Retro Titans - the giants of retro and indie gaming in conversation podcast artwork

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Retro Titans - the giants of retro and indie gaming in conversation

Retro Titans: the podcast dedicated to the epic world of retro and indie gaming. Interviews with the people who brought us the games, computers and consoles we love - and those who are bringing it all back.

  1. 52

    Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 | James Deighan on Evercade & Modern Retro Gaming

    In this episode of Retro Titans, we're joined once again by James Deighan, co-founder of indie game studio Mega Cat Studios. He returns to discuss the launch of Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 on Evercade and how the studio continues to create brand-new games for classic hardware. From its roots in the homebrew community to becoming one of modern retro gaming's most respected publishers, Mega Cat Studios has spent more than a decade creating fresh experiences for the consoles and computers many of us grew up with. James shares the company's journey, the passion behind its success, and why physical retro gaming continues to thrive. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ The story behind Mega Cat Studios How a group of collectors, homebrew developers and ROM hackers built one of retro gaming's most influential publishers. 2️⃣ Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 James takes us behind the scenes of the latest Evercade collection and the games that made the cut. 3️⃣ Why modern retro keeps growing From physical cartridges to community events and homebrew development, we explore why retro gaming is stronger than ever. 4️⃣ From passion project to publishing powerhouse James reflects on balancing creativity with business growth while supporting independent developers around the world. 5️⃣ The future of retro gaming We discuss what's next for Mega Cat Studios, the evolving indie landscape, and why classic platforms continue to inspire today's developers. Whether you're an Evercade fan, a homebrew enthusiast or simply fascinated by modern retro gaming, this conversation offers a fascinating insight into one of the studios helping shape its future. 🔗 Guest links • Mega Cat Studios: https://megacatstudios.com 🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing. Produced by Rocket Media. Voiceover by Mark Silk. Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna.

  2. 51

    From Llamas to Light Synths: Jeff Minter and Heart of Neon with Paul Docherty

    In this episode of Retro Titans, we dive into the colourful world of one of gaming's most original creators: Jeff Minter. Joining us is filmmaker and C64 pixel artist Paul Docherty, whose new documentary Heart of Neon chronicles Minter's remarkable four-decade journey from the VIC-20 era to becoming one of the industry's most fiercely independent creative voices. Paul's own story is deeply intertwined with gaming history. Known to many as "Doc" from the Commodore 64 scene, he created iconic loading screens for classics such as The Last Ninja, Druid II and Flying Shark before embarking on a successful career in documentary filmmaking. Now, he's brought those two passions together in a labour of love that celebrates the games, artistry and philosophy of Llamasoft founder Jeff Minter. Together, we explore the making of Heart of Neon, the challenges of documenting a gaming icon, and why Minter's unique blend of arcade action, psychedelia and artistic expression continues to resonate with players today. In this episode, we cover: 1️⃣ The making of Heart of Neon How Paul Docherty went from Commodore 64 pixel artist to documentary filmmaker, and why Jeff Minter became the subject of his most ambitious project. 2️⃣ Jeff Minter's extraordinary legacy From Gridrunner and Llamatron to Space Giraffe and beyond, we discuss the games, ideas and innovations that shaped a four-decade career. 3️⃣ Video games as art Why Minter's work challenges conventional ideas about game design and continues to inspire developers, artists and creators. 4️⃣ The golden age of home computing Paul reflects on the Commodore 64 era, the UK games industry of the 1980s, and the creative opportunities that helped launch his career. 5️⃣ Preserving gaming history The role documentaries play in capturing the stories behind the games, people and movements that shaped retro gaming culture. Whether you're a lifelong Llamasoft fan, a lover of retro gaming history, or simply curious about one of the medium's most distinctive creative minds, this is a fascinating conversation about imagination, technology and the enduring power of independent game development. 🔗 Guest links Heart of Neon documentary Paul Docherty Llamasoft 🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under licence from shockwave-sound.com

  3. 50

    The Art of Porting Classic Games: From Metal Gear to Turrican with Ian "Hoffman" Ford

    In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil sits down with coder, musician and game porter Ian "Hoffman" Ford — a veteran of the Amiga demoscene whose work has helped bring classic games to new audiences across modern retro platforms. From creating tracker music as a teenager during the UK home computer boom to porting iconic titles like Metal Gear, Shinobi, Golden Axe and Turrican, Ian has spent decades combining technical expertise with a passion for retro gaming. Equally at home composing soundtracks, designing sound effects and writing low-level code, he occupies a unique place in the modern retro scene. Together, Phil and Ian explore the worlds of game porting and retro game music, discussing what it takes to faithfully bring classic games to new hardware, how vintage systems shape the creative process, and why preserving the look, feel and sound of these games remains so important today. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ The art of porting classic games What really happens when a game moves from one platform to another — and why understanding both the original hardware and the destination system is only the beginning. 2️⃣ From the Amiga demoscene to modern retro development How a teenage passion for music, coding and creativity evolved into a career spanning decades of retro gaming projects. 3️⃣ Music, sound and atmosphere in retro games From tracker music and game soundtracks to sound design and audio production, Ian explains how he creates music that enhances the retro gaming experience. 4️⃣ Head Over Heels: Return to Blacktooth A behind-the-scenes look at one of the most anticipated modern retro releases, and the work involved in bringing the Atari ST project to the Amiga. 5️⃣ Preserving gaming history for new generations From Metal Gear on the MSX to modern Neo Geo projects, Ian discusses why classic games still matter and how they continue to inspire today's developers and players. Ian also shares stories from the Amiga demo scene, explains how a chance discovery of the Metal Gear source code sparked his first major porting project, discusses his work on Seekanoid and Roguecraft DX, and reveals the games that shaped his life — from Tetris and Journey to the Neo Geo classic Neo Turf Masters. 🔗 Guest links GitHub: https://github.com/h0ffman Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/h0ffman Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/h0ffman.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@h0ffman 🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under licence from shockwave-sound.com

