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The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)
Retro Gaming
Amiga
Turrican
Worms
Simcity
Micro Machines
Sensible World Of Soccer
Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge
Indie Games
Full Void
Sega
Atari
Tomb Raider
Cinemaware
Microprose
Zool
Atari 2600 Plus
Eidos
DOMARK
Atari Jaguar

Your weekly dose of retro gaming and technology news and interviews with industry veterans.

New episodes released every Friday!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes500Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

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Artwork for The Retro Hour

Latest Episodes

Alex Sulman joins us to share his journey from typing in code on the ZX Spectrum to designing major titles at Sony, Blizzard, DICE and beyond. We hear about his early days in QA at Sony Cambridge, working on classics like Medievil, Frogger and Primal... more

This week we’re joined by Vincent Bitetti, former CEO of TDK Mediactive, for a fascinating look at one of gaming’s most unusual industry journeys. Starting in the early days of BBS networks and sound-effect licensing, including iconic properties like... more

This week we’re joined by David Oghia, the man behind the upcoming Vectrex Mini. We explore his journey from discovering the ZX81 in the early 80s to working on official Star Wars publications and visiting Skywalker Ranch, before diving into the revi... more

This week, we’re joined by Core Design artist and animator Billy Allison, whose incredible career spans hand-drawn children’s TV classics like SuperTed and The Forgotten Toys through to iconic 16-bit games including Chuck Rock, Wonder Dog, Bubba 'n' ... more

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Recent Guests

Alex Sulman
Games designer and QA to designer; worked on Medievil, Primal, 24 The Game, Diablo 3, God of War 3, and more
Sony Cambridge / Sony Interactive Entertainment
Episode: 523: What It Was REALLY Like Working at Sony PlayStation in the 90s - The Retro Hour EP523
Vincent Bitetti
Founder of SoundSource Interactive and CEO of TDK Media Active
TDK Media Active
Episode: 522: The Untold Story of TDK Mediactive: Nintendo, Star Wars & More - The Retro Hour EP522
David Oghia
Head/lead behind the Vectrex Mini project
Vectrex Mini team
Episode: 521: The Story Behind the Vectrex Mini - The Retro Hour EP521
Billy Allison
Animator with a background in children's television and video games.
Core Design
Episode: 520: The Graphics of Core Design - The Retro Hour EP520
Hilary Goldstein
Former Xbox editor and host of the Three Red Lights Podcast
IGN
Episode: 519: Three Red Lights: The Wild Story of IGN’s Xbox 360 Podcast - The Retro Hour EP519
David Clayman
Former Xbox editor and host of the Three Red Lights Podcast
IGN
Episode: 519: Three Red Lights: The Wild Story of IGN’s Xbox 360 Podcast - The Retro Hour EP519
Todd Hayes
CEO and creator of GameShark, a notable gaming accessory and cheat device.
GameShark
Episode: 518: GameShark: The Rise, Fall & Return with Todd Hayes – The Retro Hour EP518
Andy Roberts
Co-founder of Thalamus Software and former journalist for Zzap!64
Thalamus Software
Episode: 517: From Zzap!64 to Thalamus: How a C64 Legend Came Back - The Retro Hour EP517
Christian Wenk
Author of 'Trigger Happy', a visual celebration of video game controllers.
Bitmap Books
Episode: 516: Celebrating the Best (and Worst) Video Game Controllers - The Retro Hour EP516

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Congratulations!

    5 stars for over 500 episodes! Congratulations!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    suspectmonkey
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • A must listen for historical computing

    Thank you. Your show is a must listen for me. I grew up really disappointed with computer graphics as a kid. My younger brother bought a C64 that he wouldn’t let me play with and I remember how long it took to load games, so much so, I would go out and play with the dog for an hour. When the finally loaded I turned to him and said, he should sue for false advertising. It looked nothing like the box art. It wasn’t until later when I saved up money over various years, I caught a train down to Croy... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shades_aus
    Australia4 months ago
  • 70% Ads

    Preroll ads, then hosts open show up with ads. The first half are retro news stories, but are mostly nonretro things to buy, so more ads. Then an ad break and the guest. This show has fallen way off in recent years.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    KeyboardG
    United States8 months ago
  • Retro Hour

    So grateful that you’re able to bring on your podcast the software and game developers who entertained for months and years as we finally get to listen to how sound and how they shaped our childhood gaming and Amiga days, it’s a great inspiration for me as a seasonal developer.

    Well done guys love your podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    48(84039
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Listening since episode one

    Love the show, being a bloke in my 40s it brings back so many memories especially when the Amiga is concerned, highly recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dave6018
    United Kingdom10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

- Positive feedback frequently mentions the show's ability to transport listeners back to earlier computing eras and its value as a historical resource.
- Viewers appreciate the mix of nostalgia, community banter, and occasional deep dives into hardware and preservation topics.
- Overall sentiment points to strong affection for the hosts' camaraderie and the quality of guests, with a few notes about pacing or ad placement.
- Some critique recent episodes for more promotional content and perceived decline in episode quality or guest depth.
- Longtime listeners praise insightful interviews with game designers and developers, often highlighting how interviews reveal historical processes behind classic titles.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

519: Three Red Lights: The Wild Story of IGN’s Xbox 360 Podcast - The Retro Hour EP519
Q: How did you get into the gaming industry?
David described how he was nudged by his mom to pursue gaming after she introduced him to gaming systems during his childhood.
519: Three Red Lights: The Wild Story of IGN’s Xbox 360 Podcast - The Retro Hour EP519
Q: What was your first video game experience?
Hilary recalled playing Frogger on his cousin's Atari 2600 and having a competitive Olympics with the games.
518: GameShark: The Rise, Fall & Return with Todd Hayes – The Retro Hour EP518
Q: Did you get any frustration or backlash from video game companies?
Hayes mentioned that they faced legal challenges but ultimately proved that GameShark added value for players.
518: GameShark: The Rise, Fall & Return with Todd Hayes – The Retro Hour EP518
Q: How did you kind of work around the CIC?
Todd explained that while he didn't know the technical details, there were gamers who managed to reverse engineer the lockout chip effectively.
518: GameShark: The Rise, Fall & Return with Todd Hayes – The Retro Hour EP518
Q: What was your first cheat that you did on a video game that you remember?
Todd recalls his early arcade experiences with games like NBA Jam and Mortal Kombat, which influenced his later work.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Retro Hour

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

The show centers on retro gaming and technology, delivering a steady mix of weekly news, nostalgia-driven storytelling, and in-depth interviews with industry veterans. Listeners can expect conversations with game designers, journalists, researchers, and creators who shaped early gaming culture, often touching on hardware, emulation, preservation, and the evolution of retro titles into modern platforms. Notable episodes showcase behind-the-scenes looks at classic games, the origins of influential gaming peripherals, and the communities that formed around retro computing, making it a go-to for fans seeking both historical context and actionable insights for preservation and retro-inspired projects. A standout characteristic is the lively bant... more

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How many episodes of The Retro Hour are there?

The Retro Hour launched 10 years ago and published 500 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 Hour?

Recent guests on The Retro Hour include:

1. Alex Sulman
2. Vincent Bitetti
3. David Oghia
4. Billy Allison
5. Hilary Goldstein
6. David Clayman
7. Todd Hayes
8. Andy Roberts

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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