Episodes

  • 452: Netscape vs Internet Explorer: Stories from the 90s Browser Wars - The Retro Hour EP451

    452: Netscape vs Internet Explorer: Stories from the 90s Browser Wars - The Retro Hour EP451
    Oct 24 2024
    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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    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
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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • 451: Soccer Kid: The Inside Story with Matt Furniss - The Retro Hour EP451

    451: Soccer Kid: The Inside Story with Matt Furniss - The Retro Hour EP451
    Oct 18 2024
    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
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    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 20 mins
  • 450: Strategic Simulations & Saints Row - The Retro Hour EP450

    450: Strategic Simulations & Saints Row - The Retro Hour EP450
    Oct 11 2024
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 41 mins
  • 449: System 3: The Last Ninja Story with Mark Cale - The Retro Hour EP449

    449: System 3: The Last Ninja Story with Mark Cale - The Retro Hour EP449
    Oct 4 2024
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 47 mins
  • 448: Gadget Show Legend Jason Bradbury: Can Retro Gamers Stop a Rogue AI? - The Retro Hour EP448

    448: Gadget Show Legend Jason Bradbury: Can Retro Gamers Stop a Rogue AI? - The Retro Hour EP448
    Sep 26 2024
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 48 mins
  • 447: Chris Huelsbeck: Turrican 2, R-Type & The Great Giana Sisters - The Retro Hour EP447

    447: Chris Huelsbeck: Turrican 2, R-Type & The Great Giana Sisters - The Retro Hour EP447
    Sep 19 2024
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 35 mins
  • 446: Core Design and Rare Ltd - The 90's 3D Gaming Revolution - The Retro Hour EP445

    446: Core Design and Rare Ltd - The 90's 3D Gaming Revolution - The Retro Hour EP445
    Sep 13 2024
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 44 mins
  • 445: Sierra Stories with Metal Jesus Rocks - The Retro Hour EP445

    445: Sierra Stories with Metal Jesus Rocks - The Retro Hour EP445
    Sep 5 2024
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 42 mins