  4. 49

    Inside Bitmap Books: Preserving Retro Gaming History with Sam Dyer

    In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil sits down with Sam Dyer, founder of Bitmap Books — the publisher behind some of the most beautifully crafted retro gaming books ever produced. From the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum to the NeoGeo and N64, Bitmap Books has become synonymous with premium retro gaming preservation, celebrating the art, culture and history of the games we grew up with. But Sam's journey started much like many of ours — with a beige computer under the TV and a lifelong fascination with games. Together, Phil and Sam explore how nostalgia, graphic design and a love of gaming history combined to create one of the most respected retro gaming publishers in the world today. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ The origins of Bitmap Books How a passion project inspired by the Commodore 64 grew into a globally recognised retro gaming publisher. 2️⃣ Designing books for retro fans Why presentation, print quality and visual storytelling matter just as much as the words on the page. 3️⃣ Preserving gaming history From arcade classics and point-and-click adventures to SNK and Neo Geo, Sam explains why these games deserve to be documented and celebrated. 4️⃣ Nostalgia, community and modern retro culture Why retro gaming continues to resonate with new generations, and how the meaning of "retro" keeps evolving. Sam also shares stories about launching books through Kickstarter, working with legendary developers and publishers, creating collector's editions with built-in sound effects, and why games like Sensible Soccer, Monkey Island and Metal Slug still matter today. 🔗 Guest links – Sam Dyer / Bitmap Books Bitmap Books Website https://www.bitmapbooks.com/ Bitmap Books on X/Twitter https://x.com/bitmap_books Bitmap Books on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bitmapbooks 🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under license from shockwave-sound.com

  5. 48

    Modern C64 Game Development & Retro Revival with Carleton Handley

    In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil sits down with veteran game developer Carleton Handley to explore a career that spans the golden age of gaming right through to today's retro revival. Carleton started out as a self-taught bedroom coder on the C64, before going on to work across multiple generations of games — from 8-bit classics to console and mobile titles. But in recent years, he's returned to where it all began, creating brand new games for the C64, including the brilliant puzzle game Millie and Molly. Together, they explore what draws developers back to retro platforms, how constraints can fuel creativity, and why the C64 scene is still very much alive today. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ From bedroom coder to professional developer Carleton's journey from learning to code as a teenager to working across Game Gear, PlayStation and early mobile games. 2️⃣ Why return to the C64? What brought him back to 8-bit development after years away from making games. 3️⃣ Designing Millie and Molly How thoughtful puzzle design and simple mechanics create a deeply rewarding experience. 4️⃣ The modern retro scene Why communities, tools and platforms are making it easier than ever to create for classic systems. Carleton also shares stories from his early career, his experiences working across different eras of the games industry, and how his passion for making games never really went away. 🔗 Guest links – Carleton Handley https://carletonhandley.itch.io/ 🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing 🌐 www.thalamusdigital.co.uk Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk 🌐 www.marcsilk.com Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under license from shockwave-sound.com

  6. 47

    Evercade Nexus Breakdown with Crazy Burger | Specs, Games and Expert Opinion

    In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil is joined once again by returning guest and Evercade expert Crazy Burger for a deep dive into one of the most talked-about retro gaming announcements of the year: the Evercade Nexus. Positioned as a premium handheld upgrade, the Nexus introduces a larger screen, dual analog sticks, and new features like local wireless multiplayer. But does it deliver what fans have been asking for, or is it playing things a little too safe? Together, Phil and Crazy Burger break down everything we know so far, from hardware design and performance to pricing, game compatibility, and what this means for the future of the Evercade ecosystem. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ What the Evercade Nexus actually is A new premium handheld with a larger display, dual analog controls, and full cartridge compatibility. 2️⃣ Safe upgrade or missed opportunity? Why the Nexus delivers many requested features, but may fall short of bigger expectations. 3️⃣ Hardware deep dive Screen size, resolution, weight, ergonomics, and how it compares to previous Evercade devices. 4️⃣ New features and functionality From Tate mode to EverSync local multiplayer, and what these additions mean in practice. 5️⃣ Banjo-Kazooie and the future of Evercade Why this release is a major moment for the platform, and what it could signal for upcoming games. Crazy Burger also shares insights from the Evercade community, reflects on Blaze's strategy, and gives an honest verdict on whether the Nexus is worth the investment.   🔗 Guest links – Crazy Burger YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CrazyBurger   🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing 🌐 www.thalamusdigital.co.uk Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk 🌐 www.marcsilk.com Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under license from shockwave-sound.com

  7. 46

    Inside Pico-8: Krystian Majewski - aka Krystman - on Game Development, Creativity and Getting Started

    In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil kicks off Season 3 with a return to the world of Pico-8. It's a fantasy console with a growing reputation as one of the most exciting spaces in modern retro development. Joining the show is indie developer and educator Krystian Majewski, also known as Krystman. He is the creator of the popular Lazy Devs Academy YouTube channel and has helped thousands of aspiring developers take their first steps into game creation using Pico-8. Together, they explore what makes Pico-8 so compelling, from its creative constraints to its supportive community. Krystian also shares practical advice for anyone looking to get started with game development. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ What Pico-8 actually is and why it matters A "fantasy console" focused on creativity, accessibility and design discipline. 2️⃣ Why limitations make better games How strict constraints on resolution, colour and size help developers focus on what matters. 3️⃣ Teaching game development through Pico-8 Inside Lazy Devs Academy, and how structured learning and community support help beginners succeed. 4️⃣ Getting started as a developer Practical advice for newcomers, from first ideas through to a finished game. Krystian also shares insights into his own games, the evolution of the Pico-8 scene, and why there has never been a better time to start making games yourself. 🔗 Guest links – Krystian Majewski YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LazyDevs Itch.io: https://krystman.itch.io/ Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@krystman 🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing 🌐 www.thalamusdigital.co.uk Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk 🌐 www.marcsilk.com Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under license from shockwave-sound.com

  8. 45

    Evercade Year in Review: Was 2025 Evercade's Best Ever Year? - with Crazy Burger

    In this episode, we welcome back Crazy Burger, one of the most respected and entertaining voices in the Evercade community. Known for his in-depth reviews, thoughtful analysis, and trademark humour, Crazy Burger has become a go-to YouTuber for anyone following Blaze Entertainment's retro handheld journey. Together, Phil and Crazy Burger look back at a landmark year for Evercade with the first-ever Crazy Burger Awards — highlighting standout cartridges, surprise hits, and the odd disappointment along the way. From Rogecraft to the NeoGeo collections, they discuss the best gameplay experiences, evolving hardware, and how the Evercade scene continues to thrive thanks to an engaged and creative fanbase. Phil also reveals a potential anomoly on the Evercade releases of Bubble Bobble on cart and Super Pocket.  To round it off, Crazy Burger shares his insights on being a retro gaming YouTuber and they reveal a few of their favourite Evercade content creators.  🔗 Links YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CrazyBurger    🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Roguecraft DX - by Jogeir Liljedahl

