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

Hosted by Phil Szomszor

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Nov 2026

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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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November 15, 2026Episode 161 hr 1 min

From The Bard's Tale to Shadow Snare: A 40-Year Return to the Commodore 64 with Michael Cranford

More than 40 years after creating one of the most influential computer role-playing games of the 1980s, Michael Cranford is returning to the Commodore 64. Michael shares the story behind The Bard's Tale , from its roots in tabletop Dungeons & Dragons and his early experiments with the Apple II to working with Brian Fargo at Interplay and launching the game through Electronic Arts. He also introduces Shadow Snare , a new fantasy RPG that revives an idea first promised at the end of Maze Master in 1983. Built natively for the Commodore 64, with a PC version also planned, it brings together Michael's original ambitions with four decades of experience in game design, software development and storytelling. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ The origins of The Bard's Tale How tabletop role-playing, Tolkien and early computer adventures inspired Michael's approach to fantasy game design. 2️⃣ Creating a landmark computer RPG The story of The Bard's Tale, the thinking behind its party, magic and bard systems, and what it was like developing games in the 1980s. 3️⃣ Life after Interplay Why Michael stepped away from the games industry, pursued philosophy and built a career in software development. 4️⃣ The return of Shadow Snare How a visit to the Portland Retro Gaming Expo rekindled Michael's desire to make games and revive an idea dating back more than 40 years. 5️⃣ Developing for the Commodore 64 in 2026 How modern tools, community playtesting and a deeper focus on companions, choices and storytelling are shaping the new game. Plus, Michael takes on Games of Your Life , sharing the experiences that have shaped him as both a player and creator. 🔗 Guest links Shadow Snare: https://shadowsnare.com/ 🎙️ Credits Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing , publisher of indie and retro games. Production: Rocket Media Voiceover: Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna The Shadow Snare details and release positioning were checked against its official site.

November 1, 2026Episode 1542 min

Return to Blacktooth: The Head over Heels Sequel 37 Years in the Making with Colin Porch

Colin Porch began work on a sequel to Head Over Heels in 1989. Thirty-seven years later, Return to Blacktooth: A Head Over Heels Adventure has finally been released. Colin joins Phil to tell the extraordinary story behind the game, from designing its puzzles on squared paper and developing it on an Atari ST to reviving the project decades later and securing permission to release it. The conversation also looks back at Colin's career with Imagine Software, Software Projects and Ocean Software, where his credits included the Commodore 64 versions of Head Over Heels, Operation Wolf and Gryzor. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ An unlikely route into game development How an expensive programmable cartridge introduced Colin to machine code and led to his first published Commodore 64 game. 2️⃣ Life inside the 1980s games industry Colin recalls working at Imagine, Software Projects and Ocean during one of the most exciting periods in British gaming. 3️⃣ Bringing Head Over Heels to the Commodore 64 Why other programmers believed the conversion could not be done, and how Colin translated Jon Ritman's carefully documented code to different hardware. 4️⃣ The 37-year journey back to Blacktooth How a sequel begun on the Atari ST in 1989 was shelved, revived after an Ocean reunion and eventually released for a new generation. 5️⃣ Designing puzzles that players refuse to abandon Colin explains how he maps rooms, tests ideas and makes Return to Blacktooth more challenging than the original without making it impossible. 🔗 Guest links Return to Blacktooth: thalamusdigital.co.uk Amiga version: thalamusdigital.itch.io/return-to-blacktooth-amiga Atari ST version: thalamusdigital.itch.io/return-to-blacktooth-atarist 🎙️ Credits Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing , publisher of indie and retro games. Production: Rocket Media Voiceover: Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

October 18, 2026Episode 131 hr 5 min

Why the Amstrad CPC Still Matters: Preserving an 8-Bit Icon with UK Amstrad Group Co-Founder Chris Green

