The History Of Shoot 'Em Ups - This Week In Retro 256

DJ Slope of @slopesgameroom is our guest for this week's dive into the history of shoot 'em up games of all shapes and sizes. In other departments we examine the claim that 1996 changed computing history forever and explore whether handheld retro tech can defeat the modern scourge of doomscrolling. Plus news in classic tech ranging from the Nabu to the CIDCO Mailstation, on Episode 256 of This Week in Retro.

Visit https://www.addict.media/ for your copy of Pixel Addict magazine.

00:00 - Show Opening

02:23 - Shmups Away Story

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9GFX6lIbeE

20:59 - 1996 Really Was A Big Deal Story

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM1gXDZsMO0

Additional link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OHkrQYSmtE

38:01 - Housekeeping - News links found below

44:07 - Doomscrolling Defeated

Story Link: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/feb/09/how-a-decades-old-video-game-has-helped-me-defeat-the-doomscroll

56:42 - Community Question of the Week

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This Week in Retro is a weekly roundup of the hottest stories from the world of retro gaming and computing, voted on by you, the listener! Hosted by Chris from 005 AGIMA, Jason from The Retro Adventurers and Dave. Edited by Duncan Styles.

News In Brief Links

Original GTA Working On PC: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/grand-theft-auto/a-gta-modder-has-got-the-1997-original-working-perfectly-on-modern-pcs-and-steam-deck-and-its-a-joy-to-behold-i-wanted-pick-up-and-play-gta-on-windows-with-the-best-possible-compatibility-without-classic-installation/

BBC WAP: https://youtu.be/CYW0LngZ7v8?si=YP7ne10BFTEEWMyJ

Unreal Tournament: https://www.oldunreal.com/downloads/ut2004/full-game-installers/

Barn Find Nabu: https://glassalmanac.com/2200-vintage-computers-sat-in-a-barn-for-23-years-sold-on-ebay-for-under-e100-each/

Outrun On Apple Watch: https://youtu.be/fAXkovTMOvY?si=JAL8F0wD8y6wrseS

The Last Z80 Mass Market Machine: https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/11/last_z80_machine/

Episode Credits

"File:Amstrad CPC464.jpg" by Bill Bertram is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5

Parts of "How the Shoot ’Em Up Genre Was Born" courtesy of Pixel Playback

See the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9GFX6lIbeE

Parts of "This rare BeBox still works!" courtesy of PCWorld and The Retro Roadshow

See the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OHkrQYSmtE