455: Core Design: Chuck Rock, Rick Dangerous 2 and Mega CD Magic - The Retro Hour EP455
This week, we’re joined by Chris Long, a former programmer at Core Design, to uncover the fascinating stories behind some of the studio’s most iconic titles. From his early days creating the quirky Merv The Merciless for Probe Software, to the smash-hit Chuck Rock and its sequel, Chris gives us an insider’s view into the creativity and chaos of Core in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. We delve into the tools of the trade, the challenges of transitioning to 3D with the PlayStation, and the untold tales of Rick Dangerous 2, Swagman, and Wonderdog.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
40:22 - Chris Long Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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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:
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Show notes:
New cheat code found in Donkey Kong Country 2: https://tinyurl.com/5n6teuce
Sega delists most of its retro games: https://tinyurl.com/2z3bptu8
Mega Drive tracker: https://tinyurl.com/rydpwvda
Lost Commodore 64 game uncovered by archivists: https://tinyurl.com/5n76he7c
Captain Square Jaw demo released for the Spectrum Next: https://tinyurl.com/mr2pmsf3
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1:33:44
454: Blood: The Making of a 90s FPS Legend - The Retro Hour EP454
This week, we’re joined by Kevin Kilstrom formerly of Monolith Productions, the masterminds behind the iconic 90s horror FPS Blood. Kevin reveals how Blood pushed boundaries with its over-the-top gore, dark humour, and multiplayer BloodBath mode, as well as sharing behind-the-scenes stories from working on the project. Plus, we get a glimpse into his work on other classics like Claw, Shogo, and Alien vs. Predator 2.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
53:39 - Kevin Kilstrom Interview
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 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro
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
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Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes:
Nintendo Music App Launches: https://tinyurl.com/yu6u9urj
Fan-Made Monkey Island Game Available: https://tinyurl.com/ajc39zkm
New House of the Dead Movie Announced: https://tinyurl.com/2x53w7ky
iPod Clickwheel Games Preserved: https://tinyurl.com/bmsyretf
Atari Acquires Transport Tycoon IP: https://tinyurl.com/3xy4ax4f
Atari Jaguar T-Shirts Available: https://tinyurl.com/yupbscjd
In this week’s episode, we sit down with Chris Blok, the co-owner of Amsterdam’s legendary Blast Galaxy and Europe’s largest arcade importer. Chris takes us on an incredible journey through his life as an arcade enthusiast, from his earliest gaming experiences in the Netherlands to witnessing the boom and decline of arcades. We discuss everything from the challenges of importing and restoring rare machines, to his plans for keeping arcade culture alive and thriving.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
36:44 - Chris Blok Interview
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
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
Show notes:
Analogue 3D: https://tinyurl.com/5277bbe3
SpeedBall Reboot: https://tinyurl.com/4bsywekv
Fable Demake: https://tinyurl.com/3a9t982v
New Mega Drive Evercade Cart: https://tinyurl.com/2s3enynr
Atari Decanter Set: https://tinyurl.com/4upd3nz8
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1:34:26
452: Netscape: The Spectacular Rise and Fall with Tara Hernandez - The Retro Hour EP452
This week we're joined by Tara Hernandez, former manager of Netscape Navigator development, as she takes us inside the legendary 90s browser wars. Tara shares her experiences working at the cutting edge of Internet technology, from joining Netscape in 1995, to the heated competition with Microsoft's Internet Explorer, and the iconic decision to open-source the Mozilla code. Hear about the challenges of working 120 hour weeks, wild office celebrations, and pranks during the battle for Internet dominance.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
36:13 - Tara Hernandez Interview
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
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
Show notes:
Mode 7 on NES: https://tinyurl.com/yukdj9m2
Cyclopean: https://tinyurl.com/4xzzndcm
Yoshi DS leaked: https://tinyurl.com/8hu5nzjj
1986 Mac Plus online: https://tinyurl.com/4x4chsub
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1:34:43
451: Soccer Kid: The Inside Story with Matt Furniss - The Retro Hour EP451
This week we chat with legendary composer and game designer Matt Furniss, delving into his role in creating football platformer Soccer Kid! Not only did Matt compose the game's unforgettable soundtrack, but he was also one of the key designers behind this classic. We explore the creative process that went into blending sports and platforming, how Soccer Kid was brought to life across platforms like the Amiga, DOS, and 3DO, and how Matt ensured its European football vibe resonated through both gameplay and music.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
35:00 - Matt Furniss Interview
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
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
Show notes:
Worms DC Update: https://tinyurl.com/25m2jk3z
NES Hub: https://tinyurl.com/4a33e4s2
Green Day on Game Boy: https://tinyurl.com/5yt6fa83
Tetris Forever: https://tinyurl.com/4ryx9wyn
UK