421: Origin Systems, American Laser Games & Women in Gaming: Sheri Graner Ray - The Retro Hour EP421

We catch up with Rare's Paul Machacek to share the story of Stop ‘n’ Swop, a cancelled feature which aimed to allow elements in one game to unlock features in another, giving players a unique interconnected experience. Despite its ambitious scope that would have spanned across six Rare titles, the feature remained shrouded in mystery for years. We get the full story of one of gaming's most intriguing legends. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 45:45 - Paul Machacek 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 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Upcoming events we'll be at: Passione Amiga Day: https://passioneamigaday.it/en/home/ Show notes: Atari buys Atari Age: https://tinyurl.com/47yj2c69 Build your own Xbox 360: https://tinyurl.com/3zuvr5hk New Wii U homebrew servers: https://pretendo.network/ Triple Jump NES: https://tinyurl.com/5h2uwzra Portal de-Make for N64: https://tinyurl.com/3kedanpf

14 Sep 20231h 17min

This week, we dive into the enduring legacy of the Commodore 64, the iconic home computer that revolutionised personal computing. We chat with Jeff Schaap, the creator of "I Adore My 64," a new documentary that pays homage to this technological marvel, the passionate global community that keeps its spirit alive, and a real heartfelt tribute to a machine that was truly ahead of its time.  Support "I Adore My 64": https://tinyurl.com/5n6dwkyd 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 Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Mark Hill, Ramon 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 Upcoming events we'll be at: Passione Amiga Day: https://passioneamigaday.it/en/home/ Show notes: New Vectrex Controller: https://tinyurl.com/ynkch9m2 Rugrats Adventure in Gameland: https://tinyurl.com/2p8uhj9k Super A'Can on eBay: https://tinyurl.com/3cup97jx  https://youtu.be/Ycy861t9m_A?si=9O0LA5dXIYKd3Vlt DIY Retro CRT Cable TV Channel: https://youtu.be/luxFdsAkG80?si=vpEOR1ijVfpaGeMD Demon Claw Game Release: https://tinyurl.com/3n38mh97

8 Sep 20231h 33min

We chat with Grant Kirkhope and David Wise, iconic video game composers from Rare. Dive deep into their creative process, challenges, and legacy in the world of video game music, from 'Banjo-Kazooie' to 'Donkey Kong Country'.  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 Try Notion AI for free - Work faster. Write better. Think bigger: https://notion.com/retro Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Giro-lamo Castaldo, Håkon Puntervold, Daniel Louks 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 Upcoming events we'll be at: Passione Amiga Day: https://passioneamigaday.it/en/home/ Show notes: Microsoft to Close Xbox 360 Store: https://tinyurl.com/4yx88fym Broken Sword is Back: https://tinyurl.com/4pewmpbd Time Crisis Deluxe: https://tinyurl.com/yhpkb3mk Stunt Car Racer for Commodore Plus/4: https://tinyurl.com/4z4w5jud GeekyFab Announces USB-C Adapter For Sega Saturn 3D Control Pad: Run Linux on Commodore 64: https://tinyurl.com/4ayrjux5

31 Aug 20231h 30min

We chat to the legendary Chris Hinsley, one of the lead programmers at Mikro-Gen, a pioneering software house in the 1980s that produced games such as Pyjamarama, Everyone’s a Wally, and Equinox. Chris shared his memories of Mikro-Gen and his time on the groundbreaking TaOS, which almost became the next operating system for the Amiga. ChrysaLisp:  https://github.com/vygr/ChrysaLisp 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 Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Steve Q, Michal Klimek 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 Upcoming events we'll be at: Passione Amiga Day: https://passioneamigaday.it/en/home/ Show notes: The Return of the Atari 2600: https://tinyurl.com/ykjhb56r Turok 3 Remaster in the Works: https://tinyurl.com/yrdtjuxt Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster: https://tinyurl.com/4jxthddm The 7th Guest VR: https://youtu.be/OQt0EPl3kT0?si=FDdtucoLf5IFEgDV DuckTales Ported to the SNES: https://tinyurl.com/4jmxjssr

