This Week in Retro

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Stand, wait to be acknowledged, address all of your comments to the chair, and refer to the hosts in third person only for this proper parliamentary procedure edition of This Week in Retro. Original Xbox games come to Windows 11 (with major caveats)! We learn about the Bit 79: a souped-up Nintendo Famicom from Taiwan that launched an entire genre of 8-bit computers rarely discussed on English-language shows! And Chris dutifully delves into the world of pay-to-unlock content in an Artworx classic. Plus, everything old is new again as Atari once again partners with a film studio, a legendary tech columnist passes, and an infamous battery supplier reaches the end of its leaky road.

00:00 - Show Opening

03:42 - Unbox Those Old Xbox
Story Link: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-brings-back-compat-to-windows-microsoft-pledges-4-games-on-pc

23:27 - Meet The Bit 79 Home Computer System!
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZH1rR7WogI
Bit79 emulator: https://notin.tokyo/Bit79
Bit79 support materials: https://archive.org/details/bit-79-archive

35:16 - Housekeeping - News links found below

44:11 - Dial 1-800-STRIPPERS
Story Link: https://www.dosgame.at/blog/wie-wir-ein-vergessenes-strip-poker-spiel-wieder-hergestellt-haben?lang=en 

52:33 - Community Question of the Week

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Bluesky:
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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
SynaMax channel: www.youtube.com/@SynaMax
Nested Dreams: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/synamax/nested-dreams

CPC Attack: https://youtu.be/r9jDnWGsKKU

Candidate advocates for SegaWorld, Shenmue 4: https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/21/count-binface-demands-sega-bring-back-london-arcade-make-shenmue-4-29190664/

John C. Dvorak memorials: https://mailchi.mp/nashownotes/rip-jcd-no-agenda-newsletter
https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/07/23/famed-technology-journalist-john-c-dvorak-dies-aged-80

Dune II Commodore 64: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SILhafNKU8c

SNES SuperFX 3: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/07/randy-is-a-madman-snes-star-fox-gets-a-speed-boost-thanks-to-super-fx-3

Atari/Universal Pictures deal: https://deadline.com/2026/07/atari-universal-deal-10-game-ip-script-matt-reilly-carl-hampe-entertainment-360-1237001656/

Sega Rally port: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/07/this-might-be-the-closest-well-get-to-sega-rally-on-genesis

Varta insolvency: https://www.reuters.com/business/german-battery-maker-varta-files-insolvency-applications-2026-07-24/

We welcome retro productivity software blogger Christopher Drum of Stone Tools (stonetools.ghost.io) to ask the big questions: was the television game show just as important to culture as Doom? Is there a sensible way to acquire arcade cabinets without spending all one's time and/or money on them? And when did the web browser become more important for running software than exploring unconnected pages? 

00:00 - Show Opening

03:33 - Top American Cultural Creations (Besides DOOM)
Story Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/interactive/2026/07/15/25-most-influential-works-american-culture/
Romero post: https://bsky.app/profile/johnromero.bsky.social/post/3mqp3vasns22u

21:51 - Insert More Coins
Story Link: https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/19/become-a-golden-age-arcade-machine-collector-repairman-readers-feature-29166149/
Additional link: https://www.ukvac.com/forum/

31:26 - Housekeeping - News links found below

39:51 - Long Live Browser Emulation!
Story Link: https://floooh.github.io/tiny8bit
Additional links: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/07/psp-and-dreamcast-are-the-most-likely-to-land-next-afterplay-creator-on-pushing-the-limits-of-browser-based-emulation
https://retrogamecoders.com/zxnext-js-emulator/

50:53 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!
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🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Stone Tools: stonetools.ghost.io

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

UK Nintendo Nostalgia?: https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/15/nes-45-years-old-no-nostalgia-uk-29091381/

Steam cartridge system: https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/pc-gamer-turns-steam-games-into-cartridges-with-ingenious-2-5-inch-ssd-system-games-are-stored-on-128gb-drives-alongside-a-script-to-auto-start-the-title-once-plugged-in

Zilog Z80 CPU turns 50: https://goliath32.com/blog/z80.html

1.44 MB game contest: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news-floppy-disk-1-44mb-game-development-contest/

GAME enters administration: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26291655.uk-retail-giant-collapsed-administration-owing-16m/
Related: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/physical-games-are-irrelevant-to-gamestops-business-says-ceo/

Day in the Life of a 1980s K-Mart Manager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCrkaOyDHfw&t=3280s

Super Mario 64 on PS1 and 3DO: https://retrododo.com/super-mario-64-is-now-running-on-the-panasonic-3do-ps1/

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

We're sharing gigawatts of retro tech news and discussion this week. Don your visor and get immersed in a virtual arcade courtesy of the Rave environment offering over 1,200 emulated titles. Learn the daily grind of an RBMK nuclear reactor operator through the extensive reproduction efforts of Chernobyl Family , and get the hosts' breakdown of Retro Games Ltd.'s unusual video FAQ for followers of THEA1200. Our newsbriefs are especially diverse, covering everything from the IBM System/360 to the Atari Jaguar and original PlayStation.

00:00 - Show Opening

02:16 - Headset-ting The High Score
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-97U6fvwLHg

15:40 - We Have Uranium-235 At Home
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JSP_gVXZTs
Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiMzGRs8q2Q
RBMK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RBMK

26:21 - Housekeeping - News links found below

34:23 - THEA1200 Q&A
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atZFmK9aOCI
Disk sizes explained: https://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=79606
Disk sizes explained, again: https://www.amigaforever.com/kb/16-120

45:24 - 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

Callback Accessibility: https://www.accessibility.org.au/opinion-commodore-callback-is-not-keeping-up-with-support-for-people-with-disability/

How Blind People Use An iPhone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtE2NfFZK2g

PS1 16Mb RAM Upgrade: https://www.generationamiga.com/2026/07/05/playstation-1-16mb-ram-upgrade-pushes-sonys-classic-console-beyond-its-original-limits/

RISCBoy Github: https://github.com/Wren6991/RISCBoy

Legacy Of The BBC Micro: https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/the-legacy-of-bbc-micro/

Atari Jaguar Run Linux: https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/dev-ports-linux-to-ataris-notorious-jaguar-console-from-1993-the-first-64-bit-console-features-2mb-of-ram-13-3-mhz-cpu-and-tom-and-jerry-co-processors-the-jag-was-notoriously-difficult-to-program-and-flopped

Vic-20 Sabre Wulf: https://www.sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=11578

NEC CRT From Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk0Nk1KJuSc

IBM System/360 3D: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0FY3CDCw1o

You've seen all the other brands say they're following Sony's digital-only lead while chuckling into a sleeve. Now it's TWiR's turn to respond as the doomsday clock for physical media moves nearer midnight. In other news we revisit the life and career of Psion PLC founder and innovator David Potter, and explore the many hazards of the modern online auction scene, plus a look at a short-lived 3DO reboot, new uses for old RAM, and much more.

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

00:00 - Show Opening

03:14 - No More Pizza
Story Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1ulqtcr/the_digital_age_is_coming/
PlayStation Blog: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/

18:37 - Farewell To Psion’s David Potter
Story Link: http://bsky.app/profile/anthonybarnett.bsky.social/post/3mpj6lshqn22s
Remembering David Potter: https://www.opendemocracy.net/obituary-david-potter-psion-industrialist-physicist-philanthropist/
The amazing adventures of David Potter: https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/amazing-adventures-david-potter-positioned-intersection-phone-computer-technology-psion-preparing-launch-net-ready-mobiles-annointed-new-ftse-100/article/412010
Additional links:
https://archivesit.org.uk/interviews/david-potter/
https://potterfoundation.com/who_we_are.html

31:17 - Housekeeping - News links found below

37:49 - Is eBay Fantasy?
Story Link: https://www.gameshub.com/news/features/retro-tech-ebay-fantasy-pricing-2885838/

49:02 - 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

e-ink ESP32 Based Game Boy: https://www.xda-developers.com/someone-made-an-e-ink-esp32-game-boy-and-it-runs-at-a-very-playable-60hz-refresh-rate/

AI FPGA Cores: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/07/extremely-disappointing-are-ai-generated-fpga-cores-the-future-or-the-death-of-accuracy

Windows 11 On DDR1: https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/ram-crisis-provokes-enthusiast-to-try-windows-11-on-ddr1-era-hardware-other-key-vintage-components-included-the-core-2-q6600-and-ati-radeon-hd-4650-agp

BBC Search For A Better Screen: https://youtu.be/fM7BpmJlRIs

3DO Revival Dead: https://www.engadget.com/2206578/3do-revival-empire-interactive/

Make Your Own RAM: https://youtu.be/IOtf85sHRlg

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

Sega's mission to make its history more accessible, and give the world even more authentic Sonic cartridges, leads our coverage this week. We also look at the ultra-compact, resource-light KolibriOS (runs comfortably on a 30-year old Pentium!) and an Amiga 1200 that's been upgraded beyond belief. Plus your top picks for the best real-world locations to simulate in a game, more Commodore Callback discourse, and a very special 40th birthday!

00:00 - Show Opening

01:31 - Physical and Playable
Story Link: https://www.thegamer.com/sega-producer-yosuke-okunari-all-4500-sega-games-playable/
Additional links: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sega-is-re-releasing-the-original-sonic-genesis-games-on-100-cartridges/
https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/sonic-35th

14:21 - Single Floppy Computing
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w2imHvPHBI
Additional link: http://kolibrios.org
Barebones Windows: http://github.com/byteospro/barebone-windows

29:06 - Housekeeping - News links found below

33:56 - Ultimate Amiga?
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV2FffhXCYo
Additional links: https://www.pimyretro.org/ultimate-amiga-1200-pistorm-cd32-mode-and-full-hardware-expansion 
https://www.youtube.com/@jit06 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlnwWAIdXqQ 

42:19 - 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

UK Amstrad meetup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQDlb33D6cQ

C= Callback: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/06/we-listened-commodore-reduces-the-price-of-its-forthcoming-callback-8020-dumbphone

Mainstream Commodore coverage: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aHzR9zapK68

Lost NASA craft re-contacted: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1uf5sp4/a_lost_nasa_spacecraft_came_back_to_life_after_36/

Atari Lynx nostalgia: https://youtu.be/RcjbMCRErz4?is=rOg7aZMELYHfy5OB

CRT Treasure Trove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpAFuVxTscM

Outrun at 40: https://youtu.be/Y2UkXj_rxgE