This Week in Retro

In the last regular show of the year we are joined by Neil and Aaron for a bumper episode. The latest goings-on at Commodore including Commodore 64 Ultimates under the tree and reciprocal trademark challenges, a collection of things to do over the holidays and a look back at how catalogue shopping was a fun way to find your next tech obsession. We are sponsored by Pixel Addict magazine which has just launched issue 32. It covers those dial-up ISPs that had a firm grip on your internet access back in the day. Head over to https://www.addict.media/ Aaron is part of the team at Amigos Retro Gaming: https://www.youtube.com/@AmigosRetroGaming Neil is part of the team at The Retro Collective: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroCollective GLYPHIS_IO BBS: The Proxy Tapes 1989: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4179570/GLYPHIS_IO_BBS_The_Proxy_Tapes_1989/ 00:00 - Show Opening 06:53 - We’re Still Keeping Up With The Commodore Story Link: https://www.commodore.net/post/press-release C64 Laptop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5QQ0ECfwyE Amiga 40th: https://youtu.be/udrnSDVbbhw 31:40 - Snow Day Diversions Story Link: http://superchartisland.com The Eagle Obsession: http://eagledocumentary.com ReStory Chill Electronic Repairs: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3812600/ReStory_Chill_Electronic_Repairs/ 52:16 - Housekeeping - News links found below 58:53 - All I Want For Christmas Story Link: https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ShowCatalogPage/1985%20Sears%20Christmas%20Book/608 Full Catalogue: https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ShowCatalogPage/1985%20Sears%20Christmas%20Book/ Argos Autumn / Winter 1989/1990: https://archive.org/details/argos-autumn-winter-1989-1990/page/n283/mode/2up  1991/92 has some consoles in the toy section on page 338:  https://archive.org/details/argos-autumn-winter-1991-1992/page/n337/mode/2up  Argos Christmas Gifts 1993 - Consoles and games from page 10:  https://archive.org/details/argos-christmas-gifts-1993  Nostalgia Nerd Christmas Catalogues flick through videos:  https://www.youtube.com/@Nostalgianerd/search?query=Argos%20Christmas  Christmas and other vintage TV Adverts at: https://www.youtube.com/@RetroSteveUK  RetroSpectives, he’s just dropped a video called “The 1984 Dixons Catalog - what’s inside?”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP4RgB73IGg  My own Christmas Pamphlet Catalog Video (Fresh from last Friday):  https://youtu.be/Ck-RqHRV34M  01:18:06 - 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/@jpcompton 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 The Quickshot Joystick: https://retrogames.biz/products/thequickshot-ii/

🛠 Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com/ for all your PCB needs! 🛠 An 80s film and game icon has a statue at long last, RAM prices are sky high and not for the first time and the BBC took a look at how CGI was used in the film Tron.  00:00 - Show Opening 01:53 - Your Move, Statue Creep Story Link: https://www.metrotimes.com/arts/detroit-finally-has-a-robocop-statue/ 14:19 - All Of This Has Happened Before, And It Will All Happen Again Story Link: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/after-nearly-30-years-crucial-will-stop-selling-ram-to-consumers/ Frontline Scotland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQDWytFwpYI 26:38 - Housekeeping - News links found below 30:34 - Back To The Grid Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr1QuMnoLvQ Tron Behind The Scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm4i6D3XXBQ Long Tron Doco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbgHMrLPQrE Hold and Modify: https://www.youtube.com/c/holdandmodify 42:46 - 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/@jpcompton 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 Nick Thorpe Passes: https://bsky.app/profile/retrogamerdaz.bsky.social/post/3m6zkrs5yws2o UT2004 Revived: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/fan-community-announces-it-will-revive-unreal-tournament-2004-with-epics-blessing-were-doing-this-for-free-because-were-fans-of-the-game-and-we-like-a-challenge/ Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Passes: https://deadline.com/2025/12/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa-dead-mortal-kombat-actor-1236636368/ MD Engine: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1pd3i1f/md_engine_create_your_own_mega_drive_games/ New Carmageddon Game: https://www.polygon.com/carmageddon-rogue-shift-reveal-trailer-release-date-2026/ Sega Dreamcast Mini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYF87gt6hAQ