  9. 44

    Pixel Perfection: Inside the Pico-8 Creations of Johan Peitz

    In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil returns to the vibrant world of Pico-8, the tiny virtual console with a massive creative heart. Following the success of our earlier chat with composer Chris Donnelly (aka Gruber), we're diving deeper into this pixel-perfect ecosystem with one of its most prolific creators, Johan Peitz. From Alpine Alpaca to Golf Sunday and Ascent, Johan's games capture the playful experimentation and elegant simplicity that make Pico-8 such a joy for developers and players alike. Phil and Johan explore the origins of Johan's game-making journey, from early inspirations to discovering Pico-8's unique constraints and charm. They discuss the process behind demakes like Pico Driller, how collaboration with Gruber shapes the tone of his games, and what makes the Pico-8 community one of the most supportive and inventive corners of the indie scene. Johan also shares advice for newcomers curious about making their first Pico-8 game — and why the best ideas often come from working within limitations. To wrap things up, Johan takes us through his favourite Pico-8 creations, shines a light on some standout developers in the scene, and reflects on the music that brings his tiny worlds to life. 🔗 Links: Website - johanpeitz.com Itch.io - johanpeitz.itch.io X - @johanpeitz Bluesky - @johanpeitz.com   🎵 Music: Intro – Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Alpine Alpaca and Polar Panic, by Gruber

  10. 43

    Evercade Q&A Exclusive - with Sean Cleaver and Ryan Dekker

    In this episode, we return to one of our favourite topics on Retro Titans: the wonderful world of Evercade. Joining Phil are Sean Cleaver (Head of Marketing) and Ryan Dekker (Head of Technology) for a special fan-led Q&A — the first of its kind on the podcast. Across a wide range of listener questions, Sean and Ryan discuss the future of Evercade's library and hardware, how they balance nostalgia with modern development, and the ongoing dialogue with the community across platforms like Reddit and Discord. They talk screen improvements, accessibility ideas, bug fixes, and the evolving developer program — including how indie creators can get involved. There's also insight into upcoming collections, the return of Spectrum titles, and what fans can expect in 2026. And to wrap things up, Desert Island Carts makes a triumphant return. Ryan picks his dream Evercade setup, three essential cartridges, and the gaming music track he'd take to his tropical retreat.   🔗 Links: Website - evercade.co.uk Discord -  @evercade-official Facebook - @evercaderetro Reddit - @evercade X - @evercaderetro    🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Roguecraft DX - by Jogeir Liljedahl

  11. 42

    The Revolution Story: Broken Sword, Steel Sky, and Going Indie - with Tony Warriner

    Tony Warriner is a co-founder of Revolution Software — the team behind Lure of the Temptress, Beneath a Steel Sky, and Broken Sword. From his teenage coding experiments on the Amstrad CPC to shaping one of Britain's most iconic adventure studios, Tony's story is one of creativity, independence, and survival. In this episode, Tony joins me to talk about building Revolution from the ground up, the clever tech behind the Virtual Theatre engine, and what it really took to bring Broken Sword to life. We discuss the indie spirit that's guided him through decades of change, his self-published book Revolution: The Quest for Game Development Greatness, his upcoming game UrbX Warriors, and his thoughts on the future of small-scale game development. Plus, Tony takes on a round of quickfire questions — including a story behind the goat puzzle, the most chaotic genius at Revolution, and the one game cover he'd want on his gravestone.   🔗 Links: Instagram: @TonyWarriner X: @tonywarriner Bluesky: @tonywarriner.bsky.social Tony's book: Gumroad   🎵 Music: Intro – Neon Gaming by Dope Stuff Revenge of the Mutant Camels (C64), by James Lisney    

  12. 41

    Pico-8, gaming music, and moving to Nova Scotia, with Chris Donnelly aka Gruber

    Chris Donnelly — better known in the Pico-8 community as Gruber — is a professional pianist, Steinway Artist, and former jazz player and tutor at the University of Toronto who's taken his love of music in an unexpected direction: composing soundtracks for tiny retro-styled games on the fantasy console Pico-8. His chiptune soundtracks have graced fan-favourite titles like Alpine Alpaca, Golf Sunday, and Pico Pirates, blending musical sophistication with 8-bit charm. In this episode, Chris joins me from Nova Scotia to talk about his journey from the jazz world to retro game music, how Pico-8's strict limitations inspire new forms of creativity, and what the experience taught him about community, creativity and learning. But behind the creativity lies a more personal story. After years in academia and performing, Chris faced burnout that led him to step back from the piano - even selling his most cherished instruments. He has come out the other side and has an amazing, inspirational story to tell.  And of course, we wrap up with a visit to the Retro Rocket Museum, where Chris chooses his one must-have retro device, two treasured games, and a track to send drifting through the cosmos.   🔗 Links: YouTube – @Gruber_Music Pico-8 www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php 🎵 Music: Intro – Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Kind of Bloop, by Andy Baio Fez, by Disasterpeace Ghouls 'n Ghosts, by Tamayo Kawamoto  

  13. 40

    From Amiga demo scene to Evercade hit — the story of Roguecraft DX, with Badger Punch Games' Ricki Sickenger & Henning Ludvigsen

    Badger Punch Games — the duo of Ricki Sickenger and Henning Ludvigsen — have been creating games together since their Amiga demo scene days in the early '90s. Their breakout title Roguecraft first made waves on the Amiga in 2024, later winning the Debug award and quickly earning a devoted following. Now the game has been reimagined and released as Roguecraft DX on Evercade, bringing their retro-inspired roguelike adventure to a whole new audience. In this episode, Ricki and Henning join me to talk about their journey from humble beginnings in the demo scene, to building games as a side hustle, to becoming part of the Evercade family. We discuss the origins of Roguecraft, the challenges of bringing it to life on classic hardware, and the process of enhancing it for Evercade — from new features to the community support that helped make it happen. Along the way, they share insights into procedural generation, design choices like the lack of save states, and what they'd love to add in the future. As always, we wrap up with a trip to the Retro Rocket Museum, where Ricki and Henning pick their all-time favourite retro device and two games to preserve for future generations, and finish with a music pick to play us out. It's a must-listen for fans of Amiga, Evercade, and indie retro development.   🔗 Links: Website – www.badgerpunch.com Facebook – @BadgerPunch Discord - @BadgerPunch Evercade - evercade.co.uk/cartridges/roguecraft-dx 🎵 Music: Intro – Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Outro – Driller C64 Loading Tune, by Matt Gray

  14. 39

    Operation Night Strikers: the rebirth of classic arcade action games - with Taito's

