The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

This week, we’re joined by Veronica from the brilliant YouTube channel Veronica Explains for a journey through a lifetime of tinkering with technology. Veronica shares stories of growing up in a family of programmers, exploring the early Internet through Prodigy and GeoCities, inheriting a 50-year-old COBOL codebase, her love of the Commodore 64 and Amiga, the lost art of the computer manual, and why older computers often encouraged us to understand, repair and truly own the technology we used. 
Veronica Explains: https://veronicaexplains.net/
https://www.youtube.com/@VeronicaExplains
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
50:17 – Veronica Explains Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
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
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
Xbox Backwards Compatibility Expands: https://lnk.ua/TLKK3aUEz
Ruff ’n’ Tumble 2026: https://lnk.ua/mRTXvpXvM
3DO Classic Comes To Jaguar: https://lnk.ua/1usp847sO
Conker 64 Footage Surfaces: https://lnk.ua/9Lb4R3KoH
Sega Rally On Mega Drive: https://lnk.ua/NlQIztuNF
Rare Nintendo FamicomBox Discovered: https://lnk.ua/dD0ixsVqO
Homemade PS4 OLED Handheld: https://lnk.ua/qdxKaI6ME

This week's guest is Haz Dulull whose career has taken him from creating FMV and cinematics for games like Colin McRae Rally and Battalion Wars, to working on blockbuster films including The Dark Knight, Prince of Persia and The Chronicles of Narnia. He's returned to his gaming roots with his colourful new SNES style shoot ‘em up, AstroBurn. 
Astroburn: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3810660/Astro_Burn/
Built to Fail: The Inside Story of Blockbuster's Inevitable Bust: https://lnk.ua/zrymFBq2V
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
50:36 – Haz Dulull Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
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
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
Monkey Ball Comes to Dreamcast: https://lnk.ua/ux2w9vqz0
Gloom Reforged Returns: https://lnk.ua/sVe6F0iTq
Super Mario 64 on 3DO: https://lnk.ua/D3uCVFFQo
The End of GAME: https://lnk.ua/EFsnZaDj6
Stains of Decay: https://lnk.ua/8Z1zOF5iX
Lemmings on Pico-8: https://lnk.ua/wqGRgWysw
Dungeon Lurker Interview: https://lnk.ua/U53TAZvj8
 
Patrons news
Blink-182 Team Up With Pac-Man For Arcade Collaboration:  https://lnk.ua/B0qOtMAeh
Lemmings Reloaded Updates: https://lnk.ua/bfmMiD1BH

This week, we’re joined by former Blockbuster franchisee Alan Payne, author of Built to Fail, for the inside story of the video & game rental giant’s spectacular collapse. Alan reveals why Netflix and streaming weren’t really to blame, how Blockbuster disastrously mishandled the switch from VHS to DVD, and why decisions such as scrapping late fees helped destroy the business from within. We also revisit the glory days of Friday-night rentals, Blockbuster’s video game business, Game Rush, the PlayStation 2 DVD boom and the  story of the final store.
Built to Fail: The Inside Story of Blockbuster's Inevitable Bust: https://lnk.ua/zrymFBq2V
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
40:08 – Blockbuster Alan Payne Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
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
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
Ghostbusters C64 Remastered: https://lnk.ua/GFpHqvMaY
Original Version Comparison: https://youtu.be/VITLJsgXCUQ
Game Boy Camera Captures Jupiter: https://lnk.ua/3ar7dSylK
Doom Ported to Obscure Console: https://youtu.be/nDe06uY5C40
Johnny Castaway Comes to PS1: https://lnk.ua/AfZPCsfdN
Super Mario Maker GB: https://lnk.ua/QGBAQr7Fi
Agent 64 Launches Next Month: https://lnk.ua/mpbP6dcXG

Synth musician, performer and self-described “bleakwave” artist Paulee Alex Bow joins us. We explore dark ’80s music and an love for the Commodore Amiga. Paulee reveals how OctaMED became the heart of a modern hardware-synth setup, why original machines can't be replaced, and what it takes to perform live with two Amigas in tow. We also hear about the Arcade Dreams soundtrack, haunted synths, Amiga MIDI, car-boot retro discoveries and why the Amiga community can sometimes feel almost spiritual.
Magical Synth Adventure: https://www.youtube.com/@magicalsynthadventure3216
Sonic State: https://www.youtube.com/@sonicstate/videos
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
48:21 - Paulee Alex Bow 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
London Gaming Market: https://www.londongamingmarket.com/
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
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
 
Worms Director’s Cut Expansion: https://lnk.ua/5kH00iGiR
Romero Praises id Developers: https://lnk.ua/k0IOBSZGO
PlayStation Ends Physical Releases: https://lnk.ua/lvs87s7yd
Germany’s Preservation Project Collapses: https://lnk.ua/VFJe5qL8S
Command & Conquer on Atari ST: https://lnk.ua/aQhG7CrtN
Empire Interactive Quits 3DO: https://lnk.ua/aBXtA0qb6
Android Becomes a Wii U: https://lnk.ua/7jYPe7vxJ
YouTube on Game Boy Color: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GlYnN9JK1k

This week, we’re joined by legendary documentary makers Ant and Nic Caulfield, the team behind From Bedrooms to Billions, The Amiga Years and The Rubber-Keyed Wonder, as they return to celebrate one of the most iconic home computers ever made: the Commodore 64. 
Commodore 64: The Birth of a Cultural Icon on Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/TRJ0cmHX1
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
56:23 – Commodore 64 Documentary 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
PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
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
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
Commodore Phone Price Drop: https://lnk.ua/L9Jyk0HoH
Sonic Cartridges Return: https://lnk.ua/RbgJGWLAL
Ecco Remaster Physical Edition: https://lnk.ua/1R9OKXgHb
Neo Turbo Challenge Amiga: https://lnk.ua/Vl6vprJIb
Wolfenstein 3D On Lynx: https://lnk.ua/gaL5jitCm
3DO Returns?: https://lnk.ua/hCMaWHfX6
Meshtastic On Commodore 64: https://lnk.ua/XlABpzaBa