The Settlers II is finally coming to the Amiga but you'll need a beefy setup to get it running. The Spectrum has a fantastic looking platformer called Cubix which appears to get the Spectrum doing things it shouldn't. We talk about a top 10 of apparent bad tech and get ready to throw around obscene amounts of money as Kevin Toms once again invites you to become a Football Star Manager.

Thanks to Pixel Addict magazine for supporting us. If you would like the latest copy of the tech history magazine OR if you would like to write an article for it then head over to www.addict.media

00:00 - Show Opening

04:38 - In Defense Of Also-Rans

24:26 - Managing Football Like It’s 1982

39:04 - Housekeeping - News links found below

45:00 - That Settles It

54:59 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

News In Brief Links:

Dragonlance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtNYGdDccG0

Barn Of Retro: https://youtu.be/xnNxKAv7SMs?si=fT-5fRpZQoksr5w3

Laserdisc Emulation: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/08/sega-laserdisc-emulation-has-just-taken-a-major-leap-forward

SACD: https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/05/sacd-albums-put-cds-vinyl-shame/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMJhMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpFtEp0BLaRwWltK02KBazrg3XIuKaSL2P3C2xcrL7AKNaNP2mM3eUhmTLJL_aem_-NLuD8VPNbLLCvOGn6v2iQ

Mega65 Digest: https://dansanderson.com/mega65/so-many-things/

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

America Online is hanging up on its dial-up service. Hexen and Heretic are remastered. We talk retro retail stores big and small. Plus a handful of other retro stories in brief.

Stick around to the end for your answers to the Community Question Of The Week. 

Could we trouble you to leave us a review on your platform of choice? Let us know if you do and you'll probably get a mention!

00:00 - Show Opening

02:38 - The Screaming Is Silenced

14:53 - Heretic and Hexen Are Remastered!

24:27 - Housekeeping - News links found below

30:44 - Retro Retail

43:48 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

News In Brief Links:

BBC Forgotten Internet: https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20250731-a-journey-into-the-heart-of-the-forgotten-internet

I Made A Floppy Disk: https://youtu.be/TBiFGhnXsh8?si=s1iaBj16TTIeLGXi

Amiga A600 Flight Sim Cabinet: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1mkrpg1/anyone_want_an_active_amiga_flightsim_cabinet/

MOS6502  Is 50!: https://hackaday.com/2025/08/04/happy-birthday-6502/

Computer Entertainer Magazine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnckC-JuOR0

FPGA BBC Computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gGAg9Er1yU

Yes, its another show with Commodore in the title but things are happening! The original D&D megadungeon has returned...again! Do you remember the creation of the computer phone? Let the BBC remind you.

All this plus news of a new C64 mini with all NEW games as well as a Mac mini which may not be around for too long.

Pixel Addict issue number 29 features reviews of some of the latest retro games: Capcom Arcade Stadium (Switch/Xbox/PC/PS4), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind (Switch/Xbox/Steam/PS5) and Old Towers (Atari Jaguar). Grab your copy at https://www.addict.media/

00:00 - Show Opening

02:53 - Fun & Challenges Keeping Up With C=s

23:54 - Let’s Go Back To Where It All Began

36:48 - Housekeeping - News links found below

42:07 - The Computer Phone

57:15 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

News In Brief Links:

30 Years Of Descent: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/07/remembering-descent-the-once-popular-fully-3d-6dof-shooter/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=null

AmigaCF Adaptor: https://gitlab.com/autumnhippo/amigacf

Mini Mac: https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/07/29/buy-a-24-inch-macintosh-plus-before-apple-stops-you

Amiga Prototype: https://www.reddit.com/r/amiga/comments/1mg63k7/the_amiga_prototype_demoed_at_ces/

Football Manager Re-release: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-creator-of-the-original-1982-football-manager-is-porting-it-to-steam-jokes-its-the-only-football-manager-coming-this-year/

C64 Built From Scratch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvHDKfl2Tjo

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

Put on your party hats and prepare the party poppers for it is time to celebrate the Amiga's 40th Anniversary. We take a look at some of the recent retro events and the interesting discussions that took place there. A valuable retro computing resource has had an upgrade, the Retro Directory hits v2.0!

All of this plus a number of updates on previously covered topics and a few new interesting items in brief. Oh and don't forget your answers to this week's Community Question Of The Week.