    Today's episode takes us back to the golden age of the arcade, courtesy of one of the true giants of the industry: TAITO. We are celebrating the launch of a new game collection of four classics, which have been re-released and upgraded for fans old and new. The collection includes stone-cold classic Operation Wolf, and it's sequel Operation Thunderbolt; plus two games less familiar to Western gamers - Night Striker and Space Gun. To tell us more, we're joined by Yuichi Toyama, producer at TAITO, along with Embracer Freemode's James Wragg, who provides interpretation through the interview. For flow, we have only provided brief excerpts of Yuichi, and homed in on James' interpreting, so apologies to our Japanese-speaking listeners!  This is a fascinating insight into the development of arcade games from inside the HQ of Taito, giving a brief glimpse into the decision making process around the games, and what they mean in Japan. Thanks to Overload PR and Clear River Games for setting up and fascilitating the interview.    🔗 Links Operation Night Strikers on Steam  Operation Night Strikers on Nintendo Operation Night Strikers on Clear River Games   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming and Space Technology, by Dope Stuff Ray Force, Penetration - by Tamayo Kawamoto         

  15. 38

    Inside the world of Sir Clive Sinclair, a new Retro Gaming Handheld innovation, and hanging out with Major Tim Peake - with Grant Sinclair

    This episode features Grant Sinclair, inventor of the IRIS eTrike and nephew to legendary innovator Sir Clive Sinclair. Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Grant Sinclair is a futurist and innovator who is making waves in the gaming market with the launch of a new handheld gaming device called the GamerCard. This interview covers life growing up in the Sinclair household during one of the most exciting times in British computing history, seeing the launch of the Sinclair ZX80, ZX81 and, of course, the ZX Spectrum. Grant shares what it was like to see Sir Clive Sinclair at work, his love of taking things apart, and how he and Grant's father Iain supported the family in their innovation ambitions.  We also find out about the GamerCard, which is a unique gaming device based on stack of PCBs and Raspberry Pi, with a high resolution IPS square screen format, and dual dome navigation discs.  As usual, we have more entries for the Titan 1 rocket-based retro gaming museum - and an unusal tale about astronaut, Major Tim Peake.  🔗 Links  grantsinclair.com   🎹 Music Neon Gaming and Space Technology, by Dope Stuff Guitar arrangement of Risky Ride from the XBOX port of "OutRun 2" by Fumio Itoh    

  16. 37

    Beginner's guide to emulation-based retro gaming handhelds, with Crazy Burger

    In this episode we welcome back YouTuber and retro gaming aficionado, Crazy Burger. Although perhaps best known as an Evercade reviewer and content creator, Crazy Burger has a decent sized retro gaming handheld collection, and has tinkered with devices and explored the emulation gaming scene over the years.  Our objective in this episode is to answer the question: if you were to buy only one emulation-based handheld, what would it be? With brands like Anbernic, Miyoo, Retroid and Powkiddy pumping them out on a weekly basis, there is a baffling amount of choice. Our aim is to break down the hype and steer you in the right direction.  We explore the pros and cons of emulation-based gaming, hop around the piracy issue, and cover common questions, like which operating system is best, and what do I get for my money?  Crazy Burger also gives a quick verdict of the year so far for Blaze Entertainment and Evercade, comparing the platform with the handhelds we discuss on the show.    🔗 Links YouTube Crazy Burger   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming and Space Technology, by Dope Stuff Celeste, First Steps - written, performed & mastered by Lena Raine

  17. 36

    Building a retro gaming media platform, see it taken out by Google - and what happens next, with Brandon Saltalamacchia

    My guest today is Brandon Saltalamacchia, the founder and publisher of Retro Dodo – one of the most trusted and beloved destinations for retro gaming gadget reviews, news, and geek culture. Brandon joins me to share his deep love of retro gaming. We swap thoughts on Evercade, and dive into how he built Retro Dodo into one of the most successful retro gaming websites – only to see it hit hard by a major Google update in 2023. We unpack what happened, its impact on the business, and his candid views on why AI is threatening the future of independent publishers and, ultimately, consumers. He also gives us his hot takes on the best retro gaming handhelds to buy, explains why Evercade is doing things right, and reveals the games and device he'd launch into space on the Retro Titans rocket. This is one of our most compelling interviews yet – a mix of retro gaming nostalgia, hard-earned insight, and a real David vs Goliath story.   🔗 Links: Website: retrododo.com Facebook: @retrododo YouTube: @retrododo X: @retro_dodo @iambrandonsalt    🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Zelda's Lofi Kingdom, by Jokabi  

  18. 35

    40+ years of making games, from Jet Power Jack & Rick Dangerous to Wreckreaction - with Simon Phipps

    This episode's guest's fingerprints are all over some of the most iconic games of the 80s, 90s and beyond - Simon Phipps, aka Simes.  From the 8-bit bedroom coding scene to the heights of AAA development, Simon's career has spanned hits from Rick Dangerous and Shadow Man, to the Harry Potter games for EA. In addition to finding out about his long career in computer and video games, we hear about his love for art and making Star Wars props and costumes. This feature-length episode covers a lot of ground, and is essential listening for anyone working in the creative or gaming industries - or just wants to find out about them.   🔗 Links: Websites - www.simonphipps.com YouTube  - @SimonPhippsArt Instagram - @SimonPhippsArt Facebook - @SimonPhippsArt X / Twitter - @SimonPhippsArt Plus Three Fields Entertainment (where Wreckreaction is mentioned)    🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Captain Blood soundtrack - "Ethnicolor" by Jean Michel Jarre 

  19. 34

    Evercade Anniversary and Showcase - with Andrew Byatt and Sean Cleaver

    It's the five year anniversary of Evercade, the cart-based retro and indie gaming system, and we are celebrating with a special interview with the CEO and head of marketing of Blaze Entertainment - Andrew Byatt and Sean Cleaver respectively.  Following the latest Showcase announcement on 29th May 2025, we have a deep-dive interview covering all the cart releases, and of course the Taito Alpha! It's a packed announcement, with fan favourites NEOGEO back, Taito getting a first cart release, and a wonderful new indie game, Roguecraft.    🔗 Links: Websites - Evercade, Hyper Mega Tech! YouTube  - @EvercadeRetro Instagram - @EvercadeRetro Facebook - @EvercadeRetro X / Twitter - @EvercadeRetro BlueSky - @Evercade   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Happy Birthday, by jimlapbap

  20. 33

    Making modern Game Boy Color games, from Block Droppin to OutRun - with Shane McCafferty

    Despite being over 27 years old, developers are still making games for the Game Boy Color - and one such game designer and coder is Shane McCafferty. He has been making games since he was 11, but has taken his side hustle and hobby onto a whole new level, releasing 9 Game Boy Color games on ItchIO in the past 18 months.  We find out what it is that compels Shane to make games like Block Droppin, Cave Dave and Word Forward for the Game Boy Color, which projects kept him up at night, and the ones he's most proud of. We also discuss his current project to make a 'What If?' version of OutRun for the GBC.     🔗 YouTube Links: Itch.IO - @egvrooms-game-boy-games BlueSky - @EGVroom X - @EGVroom   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming and Space Technology, by Dope Stuff Robocop (Spectrum version), by Jonathan Dunn

