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/

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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

We catch up with Jason Lindsey, better known as 'Metal Jesus Rocks' – a YouTube sensation and former Sierra On-Line employee. We hear about his recent reunion with the legendary Sierra team, reminiscing about the glory days of one of the most iconic companies in PC gaming history. Jason shares behind-the-scenes stories from his time at Sierra, from wild office parties to the transition from accounting to game testing, and his passion for big-box PC games. Plus, we get the inside scoop on his memorable retro road trips, favourite game room treasures, and what's next for his channel as it nears a million subscribers!

MetalJesusRocks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEFymXY4eFCo_AchSpxwyrg

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

43:59 - Metal Jesus 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:

Croc is back: https://youtu.be/dQ2lPC8Hu-0

Dreamconn S controller: https://tinyurl.com/4etsp2xs

Mech boomer shooter: https://tinyurl.com/msf2vfsu

EmuDeck retro emulation box: https://tinyurl.com/3pzzrx6k

Restless Anima: https://tinyurl.com/bdder4fw

This week, we’re honoured to be joined by the legendary Japanese composer Yoko Shimomura, the musical genius behind some of the most iconic video game soundtracks of all time including Street Fighter II, and the enchanting melodies of Kingdom Hearts.  We explore her incredible career and the creative process behind these timeless scores.  Recorded live at RetroMessa in Norway. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

42:31 - Yoko Shimomura 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/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk

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

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

Show notes:

The Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/y97brnzv

Sonic CD ported to Mega Drive: https://youtu.be/uXDfIk3h-8g

Computer Café archived: https://tinyurl.com/2p8sxrzj

King's Quest VI demake: https://tinyurl.com/yc3p4hkk

Retro-Bit Sega Saturn fighting stick: https://tinyurl.com/3s9483bw

In this episode, we sit down with the Peter Scott, a developer who has left his mark on some of the most intriguing projects in gaming history. From his early days coding on the VIC-20 and BBC Micro to his groundbreaking work at TierTex and Psygnosis.  We hear the story behind the cancelled Waterworld game for the 3DO and PlayStation, and the impact of working on a game tied to such a polarising movie. 

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

47:41 - Pete Scott 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:

Atari 7800+ announced: https://tinyurl.com/4ksfr64r

New Final Fight comic book: https://tinyurl.com/3833zsk3

Nintendo Museum Direct: https://tinyurl.com/4f6mz38k

Console Wars sneakers: https://tinyurl.com/2p9zrm37

Masters of Albion: https://tinyurl.com/36dv99uv