00:00 - Show Opening

01:32 - Amiga Turns 40

22:07 - This Week In Nerdfests

40:43 - Housekeeping - News links found below

49:51 - Retro Directory Turns Two Point Oh

55:42 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

News In Brief Links

SuperFX SNES Doom Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYN0twdMiDk

Spectrum Next Issue 3: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spectrumnext/zx-spectrum-next-issue-3-0

OnceWereNerd Update: https://www.androidauthority.com/once-were-nerd-youtuber-not-innocent-3579610/

Stop Killing Games Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo

Atari 2500+ PacMan Edition: https://www.eurogamer.net/ataris-classic-2600-console-re-release-is-getting-an-aggressively-yellow-pac-man-edition

Tape Storage Is Not Dead: https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/23/lto_2024_tape_shipment_data/

VAX Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-iA_9U3WTc

Half Life 2 Train Fixed: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/after-18-years-a-surprise-half-life-2-update-makes-it-once-again-possible-to-beat-a-honking-train-on-highway-17

Acorn Discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1makzdx/is_there_a_timeline_where_acorn_were_the/

Issue Three of the Spectrum Next computer smashed its Kickstarter goal in mere hours, and brings some important upgrades!Just how naughty are pre-loaded consoles and can they get you into trouble? Seems like they can. Let's talk about the missing Apple computer, the Mark Twain-edition IIGS.

Pixel Addict issue number 29 features reviews of some of the latest retro games: Capcom Arcade Stadium (Switch/Xbox/PC/PS4), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind (Switch/Xbox/Steam/PS5) and Old Towers (Atari Jaguar). Grab your copy at https://www.addict.media/

00:00 - Show Opening

02:58 - Next Up : Round Three

15:16 - Are Pre-Loaded Retro Consoles Legit?

29:18 - Housekeeping - News links found below

35:14 - Mark Twain: The Missing Apple Computer

52:42 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

News In Brief Links:

Atari Vs Gemini: https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/14/atari_chess_vs_gemini/

CPU Of RAM: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/a-diy-mad-scientist-from-poland-built-his-own-cpu-out-of-dozens-of-ancient-memory-chips/

RIP Dr Ramond "Dickie" Bird: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1m0rhk2/rip_roger_johnson_obituary_dr_raymond_dickie_bird/

4 Modern Atari ST & Falcon Replacements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3OCxiUJ0Y4

Retro Games Updated Release Schedule: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4t5sdAiig0

BBC Highlights Retro Gaming: https://youtu.be/ESc7hkdkBZw?si=b3Dgy7uMnqn1uLF1

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

Find out which one of us has ordered the new Commodore 64 Ultimate! How did people feel about technology changing the job market in the 1980s? Doom! Yes it is back with another new implementation but this one uses something a bit snazzy on the SNES!

All this plus other retro news and views along with your answers to the Community Question Of The Week. 

00:00 - Show Opening

03:11 - The Ultimate Commodore 64

21:01 - The Good Work

38:35 - Housekeeping - News links found below

43:56 - BFG Super FX3

52:17 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

News In Brief Links:

PatmanQC Passes: https://www.youtube.com/@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries/posts

Scott Adams 16K Adventure: https://www.facebook.com/636370982/posts/10161646809335983/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=cpbfTcHILNCdYoy9

Dad Plays Dark Souls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t76sOtfvgNk

Gamers Switching To Retro: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy48w4xxg2jo?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLfcfpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHvh3uVS-6V259lIwm-gGEpehlgtsMZDd29lBwmSTX9-Qxd9ShfVmreC2-_Li_aem_f2UaTP0V5HkVl3Pjk_A4qw

Dracula Hunter: https://arlagames.itch.io/dracula-hunter

Discworld Noir: https://youtu.be/PKlOCMjaGdc?si=yPruv4GtvmCYJMli

Hello and welcome to this week's look at retro computing and gaming goodness. eXoIF is a new release that contains almost 900 interactive fiction titles, Jason is pretty excited about it. Dave takes a look at a few pieces of hardware that are making big noises. Chris has been watching a new YouTube video all about everyone's favourite games publisher that used an awesome looking owl logo...wonder which one that could be.

All this as well as a bumper number of quick news items in brief!

Thanks to Pixel Addict magazine for supporting us for this episode. Issue 29 is now available where Richard C. Hewison takes you behind the scenes of his time as a games tester for Telecomsoft, the powerhouse behind legendary labels Firebird and Rainbird. Visit addict.media for all the details.

00:00 - Show Opening

03:28 - Would You Shell Out 16 Gigabytes To Match Wits With This?

