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

In this episode of Retro Titans, we dive into the colourful world of one of gaming's most original creators: Jeff Minter. Joining us is filmmaker and C64 pixel artist Paul Docherty, whose new documentary Heart of Neon chronicles Minter's remarkable four-decade journey from the VIC-20 era to becoming one of the industry's most fiercely independent creative voices.
Paul's own story is deeply intertwined with gaming history. Known to many as "Doc" from the Commodore 64 scene, he created iconic loading screens for classics such as The Last Ninja, Druid II and Flying Shark before embarking on a successful career in documentary filmmaking. Now, he's brought those two passions together in a labour of love that celebrates the games, artistry and philosophy of Llamasoft founder Jeff Minter.
Together, we explore the making of Heart of Neon, the challenges of documenting a gaming icon, and why Minter's unique blend of arcade action, psychedelia and artistic expression continues to resonate with players today.
In this episode, we cover:
1️⃣ The making of Heart of Neon How Paul Docherty went from Commodore 64 pixel artist to documentary filmmaker, and why Jeff Minter became the subject of his most ambitious project.
2️⃣ Jeff Minter's extraordinary legacy From Gridrunner and Llamatron to Space Giraffe and beyond, we discuss the games, ideas and innovations that shaped a four-decade career.
3️⃣ Video games as art Why Minter's work challenges conventional ideas about game design and continues to inspire developers, artists and creators.
4️⃣ The golden age of home computing Paul reflects on the Commodore 64 era, the UK games industry of the 1980s, and the creative opportunities that helped launch his career.
5️⃣ Preserving gaming history The role documentaries play in capturing the stories behind the games, people and movements that shaped retro gaming culture.
Whether you're a lifelong Llamasoft fan, a lover of retro gaming history, or simply curious about one of the medium's most distinctive creative minds, this is a fascinating conversation about imagination, technology and the enduring power of independent game development.
🔗 Guest links
Heart of Neon documentary
Paul Docherty
Llamasoft
🎙️ Credits
Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing
Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna
Used under licence from shockwave-sound.com

In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil sits down with coder, musician and game porter Ian "Hoffman" Ford — a veteran of the Amiga demoscene whose work has helped bring classic games to new audiences across modern retro platforms.
From creating tracker music as a teenager during the UK home computer boom to porting iconic titles like Metal Gear, Shinobi, Golden Axe and Turrican, Ian has spent decades combining technical expertise with a passion for retro gaming. Equally at home composing soundtracks, designing sound effects and writing low-level code, he occupies a unique place in the modern retro scene.
Together, Phil and Ian explore the worlds of game porting and retro game music, discussing what it takes to faithfully bring classic games to new hardware, how vintage systems shape the creative process, and why preserving the look, feel and sound of these games remains so important today.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ The art of porting classic games
What really happens when a game moves from one platform to another — and why understanding both the original hardware and the destination system is only the beginning.
2️⃣ From the Amiga demoscene to modern retro development
How a teenage passion for music, coding and creativity evolved into a career spanning decades of retro gaming projects.
3️⃣ Music, sound and atmosphere in retro games
From tracker music and game soundtracks to sound design and audio production, Ian explains how he creates music that enhances the retro gaming experience.
4️⃣ Head Over Heels: Return to Blacktooth
A behind-the-scenes look at one of the most anticipated modern retro releases, and the work involved in bringing the Atari ST project to the Amiga.
5️⃣ Preserving gaming history for new generations
From Metal Gear on the MSX to modern Neo Geo projects, Ian discusses why classic games still matter and how they continue to inspire today's developers and players.
Ian also shares stories from the Amiga demo scene, explains how a chance discovery of the Metal Gear source code sparked his first major porting project, discusses his work on Seekanoid and Roguecraft DX, and reveals the games that shaped his life — from Tetris and Journey to the Neo Geo classic Neo Turf Masters.
🔗 Guest links
GitHub: https://github.com/h0ffman
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/h0ffman
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/h0ffman.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@h0ffman
🎙️ Credits
Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing
Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna
Used under licence from shockwave-sound.com

In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil sits down with Sam Dyer, founder of Bitmap Books — the publisher behind some of the most beautifully crafted retro gaming books ever produced.
From the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum to the NeoGeo and N64, Bitmap Books has become synonymous with premium retro gaming preservation, celebrating the art, culture and history of the games we grew up with. But Sam's journey started much like many of ours — with a beige computer under the TV and a lifelong fascination with games.
Together, Phil and Sam explore how nostalgia, graphic design and a love of gaming history combined to create one of the most respected retro gaming publishers in the world today.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ The origins of Bitmap Books How a passion project inspired by the Commodore 64 grew into a globally recognised retro gaming publisher.
2️⃣ Designing books for retro fans Why presentation, print quality and visual storytelling matter just as much as the words on the page.
3️⃣ Preserving gaming history From arcade classics and point-and-click adventures to SNK and Neo Geo, Sam explains why these games deserve to be documented and celebrated.
4️⃣ Nostalgia, community and modern retro culture Why retro gaming continues to resonate with new generations, and how the meaning of "retro" keeps evolving.
Sam also shares stories about launching books through Kickstarter, working with legendary developers and publishers, creating collector's editions with built-in sound effects, and why games like Sensible Soccer, Monkey Island and Metal Slug still matter today.
🔗 Guest links – Sam Dyer / Bitmap Books Bitmap Books Website https://www.bitmapbooks.com/ Bitmap Books on X/Twitter https://x.com/bitmap_books Bitmap Books on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bitmapbooks
🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing
Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under license from shockwave-sound.com

In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil sits down with veteran game developer Carleton Handley to explore a career that spans the golden age of gaming right through to today's retro revival.
Carleton started out as a self-taught bedroom coder on the C64, before going on to work across multiple generations of games — from 8-bit classics to console and mobile titles. But in recent years, he's returned to where it all began, creating brand new games for the C64, including the brilliant puzzle game Millie and Molly.
Together, they explore what draws developers back to retro platforms, how constraints can fuel creativity, and why the C64 scene is still very much alive today.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ From bedroom coder to professional developer Carleton's journey from learning to code as a teenager to working across Game Gear, PlayStation and early mobile games.
2️⃣ Why return to the C64? What brought him back to 8-bit development after years away from making games.
3️⃣ Designing Millie and Molly How thoughtful puzzle design and simple mechanics create a deeply rewarding experience.
4️⃣ The modern retro scene Why communities, tools and platforms are making it easier than ever to create for classic systems.
Carleton also shares stories from his early career, his experiences working across different eras of the games industry, and how his passion for making games never really went away.
🔗 Guest links – Carleton Handley https://carletonhandley.itch.io/
🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing 🌐 www.thalamusdigital.co.uk
Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk 🌐 www.marcsilk.com
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under license from shockwave-sound.com

In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil is joined once again by returning guest and Evercade expert Crazy Burger for a deep dive into one of the most talked-about retro gaming announcements of the year: the Evercade Nexus.
Positioned as a premium handheld upgrade, the Nexus introduces a larger screen, dual analog sticks, and new features like local wireless multiplayer. But does it deliver what fans have been asking for, or is it playing things a little too safe?
Together, Phil and Crazy Burger break down everything we know so far, from hardware design and performance to pricing, game compatibility, and what this means for the future of the Evercade ecosystem.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ What the Evercade Nexus actually is A new premium handheld with a larger display, dual analog controls, and full cartridge compatibility.
2️⃣ Safe upgrade or missed opportunity? Why the Nexus delivers many requested features, but may fall short of bigger expectations.
3️⃣ Hardware deep dive Screen size, resolution, weight, ergonomics, and how it compares to previous Evercade devices.
4️⃣ New features and functionality From Tate mode to EverSync local multiplayer, and what these additions mean in practice.
5️⃣ Banjo-Kazooie and the future of Evercade Why this release is a major moment for the platform, and what it could signal for upcoming games.
Crazy Burger also shares insights from the Evercade community, reflects on Blaze's strategy, and gives an honest verdict on whether the Nexus is worth the investment.
 
🔗 Guest links – Crazy Burger
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CrazyBurger
 
🎙️ Credits
Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing 🌐 www.thalamusdigital.co.uk
Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk 🌐 www.marcsilk.com
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under license from shockwave-sound.com