24 Aug 20231h 34min

This week we chat with industry luminary, Joby Otero. From his early artistic explorations on platforms like the TI99 and Atari 400 to groundbreaking titles like Darkseed and MDK, Joby's journey is a masterclass in evolution and innovation. Discover the stories behind unpublished gems like "Evolver", the artistic collaboration with H.R. Giger, and the  creation of the expansive True Crime series.  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 Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Glen Milford, Dustin Matteson 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 Upcoming events we'll be at: Retro Messa: https://retromessa.no/en/ Passione Amiga Day: https://passioneamigaday.it/en/home/ Show notes: Quake 2 Remaster: https://tinyurl.com/49btewz8 Retro Receivers for PS5 Controllers on PS1/2: https://tinyurl.com/8n9f49zh Self-aware Lara Croft Plays Tomb Raider: https://youtu.be/0wTf_bbkW2U Twin Peaks: The PS1 Game: https://tinyurl.com/4juh3cxp

17 Aug 20231h 28min

Remember the joy of opening a game case and finding a detailed manual inside? Sadly, many modern games have left this cherished tradition behind. But thanks to passionate enthusiasts like our guest Rowan Fox-Noble, gamers can once again experience the tactile pleasure of flipping through a beautifully designed game manual. We discuss the labour of love that goes into recreating these nostalgic treasures.  MPBUK: https://www.mbpuk.net/ Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.com/ Try Notion AI for free - Work faster. Write better. Think bigger: https://notion.com/retro Get 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Scott Gomersall,  Glen Milford 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 Upcoming events we'll be at: Retro Messa: https://retromessa.no/en/ Passione Amiga Day: https://passioneamigaday.it/en/home/ Show notes: Certainly! Here are the tidied up show notes: Show Notes: Teletext Worms on Amiga: https://tinyurl.com/bd76c7vf VR Emulation for Atari Jaguar: https://tinyurl.com/krvcju8e VideoBeast 8-bit Graphics Card: https://tinyurl.com/568h548d Never-Before-Seen Sonic-Xtreme Images: https://tinyurl.com/2bwu5ej4  Flashback 2 Trailer: https://youtu.be/x_UwLwZ7f3E

11 Aug 20231h 37min

This week, we take a deep dive into the illustrious career of gaming industry veteran, Michael Rubinelli. From his early days as a producer at Electronic Arts to his influential roles at THQ, Midway Games, and Capcom, working on classics like Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, the John Madden series and GTA III.  Wave Game Studios: https://www.wavegamestudios.com/ 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 Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Scott Gomersall,  Glen Milford 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 Upcoming events we'll be at: Retro Messa: https://retromessa.no/en/ Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Evercade Reveals New Titles: https://tinyurl.com/ym83w7a9 8BitDo Unveils NES Style Keyboard: https://tinyurl.com/ydyktnt2 Classic Pokemon Games Ported to the SNES: https://youtu.be/e8SKOCk1FJg Vintage Apple Trainers on Sale for $50K: https://tinyurl.com/yvmrkrda Footage of Cancelled Mega Drive Indiana Jones Game Appears Online: https://tinyurl.com/29yekzkb

3 Aug 20231h 31min

This week, we're in conversation with Daniel Crocker from Wave Game Studios, the force behind some remarkable new titles for the Sega Dreamcast. Not only are they breathing new life into legendary games like Postal through porting, but they're also making waves with their innovative titles. Among these is Driving Strikers, a Rocket League-inspired game that marks the first Dreamcast game to support online play in over two decades. We'll also delve into Shadow Gangs, a beat 'em up game that draws inspiration from the classic Streets of Rage.  Wave Game Studios: https://www.wavegamestudios.com/ Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books https://www.bitmapbooks.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 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Upcoming events we'll be at: Retro Messa: https://retromessa.no/en/ Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Space Invaders World Defense: https://tinyurl.com/2pwadkne Half-Life 2 LEGO Edition: https://tinyurl.com/5d44k6s7 Atari Launches Reproduction Arcade PCBs: https://tinyurl.com/yvt6n3e5 New PS1/PS2 Memory Card: https://tinyurl.com/mrynkct7 MegaVision Software: https://www.megavision-software.com/

28 Juli 20231h 24min