487: “We Cold-Called Nintendo After a Few Ciders” The Story of Enigma Variations - The Retro Hour EP487
This week, we’re joined by Darren Melbourne and Mark Greenshields to unravel the untold story of British software house Enigma Variations. From bargain licensing deals for Postman Pat and Bugs Bunny to cold-calling Nintendo after a few ciders. Plus, their recent efforts to preserved lost classics, the truth behind NES Lion King, and why some of their best work never saw the light of day... until now.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
32:53 - Darren Melbourne and Mark Greenshields Interview
Games That Weren't: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/
Antstream: https://www.antstream.com/
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes
Animaniacs for GBA: https://tinyurl.com/y3u3ahsk
Postal 2 Redux: https://tinyurl.com/32f4f54x
Game Boy Camera on Switch 2: https://tinyurl.com/y5t7phw3
Playdate FMV Game: https://tinyurl.com/vtacmh6e
Windows 95 on PS2: https://tinyurl.com/2nttad7w
--------
1:33:56
--------
1:33:56
486: He Cracked Games at 14, Then Made Game Genie and Rock n’ Roll Racing - The Retro Hour EP486
We’re joined by Allen Anderson, a veteran SNES coder, and one of the key programmers behind Rock n’ Roll Racing. Starting as a teenage game cracker in Arkansas, he shares how hacking games led him into the industry, the chaos of SNES development with homemade dev kits, and how he programmed the Game Genie under insane deadlines, and the story behind the legendary cancelled Sega Saturn title, Propaganda.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
38:20 - Allen Anderson Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes:
Switch 2 Emulation Issues: https://youtu.be/A3ylCAr0dbs
Maplin Returns: https://tinyurl.com/23w9xy5p
Duke Nukem Netflix Project: https://tinyurl.com/yc8euk4h
Turrican CPC Remaster: https://tinyurl.com/mr3se7jp
Linux Format Closes: https://tinyurl.com/5e9dhzcx
--------
1:40:49
--------
1:40:49
485: Psygnosis to PSN: Phil Gaskell on Shaping Sony’s Early Playstation Era - The Retro Hour EP485
This week, we chat with game developer and producer Phil Gaskell, whose career spans from typing BASIC on a ZX81 to shaping titles at Psygnosis, Sony Playstation and Warthog. Phil shares behind-the-scenes tales of early PlayStation days, cancelled games, missed payrolls and mafia connections at Gizmondo, and rebooting iconic games like Lemmings and Super Stardust HD.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
36:41 - Phil Gaskell Interview
Our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroHourPodcast/videos
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes:
Atari beats ChatGPT: https://tinyurl.com/54pr4bxw
PS1 custom motherboards: https://tinyurl.com/mtrdfb3j
Head Over Heels sequel: https://tinyurl.com/4whtcrnn
Mario Kart 64 on Dreamcast: https://tinyurl.com/jjk8uhyt
Discord on Windows 95: https://youtu.be/wxdn30G2LE8
--------
1:32:38
--------
1:32:38
484: The Man Who Tried To Save the Amiga: Petro Tyschtschenko - The Retro Hour EP484
This week we hear about the turbulent post-Commodore years with former Amiga Technologies President, Petro Tyschtschenko. From scrambling to find buyers after Commodore’s collapse to selling Amiga 1200s out of a warehouse in India, Petro shares his story, from the courtroom battles, the backroom deals, and the community spirit that refused to let the Amiga die.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
41:51 - Petro Tyschtschenko Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes:
The Story Behind Resident Evil 2 Cover Art: https://tinyurl.com/muhvzmz4
The G'aime: https://tinyurl.com/bkspfsbw
Let’s Buy Commodore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN8r4LRcOXc
MK Collection: https://tinyurl.com/226ty4tj
--------
1:37:08
--------
1:37:08
483: Last Action Hero to Chronicles of Riddick: Cos Lazouras Tells All - The Retro Hour EP483
This week we welcome Cos Lazouras, a true veteran with over three decades in the games industry. From blagging his way into Bits Studios to working with Vin Diesel on The Chronicles of Riddick, Cos shares incredible stories from working on Spider-Man, The Simpsons, Wolverine and Last Action Hero including why that one remains his most ‘disastrous’ game. And his incredible new 80's themed point & click adventure.
VICE Undercover: https://tinyurl.com/476ucjzb
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
32:47 - Cos Lazouras Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com
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/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes
The Bagman for Mega Drive: https://tinyurl.com/8scuchxj
Game Boy Camera Manager: https://tinyurl.com/5n78v92s
Atari ST turns 40: https://tinyurl.com/mwbzf2v2
Azaran Island: https://tinyurl.com/msphwu2h
New Contra arcade: https://youtu.be/5FX6HJl9uZ8
UK