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!

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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:

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

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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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
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

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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:

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

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/

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:

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