This week, we welcome the awesome Kim Justice back to the podcast, as she reveals her latest passion project – Arcade Decades: 80s Edition. Known for her love of the Amiga, Kim also has a deep-rooted passion for the 80s arcade scene, which many argue was the golden age of gaming. In this episode, Kim takes us on a nostalgic journey through her new …

This week on the podcast, we chat with John Szczepaniak, author of ‘The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers.’ John shares his journey documenting previously untold these stories, interviewing legends like Ryuichi Nishizawa and Kouichi Yotsui. And some insights from developers behind classics like Streets of Rage 2, Illusion of Gaia, and Meta…

This week, we're joined by Andy Hertzfeld, a key figure behind the creation of the original Apple Macintosh. He shares fascinating insights into the team dynamics, the impact of Steve Jobs' infamous "reality distortion field," and the story behind Apple's iconic 1984 Super Bowl commercial. We also delve into his post-Apple ventures, including co-fo…

In this week's episode, we chat to the legendary Mike Wilson, the business mind behind id Software's biggest titles like Doom and Quake. From his early days revolutionising multiplayer gaming with DWANGO to founding iconic companies like Ion Storm, Gathering of Developers, and Devolver Digital, Mike shares insider stories and reveals the secrets be…

This week, we chat with Bart van den Akker, the man behind one of Europe’s largest retro computer collections at The HomeComputerMuseum in the Netherlands. Learn about the unique features and challenges of maintaining and restoring vintage machines, including the day when a 6-meter truck delivered the world's largest PC-Games collection. Bart share…

This week we sit down with industry legends Mark Webley and Gary Carr! From Gary's start at Palace Software working on the classic Barbarian, to Mark's entry into Bullfrog, working on classics like Syndicate, Theme Park and Theme Hospital. Plus, how they continued this legacy with the making of Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus. Contents: 00:…

This week we’re joined by fellow podcaster, author, and huge Amiga fan, Paul Driscoll, AKA The Drisk. Paul is the host of the RGDS podcast and the author of several incredible free books on retro gaming. We chat about his new book, "Amiga Top 50 Games: Book One - 50 to 26". We explore what made the Amiga such a standout machine, relive classic game…

This week, we chat to Darlene Lacey, a trailblazer in game design and narrative development. Starting with her early experiences in arcades and her passion for story writing, Darlene shares her fascinating journey into the world of Advanced Microcomputer Systems. Learn about her pivotal role in the creation of iconic games like Dragon's Lair and Sp…

This week, we hear the fascinating career of Ian Oliver as he shares insider stories from founding Real Time Games Software, including the development of the groundbreaking Carrier Command and creating development systems for Sega. From the humble beginnings of 3D Tank Duel on the ZX Spectrum to navigating the complexities of the Sega Dreamcast era…

This week, we chat with Randell Jesup, former Senior Software Engineer at Commodore Amiga Inc. From his pioneering work with 80's online gaming platform PlayNET and the revolutionary Amiga OS. Discover how PlayNET evolved into Quantum Link and AOL, the challenges of developing high-performance drivers, and the innovative spirit that drove Amiga's s…

This week, we chat with legendary game developer David Jones, the creative mind behind the iconic Magic Knight series. David delves into the fascinating history of creating some of the most beloved 8-bit adventure games of the 1980s, from his innovative use of the TRS-80 Model III for Spectrum development to developing the storytelling and gameplay…

We sit down with Paul Hartnoll of the legendary electronic duo Orbital. Paul takes us on a nostalgic journey, sharing his first gaming experiences and the early home systems that sparked his passion for technology. Plus the impact of Orbital's music featuring on classics like Wipeout, Test Drive 4 and creating music on the Atari ST. 00:00 - The Wee…

This week, we're joined by legendary game designer and artist Mark Healey. From his early days with a Commodore 64, working on the classic KGB Super Spy, to his pivotal role in iconic Bullfrog titles like Theme Park and Dungeon Keeper, Mark shares the stories and inspirations behind his work. Hear about his experiences with industry giants like the…

This week on the podcast, we sit down with the pioneering game designer Nicole Lazzaro, renowned for her work on iconic titles like The Sims, Myst, and Diner Dash. From playing Colossal Cave Adventure on shared computers to studying Psychology and Film at Stanford, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of emotions in games. Contents: 0…

We catch up with the legendary Joe Bonar as he discusses his journey from the early days of the GameCube to developing on quirky systems like the Nokia N-Gage. Joe gives us an insider’s look into the creation of groundbreaking titles like Burnout, Tron 2.0, and Sonic Rivals. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 39:09 - Joe Bonar Intervie…

This week, we're joined by Sam Dicker, a pioneer who helped shape the sound and fury of iconic games like Defender and Sinistar. We explore his time at Williams Electronics and joining the early Amiga crew, Sam shares his stories behind the creation of game-changing sounds and making the legendary Amiga 'boing ball' demo that wowed CES in 1984. Con…

We continue our celebrations of 40 years of the Amstrad CPC with part 2 of our chat with Roland Perry. This episode dives into the Sinclair acquisition, the transformation of Amstrad after incorporating the Spectrum, the expansion of the CPC line into high-end models, and a peek at some intriguing unreleased prototypes. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's…

Join us on a special journey back in time with Roland Perry, the visionary tech consultant behind the legendary Amstrad CPC, as we celebrate 40 incredible years of this iconic machine. In this not-to-be-missed episode, Roland takes us from his early days tinkering with electronics in school, through the founding of Ambit International, right up to …

This week, we have a virtual sit-down with Lee Jacobson, the creative force behind the cult classic dark adventure game 'Harvester' and the groundbreaking 'Command Adventures: Starship' and the B-movie style 1994 FPS 'The Fortress of Dr. Radiaki', sharing behind-the-scenes tales from the early days of FPS and adventure games. Contents: 00:00 - The …

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Ken Levine, the mastermind behind Bioshock, to explore his gaming roots and creative journey. From his early fascination with electro-mechanical games to the immersive worlds of Ultima Underworld and Civilization, Ken unfolds the layers behind Bioshock's immersive narrative and art deco influences. We'll a…

This week we're joined by Kate Fox, the Macintosh Librarian, to explore the world of retro Apple tech. Kate shares how Apple's educational programs and early experiences with technology shaped her career. We'll delve into the creation of her Youtube channel and her AI assistant Maccy, the allure of the NeXT computers, and the intrigue of third-part…

We chat with industry legend Sheri Graner Ray, tracing her journey from her early days at Origin Systems, where she shaped the fantastical realms of Ultima, to her pioneering role at Her Interactive in creating the first-ever CD-ROM titles aimed at females, along with the challenges that entailed. Beyond her technical achievements, we delve into he…

We catch up with Alastair Low of LowTek Games, as we explore how classic consoles like the NES and Dreamcast are getting a new lease on life. Alastair shares his journey from early gaming memories to developing the huge NES hit 'Flea' and the new sequel, the impact of NES Maker and the success of these retro projects. https://lowtek.games/ Flea 2 K…

This week, we talk to Carl Malamud, heralded as "The Father of Internet Radio". We trace Carl's journey from the early buzz of bulletin board systems to setting up the first-ever Internet radio station back in 1992. Carl shares tales from the creation of his flagship show "Geek of The Week," where Internet legends like Tim Berners-Lee took the mic,…

This week we're joined by the awesome John Riggs, renowned for his YouTube channel and contributions to the NES and indie gaming scenes. John walks us through his earliest gaming memories, his arcade roots, and his journey into the heart of YouTube. From collaborating with Metal Jesus Rocks to the therapeutic joys of 'Open Cart Surgery'. John also …