Chris Green is co-founder of the UK Amstrad Group and co-founder and chair of the Kickstart Amiga Group, for a long-overdue celebration of the Amstrad CPC. In this episode, Chris recalls buying a CPC 464 at launch in 1984, learning to program with Locomotive BASIC and writing for Amstrad Action. He also explains why the Amstrad became the overlooked sibling of the British 8-bit computer scene, despite selling millions of machines and offering impressive hardware, software and build quality. We explore the community keeping the CPC alive today, from user-group meetings and new games to Wi-Fi expansions, modern storage and some extremely rare hardware. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ Growing up with the Amstrad CPC From buying a CPC 464 with a green-screen monitor to discovering Amsoft, Mastertronic, Dizzy, Gryzor and RoboCop. 2️⃣ Why the Amstrad gets overlooked How its late arrival and Amstrad's "cheap and cheerful" reputation affected the way the CPC was perceived alongside the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64. 3️⃣ Keeping 40-year-old computers alive What happens at UK Amstrad Group meetings, and how enthusiasts are adding Wi-Fi, modern storage and other upgrades to their machines. 4️⃣ Collecting rare Amstrad hardware Chris introduces the elusive CPC 664, the Spanish CPC 472, the GX4000 and the prototype machine known as Arnold. 5️⃣ Old hardware for a modern audience Why recreated computers, FPGA systems and mini consoles can provide a route back into retro computing, and whether the time has come for an Amstrad CPC Mini. 🔗 Guest links UK Amstrad Group: ukag.org.uk 🎙️ Credits Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing , publisher of indie and retro games. Production: Rocket Media Voiceover: Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

October 4, 2026Episode 1326 min

Evercade Community Day: Event interviews and Nexus reaction

This episode is a bit different from the norm, in that Phil recorded it live on location at the inaugural Evercade Community and Creator Day, held in London on 10th September 2026. This was the first time Blaze invited creators and fans together to play with devices and discuss the wonderful world of retro gaming on Evercade. This episode is based on quick vox-pop interviews with Blaze's head of communications, Sean Cleaver, and head of marketing, Ben Grunbaum, plus Evercade Gaming Club's Matt Upton, Retro Asylum's Jim Middleton and, of course, Crazy Burger. Just to flag, the sound levels on this episode are a bit variable, especially during Crazy Burger's section, but I hope you agree it's well worth a listen. As always, our thanks go to our sponsors, Thalamus Digital. This one wasn't edited by Rocket Media, as I'm sure you'll guess within about one minute! 🔗 Guest links Evercade.co.uk EverCade Gaming Club Retro Asylum Crazy Burger ...and buy the Nexux and Banjo Kazooie pack on Funstock 🎙️ Credits Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing , publisher of indie and retro games. Production: Phil 🙃 Voiceover: Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

September 20, 2026Episode 1447 min

From Evercade to WOLF: Making Modern Game Boy Games with Shane McCafferty

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:b9612fae-dba8-4109-a21b-21836b678fb1-9" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:b9612fae-dba8-4109-a21b-21836b678fb1-9" data-testid= "conversation-turn-20" data-turn="assistant"> Rocketship Park co-owner and game developer Shane McCafferty returns to Retro Titans to discuss his latest work for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, including Hero GP, Roguecraft GB and WOLF. Shane explains how burnout led him back to game development through PICO-8 and the Game Boy, and why working within the limitations of Nintendo's handheld has proved so creatively rewarding. We also explore his growing connection with Evercade, the challenge of recreating Roguecraft for different hardware, and the technical tricks behind bringing a Wolfenstein-inspired first-person game to the Game Boy Color. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ Rediscovering game development How PICO-8, an Analogue Pocket and a love of the Game Boy helped Shane recover from creative burnout. 2️⃣ Hero GP comes to Evercade Shane reacts to seeing his racing game appear as an Evercade Game of the Month and looks forward to its physical release on Indie Heroes Collection 5. 3️⃣ Bringing Roguecraft to Game Boy Color How Shane rebuilt the Amiga game in C, redrew its artwork and preserved the distinctive feel of the original. 4️⃣ Making WOLF work on Game Boy The raycasting techniques, hardware limitations and design decisions behind Shane's tense Wolfenstein-inspired FPS. 5️⃣ From Cave Dave to ZERO A physical release for Cave Dave, the evolution of the Starseed series and Shane's attempt to create an F-Zero-style racer for Game Boy Color. Plus, Shane takes on our Games of Your Life, with choices including Tetris, Sensible Soccer, Spelunky and What Remains of Edith Finch. If you enjoyed this interview, check out episode 8 of season 2 to hear Shane's first intereview. 🔗 Guest links Shane McCafferty on X: x.com/EGVroom Rocketship Park games: rocketshippark.itch.io 🎙️ Credits Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing , publisher of indie and retro games. Production: Rocket Media Voiceover: Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna _:empty]:hidden">