  21. 32

    Evercade, Home Computers, Consoles And The Future Of Retro, with Retro Asylum's Chris Worthington and Jim Middleton

    Retro Asylum is widely regarded as one of the top gaming podcasts in the world, so we wanted to find out the secret to their success and why they've taken on the challenge of playing through and reviewing every single Evercade cart, on top of the rest of their output. So, Jim Middleton and Chris Worthington were kind enough to share their views and experiences covering the space, why they love Evercade, and whether it's OK to play emulation-based devices.  🔗 YouTube Links: Website - https://retroasylum.com/  Discord - @RetroAsylum YouTube - @TheOfficialRetroAsylumYouTubeChannel Spotify - Retro Asylum on Spotify  Spotify - Playthrough on Spotify   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming and Space Technology, by Dope Stuff The Secret of Monkey Island, composed by Michael Z. Land

  22. 31

    Evercade Showcase Reaction - NEOGEO, Data East, Gremlin Interactive, Windjammers & more with Crazy Burger

    In this episode, we return to the world of Evercade to discuss the Evercade Showcase, which was released on 31st March. In a packed announcement, Evercade released 3 new carts, 2 Super Pockets, a hardware refresh for the EXP-R and VS-R, and teased a few things for the future. To make sense of it all and offer some analysis and predictions, we are joined by our regular special guest: retro gaming and Evercade YouTuber, Crazy Burger.  In addition to Crazy Burger's thoughts and opinions, we managed to get a quick Q&A with Blaze Entertainment's head of marketing, Sean Cleaver.    🔗 YouTube Links: Crazy Burger Evercade Showcase    🎵 Music: Neon Gaming and Space Technology, by Dope Stuff

  23. 30

    The big Thalamus interview with Andy Roberts - Creatures, Roguecraft, Cecconoid, Zzap64!, Commodore Format & more

    For 8-bit home computing fans, Thalamus is one of the great names of the late 80s and early 90s, publishing classics such as Creatures I & II, Hunters Moon, Hawkeye and Armalyte. When the company went bankrupt in the early 1990s, everyone thought the story was over - but the rights to the games were bought by former Commodore Format games writer Andy Roberts, and the company was reborn. This interview with Andy Roberts tells the full story of Thalamus's heyday, decline and return, including insights into the 80s/90s games industry, writing for Zzap64! and Commodore Format, publishing games in the early noughties and two of the latest games, Ceccanoid and Roguecraft.  🔗 Links: Website - thalamusdigital.co.uk Itch IO - thalamusdigital.itch.io Facebook - @thalamusdigital X - @thalamusdigital Bluesky - thalamusdigital.bsky.social Evercade - Thalamus Collection 1   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Wizzball (C64 remix), by Martin Galway and remixed by Tonka    

  24. 29

    From Sensible Soccer & Cannon Fodder to Sociable Soccer 25: creativity, music and navigating the games industry, with Sensible Software co-founder Jon Hare

    Jon Hare is the co-founder of legendary game studio, Sensible Software, and was behind a host of global best-selling games, such as Sensible World of Soccer, Cannon Fodder, Mega Lo Mania and Sensible Golf. Jon's career as a creative director and game publisher stretches from the 1980s through to today, and is currently launching Sociable Soccer 25.  We cover a lot of ground in this interview, from how he found his way into the industry, through to developing hit games and navigating the challenges of the games industry. We also discuss gaming music at length, including insights into working with gaming music legends Richard Joseph and Martin Gallway, and making music with his own group, The Sensible Band.  Jon also offers advice to aspiring games developers and gives his thoughts on channelling creativity. It's an epic interview!  🔗 Links: Website - Sociable Soccer Facebook - Sociable Soccer X - @JonHare   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Narcissus, by Jon Hare and Richard Joseph Canon Fodder Theme, by Jon Hare and Richard Joseph Parrallax, by Martin Galway 

  25. 28

    The birth of football management computer games, and their glorious return - with Football Manager developer, Kevin Toms

    If you loved football management games, this episode is a must-listen. That's because we got to speak with the man who pretty much invented the genre, Kevin Toms. He's the developer of Football Manager, the 1980s series of games that started the whole thing. Since you can also now play Kevin Toms' Football Manager on your mobile, we thought it would be a great excuse to find out the story behind the original games, and why they've returned.    🔗 Links: Website - kevintoms.games Facebook - KevinTomsGames X - KevinToms   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Space Invaders by Tomohiro Nishikado,

  26. 27

    The past, present and future of Evercade, with Blaze Entertainment CEO, Andrew Byatt

    In this episode we catch up with Blaze Entertainment CEO, Andrew Byatt to find out more about the origins of Evercade and the key milestones that have led up to its popularity today. Andrew describes Blaze's vision for retro gaming, the reasons behind the Hyper Mega Tech! brand and explains how licensing works in retro gaming.  We also hear Andrew's desert island carts - can you guess what he picked?  🔗 Links: Websites - Evercade, Hyper Mega Tech! YouTube  - @EvercadeRetro Instagram - @EvercadeRetro Facebook - @EvercadeRetro X / Twitter - @EvercadeRetro BlueSky - @Evercade   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES), by Jun Funahashi   

  27. 26

    Season 2 opener - Making Flea 2, developing the Lightbook project-mapped popup book, and making games accessible, with Ally Low

    In our second season of Retro Titans, we welcome back Ally Low, game designer and founder of Lowtek Games. Ally discusses the inspiration and challenges around making Flea 2, which returns to Evercade as well as Steam, NES, Dreamcast and Itch-IO. We also cover his new innovation, the Lightbook project-mapped popup book, and his work around making games dyslexic-friendly.  Season 2 will continue to cover Evercade extensively, but we'll also be looking beyond at other systems, so subscribe to get all the latest interviews with games designers, publishers, manufacturers and industry insiders.    🔗 Links: Website - Flea2 press kit YouTube - Lightbook teaser Facebook - LowtekGames X - Wallmasterr   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Noah's Ark NES music, by Chris Gill and Paul Summers.

