Turrican, Neo Geo, Home Computer Handhelds & the Future of Retro Gaming | Blaze Entertainment's Andrew Byatt & Sean Cleaver

Rebroadcast - E1 Crazy Burger's introduction to Evercade

Today's episode is a replay of Season 1, Episode 1 with YouTuber Crazy Burger - recorded back in February 2024. So much has changed since we started Retro Titans. From resurgence of retro gaming and the evolution of Evercade to my own rediscovery of the games I loved. Looking back, I recorded this episode only four weeks into my Evercade journey. I'm slighly suprised by my bold brass to think I could make a podcast about something I knew barely anywayhing about. Hey ho, thankfully Crazy Burger made it easy for me. Since then, I've discovered so much more in retro and indie gaming, recorded over 50 episodes of Retro Titans, and made a load of friends in the process. So, while we wait for the fresh new episodes, thanks to everyone who's listened and supported Retro Titans so far. Are you ready to play...? Thanks Phil July 2026

Turrican, Neo Geo, Home Computer Handhelds & the Future of Retro Gaming | Blaze Entertainment's Andrew Byatt & Sean Cleaver

To reflect on Evercade's first half of 2026, we welcome back two familiar faces from Blaze Entertainment: CEO Andrew Byatt and Head of Communications Sean Cleaver. From the headline-grabbing Evercade Nexus announcements to the arrival of Turrican, Doom teasers, and the exciting new Home Computer Handheld range, we explore how Blaze continues to grow the Evercade ecosystem while balancing nostalgia, innovation and community feedback. We also discuss the challenges of licensing classic games, the future of retro gaming, the importance of preserving gaming history, and why physical media still matters in an increasingly digital world. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ Evercade's biggest year yet Andrew and Sean reflect on six years of Blaze Entertainment and the announcements that are shaping the future of Evercade. 2️⃣ The stories behind the latest releases From Turrican to NeoGeo, Rare, Doom and beyond, we talk about some of the standout games, cartridges and partnerships. 3️⃣ The Home Computer Handhelds Why Blaze decided to bring the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 back in handheld form, and what players can expect. 4️⃣ Licensing, preservation and community How Blaze works with rights holders, listens to fan feedback and balances classic favourites with new discoveries. 5️⃣ Looking ahead What excites Andrew and Sean most about the future of Evercade, retro gaming and the growing community around the platform. Whether you're an Evercade collector, a lifelong retro gamer, or simply curious about where classic gaming is heading next, this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the industry's most passionate companies. 🔗 Guest links Blaze Entertainment: https://blaze-entertainment.com [https://blaze-entertainment.com] Evercade: https://evercade.co.uk [https://evercade.co.uk] 🎙️ Credits This episode is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing [https://www.thalamusdigital.co.uk/]. Produced by Rocket Media. Voiceover by Mark Silk. Theme music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna.

Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 | James Deighan on Evercade & Modern Retro Gaming

In this episode of Retro Titans, we're joined once again by James Deighan, co-founder of indie game studio Mega Cat Studios. He returns to discuss the launch of Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 on Evercade and how the studio continues to create brand-new games for classic hardware. From its roots in the homebrew community to becoming one of modern retro gaming's most respected publishers, Mega Cat Studios has spent more than a decade creating fresh experiences for the consoles and computers many of us grew up with. James shares the company's journey, the passion behind its success, and why physical retro gaming continues to thrive. In this episode, we explore: 1️⃣ The story behind Mega Cat Studios How a group of collectors, homebrew developers and ROM hackers built one of retro gaming's most influential publishers. 2️⃣ Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 James takes us behind the scenes of the latest Evercade collection and the games that made the cut. 3️⃣ Why modern retro keeps growing From physical cartridges to community events and homebrew development, we explore why retro gaming is stronger than ever. 4️⃣ From passion project to publishing powerhouse James reflects on balancing creativity with business growth while supporting independent developers around the world. 5️⃣ The future of retro gaming We discuss what's next for Mega Cat Studios, the evolving indie landscape, and why classic platforms continue to inspire today's developers. Whether you're an Evercade fan, a homebrew enthusiast or simply fascinated by modern retro gaming, this conversation offers a fascinating insight into one of the studios helping shape its future. 🔗 Guest links • Mega Cat Studios: https://megacatstudios.com [https://megacatstudios.com] 🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing [https://www.thalamusdigital.co.uk/]. Produced by Rocket Media. Voiceover by Mark Silk. Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna.

From Llamas to Light Synths: Jeff Minter and Heart of Neon with Paul Docherty

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

The Art of Porting Classic Games: From Metal Gear to Turrican with Ian "Hoffman" Ford

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 [https://github.com/h0ffman] Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/h0ffman [https://www.twitch.tv/h0ffman] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/h0ffman.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/h0ffman.bsky.social] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@h0ffman [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