The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

This week, we’re joined by Chris Long, a former programmer at Core Design, to uncover the fascinating stories behind some of the studio’s most iconic titles. From his early days creating the quirky Merv The Merciless for Probe Software, to the smash-hit Chuck Rock and its sequel, Chris gives us an insider’s view into the creativity and chaos of Core in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. We delve into the tools of the trade, the challenges of transitioning to 3D with the PlayStation, and the untold tales of Rick Dangerous 2, Swagman, and Wonderdog. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

40:22 - Chris Long Interview

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

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

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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:

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Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

New cheat code found in Donkey Kong Country 2: https://tinyurl.com/5n6teuce

Sega delists most of its retro games: https://tinyurl.com/2z3bptu8

Mega Drive tracker: https://tinyurl.com/rydpwvda

Lost Commodore 64 game uncovered by archivists: https://tinyurl.com/5n76he7c

Captain Square Jaw demo released for the Spectrum Next: https://tinyurl.com/mr2pmsf3

This week, we’re joined by Kevin Kilstrom formerly of Monolith Productions, the masterminds behind the iconic 90s horror FPS Blood. Kevin reveals how Blood pushed boundaries with its over-the-top gore, dark humour, and multiplayer BloodBath mode, as well as sharing behind-the-scenes stories from working on the project. Plus, we get a glimpse into his work on other classics like Claw, Shogo, and Alien vs. Predator 2. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

53:39 - Kevin Kilstrom Interview

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

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

Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs

Get 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

Nintendo Music App Launches: https://tinyurl.com/yu6u9urj

Fan-Made Monkey Island Game Available: https://tinyurl.com/ajc39zkm

New House of the Dead Movie Announced: https://tinyurl.com/2x53w7ky

iPod Clickwheel Games Preserved: https://tinyurl.com/bmsyretf

Atari Acquires Transport Tycoon IP: https://tinyurl.com/3xy4ax4f

Atari Jaguar T-Shirts Available: https://tinyurl.com/yupbscjd

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Chris Blok, the co-owner of Amsterdam’s legendary Blast Galaxy and Europe’s largest arcade importer. Chris takes us on an incredible journey through his life as an arcade enthusiast, from his earliest gaming experiences in the Netherlands to witnessing the boom and decline of arcades. We discuss everything from the challenges of importing and restoring rare machines, to his plans for keeping arcade culture alive and thriving. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

36:44 - Chris Blok Interview

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

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

Analogue 3D: https://tinyurl.com/5277bbe3

SpeedBall Reboot: https://tinyurl.com/4bsywekv

Fable Demake: https://tinyurl.com/3a9t982v

New Mega Drive Evercade Cart: https://tinyurl.com/2s3enynr

Atari Decanter Set: https://tinyurl.com/4upd3nz8

This week we're joined by Tara Hernandez, former manager of Netscape Navigator development, as she takes us inside the legendary 90s browser wars. Tara shares her experiences working at the cutting edge of Internet technology, from joining Netscape in 1995, to the heated competition with Microsoft's Internet Explorer, and the iconic decision to open-source the Mozilla code. Hear about the challenges of working 120 hour weeks, wild office celebrations, and pranks during the battle for Internet dominance. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

36:13 - Tara Hernandez Interview

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

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

Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

Mode 7 on NES: https://tinyurl.com/yukdj9m2

Cyclopean: https://tinyurl.com/4xzzndcm

Yoshi DS leaked: https://tinyurl.com/8hu5nzjj

1986 Mac Plus online: https://tinyurl.com/4x4chsub

This week we chat with legendary composer and game designer Matt Furniss, delving into his role in creating football platformer Soccer Kid! Not only did Matt compose the game's unforgettable soundtrack, but he was also one of the key designers behind this classic. We explore the creative process that went into blending sports and platforming, how Soccer Kid was brought to life across platforms like the Amiga, DOS, and 3DO, and how Matt ensured its European football vibe resonated through both gameplay and music. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

35:00 - Matt Furniss Interview

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

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

Worms DC Update: https://tinyurl.com/25m2jk3z

NES Hub: https://tinyurl.com/4a33e4s2

Green Day on Game Boy: https://tinyurl.com/5yt6fa83

Tetris Forever: https://tinyurl.com/4ryx9wyn

This week, we chat with the amazing Dan Cermak, whose remarkable career has spanned key roles at Strategic Simulations Inc., Westwood Studios, and Volition. Dan takes us through his early days as a self-taught programmer, his love for military history, and the challenges of developing iconic strategy games like Silent Hunter for the C64 and other classic systems. We also delve into his time at Volition, discussing how Saints Row stood out from the crowd, the evolution of online multiplayer, and its lasting impact on the open-world genre. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

