Blog

Podcast Episode #64 - The 8-Bit Symphony with Rob Hubbard and Chris Abbott

Chris Abbott and Rob Hubbard are at it again! This time, they're working on the 8-Bit Symphony, a live concert featuring the Hull Philharmonic, celebrating the history of home computer gaming. They join AJ and Joerg for this special 64th episode to discuss bringing together this amazing project. (Interview starts at 22:27)

Posted by Derision on Apr 30, 2019 // Read more »

Video Interview with Paco Portalo

Paco Portalo is a computer games pioneer from Spain when he and his friends create the computer game "Bugaboo (The Flea)" in 1983 under "Indescomp". Originally done for the ZX Spectrum as this one was just released in UK. The game was published by Quicksilva and caused a kickstart of the "Golden Era of Spanish Software" in which Spain became the second largest 8 bit computer entertainment software producer in Europe (just behind UK). The game was also the first game to ever use animated non-interactive scenes (later coined as "cutscenes" by game designer Ron Gilbert in 1987 when this technique gained wide audience awareness due to his point & click adventure "Maniac Mansion") In this interview, Paco Portalo also talks about the beginning of computing in Spain, correcting Spanish computer game history in 2009 by writing the book Bugaboo, un hito en la Historia del software español by Francisco Portalo Calero.

Posted by Nafcom on Apr 21, 2019 // Read more »

Video Interview with John Mack

John Mack is the designer and graphic artist of the 1983 edutainment program "Operation:Frog" by Scholastic. It was the first of its kind in which you were tasked to either dissect or put together a frog. Learn all about this program and how it came to be.

Posted by Nafcom on Apr 19, 2019 // Read more »

Podcast Episode #63 - The Retro Hour with Dan Wood and Ravi Abbott

Dan Wood and Ravi Abbott host the amazingly popular Retro Hour Podcast, as well as having awesome YouTube channels of their own. AJ and Joerg talk to them about how they do it, keeping retro fresh, and we trade some fun podcasting stories. (Interview starts at 24:50)

Posted by Derision on Apr 08, 2019 // Read more »

Podcast Episode #62 - Rad Rodgers RE - Ion Maiden - Wrath!

Even in 2019 firepower matters still! Our retro gaming expert Andrew and Joerg spoke to Frederik Schreiber (Vice President of 3D Realms + Managing Director of Slipgate Studios) and Mike Nielsen (President + CEO of 3D Realms) about their latest games: - Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition - Spiritual successor of "Commander Keen" with extended extras, and more characters to play with! - Ion Maiden - Action 3D game based on the same engine as "Duke Nukem 3D"! - Wrath - Action 3D game based on the same engine as "Quake". They talk about the long bumpy ride to develop and bring such new retro coined IP games to us enthusiastic old-school gamers! The interview starts at 4:56 minutes!

Posted by Nafcom on Mar 17, 2019 // Read more »

Podcast Episode #61 - Silk with Chris Bateman

Chris Bateman is a game designer with a storied history. From helping to develop the Discworld game series to his newest endeavor, Silk, he has been blazing trails in game design for years. Joerg talks to him about his history and about his newest project, the unique sandbox RPG and adventure game, "Silk", that is on Kickstarter right now! (Interview starts at 11:33)

Posted by Derision on Mar 15, 2019 // Read more »

Video interview with Christian Spanik -Part 5 - Working at Data Becker

In part 5 of our interview series with computer media pioneer Christian Spanik, we talk about how it was to work for Data Becker.

Posted by Nafcom on Mar 08, 2019 // Read more »

Podcast Episode #60 - The Guru Meditation!

Bill Winters and Anthony Becker are, together, the creative force behind The Guru Meditation, one of the Amiga scene's most beloved and visible institutions. AJ and Joerg sit down with them for a wide-ranging conversation about the modern Amiga scene and how they produce their brilliant content. (Interview begins @ 24:00)

Posted by Derision on Mar 03, 2019 // Read more »

Podcast Episode #59 - Farming Simulator with GIANTS' Martin Rabl

2018 was a banner year for commercial C64 releases, none more surprising -- or more well-received -- than GIANTS Software's hit game Farming Simulator. AJ and Joerg talk to GIANTS' Martin Rabl about how the C64 port came to be and why retrogaming is such a big part of gaming culture. The interview starts 12 minutes into the podcast.

Posted by Derision on Feb 03, 2019 // Read more »

Video interview with John Romero

John Romero is one of the most famous computer game designers, most known for his 3D Ego shooters like Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, Quake, and the jump'n'run series "Commander Keen"

Posted by Nafcom on Dec 27, 2018 // Read more »