Synth musician, performer and self-described “bleakwave” artist Paulee Alex Bow joins us. We explore dark ’80s music and an love for the Commodore Amiga. Paulee reveals how OctaMED became the heart of a modern hardware-synth setup, why original machines can't be replaced, and what it takes to perform live with two Amigas in tow. We also hear about the Arcade Dreams soundtrack, haunted synths, Amiga MIDI, car-boot retro discoveries and why the Amiga community can sometimes feel almost spiritual.

Magical Synth Adventure: https://www.youtube.com/@magicalsynthadventure3216
Sonic State: https://www.youtube.com/@sonicstate/videos

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
48:21 - Paulee Alex Bow 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

London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/

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

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

Show notes
 
Worms Director’s Cut Expansion: https://lnk.ua/5kH00iGiR
Romero Praises id Developers: https://lnk.ua/k0IOBSZGO
PlayStation Ends Physical Releases: https://lnk.ua/lvs87s7yd
Germany’s Preservation Project Collapses: https://lnk.ua/VFJe5qL8S
Command & Conquer on Atari ST: https://lnk.ua/aQhG7CrtN
Empire Interactive Quits 3DO: https://lnk.ua/aBXtA0qb6
Android Becomes a Wii U: https://lnk.ua/7jYPe7vxJ
YouTube on Game Boy Color: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GlYnN9JK1k

This week, we’re joined by legendary documentary makers Ant and Nic Caulfield, the team behind From Bedrooms to Billions, The Amiga Years and The Rubber-Keyed Wonder, as they return to celebrate one of the most iconic home computers ever made: the Commodore 64. 

Commodore 64: The Birth of a Cultural Icon on Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/TRJ0cmHX1

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
56:23 – Commodore 64 Documentary 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

PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/

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
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X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes

Commodore Phone Price Drop: https://lnk.ua/L9Jyk0HoH
Sonic Cartridges Return: https://lnk.ua/RbgJGWLAL
Ecco Remaster Physical Edition: https://lnk.ua/1R9OKXgHb
Neo Turbo Challenge Amiga: https://lnk.ua/Vl6vprJIb
Wolfenstein 3D On Lynx: https://lnk.ua/gaL5jitCm
3DO Returns?: https://lnk.ua/hCMaWHfX6
Meshtastic On Commodore 64: https://lnk.ua/XlABpzaBa

This week we’re joined by Brian Watson, formerly of DMA Design who worked on the Atari ST version of Lemmings 1 and 2, and porting it to the Atari Lynx.  He later worked for Iguana Entertainment, Acclaim, working on Turok, N64 audio drivers and clever memory systems used across dozens of games. Brian shares brilliant stories from the trenches of 16-bit and 32-bit development, the challenge of making ambitious games work on limited hardware, and what it was really like behind the scenes at DMA and Acclaim.

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
43:31 - Brian Watson 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

London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/

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
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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes

Minecraft On PS2: https://lnk.ua/kNl3123pX
Game Boy GTA: https://lnk.ua/LQySSpMoN
Apidya Remake Pre-Orders: https://lnk.ua/23bg38SjW
Dreamcast USB Controller: https://lnk.ua/MUJ4zS3Jz
Retro Warehouse Haul: https://lnk.ua/Lbd1kmKIf
Discord Social SDK: https://lnk.ua/6Wfh1bNoy

Rob Landeros joins us to share the incredible story behind Trilobyte and The 7th Guest, from discovering the Amiga and working at Cinemaware and Virgin, to teaming up with Graeme Devine and helping ignite the CD-ROM revolution with one of the most iconic FMV horror puzzlers of the 1990s. 