  28. 25

    Retro Titans Season 1 Finale - Evercade Questions and Answers Episode with Crazy Burger

    It's the season finale of Retro Titans and we have drafted in a regular guest, Evercade YouTuber extraordinaire Crazy Burger to help us review Evercade and Blaze Entertainment's 2024.  It's a 'questions and answers' show format, where Phil and Crazy Burger quiz each other about their Evercade highlights and things they'd like to see in 2025 - plus a few awkward and surprising questions thrown into the mix.    🔗 Links: YouTube @CrazyBurger Facebook @CrazyBurgerYouTube Facebook @Retro.Titans   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Goodboy Galaxy Zandunia Sunrise, by Vincent Verger with additional composition and production by Rik Nicol    

  29. 24

    The Making of 'The Spectrum' - re-imaging the cult 80s home computer classic, with Chris Smith

    In this episode we take a departure from our usual format focusing on Evercade to interview Chris Smith, CTO of Retro Games Ltd, about the launch of 'The Spectrum' – a modern day recreation of the iconic ZX Spectrum from 1982. Chris is literally the man who wrote the book on the ZX Spectrum and is full of knowledge about the inner workings of the much-loved 80s home computer. So, it's no surprise that after the launch of reimagined versions of the C64, Amiga and Atari 400, we now have The Spectrum.  In this interview, Chris explains why they waited this long to tackle The Spectrum, described some of the challenges in the design and production, and given us a taste of his own home computer favourites.  If you're a proud new owner of The Spectrum, or just have an interest in home computer history, you'll love this episode.  🔗 Links: Website - Retrogames.biz Facebook - Retro Games Ltd  Facebook - The Spectrum Group   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Monty On The Run theme, by Rob Hubbard  

  30. 23

    Testing Evercade games, Duke Nukem remasters and making a hidden game on Evercade, with Shane Powell

    One of the best thing about Evercade is meeting interesting people who make you think differently about retro gaming and computing generally, not just on the platform - and this week's guest is no different. Shane Powell - aka Kenjara - works in the IT industry and discovered Evercade in the early days and has since become part of the scene, helping to test games, assist with the development of the Duke Nukem Collection 1 remasters, and even publishing his own 'hidden game'. This interview covers all this and more, including his Desert Island Carts. Make sure you stay to the end to hear Shane's fabulous playout music.    🔗 Links: Discord - @Evercade-Official (search for Kenjara)   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra VVVVVV, by Souleye

  31. 22

    A love for Foxyland and Sensible Soccer, Blaze's next move, and the Nintendo Virtual Boy, with Blunners

    Ollie Houston Blunn - aka Blunners - is one of the team behind the Retro Gaming Revival YouTube channel and a regular presenter on the Total Evercade livestream. He shares his love of Evercade, his strange affection for Foxyland, and what Blaze needs to do next to keep the fanbase happy and ensure it continues to grow. As a grassroots football club chairman, we talk about the absence of decent football games on Evercade, Sensible Soccer aside, and what he'd like to see brought to the platform. Blunners is also a big Nintendo fan and talks about his collection, including his museum piece Virtual Boy, which he claims was ahead of its time.    🔗 Links: YouTube  - Retro Gaming Revival Instagram - @RetroGamingRevivial1 Facebook - Retro Gaming Revival X / Twitter - @RetroGamingRev1   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra War Has Never Been So Much Fun, by Richard Joseph and Jon Hare

  32. 21

    Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary - the story behind the game, with Peter Liepa

    Boulder Dash was released in 1984 - yes, that means it's 40 years old - and to celebrate we caught up with the game's designer and developer, Peter Liepa. Boulder Dash was included on the Evercade C64 Collection 3 release this year and, despite its age, still plays like a dream. Peter explains the origins of the game, what it was like making games in the 80s and the creative process he went through to bring this classic to our computer screens. This is a must-listen for fans of the toe-tapping cave digger, Rockford.    🔗 Links: Peter's website - brainjam.ca  Boulder Dash website - boulder-dash.com X / Twitter - @peterliepa   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Boulder Dash music, by Peter Liepa

  33. 20

    Making one of Evercade's best-loved games: Goodboy Galaxy, with Rik Nicol

    Goodboy Galaxy is widely regarded as one of the best games on Evercade, so having the chance to speak to one half of the development team, Rik Nicol, was a too good an opportunity to pass up on. In this episode we find out how Goodboy Galaxy was conceived, why it was developed on Game Boy Advance, the biggest challenges in making the game, and what it was like working with Blaze Entertainment on launch.  Rik also tells us about his Desert Island Carts and which piece of gaming music he would like to take with him to a desert island.  If you enjoyed Goodboy Galaxy, you'll love this deepdive into the game. And if you haven't played it before, you'll be wanting to buy the cart after listening to Rik!   🔗 Links: Website - goodboygalaxy.com X / Twitter - @hot_pengu   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Gods: Into the Wonderful (1991) main theme arranged for Amiga by Richard Joseph. Original by Nation XII.

  34. 19

    Being the UK's youngest competitive gamer and why we need Tekken on Evercade, with Mean Machine Dean

    Remember Sky TV's Games World from the 90s? In this episode, we meet one of the early finalists and the youngest competitive video gamer of the era, Dean Kennedy - aka Mean Machine Dean. A relative newcomer to Evercade, Dean talks through his early experiences on the platform and what attracted him to it in the first place.  As well as his love of Street Fighter, Dean has a passion for all fighting games and would love to see Tekken brought to Evercade - "never say never". Dean also talks about his Twitch channel, inspirations in the world of gaming and his new side-hustle making custom shells for classic gaming consoles.    🔗 Links: Website - meanmachinedean.com Twitch - @meanmachinedean X / Twitter - @meanmachinedean10   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Chaos Engine soundtrack, by Richard Joseph    

  35. 18

    Inside Blaze Entertainment HQ and Evercade's 'Hit, Miss and Maybe' for 2024, with Crazy Burger

    Earlier this month, Retro Titans was invited to a special media day for journalists, influencers and creators, to get a rare opportunity to meet the people who run Blaze Entertainment and try out the new devices and games. We were under embargo until the end of the month, so this interview recorded with Crazy Burger reveals the highlights of the day and our revised take on new launches, like the Alpha, Tomb Raider and Bitmap Brothers 2.  Crazy Burger also gives us his take on all the releases and announcements so far in 2024, playing a game of 'Hit, Miss or Maybe'.    🔗 Links: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CrazyBurger Facebook facebook.com/Crazy-Burger-119134488910841 Instagram instagram.com/crazy_burger_youtube   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff BBC Live & Kicking show theme, by David Arnold Music Tomb Raider 1 - Main Theme, by Nathan McCree

  36. 17

    Total Evercade podcast, Xeno Crisis, and Alpha vs Super Pockets, with Olly Barnett

    In case you hadn't noticed, there's another Evercade podcast out there: Total Evercade, which airs every other Monday evening at 8pm UK time. Here we catch up with one of the regular presenters, Oliver Barnett, to explain what it's all about and they have doubled down on the livestream experience for Evercade fans.  We also hear about Olly's love of Xeno Crisis, why he plays Sensible Soccer every Christmas (even though he's not a football fan) and get his reaction to upcoming releases from Blaze Entertainment. Phil also pitches a couple of marketing ideas to Olly, because apparently Blaze bigwigs listen ;-)  There's also a few references to Olly's collaborator, and head admin for the Evercade Hangout, Ryan Andrews - who appears on episode 5 of Retro Titans, if you want to check that out before or after listening to Olly.  🔗 Links: YouTube - Retro Gaming Revival  Facebook - The Evercade Hangout X / Twitter - @RetroGaming Rev1   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Xeno Crisis 'Area 1, Perimeter', by Daniel Bärlin (Savaged Regime) for the Sega Mega Drive. Mastered by Lee Mintram (Featurecast).  

