538: Commodore 64: The Birth of a Cultural Icon - The Retro Hour EP538

This week, we’re joined by legendary artist Hitoshi Ariga to explore his work on Streets of Rage 2, his celebrated Mega Man manga, and a career packed with 16-bit classics. From drawing sprites by night to giving the Robot Masters their personalities, Hitoshi shares stories behind the artwork, explains why technical limitations sparked his creativity, and discusses collaborating with Toby Fox. Plus, memories of ActRaiser 2, Illusion of Gaia, and the influence of his wife and fellow artist Ayano Koshiro. Kim Justice Rubber Keyed Wonder Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/AbF4fVrVp Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 51:31 – Hitoshi Ariga 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! Glasgow Gaming Market: https://lnk.ua/qa16qr9Yf 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 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/ Show notes Ghostbusters II Amiga fan upgrade: https://lnk.ua/g91oEqIHa Halo multiplayer comes to N64: https://lnk.ua/f0BtptbiR ZX Spectrum ULA designs found: https://lnk.ua/u2QODD6Wh Toki arcade conversions in development: https://lnk.ua/EQO2vIkR9 Wing Commander III remaster rumoured: https://lnk.ua/yR6BORUvF Crash Bandicoot coming to iPod: https://lnk.ua/qrmTvWjTa Sprout upgrades classic iPods: https://lnk.ua/OVEgZsVPt Tenebris Somnia brings FMV horror: https://lnk.ua/xh4de3fN2

Gremlin Graphics is making a comeback, and this week we meet Alan Turvey, the lifelong fan helping bring it back through Gremlin Graphics Classics. Alan shares how a Monty Mole project led to a partnership with founder Ian Stewart, the plans to bring classic characters to new audiences, and the community of bedroom coders helping make it happen. We also explore his journey with Midnight Brew, the painstaking work to recreate Gremlin’s lost artwork for a new book, and why giving fans the chance to work with their heroes is at the heart of the revival. https://open.spotify.com/show/0Rq9lZoWphzXvxkrETrWg0 Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 1:00:03.549 – Gremlin Graphics Alan Turvey 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! Glasgow Gaming Market: https://lnk.ua/qa16qr9Yf 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 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/ Show notes Atari 800XL official details: https://lnk.ua/gEFrOJqZp Classic games on VHS: https://lnk.ua/OSkrtc6Hr SuperStation One gets new colours: https://lnk.ua/92rrYtHq5 Taki Udon teases FPGA SNES: https://lnk.ua/PsPhiAyoM Mario Kart Game Boy demake: https://lnk.ua/iR3QLbQjv Super Mario Kart goes fullscreen: https://lnk.ua/bxtKkIqhh Doom gets the Vectrex treatment: https://lnk.ua/ZaNstWSNm SuperAstra changes games with AI: https://lnk.ua/E0zOllC5n

GamesMaster legend Dominik Diamond joins us for a brand-new conversation recorded live at PLAY Expo in Blackpool. From landing the presenting job and meeting Patrick Moore just once to backstage rivalries, celebrity guests and the infamous Dave Perry fallout, Dominik shares hilarious and candid stories from the show that defined gaming TV in the ’90s. Plus, audience questions, his return to stand-up and an honest look at the pressures of overnight fame. Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 49:54 – Dominik Diamond 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! Glasgow Gaming Market: https://lnk.ua/qa16qr9Yf 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 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 Oliver Twins announce new Dizzy: https://lnk.ua/foh1kzQQA New Dizzy game announcement video: https://lnk.ua/IAR5e7mU3 House of the Dead VR: https://lnk.ua/z4Nyg4K1v Doom-style action on Commodore 64: https://lnk.ua/weBSRgtNS Doom64 gameplay video: https://lnk.ua/1fEmPhS0S Croc 2 remaster arrives soon: https://lnk.ua/hVVW7FEH0 RetroAchievements reach real PS2 hardware: https://lnk.ua/e640i6vy3

This week we’re joined by legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro, recorded live at Retromessa in Norway, for the story behind the iconic Streets of Rage soundtracks. From the club music that inspired those unforgettable beats to getting the most out of the Mega Drive, Yuzo shares how he helped shape the sound of Sega—and reveals his role designing moves and voicing characters in Streets of Rage 2! Plus, we talk Revenge of Shinobi, Sonic and his return to Mega Drive development with Earthion. Plus, Modern Vintage Gamer joins us for the news! MVG: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernVintageGamer/videos Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 50:27 – Yuzo Koshiro 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! Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.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 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 C64 and Spectrum handhelds delayed: https://lnk.ua/Y92W4t1J7 Super Mario 64 SNES port: https://lnk.ua/IzOyma94q Amiga Addams Family backgrounds edition: https://lnk.ua/guzIbbISR GoldenEye 007 goes third-person: https://lnk.ua/mPTCUlTqm Binky launches on C64: https://lnk.ua/My9oxsebG Lost SNES Railroad Tycoon footage: https://lnk.ua/hwttaGmyJ Real coin slot for emulators: https://lnk.ua/fxCnlQe5C

This week, we’re joined by legendary game designer Warren Spector to explore the stories behind Ultima, Deus Ex and Epic Mickey. From the Dungeons & Dragons session that changed his life to John Romero’s offer to make his dream game, Warren shares how he championed player freedom, why Deus Ex almost became a Command & Conquer RPG, and what working with Mickey Mouse meant to him. Paul Drury's The Arcade book: https://lnk.ua/vLieP7PVA Contents: 00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories 55:50 – Yuzo Koshiro 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 Gun.Smoke Comes to Amiga: https://lnk.ua/9VVzy7Q1w Pixar vs Nintendo: https://lnk.ua/gtcZcmiay The Return of Motion Gaming: https://lnk.ua/jFAg9AEnd Crazy Taxi Netflix Film Announced: https://lnk.ua/AhvVYnhYS Matthew Smith Spectrum Collection: https://lnk.ua/0L1SD3zv3 Star Wars Trilogy on Dreamcast: https://lnk.ua/4KpQVGPUT