184: Lotus Turbo Challenge, Supercars, Kikstart with Shaun Southern - The Retro Hour EP184

This week we’re catching up with Andy Robert of the legendary Thalamus Software, for a chat about one of the most fascinating careers of the 8-bit era. From discovering computers via library games and typing in listings, to writing for Zzap!64 and Commodore Format, Andy shares incredible stories from the golden age of the Commodore 64. We dig into Creatures, Mayhem in Monsterland and that infamous 100% review score, the realities of magazine bias, late-night map drawing, and the risks of going indie before “indie” was a thing. Plus, we fast-forward to the modern Thalamus revival, deluxe boxed releases, Amiga hits like Roguecraft, and why nostalgia still needs to be done properly.Thalamus: https://www.thalamus.shop/Contents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 41:26 - Andy Roberts Thalamus 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 notesSonic R Platformer Mod: https://tinyurl.com/mu6e538jLemmings Reloaded On C64: https://tinyurl.com/hh856em2Lost Beavis & Butt-Head Game: https://tinyurl.com/h8wt9um9The Last Of Us Demake: https://tinyurl.com/2abjtn6cGamebox For Classic Mac: https://manticore.nz/gamebox

6 Feb 1h 53min

This week on The Retro Hour, we’re getting hands-on with the unsung heroes of gaming: video game controllers! We’re joined by Christian Wenk, author of Trigger Happy, a stunning visual celebration of over 200 iconic (and sometimes downright bizarre) controllers from gaming history. From mushy Commodore joysticks to the ergonomic oddities of the N64 and beyond, Christian shares the nostalgic stories, design quirks, and sheer passion that fuelled his epic project. Trigger Happy: https://tinyurl.com/2s4nyfpcContents:00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 59:11 - Christian Wenk 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 notesPS3 Mod Breaks Limits: https://tinyurl.com/339xt3kyEscape 2049 Hits Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/5n7n7npeAtari ST Mini Teased: https://tinyurl.com/3af6pxhxYakuza Arcade Game Ported: https://tinyurl.com/dzx7nepsAtari Hotel Scaled Down: https://tinyurl.com/3j9atphjNew Saturn Console Successor: https://tinyurl.com/3nzbfn78Artist Makes Wi-Fi Visible: https://youtu.be/moBCOEiqiPs

30 Jan 1h 47min

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

23 Jan 1h 55min

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

16 Jan 1h 45min

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

9 Jan 1h 47min

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.com In 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.com PLAY 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/retrohour Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com

5 Jan 1h 20min

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

22 Des 20252h 8min

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

12 Des 20251h 51min