows 3.x, and interactive fiction games in all their original (and often quirky) glory. We explore how eXo and a global team of volunteers are not just making old games playable again, but restoring everything from lost CD audio to obscure soundcard support and the belief that retro games should be remembered, and played exactly as they were.
eXoDOS: https://www.retro-exo.com/exodos.html
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
51:49 - eXo Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Doncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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
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 Dream Disc 2025 Incoming: https://tinyurl.com/3cnwr6ek
Woodgrain NES Almost Happened: https://tinyurl.com/ycx68xuc
Codemasters Archive Project: https://tinyurl.com/s4m4kcpe
Ridge Racer Hits the GBA: https://tinyurl.com/mub79zxk
Duke Nukem 3D Gets Voxels: https://tinyurl.com/yezkyufe
Hunter 360 Controller: https://tinyurl.com/ee2j5mtr

Nov 14, 2025 • 1h 54min
506: “Atari’s Actually Doing Things RIGHT?!” – Ctrl-Alt-Rees - The Retro Hour Podcast EP506
This week, we catch up with the ever-inventive Ctrl-Alt-Rees in his brand new studio. Rees shares his latest projects, retro tech obsessions, and the bizarre story of a Japanese teaching computer with a paper screen. We hear his thoughts on modern Atari’s surprising comeback, his favourite (and most hated) handhelds, the quirks of the Jaguar scene, and why Windows 95 still holds up 30 years later.
ctrl-alt-rees on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ctrlaltrees
Podcast and website: https://ctrl-alt-rees.com/
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
56:32 - ctrl-alt-rees Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Doncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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
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
GameTank: Next-Gen 8-Bit Hardware: https://tinyurl.com/25fvsyku
Atari 50: Namco DLC: https://tinyurl.com/47w8ztfc
Eternal Hunters: New SNES RPG Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/mt6s387t
Taito Offers $650 Bounty on Lost Tech: https://tinyurl.com/npr3m35b
Commodore Name Battle Heats Up: https://tinyurl.com/46n7c3za
Jurassic Systems Revives 1993 Hacker Vibes: https://jurassicsystems.com/

Nov 7, 2025 • 1h 57min
505: “I Presented the Amiga Chipset to Atari… and Everyone Freaked Out!” - Atari's Matt Householder - The Retro Hour Podcast EP505
From hating Pong to working for Atari, this week we chat with Matt Householder. From his early days at Gaming Devices Inc. and designing the arcade classic Krull, through to joining Atari right after the video game crash and witnessing the dramatic Amiga chipset saga from the inside. Matt reveals what it was really like working under Jack Tramiel, converting GEM for the Atari ST in record time, and why developers had to sell snacks from their desks just to survive. He then takes us into the golden years at Epyx, creating World Games and the smash hit California Games, before moving on to 3DO, where a secret project he managed ended up helping fund Diablo.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
54:26 - Matt Householder Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Doncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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
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
Solid Aluminium Xbox Prototype Actually Works: https://youtu.be/0OMP8JvGWNY
Lost Destruction Derby 2 Saturn Prototype Unearthed: https://tinyurl.com/5c75zhxa
James Pond Makes a Comeback on Modern Consoles: https://tinyurl.com/2s4j38wd
Castlevania Amiga Remake Gets CD32 Upgrade: https://tinyurl.com/47624rsa
Castlevania Comes to the Atari 2600 (!): https://tinyurl.com/2k5ub8f5
Sonic Finally Lands on the GX4000: https://tinyurl.com/bdm5svj2
Worms Turns 30 – Team17’s Classic Celebrated: https://tinyurl.com/mrvtutnc

Oct 31, 2025 • 1h 40min
504: “I’d Never Even Seen a Computer Until I Worked at Sierra!” – Mark Crowe on Space Quest - The Retro Hour Podcast EP504
This week we're joined by Sierra legend Mark Crowe, co-creator of the Space Quest series and one half of the iconic Two Guys from Andromeda. Mark reveals how he went from never touching a computer to helping define the golden age of adventure gaming, working alongside Roberta Williams, Disney, and a hapless space janitor named Roger Wilco. Plus, we hear about the long-awaited reunion that brought Space Venture to life.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
58:10 - Mark Crowe Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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/
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
Sugar Ghouls: https://tinyurl.com/4kjjxvw2
Amiga Addict Amiga Format issue: https://tinyurl.com/53vsfmtd
The A1200: https://tinyurl.com/538trdxx
MD Engine: https://tinyurl.com/yea8r8fn
New Barcode Battler cards: https://tinyurl.com/y33362mk
Intellivision Amico prototype sold: https://tinyurl.com/9ze43yf8
Deep Sea Horror Shooter Inspired By Star Fox 64: https://tinyurl.com/ymn9je3r

Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 13min
503: “The Demo Scene Taught Us to Do the Impossible” – Erik Simon of Thalion - The Retro Hour EP503
This week's show features Erik Simon, co-founder of the legendary Thalion Software, the minds behind Lionheart, Ambermoon, and No Second Prize. Erik shares hilarious and jaw-dropping tales from the golden age of Amiga development, how the demo scene shaped Thalion’s “make the impossible happen” ethos, why Lionheart used every Amiga graphics mode. Recorded live at Amiga 40 in Germany.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
46:59 - Erik Simon Interview
Amiga Report Archive: https://bigbookofamigahardware.com/amigareport/
This Week In Retro: https://www.rmcretro.com/this-week-in-retro
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Cardiff Gaming Market: https://www.cardiffgamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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/
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
This ‘In The Hunt’ Tech Demo Shows What the 16-Bit Generation Lost: https://tinyurl.com/mw94hsup
Cambridge University Rescues Data from Old Floppy Disks: https://tinyurl.com/yc6tse6u
Vampire’s Veil – A New Castlevania-Inspired Indie: https://tinyurl.com/ycx3n3zh
Ymir Emulator Hits 90% Sega Saturn Compatibility: https://tinyurl.com/3a9c6z23
Fear Effect Returns with New Features: https://tinyurl.com/mttcdftj
Bubble Bobble Remastered for C64: https://tinyurl.com/5ftruknf

Oct 16, 2025 • 1h 54min
502: “From Modems to Headlines” – Jason Compton on the Amiga Report Revolution - The Retro Hour EP502
This week, we’re joined by former Amiga Report editor, writer, and This Week in Retro host Jason Compton, who takes us into the golden age of 90s computing news. From chasing stories during Commodore’s dramatic collapse (“we may not make more chips, but we can sell the floor scrubber!”) to the birth of one of the first online tech magazines, Jason recalls the chaos, creativity and sheer enthusiasm that kept the Amiga community alive long after the headlines faded.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
50:34 - Jason Compton Interview
Amiga Report Archive: https://bigbookofamigahardware.com/amigareport/
This Week In Retro: https://www.rmcretro.com/this-week-in-retro
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Cardiff Gaming Market: https://www.cardiffgamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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/
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 Atari Jaguar 3D shooter announced: https://tinyurl.com/yc2adedu
Street Racer retro collection coming to Steam: https://tinyurl.com/ta65wv33
deadmau5 teams with Atari for new 7800 game: https://tinyurl.com/9tjfdftb
NightVein gothic run-and-gun for Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/3jd9j4tk
Flashback unofficially ported to Sega Saturn: https://tinyurl.com/4psmpxtf
The Old Blue Workbench: https://triumph.no/oldblue/

Oct 10, 2025 • 1h 33min
501: “Michael Jackson Just Said ‘Okay, I’ll Do It All’” – SEGA's Roger Hector Tells the Inside Story of Sonic 3
For years, it’s been one of gaming’s biggest urban legends, how much did Michael Jackson really work on the music for Sonic the Hedgehog 3? In part two of our exclusive chat with Roger Hector, former Director of the Sega Technical Institute, we get the full story. Roger reveals how Jackson’s unexpected visit to STI turned into hands-on involvement with Sonic 3’s soundtrack. Plus, we explore Roger’s time leading the legendary Sonic team, the cross-cultural chaos of 1990s Sega, and the pressure of delivering a new Sonic game every Christmas.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
42:20 - Roger Hector Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Cardiff Gaming Market: https://www.cardiffgamingmarket.com/
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
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/
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
Blood – Nightdive Studios: https://tinyurl.com/3kmam6e8
Lego Game Boy Modded: https://tinyurl.com/5fnjxb4p
Kraken ZX Multiclone: https://tinyurl.com/pbukjp
Unofficial GBA Port of an SNES Horror Classic: https://tinyurl.com/mspschwa
Sega Saturn Tomb Raider 2: https://tinyurl.com/y5m77rsc


