The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

What makes a truly great gaming community? Sean Baptiste, who helped grow Harmonix’s forum from a dozen diehards to hundreds of thousands of fans, shares what it really takes. From the secret struggles behind QA on Karaoke Revolution, to rocking out with the stars at the Grammys, Sean reflects on how fan feedback shaped Rock Band, how social media changed the game, and why authentic engagement still matters more than ever.Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 52:18 - Sean Baptiste Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comGo to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!Leeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesDan's Escapist Column: https://tinyurl.com/35srz7e8Mario 64 Dreamcast Port Impresses: https://tinyurl.com/chayc96wCombo Portable TV Demo: https://tinyurl.com/mp5fy7ckLost PS2-Style RPG Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/4rb98wfnCommodore Drive Turned PC: https://youtu.be/6loDwvG4CP87-Day Dark Souls Demake: https://tinyurl.com/2sp2bc57Yie Ar Kung-Fu Genesis Port: https://tinyurl.com/yc7y5pmx

This week we welcome Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, for a chat about the retro tech behind his biggest hits. From discovering MIDI to refusing upgrades for decades, Norman explains how the Atari ST became the backbone of his workflow, powering Beats International, Freak Power and every Fatboy Slim track right up to Eat Sleep Rave Repeat. We talk step-time sequencing, floppy disks, crashing STs, pirate radio, bedroom studios and how a track made 25 years ago on an Atari is still charting today. Fatboy Slim: https://www.fatboyslim.net/Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 47:59 - Fatboy Slim Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comMake this the year you finally learn a new language and save up to 60% while you’re at it by heading to https://babbel.com/RETRO and getting started today  Leeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesMy Arcade Mini Sega Arcades: https://tinyurl.com/bderxanvRoad Rash Gets a Spiritual Successor: https://tinyurl.com/yc266zz7Final Build of Cancelled Resident Evil Game Boy Color Port Discovered: https://tinyurl.com/2rfetz22Roguecraft DX Comes to Retro Platforms: https://tinyurl.com/4pa8nc8jLong-Lost Mega Drive Sequel to Pit Fighter Found: https://tinyurl.com/3knexpjdThe Sega Saturn Gets a New Miami Vice-Style Game in 2026: https://tinyurl.com/53nc55jj

This week we’re joined by Mike Tucker and Quang DX from Bitmap Bureau to talk about the making of Terminator 2D: No Fate. We hear how their lifelong love of Terminator 2 turned into a three-year obsession, why so many classic T2 games missed the mark, and how this project set out to put that right. From painstakingly recreating iconic film moments in pixel art, to difficulty balancing, licensing hurdles, hidden Easter eggs, and expanding the Future War beyond the film, this is the story of how the Terminator game fans always wanted finally became reality.  Bitmap Bureau: https://www.bitmapbureau.com/Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 55:33 - Terminator 2D: No Fate Interview Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.comLeeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesSonic Lands on the Amiga: https://tinyurl.com/4rckwhvwCelebrate 50 Years of Jaws: https://tinyurl.com/348uw48eCES Retro Tech: https://tinyurl.com/3fwpynyhModder Creates Switch-Style Dock for the Nintendo 3DS: https://youtu.be/Kqn9QqYMQOMThe Iconic QuickShot II Joystick Returns in 2026: https://tinyurl.com/2p9pr8k9Support for the Sega Dreamcast Web Browser Ends After 25 Years: https://tinyurl.com/4c9ppapcStreets of Rage 2 New Era v3 Out Now: https://tinyurl.com/3xd8jrx3

Happy New Year! As we kick off 2026, we’re treating everyone to something special: a FREE episode of The Retro Hour: After Hours, our podcast that’s usually exclusive to our Patreon supporters.After Hours is where Dan, Ravi, and Joe loosen the ties a bit and go deeper into retro gaming and technology. Longer chats, more personal opinions, and plenty of nostalgia that doesn’t always fit into the main show.This episode is a taste of what you get by joining our Patreon: • Loads of extra perks • A great way to support the podcast • Gold members get instant access to 50+ After Hours episodes, with new episodes every month👉 To sign up, head to theretrohour.comIn this episode:Dan, Ravi, and Joe look back over the last three decades of gaming and tech, sharing their personal top 5 innovations that truly changed the game forever.Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.comPLAY Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com