31:14 - Upgrades Update

48:06 - Housekeeping - News links found below

55:21 - Twit Tawoo

01:07:47 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

News In Brief Links:

Seiko RC-1000: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Ft06lv9gsww9f1.jpeg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26s%3D8b787a7144e37ed9f55ba4903089f97d293d77ee

Head Over Heels Sequel: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/06/for-over-35-years-a-sequel-to-head-over-heels-has-been-developed-by-one-man-in-secret-and-its-coming-to-amiga-and-st-this-year

ISEVIC: https://github.com/Bloodmosher/ISEVIC?tab=readme-ov-file

Maplic Back Online: https://www.standard.co.uk/business/high-street-maplin-electronics-administration-retail-b1233586.html

1980s High End Advert: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fga8peisgji7f1.jpeg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26s%3D47b6c2c72e573f1368ccc19e88417426d8c1365a

Atari Falcon Chip Scan: https://mikrosk.github.io/decap/#what-is-this-about

DOS Intro Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZW3meRiW7hp8uPYl5m91vw

Frogger 2 Source Code: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEO4IaEJlw

Apple Power Mac Team Photo: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/after-27-years-engineer-discovers-how-to-display-secret-photo-in-power-mac-rom/

Fatboy Slim Atari ST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLjgXPDzeZo

Rob Smith Likes To Whack A Mole: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/this-whack-a-mole-with-floppy-disks-running-on-an-amiga-looks-equal-parts-hilarious-and-surprisingly-difficult/

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

Back with a longer than usual show this week but we have three great topics to get into. Can Commodore really be saved? The last "format" magazine closes. Finally, did you know that Ben Collins (once Top Gear's Stig) is an old school gamer? He took a shot at an Outrun record.

00:00 - Show Opening

03:04 - That Is Not Dead Which Can Eternal Lie, and With Crowdfunding, Even Death May Die

36:21 - No Magazines? Ask Your Newsagent!

54:42 - Housekeeping

56:11 - Outrunning The Stig

01:11:37 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

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

ChatGPT makes excuses as to why an Atari 2600 beat it at chess. Wing Commander gets a neat update to stop it getting ahead of itself on modern systems and an Atari 2600 Earthquake gets some attention. 

00:00 - Show Opening

04:05 - Checkmate For ChatGPT

20:46 - Wing Commander

31:18 - Housekeeping - News links found below

39:51 - Plug It In, Plug It In

55:33 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

News in Briefs Links:

BBC Commercial Breaks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buuUZFh_pyk

Another World on ScummVM: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1289154789877776&id=100063498013296&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=WVgyuy3tfVgiebat

C64Audio.com Closing: https://c64audio.com/

Spectrum R-Type: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5lKs5jlB5n8

Case and Keys For ZX Mechtrum: https://hackaday.com/2025/06/02/the-keyboard-sinclair-never-made/

Atari 2600 Random Code: https://bbenchoff.github.io/pages/FiniteAtari.html

Join us as we talk about the Atari ST as it turns 40 years old! The Dolphin emulator gets an update and GOG puts its cards on the table regarding game preservation.

All this and a cat attack plus your answers to the Community Question Of The Week.

Pixel Addict magazine issue 29 is ready! Latest retro games reviewed: Capcom Arcade Stadium (Switch/Xbox/PC/PS4), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind (Switch/Xbox/Steam/PS5) and Old Towers (Atari Jaguar). Head over to https://www.addict.media/

00:00 - Show Opening

03:11 - Happy 40th My Old Friend

Additional Link 1: https://www.youtube.com/@gearsofgames

21:55 - You Ride That Dolphin!

40:40 - Housekeeping - News links found below

47:41 - For GOGs Sake!

1:00:46 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!

Youtube:

Audio Podcast:

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!

Housekeeping Links:

£40,000 gone. Why I'm not being paid for my book : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLWsSQf8Mjs

Pensioner Gamers : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c861egvqlzjo

Old Skool Cool : https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fy53bms3xdv4f1.jpeg

Bill Atkinson Passes : https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Ftrscfdckcn5f1.png%3Fwidth%3D1126%26format%3Dpng%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D9bff2e4457ab618cc3c86ed34904a2562bf1c3e5

PCW9256 Online : https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2F2580zqhjjs4f1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1349%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3De8b268f76d81a6ae362711ec8f47697d5d6a1032

Boulderdash : https://spillhistorie.no/2025/06/06/how-boulder-dash-was-created/