481: Tony Warriner & Stoo Cambridge’s UrbX Warriors: A Masterpiece for the ZX Spectrum Next - The Retro Hour EP481

This week, we're joined by gaming icon Tod Frye, known for the Atari 2600's Pac-Man and the Swordquest series​. We explore Pac-Man's controversial development story, its effects on Atari, and delve into the innovative, ambitious Swordquest series and the mysterious missing treasures. 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 issues of your favourite Future Publishing gaming mag (Play, Edge, Retro Gamer and PC Gamer) for just £1 each: https://www.magazinesdirect.com/retrotrial      Get 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Joe, Lee Mintram 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: Kickstart UK: https://www.amigashow.com/  Retro Messa: https://retromessa.no/en/ Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Nintendo announces remake of Super Mario RPG: https://tinyurl.com/36a7vd3u Rare WHITE Sega Genesis spotted: https://tinyurl.com/3xfuh4pt MicroBeast: https://tinyurl.com/52wtpjyx Xbox has been losing the console wars since 2001: https://tinyurl.com/4nzzv6f5 Metroid Mega Mission for Sega Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/5n7xewvm

30 Juni 20231h 30min

On this week's podcast, we journey into the heart of the classic strategy game, Age of Empires 2, with none other than its Lead Designer, Mark Terrano. Not stopping there, Mark also shares his unique insights from his time as the Technical Game Manager for Microsoft during the launch of the original Xbox, shedding light on the early days of Xbox Live.   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 Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Shane Goggin, Ross Murphy, James Hannigan 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: Kickstart UK: https://www.amigashow.com/  Retro Messa: https://retromessa.no/en/ Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Dreamcast dev-kit shows up in a recycle shop: https://tinyurl.com/yvatu2uh Help finish a c64 RPG: https://tinyurl.com/bdhx8ct3  Memcard pro for Game Cube: https://tinyurl.com/2p9w72ds Atari release first 2600 cart in 30 years: https://tinyurl.com/mphvswzu

22 Juni 20231h 27min

We delve into the fascinating world of Bulletin Board Systems with Al's Geek Lab, the creator of the awesome YouTube series 'Back to the BBS'. We explore how BBSs laid the groundwork for today's Internet, the artistic flair of ANSI art, and the enduring allure of BBS games and mods and why the scene is thriving again today. Back To The BBS Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/2ur5mwcs 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 issues of your favourite Future Publishing gaming mag (Play, Edge, Retro Gamer and PC Gamer) for just £1 each: https://www.magazinesdirect.com/retrotrial      Get 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Andreas Sunna, Kev Sanders 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: Kickstart UK: https://www.amigashow.com/  Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Monkey Island Sea of Thieves crossover: https://youtu.be/DOWILvQGVz4 Capcom Town: https://captown.capcom.com/en Iron Meat new contra type game: https://tinyurl.com/36d4c523 Croc HD is being worked on: https://retrododo.com/croc-hd/

15 Juni 20231h 33min

Join us for a deep dive into the iconic 1984 video game "Montezuma's Revenge" with its creator, Rob Jaeger. Delve into the mind of a then 16-year-old game designer and discover the untold stories of this gaming masterpiece, including features that didn't make it to the final cut. Montezuma's Revenge on Steam: https://tinyurl.com/2s3hswhh 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: Kickstart UK: https://www.amigashow.com/  Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Mega Drive game sells for almost £8000: https://tinyurl.com/yzxrn6pn Wii XL: https://youtu.be/fdk9Ka8_YtY Immortal Joysticks Kickstarter: https://tinyurl.com/bdzxkum6 Zara is selling Sega Saturn merch: https://tinyurl.com/yc2m9hw7  TMNT quarter arcade: https://youtu.be/-Rc9dOCt10g

8 Juni 20231h 33min

We have a long-overdue catch up with Daniel Ibbertson AKA Slope's Game Room, including breaking down the ill-fated Intellivision Amico. Promising to bring back the classic brand, the Amico's repeated delays, leadership changes, and potential cancellation have left it shrouded in uncertainty. DJ Slope, renowned for his comprehensive gaming history content, brings his insight into this saga, discussing the console's initial vision, the issues it faced, the intriguing lineup of games that were slated for release, and what the Amico's journey means for the wider retro gaming industry. Slope's Game Room - The Intellivision Amico Scandal: https://youtu.be/8BgAarlzVD4 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 6 months of Retro Gamer Magazine, with Space invaders plug and play controller and 4 specials absolutely free at: https://www.magazinesdirect.com/retropod    Thanks to our latest Patreon backers, in the Hall of Fame this week: Andreas Sunna, Kev Sanders 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: Kickstart UK: https://www.amigashow.com/  Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Metal Gear Solid 3 remake: https://tinyurl.com/j887z6nc McDonalds launches Tetris handheld: https://tinyurl.com/mv9chnfa Windows XP activation algorithm hacked: https://tinyurl.com/2rfmeeaj Screwball Scramble in web browser: https://tinyurl.com/bdenfxm6 Marathon returns: https://tinyurl.com/4uhuhwkk

1 Juni 20231h 24min

We chat to the creator of the beloved kid's TV and book series, Arthur. From TV to PC, we'll explore how Marc and the team at Living Books crafted an engaging, fun, and educational experience for kids back in the 90s. If you're a retro gaming enthusiast or an Arthur fan, you won't want to miss this nostalgic journey back to Elwood City's digital domain. Arthur games on Zoom Platform: https://snip.ly/f1yflm 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: Format - The Ultimate Gaming Social: https://bit.ly/4233upC - Get 25% off tickets by using code FRM_MCR25 at checkout Pixel Heaven - Warsaw, Poland: https://pixelheavenfest.com/en/ Kickstart UK: https://www.amigashow.com/  Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: EON XBHD plug-and-play HD adapter: https://snip.ly/ul56am Tim Stamper has the 1997 Space World Zelda demo: https://snip.ly/yd8lrx SNES mod to improve visual and audio: https://snip.ly/m49fsb Forrest of Illusion for Amiga: https://youtu.be/66WqbNgJMWs

25 Maj 20231h 18min

We sit down with Brian Lowe, a veteran in the gaming industry, known for his work at Strategic Simulations and Midway. We explore his early gaming experiences, his shift from testing to production, and his unique perspective on the evolution of the industry. Lowe shares his experiences on working on legendary titles like Pools of Darkness, Eye of the Beholder 2, and the challenges of porting games like NBA Hangtime from console to PC, and the pressures of handling high-profile titles like "Mortal Kombat Trilogy." We also hear his perspective on early network gaming, his experiences with systems like the Sega Saturn, and his thoughts on underrated 90's gaming mascots. 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: James Stewart 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: Birmingham Gaming Market: https://www.birminghamgamingmarket.com/ Format - The Ultimate Gaming Social: https://bit.ly/4233upC - Get 25% off tickets by using code FRM_MCR25 at checkout Pixel Heaven - Warsaw, Poland: https://pixelheavenfest.com/en/ Kickstart UK: https://www.amigashow.com/  Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Gran Turismo movie trailer: https://youtu.be/CGboRbiJYjU Mouse, Noir retro shooter in development: https://bit.ly/3MmSNXY Golden Axe hack for 32x: https://bit.ly/45hfXHS 386 handheld: https://bit.ly/3IqXbE6

19 Maj 20231h 18min

Born from a chance encounter with a low-priced Sega Dreamcast at video game shop, The Dreamcast Junkyard has grown from a personal blog into a thriving online community.  We chat to Lewis and Mike from the team about the Dreamcast's past, present, and future, exploring why this final console from Sega has left such a lasting impact on the gaming community. The Dreamcast Junkyard: https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/ 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: Jernej Kladnik, Steve Dickinson, Simon DM, James Stewart 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: Kickstart UK: https://www.amigashow.com/  Pixel Heaven - Warsaw, Poland: https://pixelheavenfest.com/en/ Format - The Ultimate Gaming Social: https://bit.ly/4233upC  Amiga38 Germany - https://www.amigaevent.de/WB.html Show notes: Game & Watch Tetris prototype found: https://bit.ly/42s1ZB3 Castlevania : The Arcade Playable on PC: https://youtu.be/uPqkJ2qnvCs MarioGPT: https://bit.ly/436ogoj Speccy Soccer Community Edition: https://bit.ly/42Kw26Y

12 Maj 20231h 32min