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The Retro Adventurers

The Retro Adventurers
Text Adventure Games
Interactive Fiction
Retro Adventure Games
Game Development
Technology
Ship Of Doom
The Dark Crystal
Colossal Cave
The Tracer Sanction
Twin Kingdom Valley
Sphinx Adventure
Valhalla
Swiss Family Robinson
Kingdom Of the Seven Stones
Personal Experiences
Shakespeare
Infocom
Avon
Emergent Gameplay
Down Among the Dead Men

Explore classic text adventure games from legendary publishers and authors including Magnetic Scrolls, Level 9, Infocom, Scott Adams, and Interplay. A podcast for fans of GET LAMP, Eaten By a Grue, The Classic Adventurer, Renga In Blue, and Quest For Clues. Follow us on your favorite podcast app, and keep the conversations going on Facebook and Bluesky.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes35Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

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Artwork for The Retro Adventurers

Latest Episodes

Holiday merriment with many past guests and minimal editing!

Retro Adventurers Jason and Nick chat about the year that was including recent developments in classic adventure open source, plans for 2026, and more with many of our past participants:

more

Nick and Jason deliver holiday cheer straight from Santa's Grotto in the form of two 1980s Christmas classics. First up is the bite-sized Quill adventure A Spell Of Christmas Ice by Mike Turner, originally published on the tape-based 16/48 Magazine f... more

No one has reviewed more text adventures and works of interactive fiction over the past decade than MathBrush. A self-described newcomer to the scene he has nonetheless posted over 3,600 reviews and counting of games old and new, along with creating ... more

Get ready to type out every letter in "dodecahedron"!

Nick, Jason, and Ben play two games steeped in math, science, and trippy physics in this episode. Beyond the Tesseract by David Lo is the appetizer course, a game originally designed in TRS-80 Le... more

Key Facts

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Peter Golden
Author of Sherlock Holmes: Another Bow, prolific writer spanning multiple genres.
Episode: Episode 24 - A Conversation with Peter Golden
Christian Neuhaus
Noted international Sherlockian expert and co-author of 'You've Ruined a Perfectly Good Mystery'
Episode: Episode 23 - Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes: Another Bow, and Sherlock: Riddle of the Crown Jewels
Iain Lee
A notable figure from the 90s and host of multiple podcasts.
Iain Lee's Random Access Memories
Episode: Episode 18 - Bored of the Rings / Calixto Island with Iain Lee
Jonathan Partington
Developer of several classic text adventure games, associated with Cambridge University.
Topologika
Episode: Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington
Mark Hardesty
Assisted in scheduling the interview with Jonathan Partington.
Episode: Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington
Ron Martinez
A developer of interactive fiction and author of classic text adventures.
Headcanon, Invention Arts
Episode: Episode 11 - A Conversation with Ron Martinez
Chad Fifer
Host of the podcast Strange Studies of Strange Stories, focused on Lovecraftian literature and gaming culture.
Strange Studies of Strange Stories
Episode: Episode 10 - The Lurking Horror and Crypt of Medea
Robin Raymond
Neo-retro developer and creator of Kingdom of the Seven Stones
The Future was 8 Bit
Episode: Episode 9 - A Conversation with Robin Raymond
Tim Gilberts
Founder of Gilsoft and co-developer of The Quill and PAW
Gilsoft
Episode: Episode 5 - A Conversation With Tim Gilberts

Hosts

Jason Compton
Co-host and contributor, offering insights into video game history and game design.
Ben Collier
Co-host focusing on the nostalgic aspects of gaming and interactive storytelling.
Dave Hawkins
Co-host providing commentary and hosting engaging discussions about retro gaming.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 26 ratings
  • A high quality production

    Jason and co wax lyrical (and I do mean lyrical) about old text adventures. Each episode seems really well planned so that the discussions flow in a natural and entertaining way. Fascinating stuff for those of us who mostly prefer to hear about (rather than play) classic text adventures!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Piero
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Showed Up for the Retro Adventure… Stayed for the Engaging Hosts!

    One of those rare podcasts that lures you with an intriguing subject (Classic 8-Bit Text Adventures) but a few episodes in, you discover the hosts could make any topic entertaining!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shroomAzoom
    Canada9 months ago
  • Cumbo lives!

    Good to hear Cumbo on episode 1

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RainMan999
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Excellent dialogue about old text games

    Very promising!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    eskeandersen
    Denmark2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The combination of humor and nostalgia resonates well with the audience.
Many appreciate the thoughtful discussions on game mechanics and storytelling.
Listeners enjoy the engaging narratives and expertise shared by the hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington
Q: What do you think we should play next from the Jonathan Partington archives?
You could try Murdac. Murdac is a bit more sympathetic to the player.
Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington
Q: Can you talk about what it was that hooked you?
I liked writing puzzles. People could interact in fiction a lot, which drew me to text adventures.
Episode 7 - A Conversation with Roberta and Ken Williams
Q: Can you tell us about your new books?
Ken's book 'Not All Fairy Tales Have Happy Endings' discusses the rise and fall of Sierra, while Roberta's 'Farewell to Tara' focuses on historical themes.
Episode 7 - A Conversation with Roberta and Ken Williams
Q: What challenges did you face in the transition from the text-based games to graphical adventures?
Roberta highlighted that designing interactive stories is challenging as it requires breaking the narrative into parts while keeping players engaged.
Episode 7 - A Conversation with Roberta and Ken Williams
Q: How did your experiences with boat life and COVID lead to developing Colossal Cave?
Ken and Roberta adapted their life on the boat by integrating their interests in gaming while navigating challenges posed by the pandemic, allowing them to start programming again.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Retro Adventurers

What is The Retro Adventurers about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on classic text adventure games, this podcast engages listeners with discussions surrounding renowned titles from iconic developers like Infocom and Magnetic Scrolls. Episodes often feature expert guests and delve into various facets of video game design, storytelling, and the cultural impact of these retro games. Unique to this podcast is its rich blend of scholarly insights and personal anecdotes, making it appealing both to hardcore gamers and casual enthusiasts alike.

Listeners can expect a fascinating exploration of nostalgia, interactive fiction, and the evolution of gaming mechanics, alongside engaging interviews with authors, historians, and experienced developers who provide a deeper understanding of the text adventure ge... more

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How many listeners does The Retro Adventurers get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Retro Adventurers?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Retro Adventurers:

1. This Week in Retro
2. Amigos Retro Gaming Network - Amigos: Everything Amiga / ARG Presents / Sprite Castle / Pixel Gaiden
3. The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)
4. Rees Rambles
5. Amigos: Everything Amiga

How many episodes of The Retro Adventurers are there?

The Retro Adventurers launched 2 years ago and published 35 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Retro Adventurers?

Recent guests on The Retro Adventurers include:

1. Peter Golden
2. Christian Neuhaus
3. Iain Lee
4. Jonathan Partington
5. Mark Hardesty
6. Ron Martinez
7. Chad Fifer
8. Robin Raymond

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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