Game & Gadget Podcast

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern. 00:00:00 – Introduction and podcast opening 00:00:17 – Tony’s tour experience promoting UrbX Warriors game 00:01:18 – The importance of playtesting games with real people at events 00:02:33 – Upcoming gaming events 00:03:47 – Experience of putting the game in front of players for the first time 00:05:24 – Discord community and alpha demo releases 00:07:39 – Technical challenges of developing for ZX Spectrum Next vs PC 00:08:26 – Real-time bug fixing and community feedback process 00:11:11 – Comparing modern playtesting to classic game development (Lure of the Temptress, Beneath a Steel Sky, Broken Sword) 00:15:01 – ZX Spectrum Next Issue 3 Kickstarter success (£2.2 million raised) 00:18:16 – New Commodore developments and C64 revival 00:22:31 – James’s retrolan experience with friends 00:28:10 – Windows operating systems and stability 00:30:24 – James switching from macOS to Linux Mint on MacBook Pro 00:33:05 – Tony planning to get UrbX Warriors running on Raspberry Pi 00:34:29 – Linux gaming and Steam compatibility improvements 00:37:23 – Backup strategies and password management 00:41:12 – GitHub for game development backup and collaboration 00:44:12 – Brief discussion about AI and its applications 00:48:30 – Broken Sword Reforged and AI controversy explanation 00:56:34 – Recommendation for Earthion shmup game on Steam 00:59:16 – Potential UrbX Warriors ports to other platforms (Mega Drive, Neo Geo, Amiga) 01:04:18 – Wrap-up and goodbye 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern. FPGA devices becoming more accessible, focusing on the MiSTer project and its many retro gaming cores Hunting down Taki Udon FPGA boards and the challenges with small production batches Early adopter woes – memory speed concerns and analogue audio quirks FPGA efforts to emulate complex consoles like the Sega Saturn, PlayStation 1, N64 and beyond The dream of a consumer-level FPGA PlayStation 1 experience with the SuperStation One Tony’s new project: UrbX Warriors – a Kickstarter-bound game for Spectrum Next, PC and more The challenges of developing for the Spectrum Next, dealing with tight memory banking restrictions Porting UrbX Warriors to PSX, Steam, Switch, Amiga and Mac James’ retro PC escapades – saving and restoring early 2000s hardware for Windows 98 and XP gaming Collecting CRT monitors and comparing the experience of CRT versus modern digital displays The charm and madness of original hardware compared to FPGA and software emulation Nostalgic memories of Voodoo 2 graphics cards and the thrill of early PC 3D acceleration Scaling games like Broken Sword for different PC specs and the Game Boy Advance back in the 1990s The ongoing rabbit hole of retro computing CRT TV repair challenges 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Mark Benis, who has composed the musical soundtrack for the point and click adventure game Rosewater, set in the wild west and released in 2024. Mark has also worked on the soundtrack for Lamplight City with others credits for titles including Wolfenstein: Youngblood. In this podcast, we discuss his joy of retro chip-tune music of retro gaming platforms including the Nintendo Game Boy, which has inspired his journey creativity to now write musical soundtracks for modern gaming titles. Topics include: Mark Benis’ opportunity to become a game composer Childhood love of Pokémon Red/Blue music led to a lifelong curiosity about chip music The beauty of 8-bit music to orchestral and back again Using Wwyse and FMOD as audio middleware to replace line-by-line coding Mark’s early days and the audio equipment he used The financial barrier of the many professional audio sample libraries No woodwinds in the game Lamplight City inspiring creativity by limitation How hardware MIDI modules (Roland MT-32, Sound Canvas etc) have been replaced with software music audio libraries Mark’s go to piano performances to loosen his fingers and inspire his thoughts Mark’s computer and desk setup for music composition What is Rosewater and the musical brief you were given Avoiding the typical wild west country style music How much of the original work made it into the game soundtrack? How much of the artwork and game direction did Mark see before composing the tracks? Timing introductions to the music, or arranging the music to the intro? Hearing the voice acting dialogue for the first time reactions Mixing virtual instruments with live music players Choral music creation for the game Lamplight City recorded in a church with a real choir Mark’s future projects Collaborating on musical projects and avoiding arguments Featured music within the podcast, kindly provided with permission by Mark Benis… 7-43 to Rosewater Once Upon a Time in Western Vespuccia Night Walk The Showdown So Long, Partner Flor Silvestre by Christiane Ramirez You can download the full Rosewater Soundtrack on Mark Benis’ Bandcamp page. The full transcript can also be downloaded… 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Mike from vswitchzero, who has a fascinating YouTube channel dedicated to 90s retro PC hardware and gaming. In this podcast, we explore the fascinating history of this exciting era of 3D acceleration advancement with classic graphics cards including the 3Dfx Voodoo while delving into the repairs, nostalgia and the pitfalls of revisiting retro PC computing. Topics include: Commander Keen, Doom, Quake and the evolution of PC gaming hardware during the 90s Introduction of 3DFX and Voodoo graphics cards, including personal experiences and significant technological leaps Voodoo 2 SLI configurations and their impact on 3D gaming Comparisons between 3DFX, PowerVR and other competing technologies of the time Popular sound cards like the Creative Sound Blaster series and Yamaha DB50XG/SW60XG General MIDI and enhanced gaming experiences through better audio fidelity Mike’s Train Wreck Voodoo 2 repair Issues with capacitor failures and maintaining vintage hardware Benefits of modern retro PC projects and new hardware options mimicking retro systems Insights into building and maintaining retro PCs versus using modern emulation tools like DOSBox The joy of hardware repair and the satisfaction of reviving old systems Early PC setups, the transition to multimedia PCs and the rise of CD-ROM drives Reflections on the transformative era of PC gaming in the 90s Ongoing retro hardware projects and the increasing value of vintage components 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern. Topics include: Tony wants to play Elite on his BBC Micro, but the smoking capacitors have other ideas James’ original Xbox had a hidden surprise, a leaking clock capacitor that nearly destroyed the console Restoring James’ Commodore 64 – real dead bugs The C64 Tapecart SD for fast loading cassette games in just a few seconds The amazing Commodore 64 loading graphics and music Importance of preserving the stories from those who experienced such big tech and software advances The Sony PlayStation Vita with its stunning OLED display where sales flopped The cleverness of the dual screen display of the Nintendo DS Drooling over modern crystal replacement cases for retro consoles SEGA Dreamcast modding with the GDemu and DreamPSU The original power supply on the C64 is another danger! The video tour of Tony’s collection of retro gear ‘The Spectrum‘ hardware announced for emulating classic Spectrum titles What is a ‘sensible’ retro collection purchase? James’ lovely yet battered Amiga 500 purchased for £30 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Alex Brown, programmer of an upcoming brand new beat-em-up 2-player game for the Commodore Amiga – Metro Siege. With the target platform the Amiga A500, originally released way back in 1987! Alex takes us through the journey of pushing the limits of the Amiga A500, the experience of programming with the Amiga custom chips and how this wonderful passion project will become a final release. Topics include: How Alex became a programmer Alex’s favourite game influences Why create a new game for the Amiga? Pushing the limits of the Amiga A500 Taking the Amiga online with cross system online multiplayer The art of releasing a beta or technical preview and gathering feedback Keeping the gameplay smooth with 2 players, enemies and lush surroundings Parallax scrolling, moving trains and what’s needed to achieve the results Using modular character animation on the Amiga Given extra life to a retro computing platform The reason for the expansion memory of 512kb memory requirement The programming resources available for the Amiga The tricks of the trade for programming the Amiga The software and tools for creating Amiga games Emulation versus real hardware for testing The size of the team and the understanding of the capabilities of the Amiga The biggest challenge of getting the game to work Why AGA has not been targeted… yet? Ensuring there is an end goal to any “passion project” If you watch the video version of the podcast, I have captured Metro Siege running from my own Amiga A500 (which mine does have Pistorm installed, but I have been assured it will still run great without one). You can find out more by visiting the Metro Siege website. 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software and Aaron Fothergill previously from Argonaut Games and now with Shifty Eye Games as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern. Topics include: James’ visit to Tony’s retro computer and console collection Tony spending money to get his retro collection connected to a modern display – OSSC, RGB cables, power cables etc Mister FPGA costs versus retro hardware collections Aaron positive thoughts (and excellent excuses) on the cost of collecting retro hardware The Atari Falcon, the development kit for the Atari Jaguar Aaron’s first computer, which he still owns! Modifying old computers ROM chips and copyright risk My brand new retro hardware portable device for less than £1 RGB cables everywhere! The Apple G4 Cube USB flaw Skiving to get into computer games The inspiration of the ZX81 and micro computers My fondness of the Atari 65XE 8-bit computer Bye bye ICQ Tony and Aaron invent Code Jenga Development is hard Manually typing code from old books and magazines – oh the typos! Code in books, to disks on magazines to digital DLC What happens to digital licensed content when you die? The importance of archiving DLC and game patches Licensing music for games The cost of patching a console game The beauty of Xbox Live Arcade and developing the first games Playing Xbox Live Arcade version of Golden Eye on an Xbox 360 debug unit Featured Atari Falcon image By F-Andrey, CC BY 2.0, Link 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern. Topics include: James hunting for a SEGA Genesis in the USA Broken Sword Reforged Kickstarter blasts through £50,000 target to over half a million! Broken Sword 2 remastered? Did Tony from Revolution Software realise Broken Sword on its original release would be so popular? The design differences between Lure of the Temptress, Beneath a Steel Sky & Broken Sword Balancing PC minimum spec and recommended levels in development of games Sony PlayStation 5 Pro details leaked splitting the PS5 target specs Triple AAA titles and layoffs in the industry Netflix, Disney Plus etc and how we are cancelling subscriptions due to raising prices The needless pain of grinding in a game to progress Match 3 games and the lightning energy nonsense Apple EU App Stores Tony’s first article on Pixel Refresh, Beneath A Steel Sky Sets as Broken Sword Dawns – Revolution Book Preview James’ article on Pixel Refresh, CRT TV for Retro Gaming – The Beauty, Buying, Repair & Despair Acorn Pocket Book preview YouTube Premium, if only they would separate YouTube Music Apple Music for lossless, even on Android Where is Spotify HiFi lossless audio??? Literally years since the original announcement WearOS versus Tizen on smartwatches Tony’s Apple Watch experience NOTE: Tony or I lost connection at the very end, so the conversation goes a little odd as we wonder where the other person went :) Luckily the software locally records so Tony continued recording! 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Aaron Fothergill previously from Argonaut Games and now with Shifty Eye Games, Martin Mulrooney of Alternative Magazine Online and Karl from Retro32 as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern. Topics include: What is BBS and how was it used? BBS today on the Amiga The joys and sounds of dial up internet and blocking for Grandmothers Piracy software and the effects on development and livelihoods Funny copy protection at level 10 Jetstrike release version not the final and included a serious bug Jetstrike game featured Aliens “one in a million” chance though of seeing them! How did we all use our first connections to the Internet? The success of iTunes and iTunes Match against mp3 piracy Broken Sword Reforged and AI as a tool Our fondness of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered and its intentional limitations How what is acceptable has changed over the years Early gameplay mechanics 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software and Karl from Retro32 as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern. Topics include: James’ experiences with emulator Gotek floppy drives for retro computers and the Atari 520 STFM Tony’s experience of the Anbernic portable handheld RG35XX Plus Challenges faced when updating the Anbernic device Using original gaming hardware versus FPGA Keeping retro computers and consoles alive Discussion on the financial aspects of retro gaming, accessories and their cost ScummVM now officially available on the Apple App Store Various handheld devices for portable emulation So many ‘mini’ devices bringing back our retro memories The challenge of shipping a Steam Deck to Ukraine (the update) Super Amigas? How long would you need to learn to become a developer! Tony’s new game demo coming soon… 🎧 Listen to the Game & Gadget Podcast Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, Pocket Casts or Deezer, or with the podcast RSS feed. See more ways to listen. ❓ Send in a question for the show: it could feature in a future episode. ℹ️ Find out what the Game & Gadget Podcast is about. ☕ Support the show: buy James a thank-you coffee on Ko-fi. 🌍 More from Pixel Refresh ✉️ Get new Pixel Refresh articles and reviews by email 🎥 Subscribe to Pixel Refresh on YouTube 🔉 Free game soundtracks from the ScummVM Music Enhancement Project 🎮 PXR VGM Player: a free Android app for retro game music 🎹 PXR MIDI Player: a free macOS app for MIDI files 🏠 Visit Pixel Refresh