Episode 781: Retro Gamer Magazine (Patreon)

Stuart: I’ve been reading Retro Gamer since it first launched all the way back in 2004, when the world was in black and white and you could only get one channel (Bravo) on the telly. As I was already a committed retrohead at that time, thanks to my frequently-cited upbringing on a PC that could literally only run emulators, this was very much a hole that was made for me. A big fat hole! This British magazine initially had a lot more focus on the microcomputers this foul country was raised on, but quickly broadened its remit into retro gaming from all nations and all sources. It was a truly mad experience getting myself published in it the first time. I think I have… I want to say three or four bylines, now? I’ve neglected it for a while because I got all busy writing books, but if you wanted to look the pieces up they were… gosh, let me think… Alfred Chicken, Shantae, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure and Klonoa: Door to Phantomile. I am pretty sure that’s all of them. I hope to be in there again some day. But enough about me.

My guest here, Darran Jones, has been editor since 2005; this is, I’m sure you’ll agree, a longtenure. I felt like it was high time I got in touch about a Retronauts on the subject, which I hope will be an interesting conversation for you all to listen to. Gosh, that isn’t very good copy, is it? I’m not selling it very well. Look, I spoke to him about two decades of the mag, its journey, how it’s managed to stay relevant, how it’s now one of just three gaming mags you’re likely to find in the newsagent here in the UK (the others being EDGE and PC Gamer, I believe), the challenges along the way, you know. The usual sort of interview stuff, the coolest experiences. I may also have used the time allotted to embarrassingly beg for work, but hopefully Greg cut that part out. And not to use it against me later, thank you very much.

Remarkable longevity, remarkable magazine, give it a look if you haven’t already. Enjoy the episode. Let me know if you’re interested in more UK magazine stuff, because I know I am.

Art by Leeann Hamilton; edits by Greg Leahy

01:56 - Space Harrier 3-D: Battle Field

11:43 - Contra (NES): Base I/II | Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time: Time Hole to the Past

19:15 - Strider (MD): Raid

27:38 - Star Fox (SNES): Course Map Select

36:49 - Axelay: Burning

44:31 - Out Run 2: Night Flight

50:51 - de Blob: Fearless | Shadow of the Colossus: Creeping Shadow

1:01:26 - Metal Slug: Stage 2

1:10:32 - Rare Replay: Stage Theme - Sabre Wulf

1:18:12 - Strider (Arcade): Ranking

Closing - Rockwell: "Somebody's Watching Me" (Genesis Remix by Yuzoboy)