This week, we’re joined by Eugene Sandulenko, project lead of the legendary ScummVM, to explore how this essential tool preserves gaming history. From its origins to supporting classics like Blade Runner and lesser-known gems, Eugene shares fascinating stories about reverse engineering, community passion, and overcoming challenges like LucasArts’ legal battles. Plus, we discuss how ScummVM adapts to modern trends, supports countless platforms, and even improves the retro gaming experience without losing its charm. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 
41:03 - Eugene Sandulenko Interview

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Show notes

Capcom and Bandai Namco handheld: https://tinyurl.com/3nnvwms3
Atari handheld: https://tinyurl.com/2j95myyk
Kero Quest 64: https://tinyurl.com/wnb8ay3b
House of the Dead 2 remake: https://tinyurl.com/4kjjx8uc
Atari prototype found: https://tinyurl.com/5xeszd5s

This week on The Retro Hour, we’re joined by gaming legend Jez San OBE, the mastermind behind classics like StarGlider, the groundbreaking SuperFX chip, and the much-loved Croc: Legend of the Gobbos. From his early days coding on a TRS-80 to working with Nintendo on Star Fox, Jez shares his journey through the golden age of gaming. Hear how he reverse-engineered the Game Boy, created stunning 3D experiences, and built Argonaut into a pioneering powerhouse. Plus, exciting insights into the upcoming Croc remaster and the rebirth of Argonaut!

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 
44:05 - Jez San 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

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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:

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Show notes

The Spectrum outsells the Xbox: https://tinyurl.com/tu6bu6c3
Snes version of Batman Returns now on Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/nupwkx8x
Secret hidden in Majora’s Mask found: https://youtu.be/W1x6XnTaN28
New FPGA PS1: https://x.com/TakiUdon_/status/1877179623026397528
Soviet bots: https://youtu.be/GdLLPRsgsV8

As we take an extended break for Christmas, we're treating everyone to a FREE bonus episode of our Patron's only podcast, The Retro Hour After Hours.

In this special episode of The Retro Hour After Hours, Dan, Ravi, and Joe face a challenge that many gamers fear – giving some of the most notoriously awful video games of all time a fair shot!

Will Joe have anything positive to say about Shaq Fu? How did Ravi react to the sleazy BMX XXX? And Dan revisits his 1994 Christmas present and gives Rise of The Robots a proper work out, is it really as bad as we all remember?

Normal podcasts will resume next Friday.

Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:

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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:

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It's our favourite episode of the year, we let our hair down and find out who will be crowned this year's Retro Hour Christmas Super Quiz champions!

DJ Slopes from Slopes Game Room on Youtube sets the all important questions this year as regulars Paul Drury from Retro Gamer/Edge magazine and quiz extraordinaire Oliver Wilmot, take on Dan and Joe and Ravi and Ashley to find out who will be crowned this year's champ. Grab a mince pie, and enjoy!

Merry Christmas to all our amazing listeners, we'll see you in 2025!

Slopes Game Room on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@slopesgameroom

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/anotherquiz

Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:

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Take your business to the next level today and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for £1/month: https://shopify.co.uk/retrohour

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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:

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Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd

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Join us for an epic look back at 2024 as we celebrate some of the most incredible guests and legendary industry icons who’ve graced the podcast this year. From fascinating stories to behind-the-scenes tales, this bumper episode is packed with highlights you won’t want to miss.

Have a very Merry Christmas, and don’t forget to join us next week for our festive Christmas quiz!

Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:

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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:

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Show notes:

Netscape: The Spectacular Rise and Fall with Tara Hernandez - The Retro Hour EP452: http://bit.ly/3Df8jnW
Inside SEGA's Golden Era: A Chat with Mike Fischer - The Retro Hour EP411: https://bit.ly/3ZUWmgg
Comix Zone: Creating a Mega Drive Cult Classic - The Retro Hour EP457:
https://bit.ly/4g9CJGX
Amstrad CPC 40th Anniversary with Roland Perry Pt 1 - The Retro Hour EP425:
https://bit.ly/4g7razQ
Yoko Shimomura: The Music of Street Fighter II & Kingdom Hearts - The Retro Hour EP444: https://bit.ly/4gaUMfD
Resurrecting Arcades: Meet Europe’s Biggest Arcade Importer - The Retro Hour EP453: https://bit.ly/3ZOfcp8
Domark: The Inside Story With Co-Founder Dominic Wheatley - The Retro Hour EP416: https://bit.ly/3DbnAWJ
Orbital: Paul Hartnoll on Rave Culture & Video Game Music - The Retro Hour EP431: https://bit.ly/3VDioBD
Secrets of id Software Marketing: Mike Wilson’s Insider Stories - The Retro Hour EP439: https://bit.ly/41rXoBr
Revolution in the Valley: The Birth of the Apple Macintosh - The Retro Hour EP440: https://bit.ly/4ix4w5z
From Bullfrog to Two Point: Syndicate, Theme Hospital and Beyond with Mark Webley & Gary Carr: https://bit.ly/3VExjLD
Strategic Simulations & Saints Row - The Retro Hour EP450: https://bit.ly/49Cnhk3
The Father of Internet Radio: Carl Malamud - The Retro Hour EP419: https://bit.ly/4ixSI32
Dragon's Lair to Disney: The Journey of Darlene Lacey - The Retro Hour EP434: https://bit.ly/3DeX4Mp
Burnout 1&2 to Sonic Rivals with Joe Bonar - The Retro Hour EP428: https://bit.ly/3ZxgMdz

We have a long overdue catch up with video game music legend Allister Brimble to discuss his illustrious career, from his early days composing for the Amiga to his recent work on the officially endorsed reboot of Team 17’s classic, Project-X. Discover the stories behind iconic soundtracks for games like Alien Breed and RollerCoaster Tycoon, and gain insight into Brimble’s creative process, his experiences with industry giants like Codemasters and Disney, and his thoughts on the evolution of game music from the 1980s to today. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 
44:27 - Allister Brimble 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

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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:

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https://www.patreon.com/retrohour

Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd

Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8

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Show notes:

Build NES Games with GB Studio Hack: https://tinyurl.com/5ftwckcf
Sega Shuts Down the Super Sega FPGA Project: https://tinyurl.com/4t649exk
Kirito: A YouTuber Beat ’Em Up for the Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/47kmzy9u
Victory Heat Rally Coming to Switch: https://tinyurl.com/53stjmvb
Sony Leadership Initially Dismissed the PS1: https://tinyurl.com/467tdm5z

In this episode, we sit down with Adrian Stephens, the legendary developer behind the Mega Drive cult classic Comix Zone. Adrian takes us on a fascinating journey through his career, starting with early experiments on the BBC Micro, his chart-topping Killer Gorilla, and his work with Superior Software and Micro Power.  Plus, hear about his move to 3D with True Crime: Streets of LA.

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 
38:38 - Adrian Stephens 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

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/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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Show notes:

Jaguar comes to iPhone: https://tinyurl.com/597vdbsv
Sonic 3 the movie on Genesis cart: https://tinyurl.com/yvnh8wht
Real-life Pac-Man: https://tinyurl.com/5n8xvkna
Codename Iceman fan hack: https://tinyurl.com/bdd45nrd

In this episode, we sit down with Jon Bøhmer, the visionary behind Scala, the groundbreaking multimedia software for the Commodore Amiga. Jon shares his early experiences with computers, the inspiration behind creating dynamic information displays, and the journey from a small startup to a global influence in digital signage. We delve into the technical challenges, collaborations with industry pioneers, and Scala’s lasting impact on multimedia presentations. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 
42:59 - Jon Bøhmer 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

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/retrohour

Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd

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

Show notes:

More lost Sega Channel games found: https://tinyurl.com/59ys9sdr
Battle Chest remaster, and Warcraft 1 and 2 remasters: https://youtu.be/ryZ2jiW95qo
GOG launches preservation program: https://tinyurl.com/y68xetee
Wings of Death for Jaguar: https://tinyurl.com/mmx9k4z7
Epic don’t mind you pirating Unreal: https://tinyurl.com/mvavsppd

This week, we’re joined by Chris Long, a former programmer at Core Design, to uncover the fascinating stories behind some of the studio’s most iconic titles. From his early days creating the quirky Merv The Merciless for Probe Software, to the smash-hit Chuck Rock and its sequel, Chris gives us an insider’s view into the creativity and chaos of Core in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. We delve into the tools of the trade, the challenges of transitioning to 3D with the PlayStation, and the untold tales of Rick Dangerous 2, Swagman, and Wonderdog. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 
40:22 - Chris Long 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
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Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

New cheat code found in Donkey Kong Country 2: https://tinyurl.com/5n6teuce
Sega delists most of its retro games: https://tinyurl.com/2z3bptu8
Mega Drive tracker: https://tinyurl.com/rydpwvda
Lost Commodore 64 game uncovered by archivists: https://tinyurl.com/5n76he7c
Captain Square Jaw demo released for the Spectrum Next: https://tinyurl.com/mr2pmsf3

This week, we’re joined by Kevin Kilstrom formerly of Monolith Productions, the masterminds behind the iconic 90s horror FPS Blood. Kevin reveals how Blood pushed boundaries with its over-the-top gore, dark humour, and multiplayer BloodBath mode, as well as sharing behind-the-scenes stories from working on the project. Plus, we get a glimpse into his work on other classics like Claw, Shogo, and Alien vs. Predator 2. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 
53:39 - Kevin Kilstrom 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
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour

Show notes:

Nintendo Music App Launches: https://tinyurl.com/yu6u9urj
Fan-Made Monkey Island Game Available: https://tinyurl.com/ajc39zkm
New House of the Dead Movie Announced: https://tinyurl.com/2x53w7ky
iPod Clickwheel Games Preserved: https://tinyurl.com/bmsyretf
Atari Acquires Transport Tycoon IP: https://tinyurl.com/3xy4ax4f
Atari Jaguar T-Shirts Available: https://tinyurl.com/yupbscjd

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Chris Blok, the co-owner of Amsterdam’s legendary Blast Galaxy and Europe’s largest arcade importer. Chris takes us on an incredible journey through his life as an arcade enthusiast, from his earliest gaming experiences in the Netherlands to witnessing the boom and decline of arcades. We discuss everything from the challenges of importing and restoring rare machines, to his plans for keeping arcade culture alive and thriving. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 
36:44 - Chris Blok 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:

Analogue 3D: https://tinyurl.com/5277bbe3
SpeedBall Reboot: https://tinyurl.com/4bsywekv
Fable Demake: https://tinyurl.com/3a9t982v
New Mega Drive Evercade Cart: https://tinyurl.com/2s3enynr
Atari Decanter Set: https://tinyurl.com/4upd3nz8