  37. 16

    Resurrecting a retro gaming classic: Duke Nukem Remastered on Evercade, with Nikolai Wuttke-Hohendorf, aka Lethal Guitar

    Talk to any Evercade fan and it won't be long before Duke Nukem 1 & 2 Remastered comes up in conversation. And for good reason: it's an example of a classic game, made better for the Evercade platform, without tinkering with it too much. So, this episode goes into the background of how and why the games got (re)made, trying to uncover what makes them so special.  Out guest, Nikolai Wuttke-Hohendorf - aka Lethal Guitar - was the lead developer of the Duke Nukem remasters, and he explains exactly how they brought the Duke back from the dead and the lengths they went to to preserve all the iconic features, whilst also making a number of gameplay improvements.    🔗 Links Twitter / X - @Lethal_Guitar Blog - lethalguitar.wordpress.com   🎵 Music  Duke Nukem Title Screen, by James Paddock Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Axis, by Danimal Cannon       

  38. 15

    Building an Evercade collection - tips and tricks for acquiring a full set, with Matt Upton

    Whether you're a veteran Evercade collector or new to the world of collecting retro gaming carts, you'll enjoy this interview with Matt Upton. We discuss what it means to be an Evercade collector, whether you need to collect the full set, and hacks for acquiring hard-to-get Legacy carts.  Matt is a keen collector himself and was game enough to play our Evercade 'Price Is Right' game - can you beat him guessing the correct price for popular Evercade classics?  As always, we have our Desert Island Carts feature, where Matt shares his choices of carts and device to take to a desert island.    🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Streets of Rage 2 'Good Ending', by Yuzo Koshiro

  39. 14

    Evercade Alpha Q&A, listener questions answered, and building the Evercade community - with Blaze Entertainment's Sean Cleaver

    We caught up with Sean Cleaver, Blaze Entertainment's spokesperson and head of marketing, to find out more about Evercade's plans for the future and answer questions about the upcoming Alpha mini arcade and what's been going on in the world of Evercade. We cover the Alpha launch in detail, including how the Evercade mini arcade came about, as questions about specification, game line-up and whether we'll see more mini arcades in future. Sean also answers listener questions, including dealing with bricked carts and whether we'll ever see a Spectrum carts. We also pose the idea of a real-life Evercade event (EverCon?)  As always, we have Sean's Desert Island Carts and find out the games and device one of the heads of Blaze Entertaintment would take, if stranded on a desert island.    🔗 Links: X / Twitter - @cleaverslips   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra OutRun 'Spash Wave', by Hiroshi Kawaguchi    

  40. 13

    Evercade Alpha mini arcade launch reaction (part 2), with Crazy Burger, Vaughan Anscombe and Nik Tyrrell

    In the second of our ALPHA reaction episodes, we catch up with previous Retro Titans guests Crazy Burger, Vaughan Anscombe and Nik Tyrrell to find out what they think about Blaze's first mini arcade cabinet launch. As well as finding out whether Evercade have got a hit on their hands and if they will be buying one, we also discuss the future of Blaze Entertainment and what they are most excited about for the rest of 2024.    🔗 Links: Crazy Burger on YouTube - @crazyburger Nik Tyrell on YouTube - @NikTyrrell  Evercade Evolution on X / Twitter - @EvercadeMag   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Manic Miner, by Matthew Smith. Published in 1983 by Bug-Byte

  41. 12

    Evercade Alpha mini arcade launch reaction (part 1), with Andi Hamilton

    In this first of two reaction minisodes to the launch of Evercade ALPHA, the new mini arcade bar top machine from Blaze Entertainment, we catch up with journalist and gaming streamer Andi Hamilton. Here we get Andi's initial take and his thoughts on where this fits into the Evercade ecosystem, following the big reveal on Thursday 30th May.   🔗 Links: X / Twitter - @andihero YouTube - @andihamilton   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Mega Man 3 Rock Medley, produced and performed by Daniel Araujo and friends, composed by Yasuaki Fujita and Harumi Fujita

  42. 11

    Retro Gaming History, Evercade Reaction and Gaming Music, with author Mike Diver

    If you're serious about retro gaming and can recall all your devices from days gone by, you'll love this episode with retro gaming journalist and author, Mike Diver. Publisher of three books on retro gaming, with another in the works, Mike has an encyclopedic knowledge of arcades, consoles and computer games. Here we delve into his latest book and talk about why retro gaming holds such a fascination for many of us.  As always we get our guest's take on what's happening at Blaze Entertainment and in the Evercade universe, plus our regular Desert Island Carts feature. Turns out Mike is also a big music fan, so we cover that too.    🔗 Links: X / Twitter - @mikediver Muck Rack - Mike Diver Amazon - Mike's retro gaming books    🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Xenon 2 - Megablast (Amiga Music), by Bomb the Bass and Dave Whittaker        

  43. 10

    Retro Gaming Heaven, Bricked Carts and the Music of Richard Joseph, with Andy Caomhanach

    In a packed episode, we talk to IT lecturer and media commentator Andy Caomhanach about his love of retro gaming, which goes back to his Commodore 64 days and the Light Fantastic Pack. He describes how is love of computing and gaming led to the discovery of the Evercade platform and what makes it so special.  We also tackle the thorny issue of cart failures, which has come up on various groups and forums, in an attempt to get to the bottom of why they might be happening, whether we should be worried and what gamers can do about it.  Finally, as always, we have the Desert Island Carts feature and Andy explains his love of retro gaming music, especially from Richard Joseph.    🔗 Links: X / Twitter - @andycaomhanach LinkedIn - @andycaomhanach University of Galway - www.universityofgalway.ie Andy on RTE - www.rte.ie   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra The Chaos Engine (1993) World 2 music ('The Workshops') by Richard Joseph