We are joined by Allan (aka Happy Coding ZX) to talk about joysticks, haunted tech and does retrobrighting damage your beloved computers and consoles? Visit FVResearch.com for all things FujiNet!  Emulate devices such as disk drives, printers and modems plus provide a wireless network interface to a wide range of retro computers. Please visit https://ko-fi.com/midnightbrew/shop to support Allan and the Movember charity. Changing the face of men's health. 00:00 - Show Opening 05:33 - Joy Of A Decent Stick Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4QQDqkVCng 23:19 - Tales Of The Unexplained Story Link: https://www.downtowndougbrown.com/2025/01/the-invalid-68030-instruction-that-accidentally-allowed-the-mac-classic-ii-to-successfully-boot-up/ The 1988 Mystery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRHpN53hb34 The Games Machine Issue 09: https://archive.org/details/TheGamesMachineIssue09Aug88/page/n97/mode/2up The Dodleston Messages: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/dodleston-messages.htm 40:53 - Housekeeping - News links found below 47:28 - Not Too Bright Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n_WpjseCXA Macho Nacho Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXhxTtK42A8 59:59 - 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/@jpcompton 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 Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy In Browser: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1g84m0sXpnNCv84GpN2PLZG/the-game-30th-anniversary-edition Perforated Tape Reader: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/retro-computing-enthusiast-creates-perforated-tape-reader-designed-from-scratch-reads-data-at-about-50-bytes-per-second  

🛠 Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com/ for all your PCB needs! 🛠 The SEGA Master System ( and Windows ) have reached 40 years old. Microsoft has made Zork open source. We remember the work of Rebecca Heineman. 00:00 - Show Opening 01:37 - Time Waits For No Man - Or Console For That Matter Story Link: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/nov/18/sega-master-system-nintendo-entertainment-system  Xbox 360 At 20: https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox360at20 20:30 - 1979 In The Spotlight: Zork Is Now Open Source Story Link: https://opensource.microsoft.com/blog/2025/11/20/preserving-code-that-shaped-generations-zork-i-ii-and-iii-go-open-source Additional Link: https://blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/zork-is-open-source BBC Link: https://youtu.be/2df88qJYYnM 38:00 - Housekeeping - News links found below 43:09 - Burger Time - Celebrating The Life Of A True Legend Story Link: https://youtu.be/x8PbLVCMLsw?si=w808z5iiEc2x7fs5&t=1772 Retro Collective Link: https://youtu.be/lPTLPXNtb2I?si=gQH6806ZzSHNCd1w 51:23 - 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/@jpcompton 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 C64 Raycasting FPS:  https://c64universe.com/2025/11/19/grey-commodore-64-fps-game-showcase/ Windows Hits 40: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2979524/microsoft-windows-hits-40-years-old-a-visual-walk-down-memory-lane.html The Analogue 3D Is Out : https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/11/the-analogue-3d-is-the-modern-n64-fans-have-been-waiting-for/ More On Windows At 40: https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/windows-operating-systems/windows-is-40-today-heres-the-20-best-and-worst-moments-in-windows-history MET Office Super Computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7hvHslfS5A Crash Live 2025 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSfZwnPiq9HBpQ_0mTwdCp54g4VKgfOa7  

We are very pleased to be joined by eXo this week, creator of eXoDOS and more. He is here to talk about the launch of eXoWin9x which is a growing collection of Win 9x games that have been cleverly packaged to run on modern systems. You can find out all about eXoWin9x here: https://www.retro-exo.com/ We also look back to when nobody was sure about the future of OS/2 and PowerPC. Plus are you sick and tired of racing games only featuring exotic motors? Fancy tearing around the track in your Nan's runaround? Now you can! Pixel Addict magazine issue 31 is celebrating the Atari ST 40th anniversary with musician John Sohn. Learn about John's defining moments in the pioneering computer's story. Head over to www.addict.media 00:00 - Show Opening 02:25 - eXo Wins Again Story Link: https://www.retro-exo.com/ 21:28 - OS/2 And PowerPC Story Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/software/the-worst-selling-microsoft-product-of-all-time-sold-just-11-times-and-eight-people-returned-it-why-youve-never-heard-of-os-2-for-the-mach-20 Why the Original Apple Silicon Failed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tld91M_bcEI OS/2 Museum: https://www.os2museum.com/wp/os2-history/os2-timeline/ 36:48 - Housekeeping - News links found below 45:03 - Gran Turismo School Run Story Link: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/gran-turismo/after-26-years-modders-give-ps1-racing-game-classic-gran-turismo-2-the-overhaul-it-deserves-replacing-all-the-race-cars-with-minivans-and-used-car-dealerships/ 53:14 - 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/@jpcompton 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 The Spectrum White Edition: https://retrogames.biz/products/thespectrum-collectors-edition/ Codemasters Archive: https://thecodemastersarchive.co.uk/playonline/ Unix Gaming At Retro Computer Festival 2025: https://i.redd.it/9xshlv0nte1g1.jpeg Steve Furber ARM At 40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeQn_AJqX54 New Steam Hardware: https://youtu.be/odAibuffNnA?si=eicgBH_cfcW0zW3T SDK For C64 Development In C# and .NET: https://retroc64.github.io/ OpenFLops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KomxgozMiY