The 7th Guest Remake: https://the7thguestremake.com/
Diddly on Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/9XeHAcgxM

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
47:15 - The 7th Guest 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

London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/

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

Godzilla Remaster Challenges GTA: https://youtu.be/w-veMlH2L-A
PaulaNET Amiga Wi-Fi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhAg-fT83o8
Jet Set Radio Divides Fans: https://lnk.ua/tdyOdTeYH
N64 Controller Guitar Pedal: https://lnk.ua/9IWlFwXIz
Thief Remaster Announced: https://lnk.ua/XduraQixG
Castlevania Mega Drive Port: https://lnk.ua/tOaxHv6wa
Metro Siege Hits Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/RyOFar6cK

Patrons news

Final Fight 64 Homebrew: https://lnk.ua/awxAjBPf5
Perfect Dark VR Port: https://lnk.ua/bKQAOFZqH

This week we’re joined by veteran programmer Colin Porch, whose career took him through some of the biggest names in British gaming history, including Imagine, Software Projects and Ocean Software. Colin shares stories of Imagine’s dramatic collapse, converting arcade hits like Dragon’s Lair, Operation Wolf and Gryzor to home micros, the infamous lost Parasol Stars C64 port, and the technical wizardry behind bringing Head Over Heels to the Commodore 64, Atari ST and Amiga. Plus, we hear the incredible story of Return to Blacktooth, the Head Over Heels sequel Colin began in 1989 and has finally completed 37 years later.   

Return To Blacktooth: https://thalamusdigital.itch.io/

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
48:17 – Colin Porch 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

London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/

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

RGL Teases The A1200: https://lnk.ua/GqyeXdPJ5
Commodore Teases June 16th Announcement: https://lnk.ua/OXRSP2jzO
Crazy Taxi GenAI Response: https://lnk.ua/5JfoTfy1f
Atari Toy Story Collection: https://lnk.ua/TJqoQuQ5j
Resident Evil Code Veronica: https://lnk.ua/EDTxG2iaS
Ocarina Of Time Remake: https://lnk.ua/6Two6Um7u
Cuphead Devs’ Master System Spin-Off: https://lnk.ua/KnkMouiRw

This week we’re joined by video game music expert Matt Ombler, head of music and gaming partnerships at Laced, to explore the incredible world of game soundtracks, from Sonic on the Mega Drive and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater shaping a generation’s music taste, to Wipeout, Halo 2, retro sound chips, vinyl reissues and the growing importance of preserving game music history. Matt also shares stories from his journalism days interviewing legends like Nile Rodgers and Nobuo Uematsu, plus how he helped bring metal heavyweights including Howard Jones, Trivium and Polyphia into Cult of the Lamb’s Hymns of the Unholy project.   

Laced Records: https://www.lacedrecords.com/

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
46:30 – Matt Ombler 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

PlayEXPO Blackpool tickets: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/

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

Sonic On ZX Spectrum Next: https://tinyurl.com/48fpsssy
Legal Disc Ripping: https://tinyurl.com/2s4pufay
Virtual OS Museum: https://tinyurl.com/2kz9r9aw
Castlevania Rondo of Blood On Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/3x8ukbxn
Amiga CD32 ODE: https://tinyurl.com/3p93uuam
Final Fantasy XVI Demake: https://tinyurl.com/5yxeu5yp

This week, we’re joined by Wingham Rowan, creator and host of the pioneering ’90s ITV show cyber.cafe. Long before YouTube, Twitch, Tinder and social media, cyber.cafe explored the strange, funny and sometimes shocking human stories emerging from the early internet, from chat room romances and online communities to JenniCam, alien abductees, moral panics, bizarre websites and late-night web culture. Wingham shares brilliant behind-the-scenes stories from making one of the UK’s first TV shows to take the internet seriously, capturing a moment when the web was still mysterious, chaotic and full of possibility.  

cyber.cafe: https://www.ninetiesinternet.com/

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
49:52 – cyber.cafe 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

PlayEXPO Blackpool tickets: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/

