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The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)
Retro Gaming
Amiga
Sega
Commodore 64
Nintendo
Indie Games
Commodore Amiga
Game Development
Nostalgia
Worms
Playstation
Retrogaming
Street Fighter
Dreamcast
Kickstarter
Amstrad CPC
Video Games
Atari
Bitmap Books
Demo Scene

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

New episodes released every Friday!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes500Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

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Artwork for The Retro Hour

Latest Episodes

Gremlin Graphics is making a comeback, and this week we meet Alan Turvey, the lifelong fan helping bring it back through Gremlin Graphics Classics. Alan shares how a Monty Mole project led to a partnership with founder Ian Stewart, the plans to bring... more

GamesMaster legend Dominik Diamond joins us for a brand-new conversation recorded live at PLAY Expo in Blackpool. From landing the presenting job and meeting Patrick Moore just once to backstage rivalries, celebrity guests and the infamous Dave Perry... more

This week we’re joined by legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro, recorded live at Retromessa in Norway, for the story behind the iconic Streets of Rage soundtracks. From the club music that inspired those unforgettable beats to getting the most out of the ... more

This week, we’re joined by legendary game designer Warren Spector to explore the stories behind Ultima, Deus Ex and Epic Mickey. From the Dungeons & Dragons session that changed his life to John Romero’s offer to make his dream game, Warren shares ho... more

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Recent Guests

Dominik Diamond
GamesMaster legend
GamesMaster
Episode: 552: GamesMaster: Golden Joysticks and ’90s TV with Dominik Diamond- The Retro Hour EP552
Warren Spector
Video game designer and industry veteran, pioneer of immersive sims
Ion Storm / Looking Glass / Origin / TSR (various)
Episode: 550: Warren Spector: The Stories Behind Deus Ex and Ultima – The Retro Hour EP550
Duncan Gutteridge
SEGA artist known for Sonic artwork, Sonic 2 and Sonic 3
SEGA Europe
Episode: 548: Before Photoshop: How SEGA’s Sonic Artwork Was Made – The Retro Hour EP548
Mike Dailly
Programmer/designer, DMA Design
DMA Design
Episode: 547: British Gaming Legends: Stories From an Iconic Era – The Retro Hour EP547
Richard Rouse III
Veteran game designer, writer and creative director
Formerly with Midway/Surreal, The Suffering series
Episode: 546: The Making of The Suffering: Horror, Morality and Games That Remember – The Retro Hour EP546
Michael Refalo
Region Locked team member
Region Locked
Episode: 545: Region Locked: The Untold Story of Australian Video Games – The Retro Hour EP545
John Passfield
Veteran Australian game developer
Region Locked
Episode: 545: Region Locked: The Untold Story of Australian Video Games – The Retro Hour EP545
Luke Earl
Campaign leader behind Lara Croft statue
Lara Croft Derby Campaign
Episode: 545: Region Locked: The Untold Story of Australian Video Games – The Retro Hour EP545
Paul (from Amiga logo project)
Lead designer behind refreshed Amiga logo project
Amiga
Episode: 544: Amiga Just Revealed Its Future Plans - The Retro Hour EP544

Hosts

Dan Wood
Host of The Retro Hour Podcast; long-standing figure in retro gaming coverage and industry history.
Ravi Abbott
Co-host and contributor with deep ties to retro gaming culture and discussion.
Joe Fox
Co-host and regular on show with longstanding involvement in retro gaming discourse.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • The best weekly retro podcast

    Been listening every friday for a few years now. Always share the most interesting news in retro gaming. Good luck Ravi “Haaalllll of faaaaame” 🎶

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peppe The Great
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Couldn’t disagree more with NOODLES

    Love this podcast. Yes some of the guests are unheard of to some people but I always learn something interesting and the dynamic between the 3 lads is great.

    Keep up the great work fellas.

    On a side note I used to work in a canteen and guess what I served up?

    Yep,….Noodles.

    Maybe I could get on the show 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TrunStrat
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Much fun nostalgia trip

    I love listening to this gang every week, really smart and knowledgeable and with great interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gelondon
    Germany5 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Brilliant interviews from the industry and the latest retro news.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    0044512
    Ireland7 months ago
  • Boring

    Has become very boring. Loads of adverts,self promotion and E-BEGGING.

    It’s the same show every week. Also they are running out of guests, basically they would interview you if you worked in the canteen.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    =-Noodles=-
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's nostalgia-filled, informative interviews with industry veterans.
Some criticism focuses on ad load and perceived repetition, with calls for higher guest variety.
High regard for the mix of retro news and interviews; fans say it's a dependable source for history and culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

550: Warren Spector: The Stories Behind Deus Ex and Ultima – The Retro Hour EP550
Q: Why did you hand the sequel directing duties to Harvey Smith?
Harvey demonstrated a deep understanding of immersive sims and was ready to lead; giving him the reins unlocked a direction that eventually defined the sequel, though I acknowledge I could have provided more support.
550: Warren Spector: The Stories Behind Deus Ex and Ultima – The Retro Hour EP550
Q: Why did you split into two design teams for Deus Ex and how did you handle conflicting approaches?
Two teams brought different strengths—Origin's emphasis on storytelling and Looking Glass's emphasis on immersion—creating tension, but ultimately the better integrated approach won as we learned to balance interactivity and narrative.
550: Warren Spector: The Stories Behind Deus Ex and Ultima – The Retro Hour EP550
Q: Where did the idea for Deus Ex come from?
It began as Shooter, a real world role playing concept, then evolved after collaboration with Looking Glass into a near‑future setting where interactive storytelling and player choice could shine, leading to the Deus Ex vision.
549: Yuzo Koshiro: From ActRaiser to Smash Bros.– The Retro Hour EP549
Q: What was it like working on Super Smash Bros Brawl with so many musicians?
He recalls being approached by Nintendo to contribute music and expresses appreciation for the project, describing it as the start of a long-running series of involvement in the franchise.
549: Yuzo Koshiro: From ActRaiser to Smash Bros.– The Retro Hour EP549
Q: Why did you only make one track for Terranigma and not all of them?
He explains it was likely due to Quintet initially intending another composer to handle every track, with his involvement later as a guest/commemorative contributor, and notes uncertainty.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

This show centers on retro gaming, technology news, and deep-dive conversations with industry veterans and long-time developers. Episodes weave history with hands-on technical storytelling, from classic platforms like Amiga and Commodore 64 to modern preservation, indie publishing, and soundtrack licensing. A standout trait is the balance between nostalgic industry recollections and current retro-market updates, often featuring first-person accounts from creators, publishers, and engineers who shaped earlier eras. The format often blends expert interviews with news rundowns and community anecdotes, making it a solid pick for listeners who crave context, historical insight, and behind-the-scenes industry perspectives. A notable strength is t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Retro Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Retro Hour:

1. This Week in Retro
2. Retro Asylum - The UK's No.1 Retro Gaming Podcast
3. Retro Gaming Discussion Show
4. Retronauts
5. The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast

How many episodes of The Retro Hour are there?

The Retro Hour launched 11 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. Dominik Diamond
2. Warren Spector
3. Duncan Gutteridge
4. Mike Dailly
5. Richard Rouse III
6. Michael Refalo
7. John Passfield
8. Luke Earl

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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