September 6, 2026Episode 1156 min

Banjo-Kazooie, Doom & What's Next for Evercade? - Q&A with Crazy Burger

Crazy Burger returns for another Q&A, as we take turns asking each other questions about Evercade, retro gaming and the games and hardware we love. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ Our Evercade holiday picks Which carts deserve a place in the suitcase, and what makes a great game for playing on the move? 2️⃣ The future of Evercade We discuss new hardware, dual thumbsticks, native games and where the platform could go next. 3️⃣ Neo Geo, Banjo-Kazooie and gaming favourites Some of the games, franchises and systems we'd love to see more of. 4️⃣ Growing the retro gaming audience We talk marketing, retail and how retro gaming companies can reach beyond their existing communities. 5️⃣ Creating retro gaming content Crazy Burger shares his perspective on YouTube, the retro community and making content around the games and hardware we love. 🔗 Guest links Crazy Burger on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CrazyBurger 🎙️ Credits Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing , publisher of indie and retro games. Production: Rocket Media Voiceover: Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

August 23, 2026Episode 1050 min

Antstream Arcade: Streaming, Preservation and the Future of Retro Gaming with Steve Cottam

Phil is joined by Steve Cottam, CEO and founder of Antstream Arcade , the service offering instant access to more than 1,300 officially licensed retro games. Steve shares the story behind Antstream, his ambition to create a kind of "Spotify for retro games", and the challenges of licensing titles whose ownership can stretch back decades. The conversation also tackles physical versus digital preservation, introducing classic games to new generations, and why Antstream is looking beyond the past to indie and modern-retro games. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ The story behind Antstream Arcade How Steve turned an ambitious idea into a major retro game streaming service. 2️⃣ Physical vs digital What does preservation really mean when cartridges, discs and hardware won't last forever? 3️⃣ The licensing puzzle Why securing the rights to decades-old games can be surprisingly complicated. 4️⃣ Making old games feel new How challenges and tournaments give classic titles a different way to be played. 5️⃣ Where retro gaming goes next Antstream's plans for indie and modern-retro games – and bringing the classics to new generations. Plus, Steve takes on our Games of Your Life, our regular feature where guests share the most influential games of their lives. 🔗 Guest links Antstream Arcade – antstream.com 🎙️ Credits Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing Production: Rocket Media Voiceover: Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

