Archive for the ‘RetroActive’ Category
RetroActive Podcast: 8-Bit Tech
This week Fred discusses the technology behind the 8-bit generation of consoles (NES, SMS, TG-16). He discusses 8-bit processing power, how the architecture of the consoles is set up, and how video signals and broadcast standards played a role.
Photo courtesy of Evan Amos (wikipedia).
Opening Song: “Pure Stone” from Zillion (SMS)
Mid Song: “Character Selection” from Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Closing Song: “Boss Battle” from Keith Courage In Alpha Zones (TG-16)
The 8-Bit Guy on Assembly Language: https://youtu.be/HWpi9n2H3kE
Displaced Gamers Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DisplacedGamers
My Life in Gaming Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mylifeingaming
RetroActive Podcast: The Dead Space Franchise
In 2008, then PGA Golf developer EA Redwood (later renamed to Visceral Games) released its take on survival horror: Dead Space. In this retrospective we look back at the gaming landscape of the time, the positives and negatives of Dead Space, and the many sequels and multimedia side projects it spawned.
Opening Song: Dead Space Theme
Transition Song: The Leviathan
Closing Song: Dead Space Shanty
RetroActive Podcast Ep 1: Fred’s Gaming History
It’s 2023 and the RetroActive podcast has officially re-launched. The premise is to explore what I want to and take this audience along for the journey. In the intro Fred tackles what that means exactly and what expectations of future episodes can be. As for the content, this first episode explores Fred’s early days of gaming, from the first games he played to the wild lengths he went to for an N64 because patience just wasn’t an option.
Opening Music: Title Theme, Part 1 from Mega Man 2 (NES)
Interstitial Music: Title Theme, Part 2 from Mega Man 2 (NES)
Closing Music: Main Theme from Astyanax (NES)
All listener comments, requests, and questions can be submitted at https://gaminghistory101.com/contact or via email at contact@gaminghistory101.com.
RetroActive Episode 4: Star Wars: Obi-Wan (2001)
RetroActive Podcast Feed
The RetroActive podcast returns with Fred going solo to discuss the Xbox launch title Star Wars: Obi-Wan. Released at a time where the brand of Star Wars was wavering after Episode I and Microsoft’s new PC as a console concept was a big risk, it seems almost fitting that this title has remained exclusive to its original platform. Fred discusses the culture context, development history, and elements of this lackluster title that was a curiosity he couldn’t pass up.
RetroActive Episode 3: Mega Man X (1993)
Mega Man (or Rockman as he’s known in Japan) was a significant franchise for Capcom in the NES era spanning 6 titles and just about as many on the Game Boy. On the Super NES, however, things were shaken up with the arrival of Mega Man X. Fred and Chase (from Learned From Gaming) team up to discuss a refreshing update to the classic formula. Also included is the announcement of the show going weekly and a breakdown of the heavy similarities between Sega’s Master System and Game Gear. Cover art from Rockman X, all songs from Mega Man X.
0:00 – Intro (Title)
0:30 – Editorial: RetroActive goes weekly
9:15 – Opening Stage (Highway)
9:45 – Mega Man X (1993)
1:38:50 – Stage Select
1:39:19 – Tech: Sega Master System vs. Sega Game Gear
2:03:43 – Ending
2:04:13 – Outro/Next Time
2:05:15 – Cast Roll
RetroActive Episode 2: Half-Life (1998)
For the second episode of RetroActive, we decided to tackle something light: Half-Life. Quite possibly one of the biggest and most influential first-person shooters ever released, Valve not only used the franchise to evolve the genre, but the sequel is also how they made the service Steam a household name. Jamalais (yes, Jam!) returns to discuss this powerhouse title. Also on this episode: hardware guide to the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and the real deal on framerate analysis. All songs featured in this episode are from the official Half-Life soundtrack.
0:00 – Intro – Closing Theme
0:54 – Editorial: Toxic Behavior
5:52 – Klaxton Beat
6:50 – Hardware: Sega Genesis/Mega Drive
32:10 – Diabolical Adrenaline Guitar
33:10 – Half-Life (1998) Discussion with Guest Jamalais
2:03:03 – Traveling Through Limbo
2:04:03 – Framerate Analysis and Next Episode
2:15:14 – Valve Theme
Follow RetroActive Podcast at: anchor.fm/retroactivepod
Official Feed URL: https://anchor.fm/s/5878ceec/podcast/rss
RetroActive Episode 1: Ys III
Introducing my new retro podcast on the culture behind games of the past: RetroActive. Each episode we delve into a main topic (often a specific game) and dig into its place in history. There are also smaller sections covering all kinds of topics in the world of retro. Think of this as the audio form of a mid 90s gaming magazine.
This first episode features guest Chase from Learned from Gaming who joins to examine Ys III: Wanderer’s From Ys. Despite being the third game in the series, it was the first to get a widespread North American release despite being a somewhat dated action RPG for the time. In addition Fred discusses what RetroActive is all about, retro gaming hardware options, and how best to handle PSN’s uncertain future on PS3 and Vita.
Gaming History 101 