It’s our absolute favourite episode of the year once again, the Retro Hour Christmas Quiz is back! 🎄🎮This year, Paul Drury and Oliver Wilmot are taking on hosting duties, armed with festive cheer and plenty of tricky questions. Meanwhile, Dan, Ravi and Joe have each drafted in some of our wonderful Patrons to join their teams, because what’s Christmas without a bit of friendly competition and chaos?Expect laughs, questionable answers, retro knowledge put to the test, and the all-important bragging rights as everyone battles it out to be crowned this year’s Retro Hour Christmas Super Quiz champions.So grab a mince pie, pour yourself something festive, and settle in for a proper Christmas treat with the Retro Hour gang.Merry Christmas to all our amazing listeners, we'll see you in 2026!Paul Drury co-hosts The Ted Dabney Experience podcast – interviews with the leading lights and supporting cast of the Golden Age of Arcades: https://www.teddabneyexperience.com/Check out Oliver Wilmot’s regular Yet Another Video Games Quiz at: https://www.facebook.com/anotherquizNamcos Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/namcosPlease visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.comPLAY Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/The Retro Hour Book: https://retrohour.myshopify.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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com

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.comLeeds Gaming Market: https://leedsgamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesMy UFO Youth Book: https://tinyurl.com/42wdhyy7Retrobrighting Causes More Harm Than Good?: https://youtu.be/_n_WpjseCXANew Robin Hood Game for the C64 Impresses: https://tinyurl.com/rb7nj3tsRare Sonic Arcade Machine Goes to Auction: https://tinyurl.com/mfmd8c8fSpectrum Gets a New FPS: https://tinyurl.com/wha2ztrdM64 – A 4K FPGA Nintendo 64 Clone: https://tinyurl.com/5hcwhadnAcorn RiscOS Classic Returns on Steam: https://tinyurl.com/4akjdct5Windows 3.x Hotdog Stand Colour Scheme Origins: https://tinyurl.com/39x9nr7e

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.

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.comDoncaster Gaming Market: https://www.doncastergamingmarket.com/Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesMario 64 on the PlayStation: https://tinyurl.com/mst4wr2vZork goes open source: https://tinyurl.com/fscxdevfXbox Crocs: https://tinyurl.com/nb5yhvedDaytona USA returns: https://tinyurl.com/yvw3x72eModern paper tape reader: https://tinyurl.com/28b5p7y4TimeSplitters Rewind: https://www.timesplittersrewind.com/

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.htmlContents: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.comCheck out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesDreamcast Dream Disc 2025 Incoming: https://tinyurl.com/3cnwr6ekWoodgrain NES Almost Happened: https://tinyurl.com/ycx68xucCodemasters Archive Project: https://tinyurl.com/s4m4kcpeRidge Racer Hits the GBA: https://tinyurl.com/mub79zxkDuke Nukem 3D Gets Voxels: https://tinyurl.com/yezkyufeHunter 360 Controller: https://tinyurl.com/ee2j5mtr

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/ctrlaltreesPodcast 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.comCheck out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needsTake your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohourWe 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/retrohourJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8Website: http://theretrohour.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/X: https://twitter.com/retrohourukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohourShow notesGameTank: Next-Gen 8-Bit Hardware: https://tinyurl.com/25fvsykuAtari 50: Namco DLC: https://tinyurl.com/47w8ztfcEternal Hunters: New SNES RPG Revealed: https://tinyurl.com/mt6s387tTaito Offers $650 Bounty on Lost Tech: https://tinyurl.com/npr3m35bCommodore Name Battle Heats Up: https://tinyurl.com/46n7c3zaJurassic Systems Revives 1993 Hacker Vibes: https://jurassicsystems.com/