This week we welcome Nintendo legend Takaya Imamura, the visionary artist behind F-Zero, Star Fox, and Majora’s Mask. We hear some incredible stories from his three decades at Nintendo: from being interviewed by Shigeru Miyamoto, to creating Captain Falcon on a whim, to the wild one-year crunch that gave birth to Majora’s Mask. He reveals how a shrine in Kyoto inspired Fox McCloud, why Tingle was born out of pure exhaustion, and the surprising comic book roots of his latest project Omega Six. This chat was recorded live at Retromessa in Norway.
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
44:22 - Takaya Imamura Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
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
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Website: http://theretrohour.com
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes
Dreamcast Wireless Controller: https://tinyurl.com/yzr5kwdx
Fallout 1 3D: https://tinyurl.com/476fu3b4
Vectrex Mini Updates: https://tinyurl.com/3hs2sphw
Limited Run FMV Games: https://tinyurl.com/yc23t2fu
Clive Sinclair Comedy: https://tinyurl.com/56s3hyhr
Wolfhound Trailer: https://youtu.be/bBVXgchDEXk
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1:25:30
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1:25:30
496: "The SID Chip Was My First Love” - Jeroen Tel: Maniacs of Noise - The Retro Hour EP496
This week we catch up with legendary C64 composer Jeroen Tel of Maniacs of Noise fame. Jeroen takes us back to the early days of programming music directly in machine code, pushing the SID chip to its limits, and soundtracking classics like Cybernoid, Hawkeye, Supremacy, and Turbo OutRun. From cracktros and demo parties, we hear the story of some of the most iconic game music of the 8-bit era. This episode was recorded live at Retromessa in Norway
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
43:56 - Jeroen Tel Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
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/
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
LAN Party Adventures: https://tinyurl.com/h3kuyevt
Xbox 360 Softmod Is Coming: https://youtu.be/0gRHubim8DI
Llamasoft & Activision Evercade Collections: https://tinyurl.com/4fpcjtzb
Analogue 3D Updates: https://tinyurl.com/3hzc9mky
M64: https://tinyurl.com/yxea37te
JRPGs Getting Pulled Off Switch Store: https://tinyurl.com/yc4kruea
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1:24:09
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1:24:09
495: PS1 Demo Discs, Bedroom Coders and FMV Revival - Indie Games That Changed The World - The Retro Hour EP495
We're joined by games journalist and author Aaron Potter to chat about his new book, 50 Indie Games That Changed the World. From the roots of the Indie scene with the 80's bedroom coders, the revival of lost genres like FMV games, and how modern indie titles are keeping classic computers and consoles alive.
50 Indie Games That Changed The World: https://tinyurl.com/4s3y5p27
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
37:29 - Aaron Potter Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Liverpool Gaming Market: https://www.liverpoolgamingmarket.com/
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/
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
Vectrex Mini Prototypes Showcased At Gamescom: https://tinyurl.com/mu798csw
The A1200 Revealed At Gamescom: https://tinyurl.com/2zydz45m
He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: https://tinyurl.com/2udcvjjf
Cubix: 3D Platformer For The Spectrum: https://yrgb.ru/
Bubsy 4D: https://tinyurl.com/2r9pa3vy
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1:26:00
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1:26:00
494: “Sonic R’s Soundtrack Has a Life of Its Own” - Richard Jacques, The Sound of 90s SEGA - The Retro Hour EP494
This week’s episode comes live from Retromessa 2025 in Norway, where we were joined on stage by legendary video game composer Richard Jacques. From creating music on a ZX Spectrum at age 11 to scoring iconic titles like Sonic R, Jet Set Radio, Headhunter, and Mass Effect, Richard shares his incredible journey through Sega’s golden years, live orchestras at Abbey Road, and the unexpected afterlife of a song that became a meme.
Richard's website: https://www.richardjacques.com/home
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
54:42 - Richard Jacques Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Liverpool Gaming Market: https://www.liverpoolgamingmarket.com/
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/
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
Sega Laserdisc Emulation Has Just Taken a Major Leap Forward: https://tinyurl.com/yc3t492v
The Settlers II Finally Settles on Amiga 29 Years Late: https://tinyurl.com/y5xjjyvh
Modder Builds Windows 98 Handheld Using Original Hardware: https://tinyurl.com/2v7j2y37
Happy 30th Birthday to Internet Explorer: https://tinyurl.com/452j77md
Parenting Like It’s 1999: https://tinyurl.com/2etae5m7
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1:36:52
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1:36:52
493: “Flash Games Should Never Have Died” – Alex Johansson, Experimental Game Maker - The Retro Hour EP493
This week we are joined by award-winning experimental designer, educator and game maker Alex Johansson of ALYO Games. He is the mind behind wild alt-controller creations like Muppet Boxing, syringe-powered co-op games and his new Morse code-based strategy title Morse. We dive into the wonderfully strange world of odd inputs, discuss why Flash games should have been preserved, explore how gaming can reach older and underserved communities, and hear how Alex’s love for tactile play has taken him from cardboard-box cockpits to the heart of the ham radio scene.
Alex's website: https://alexvscoding.itch.io/
Contents:
00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories
43:13 - Alex Johansson Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Crawley Gaming Market: https://www.crawleygamingmarket.com/
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
Heretic and Hexen remasters: https://tinyurl.com/k6ueyunb
PS1 clone will also play Sega CD and Sega Saturn: https://tinyurl.com/fvd37ypa
Monty Mole games: https://tinyurl.com/mtskfsxh
AOL is turning off its dial-up after 34 years: https://tinyurl.com/4f95wrf6
40 years of the Amiga as an album tribute by Allister Brimble: https://tinyurl.com/2d4a5c85
Brasil