42:08 - Dan Cermak Interview

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

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

Bleem is back: https://tinyurl.com/yc7cttry

Fake PS1 discs flood the market: https://tinyurl.com/csueseuz

BBC found in dump ends up in museum: https://tinyurl.com/2xs8c95s

Atom Controller: https://tinyurl.com/ydbw6fcw

Unreal Tournament 99 Intro reimagined: https://tinyurl.com/mrckwf4r

This week, we’re honoured to welcome Mark Cale, founder and CEO of System 3, one of the longest-running British software houses. Mark takes us back to the early days of the UK gaming scene, revealing how System 3 pushed the technical limits of classic platforms like the Commodore 64 with hits like International Karate and The Last Ninja, which is back for 2024 with an amazing new collection!

Back The Last Ninja Collection on Kickstarter: https://tinyurl.com/3pk2fr8a

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

43:44 - Mark Cale System 3 Interview

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

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

AI powered light gun: https://tinyurl.com/p84r4m7k

Rocky Horror the game: https://youtu.be/M4ORgvYXHxM

Game Boy Advance Cube Prototype: https://tinyurl.com/yc4n7538

Lethal Wedding: https://tinyurl.com/25x7786c

Retro pirates ring smashed in Italy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1k7387pmrpo

This week, we catch up with Jason Bradbury, long-time host of The Gadget Show and self-confessed retro tech lover. We reflect on 20 years of The Gadget Show and how the industry has changed in that time, his love for cassette tapes, gadgets that should have changed the world—but didn’t, and we hear all about his latest project, Ctrl A.I Delete, a thrilling new film where retro gamers are humanity’s last line of defence against a rogue AI!

Cntrl A.I Delete: https://www.ctrlaidelete.net/

The Gadget Show Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGadgetShow/videos

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

46:33 - Jason Bradbury Interview

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

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

PS5 PS1 version: https://tinyurl.com/2p9wn5ds

Sega Saturn Slim: https://tinyurl.com/uxc6hswz

DID is back: https://tinyurl.com/yskpve37

Sega are hiring an official archivist: https://tinyurl.com/23hcw2bz

Top 10 greatest innovations in video game history: https://tinyurl.com/2hfw7uh3

This week, we catch up with one of the most influential video game music composers of all time, Chris Huelsbeck! Chris takes us back to his early days with the Commodore 64 and Amiga, his groundbreaking work on classic games like Turrican, The Great Giana Sisters, and R-Type, and his innovative techniques that pushed the boundaries of game audio.  

Recorded live at Retromessa in Norway.

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

43:04 - Chris Huelsbeck Panel

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

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

Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs

Get 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

Sonic Ultra Saturn: Fan-made 2D Sonic game: https://tinyurl.com/45dufpkt

C64 Games on YouTube: Transmitting games at 30 bits per second: https://tinyurl.com/ysxs7cpx

PS2 Gold Mine: Rare game drops in value: https://tinyurl.com/2xxzjexy

Jason Bradbury Film: Retro gamers vs AI: https://tinyurl.com/5n98b649

Spelunky C64: Official port for the Commodore 64: https://tinyurl.com/ysbxx52y

This week, we bring you an all star panel with legends from Rare Ltd and Core Design! Hear first-hand accounts from Heather Stevens, Kev Bayliss, Chris Marlow, and Paul Machacek as they reveal how the industry transitioned from 2D to 3D graphics and worlds in the mid 90s, resulting in classics like Tomb Raider and Golden Eye 007 for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. Discover how they tackled challenges, learned new skills, and designed unforgettable worlds that set the stage for the future of gaming. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

43:52 - Rare & Core Design Panel

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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

Dreamcast 25 merchandise: https://tinyurl.com/5n9369vn

Duke Nukem 3D on Dreamcast: https://tinyurl.com/yce65djc 

Golden Axe Debug Menu Found 29 Years Later: https://tinyurl.com/2xr5hmce

The Last Job PS2 Game Found: https://tinyurl.com/3jkut5p4

PlayStation celebrates its 30th anniversary: https://tinyurl.com/mv7rbmfd