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

MegaWiFi Online Play: https://tinyurl.com/4dd76pru
Adventure of Node: https://tinyurl.com/mwfvr62j
Elden Ring N64 Demake: https://tinyurl.com/3xjw88p2
Spyro E3 Statue Rescued: https://tinyurl.com/ydtj225p
Windows CE On N64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGS9su_inBY
Switch GBA Link Cable: https://tinyurl.com/5n9bj8p7

This week, we’re joined by Elite Systems co-founder Steve Wilcox for a journey through one of the most important names in British gaming history. Steve shares how a family business in the West Midlands evolved from mail-order cassette games into a major force of the 8-bit era, publishing hits like Airwolf, Commando, Ghosts ’n Goblins, Bomb Jack and Paperboy. 

Chuckie Egg for iOS: https://tinyurl.com/2hpsvj7a

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
48:26 – Elite Systems 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

PlayEXPO Blackpool tickets: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/

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

Myst And Riven Remakes: https://tinyurl.com/mt76kcn6
Dr Mario Plus/4 Fan Game: https://tinyurl.com/2ztwvy6b
Dreamcast Wii Remote Support: https://tinyurl.com/4nsapkf5
Veins Of Iron: https://veinsofiron.com/
Taxi Boy Released: https://tinyurl.com/5b4bdjxs
Time Crisis Returns: https://tinyurl.com/3hvrjfus
Football Manager On Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/usdu5bvx

Inside Psygnosis: WipEout, PlayStation and the Rave Generation - The Retro Hour EP531

This week we’re joined by former Psygnosis PR manager Glen O’Connell for a brilliant journey through one of the most exciting eras in British gaming. Glen shares stories from Liverpool’s arcade and computer shop scene, his move from rave music promotion into games, and his time at Psygnosis during the huge shift from Amiga and Atari ST to CD-ROM, Saturn and PlayStation. We hear how WipEout fused club culture, cutting-edge design and licensed music to help define the PlayStation generation, plus memories of Destruction Derby, G-Police, Formula One, Rage, EA, Burnout, Need for Speed and plenty more.

Stuart's current project: https://www.wireadmin.com

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
43:38 – Glen O'Connell 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

PlayEXPO Blackpool tickets: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/

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
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X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes

Neo Geo Crossplay Revival: https://tinyurl.com/33xx8nah
Bomberman Online Returns: https://tinyurl.com/mwk7xepp
Bloodstone For ZX Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/zn677unx
BioCreeps For NES: https://tinyurl.com/ytd9zuaw
Switch As Wii U GamePad: https://tinyurl.com/4c58vbcb
Star Fox 64 Remake: https://www.youtube.com/live/ePZeyh5q9R8

This week, we’re joined by Stuart Cox, artist at the legendary Midland studio Gargoyle Games, for a brilliant trip through the golden age of British 8-bit development. Stuart shares how he went from the Dragon 32 and early arcade obsessions to working on Scooby-Doo, Light Force, Shockway Rider, Hydrofool, ThunderCats and more, with stories of rapid-fire development, clever tricks to push the ZX Spectrum, digitised graphics, Rob Hubbard’s incredible turnaround times, the truth behind the “Wolf” and “Samurai Dawn” confusion, and even the lost ThunderCats NES port. A proper behind-the-scenes look at one of the UK’s most fascinating 1980s game studios.

Stuart's current project: https://www.wireadmin.com

Contents:

00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
50:41 – Gargoyle Games 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

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

A1200 Delayed: https://tinyurl.com/yfzd3wdd
Tomb Raider Side-Scroller: https://tinyurl.com/msn72sab
Tomb Raider On N64: https://tinyurl.com/bdfz8zds
C64 And Spectrum Handhelds: https://tinyurl.com/mwv2bj88
Zapped To The Past: https://tinyurl.com/2rvzth58
Cancelled Simpsons Game Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/4444m3aa
Ask.com Shuts Down: https://tinyurl.com/mr467yby
Resident Evil Teaser Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJPu1spHqfk