  44. 9

    Witch n' Wiz - the story behind the super-addictive puzzle game on Evercade, with Matt Hughson

    Witch n' Wiz is one of my all-time favourite games on Evercade, so I've been chomping at the bit to speak to the game's developer Matt Hughson. It was everything I hoped and more. We discussed how he came up with the idea for Witch n' Wiz and developed it into the game we all love. He explained his process for devising the levels and gets the difficulty level just right, before moving on to tell the story of his involvement with Evercade.  Matt, who is based in Vancouver and works as a developer in his day job too, is also a fierce supporter of the homebrew developer scene and he explains why the community is so supportive, and tells us about some of his own favourite games.  As always, we covered his top choices of a device and carts to take away for the Desert Island Carts feature.  If you enjoyed Witch n' Wiz or have any interest in how games actually get made, this episode is for you.    🔗 Links: Linktr.ee - @matthughson X / Twitter - @matthughson   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Nebs 'n Debs, by kulor (thanks to Chris Cacciatore)        

  45. 8

    The joy of collecting Evercade, crazy cart prices and going legacy, with Connor from Seafoam Gaming

    The Evercade Facebook groups have been lit up in the past few weeks discussing collecting and selling carts. As a non-collector myself, I am intrigued by the desire to own the whole collection and equally curious about the prices some of these carts can command. So, to understand more about the art of collecting on Evercade, I spoke to reviewer, collector and all-round retro gaming fan Connor (aka Connor The Braixen) from Seafoam Gaming.  We also have time to discuss licensing, why some carts go legacy and which ones could be up for deletion next. Connor has an extensive knowledge of Evercade and retro gaming in general, and his enthusiasm is infectious.  As always, we have time to discuss Connor's desert island carts and play out with one of his favourite retro gaming tunes.    🔗 Links: Website - seafoamgaming.com Blue Sky - @seafoamgaming.bsky.social   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Valis III - Nizetti, by Hisao Inoue, Jun Hasebe & Shingo Murakami  

  46. 7

    Behind the scenes of a successful indie game studio, with Mega Cat Studio's James Deighan & Andrew Marsh

    The Mega Cat Studios Collections (I & II) are firm fan favourites amongst the Evercade community, so having the opportunity to talk to the company's founder James Deighan and cinematic director Andrew Marsh was a real treat. This episode covers a lot of ground, from the origin story of Mega Cat Studios and how they started working with Blaze Entertainment, through to the business of making indie games and defining success in a hit-led industry. If you have any interest in developing your own game or you'd like to peep behind the curtain of a successful game studio, this episode is for you! It also happens to have a banging tune to play out at the end.   🔗 Links: X / Twitter - @megacatstudios Instagram - @megacatstudios Facebook - @megacatstudios Discord - @megacat   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Coffee Crisis theme tune, by Mega Cat Studios

  47. 6

    Evercade hardware updates, Tomb Raider, Street Fighter and Duke Nukem, with Andi Hamilton

    Fresh from a mid-season break, we talk to gaming journalist and YouTuber Andi Hamilton and get his take on the latest Evarcade news, the growth of retro gaming and his love for Duke Nukem, Street Fighter and Sensible Soccer.  As usual we have the Desert Island Carts feature, where Andi tells us his choice of device, carts and music to take away on a desert Island.  Do make sure you subscribe to Retro Titans to never miss an episode and give us a review, if you have a moment to spare.    🔗 Links: X / Twitter - @andihero YouTube - @andihamilton   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Splatterhouse 2 Genesis Music - Bellache Boss Battle, by Eiko Kaneda

  48. 5

    Nik Tyrrell on the golden era of gaming, collecting cartridges and Evercade Family Fortunes

    We catch up with Nik Tyrrell, a retro gaming YouTuber, Evercade collector and fan of the 8-bit era. As well as providing his thoughts on all things Evercade, Nik gives us his perspectives on the golden era of gaming, what the appeal of collecting cartridges is and his hidden gems in the Evercade library, amongst other things.  We also play an Evercade game, 'Evercade Family Fortunes', which you're welcome to join in at home or on the move. All you need is a pen and paper before you start listening.  Do make sure you subscribe to Retro Titans to never miss an episode and give us a review, if you have a moment to spare.    🔗 Links: YouTube - @NikTyrell Facebook Group - Nik Tyrell on YouTube   🎵 Music  Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra New Zealand Story - arcade in-game music

  49. 4

    Behind the Evercade Evolution magazine with Liam Isaacs, Mark Rutland and Vaughan Anscombe

    In our sixth epsiode, we catch up with three of the team behind Evercade Evolution, a fan magazine devoted to the world of Evercade. We find out why the magazine was created and hear some of the highlights so far - from a chance encounter with OutOfTheBit, which led to first Evercade single cart release, to how the magazine runs as a non-profit and raises money for charity.  Liam, Mark and Vaughan also give their thoughts about the world of retro and indie gaming on Evercade, why they'd like to see a Spectrum cart and make their predictions on games and hardward for the year ahead.    🔗 Links: Evercade Info - Evercade Evolution Twitter - @EvercadeMag   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Boomerang Kid, by AceMoon        

  50. 3

    Building an Evercade Community, with Ryan Andrews

    So, what happens when you discover Evercade? You want to share your experiences and ask questions of like-minded people, of course. Thankfully there are plenty of options to choose from, including the Evercade Hangout on Facebook. This week, we catch up with Ryan Andrews, head admin of the Evercade Hangout, which promotes itself as 'the only Evercade group that allows all opinions whether they're good or bad.' We find out what goes into running a successful Facebook Group, how the sister channel, the Total Evercade YouTube livestream works, and Ryan's personal take on all things Evercade.    🔗 Links: Facebook - The Evercade Hangout YouTube - Retro Gaming Revival (where Total Evercade lives)   🎵 Music: Neon Gaming, by Dope Stuff Desert Island Disc theme tune, by Eric Coates and his orchestra Goal-scoring Superstar Hero, written by Jon Hare and Richard Joseph, performed by Jackie Reed

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Retro Titans: the podcast dedicated to the epic world of retro and indie gaming. Interviews with the people who brought us the games, computers and consoles we love - and those who are bringing it all back.

HOSTED BY

Phil Szomszor

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Retro Titans: the podcast dedicated to the epic world of retro and indie gaming. Interviews with the people who brought us the games, computers and consoles we love - and those who are bringing it all back.

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Retro Titans - the giants of retro and indie gaming in conversation has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

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Retro Titans - the giants of retro and indie gaming in conversation is created and hosted by Phil Szomszor.
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