August 9, 2026Episode 61 hr 4 min

From Arcades to Evercade: A Lifelong Love of Gaming with YouTuber Andrew Bender

In this episode of Retro Titans, we head across the Atlantic to talk retro gaming, arcades, Evercade and the journey from lifelong gamer to YouTube creator. Phil is joined by Andrew Bender , one half of the Ronnie and Andrew YouTube channel, which has built up a huge library of videos covering retro and modern gaming. Andrew talks about how the channel developed, what he has learned along the way, and why sharing his passion for games has become such an important part of the hobby. Andrew's gaming story goes much further back. We explore his love of Falcom games, his experiences with the American arcade scene, collecting arcade hardware, and why the social experience of playing games in an arcade still has a magic that is difficult to recreate at home. There's plenty of Evercade discussion too, including Andrew's approach to reviewing cartridges and discovering games he might otherwise never have played. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ From gamer to YouTuber How Andrew and his wife started creating gaming content, and the learning curve involved in building a channel with more than 600 videos. 2️⃣ Growing up with games and discovering the arcade Andrew shares his gaming history and why arcades became such an important part of his passion for the hobby. 3️⃣ The magic of arcade hardware From cabinets and fighting games to Neo Geo and pinball, we discuss what makes playing on original or dedicated hardware such a different experience. 4️⃣ Evercade, collecting and discovering old games Why physical cartridges and curated collections appeal to Andrew, and how reviewing Evercade releases has introduced him to games from across gaming history. 5️⃣ Why retro gaming still matters Andrew and Phil discuss nostalgia, collecting and the communities that continue to celebrate classic games and hardware. 🔗 Links Roni and Andrew on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GameOverRandA Andrew's arcade tour (mentioned in the interview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naT_bFW2a_0 🎙️ Credits Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing Produced by Rocket Media Voiceover by Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

July 26, 2026Episode 953 min

Rebroadcast - E1 Crazy Burger's introduction to Evercade

Today's episode is a replay of Season 1, Episode 1 with YouTuber Crazy Burger - recorded back in February 2024. So much has changed since we started Retro Titans. From resurgence of retro gaming and the evolution of Evercade to my own rediscovery of the games I loved. Looking back, I recorded this episode only four weeks into my Evercade journey. I'm slighly suprised by my bold brass to think I could make a podcast about something I knew barely anywayhing about. Hey ho, thankfully Crazy Burger made it easy for me. Since then, I've discovered so much more in retro and indie gaming, recorded over 50 episodes of Retro Titans, and made a load of friends in the process. So, while we wait for the fresh new episodes, thanks to everyone who's listened and supported Retro Titans so far. Are you ready to play...? Thanks Phil July 2026

July 12, 2026Episode 852 min

Blaze Entertainment Exclusive: Turrican, Home Computer Handhelds & the Future of Retro Gaming | Andrew Byatt & Sean Cleaver

To reflect on Evercade 's first half of 2026, we welcome back two familiar faces from Blaze Entertainment : CEO Andrew Byatt and Head of Communications Sean Cleaver . From the headline-grabbing Evercade Nexus announcements to the arrival of Turrican, Doom teasers, and the exciting new Home Computer Handheld range, we explore how Blaze continues to grow the Evercade ecosystem while balancing nostalgia, innovation and community feedback. We also discuss the challenges of licensing classic games, the future of retro gaming, the importance of preserving gaming history, and why physical media still matters in an increasingly digital world. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ Evercade's biggest year yet Andrew and Sean reflect on six years of Blaze Entertainment and the announcements that are shaping the future of Evercade. 2️⃣ The stories behind the latest releases From Turrican to NeoGeo, Rare, Doom and beyond, we talk about some of the standout games, cartridges and partnerships. 3️⃣ The Home Computer Handhelds Why Blaze decided to bring the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 back in handheld form, and what players can expect. 4️⃣ Licensing, preservation and community How Blaze works with rights holders, listens to fan feedback and balances classic favourites with new discoveries. 5️⃣ Looking ahead What excites Andrew and Sean most about the future of Evercade, retro gaming and the growing community around the platform. Whether you're an Evercade collector, a lifelong retro gamer, or simply curious about where classic gaming is heading next, this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the industry's most passionate companies. 🔗 Guest links Blaze Entertainment: https://blaze-entertainment.com Evercade: https://evercade.co.uk 🎙️ Credits This episode is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing . Produced by Rocket Media . Voiceover by Mark Silk . Theme music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna.