This Week in Retro

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Spooky leftovers and a tribute to departed multimedia legend Patrick Stewart anchor our coverage this week. The hosts also discuss ZX Spectrum Next shipping announcements in real-time while bouncing between promising new unofficial cores for the Commodore 64 Ultimate and the impact of a quarter-century of Windows XP. Count the lights and settle in!

00:00 - Show Opening

01:27 - Star Power
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAfQ387XReg

16:10 - Ultimate Commodore 64 Unlocked
Story Link: https://trex64-dev.github.io/
Demonstration video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqa0KDOW9Fo

30:38 - Housekeeping - News links found below

40:41 - The Best Windows Ever?
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAv1EwoRnec

50:52 - Community Question of the Week

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Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/davevelociraptor.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/jasoncompton.bsky.social

Youtube:
Chris - https://www.youtube.com/@005AGIMA
Jason - https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroAdventurers

Audio Podcast:
https://retroadventurers.podbean.com/

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!
📻 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-retro/id1526487568?uo=4
📻 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OPQ3cADaB92E9SpRdTe5y
📻 Podbean: https://twir.podbean.com
📻 Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/show/5734337
📻 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/TWIR/feed.xml
📻 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinRetro

This Week in Retro is a weekly roundup of the hottest stories from the world of retro gaming and computing, voted on by you, the listener! Hosted by Chris from 005 AGIMA, Jason from The Retro Adventurers and Dave. Edited by Duncan Styles.

News In Brief Links

Halloween Havoc: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR9xDHtXapX8

SCUMMVM Trick or Treat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBbWqA_81dU

Waxworks Survival Horror: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4u6ZgSJttY

Addams Family Values: https://www.timeextension.com/features/the-making-of-addams-family-values-ocean-softwares-attempt-to-mix-hollywood-and-the-legend-of-zelda

Ghostbusters II Revamp: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/10/ghostbusters-ii-fans-unite-this-new-mod-brings-its-commodore-amiga-tie-in-closer-to-the-original-film 

Top 11 Amstrad Horror Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNlJ0FNQ2Es 

Top 10 Spooky games to play at Halloween: https://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/top-ten-spooky-halloween/ 

2009 Ghostbusters the Video Game goes VR: 
https://ghostbustersnews.com/2026/10/24/fan-made-mod-brings-ghostbusters-the-video-game-into-first-person-vr/ 

Commodore 16 and Plus/4 book: https://commodore16.com/

Atari VCS shutdown: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/10/atari-is-officially-pulling-support-for-the-atari-vcs

Xbox CEO on recomps: https://www.purexbox.com/news/2026/10/xbox-knows-its-games-are-getting-recompiled-for-pc-and-its-impacting-their-future

Martin Webb on The Retro Hour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D54w__YUNbg

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 explored: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JjaAFiDvIk

FujiNet for NES update: https://fujinet.online/nes/

GOG Mulls Big Boxes: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/physical-pc-games-could-make-a-comeback-thanks-to-gog-i-really-hope-that-well-be-able-to-do-it/

Episode Credits

Housekeeping Tune: https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/673cb497-b1b0-3580-827f-dbf8e9cd3cf8/

By Anders Krusberg / Peabody Awards - Patrick Stewart, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19595183

Peladophobes beware, because this week's episode features four horribly hairless heads full to bursting with passion for prehistoric programs and Paleolithic processors! Clint from LGR returns to help explore the terrifying terrain of tool-assisted technological transformations as titles Splatterhouse and Alien Breed 3D are mangled to suit new master-machines. Ready to risk electrocution and the condemnation of so-called "respectable" scientists to give rise to the next race of super-human? Then you'll need to master DNA separation on your Commodore 64. Sixty minutes of spine-tingling timeless technology await... if you dare.

 

Just in case you aren't already following him, please pay Clint a visit at: https://www.youtube.com/@LGR

 

00:00 - Show Opening

02:57 - MVG Saves Halloween
Story Link: https://modernvintagegamer.itch.io/splatterhouse-aga

19:34 - Genetic Experimentation
Story Link: http://dnastar.com

34:10 - Housekeeping - News links found below

39:37 - Alien Breed 3D HD
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFvim_cU_zE

53:40 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!
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Follow your hosts!
Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/davevelociraptor.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/jasoncompton.bsky.social

Youtube:
Chris - https://www.youtube.com/@005AGIMA
Jason - https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroAdventurers

Audio Podcast:
https://retroadventurers.podbean.com/

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!
📻 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-retro/id1526487568?uo=4
📻 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OPQ3cADaB92E9SpRdTe5y
📻 Podbean: https://twir.podbean.com
📻 Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/show/5734337
📻 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/TWIR/feed.xml
📻 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinRetro

This Week in Retro is a weekly roundup of the hottest stories from the world of retro gaming and computing, voted on by you, the listener! Hosted by Chris from 005 AGIMA, Jason from The Retro Adventurers and Dave. Edited by Duncan Styles.

News In Brief Links

AI in Retro Games: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1015430/ai-retro-games-decomp-recomp-port

Sayaka's Digital Attic: https://youtu.be/WnNWWbJwYNA

IsoDoom: https://youtu.be/cBQNYFaK_lA

ZX Spectrum Next laptop: https://www.dorchester3d.com/printing/blog/2020/11/zx-spectrum-next-laptop-version-2

Knightmare, the Adventure: https://www.knightmaregame.co.uk/

BBC Archive The Wonder of Computers: https://youtu.be/P6Q57p-qTpU

Throwback media players and long-lost silicon schematics lead our coverage this week. There are a variety of ways to breathe new life into an Apple iPod, including flash drive upgrades and the Sprout replacement motherboard project. Or if you think the software is the problem, Rockbox runs on most iPods and dozens of other players from rival vendors. ZX Spectrum preservation got a big boost when an eBay haul turned up the detailed blueprint for the system's essential ULA chip, and Chris runs with a discussion started on our subreddit. We also note some significant passings and the latest wave of surprise game ports.

Visit https://www.simulant.media/ for your copy of Pixel Addict magazine.

00:00 - Show Opening

03:04 - iPod Rejuvenation
Story Link: https://www.techspot.com/news/114210-new-mod-brings-apple-classic-ipods-2026-bluetooth.html
Product Link: https://certainthings.studio/
Additional Link: rockbox.org

20:30 - ZX-pect The Unexpected
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiW3P1rJRMc

30:48 - Housekeeping - News links found below

36:13 - Do You Play Your Retro Games?
Story Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1x51i0a/do_you_really_play_those_retro_games/ 

46:39 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!
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Follow your hosts!
Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/davevelociraptor.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/jasoncompton.bsky.social

Youtube:
Chris - https://www.youtube.com/@005AGIMA
Jason - https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroAdventurers

Audio Podcast:
https://retroadventurers.podbean.com/

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!
📻 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-retro/id1526487568?uo=4
📻 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OPQ3cADaB92E9SpRdTe5y
📻 Podbean: https://twir.podbean.com
📻 Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/show/5734337
📻 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/TWIR/feed.xml
📻 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinRetro

This Week in Retro is a weekly roundup of the hottest stories from the world of retro gaming and computing, voted on by you, the listener! Hosted by Chris from 005 AGIMA, Jason from The Retro Adventurers and Dave. Edited by Duncan Styles.

News In Brief Links

Robert X. Cringely (Mark Stephens) obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/mark-stephens-obituary?id=62687488

Recent Cringely work: https://www.cringely.com/

Sensible Soccer C64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoxrNuXKyyg

Original Donkey Kong art sale: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/a-former-nintendo-employee-is-auctioning-a-wealth-of-classic-items-including-the-original-donkey-kong-art/

Super Mario 64 on Atari Jaguar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJxz8FlSfE

Richard "Levelord" Gray obituary: https://bsky.app/profile/apogeeent.com/post/3mxrooxdr6k2v

Dizzy Collection announcement: https://youtu.be/4UXs9b3AnQ4

🛠 Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com/ for all your PCB needs! 🛠

A surprising collaboration between Retro Games Ltd. and Atari leads the news this week, with an equal-time look at Amiga AGA gaming just behind. The 1990s were the peak and decline of supercomputing and bulletin board system (BBS) operators, and both are the subjects of new deep-dive videos. Plus timely event promos, cross-platform throwbacks, and wistful looks at peak clamshell PDA performance.

00:00 - Show Opening

04:21 - It's An XL Remake
Story Link: https://atari.com/pages/800xl
Into the Vertical Blank: https://intotheverticalblank.com/2026/10/11/making-sense-of-the-800xl-by-retro-games-and-atari-atari-now/

21:12 - The Cry Of The Banshee
Story Link: https://spillhistorie.no/2026/10/05/da-dansk-dynamitt-og-aga-magi-odela-underarmen/

32:35 - Housekeeping - News links found below

41:02 - The Supercomputer And The Sysop
Story Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSgnDD83m-U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROQSw6jqJO8

56:52 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!
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Follow your hosts!
Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/davevelociraptor.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/jasoncompton.bsky.social

Youtube:
Chris - https://www.youtube.com/@005AGIMA
Jason - https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroAdventurers

Audio Podcast:
https://retroadventurers.podbean.com/

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!
📻 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-retro/id1526487568?uo=4
📻 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OPQ3cADaB92E9SpRdTe5y
📻 Podbean: https://twir.podbean.com
📻 Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/show/5734337
📻 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/TWIR/feed.xml
📻 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinRetro

This Week in Retro is a weekly roundup of the hottest stories from the world of retro gaming and computing, voted on by you, the listener! Hosted by Chris from 005 AGIMA, Jason from The Retro Adventurers and Dave. Edited by Duncan Styles.

News In Brief Links

Richard Garriott on copyright: https://youtu.be/m60SbCPdfQI?si=R-j9hA_ZHxUQ0lRz

Vector Doom: https://streamable.com/0u960a

Nintendo FujiNet: https://forums.atariage.com/topic/393355-fujinet-for-nes-bring-up-thread/

Ross Smith 3DFX interview: https://www.club386.com/3dfx-voodoo-history-ross-smith-interview/

Wing Commander 3 remaster: https://www.club386.com/3dfx-voodoo-history-ross-smith-interview/

Margaret Hamilton obituary: https://www.theregister.com/software/2026/10/08/margaret-hamilton-software-pioneer-who-helped-put-humans-on-the-moon-dies-at-90/5301988

Dungeon Master on SCUMMVM: https://www.scummvm.org/news/20261008/

Casio Cassiopeia: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1wycdlh/vintage_handhelds_for_productivity/

Psion 5 profile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kht2c7DyhlQ

The rarest treasures lurk under piles of castoff keyboards, and there's a flood of cross-platform software ports heading your way. This week's top stories include a pack of ZX Spectrum updates and developments, the latest in surprise PC software, and the astounding thrift store find of an ultra-rare Humdinger home computer. Plus, catch up on news from the lands of Lemmings, Prodigy, CompuServe, and more.

Visit https://www.simulant.media/ for your copy of Pixel Addict magazine.

00:00 - Show Opening

03:51 - Any Port In A Storm?
Story Link: https://www.dsogaming.com/news/rave-racer-arcade-perfect-pc-port-is-now-available-for-download/
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/time-crisis-arcade-perfect-pc-port-is-now-available-for-download/
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-legend-of-zelda-wind-waker-unofficial-pc-port-released/
https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/09/this-super-mario-64-snes-port-is-looking-to-push-the-super-fx-chip-to-its-limits
https://ixbt.games/en/news/2026/09/28/spustia-19-let-suter-the-darkness-perenesli-na-pk.html

18:56 - Behold: The Humdinger Computer!
Story Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1wu16c4/found_this_old_humdinger_computer_at_goodwill/
GitHub: https://github.com/indigoprime/doppledinger

33:13 - Housekeeping - News links found below

38:53 - This Week In Spectrum
Story Link: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/10/new-book-celebrating-45-years-of-the-zx-spectrum-smashes-its-kickstarter-goal-day-one 
https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/09/blazes-c64-and-zx-spectrum-handhelds-have-been-delayed-to-april-2027 
https://www.timeextension.com/reviews/grant-sinclairs-gamercard-n-shares-some-of-sir-clives-dna-but-this-is-no-zx-spectrum-style-triumph 

52:05 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!
https://www.patreon.com/thisweekinretro

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!
Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/davevelociraptor.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/jasoncompton.bsky.social

Youtube:
Chris - https://www.youtube.com/@005AGIMA
Jason - https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroAdventurers

Audio Podcast:
https://retroadventurers.podbean.com/

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!
📻 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-retro/id1526487568?uo=4
📻 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OPQ3cADaB92E9SpRdTe5y
📻 Podbean: https://twir.podbean.com
📻 Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/show/5734337
📻 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/TWIR/feed.xml
📻 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinRetro

This Week in Retro is a weekly roundup of the hottest stories from the world of retro gaming and computing, voted on by you, the listener! Hosted by Chris from 005 AGIMA, Jason from The Retro Adventurers and Dave. Edited by Duncan Styles.

News In Brief Links

Physical media trends: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/oct/02/physical-media-fans-streaming-algorithms-cds-dvds-vinyl

CompuServe retrospective: https://dfarq.homeip.net/what-happened-to-compuserve/

Prodigy restoration: https://staging.prodigyreloaded.com/start/

Lemmings editor: https://github.com/timoheimonen/Amiga-Lemmings-Editor

Windows 2000 vs. Linux vs. Oracle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SliyHq54SxE

The Found Footage Festival: https://gizmodo.com/15000-vhs-tapes-and-counting-meet-the-guys-preserving-the-weirdest-parts-of-the-analog-era-2000816383

Dizzy developments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTSaPajJCcE