Pixel Refresh

Broken Sword 2 Reforged Announced for 2026

James Woodcock — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:45:36 +0000

Broken Sword The Smoking Mirror Reforged has been announced for PC and console platforms, releasing in 2026.

Read the full post: Broken Sword 2 Reforged Announced for 2026, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Playtesting Adventures, ZX Spectrum Next (KS3), Retro LANs & Neo Geo Ports – Game & Gadget Podcast #42

James Woodcock — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 08:02:24 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

00:00:00 – Introduction and podcast opening
00:00:17 – Tony’s tour experience promoting UrbX Warriors game
00:01:18 – The importance of playtesting games with real people at events
00:02:33 – Upcoming gaming events
00:03:47 – Experience of putting the game in front of players for the first time
00:05:24 – Discord community and alpha demo releases
00:07:39 – Technical challenges of developing for ZX Spectrum Next vs PC
00:08:26 – Real-time bug fixing and community feedback process
00:11:11 – Comparing modern playtesting to classic game development (Lure of the Temptress, Beneath a Steel Sky, Broken Sword)
00:15:01 – ZX Spectrum Next Issue 3 Kickstarter success (£2.2 million raised)
00:18:16 – New Commodore developments and C64 revival
00:22:31 – James’s retrolan experience with friends
00:28:10 – Windows operating systems and stability
00:30:24 – James switching from macOS to Linux Mint on MacBook Pro
00:33:05 – Tony planning to get UrbX Warriors running on Raspberry Pi
00:34:29 – Linux gaming and Steam compatibility improvements
00:37:23 – Backup strategies and password management
00:41:12 – GitHub for game development backup and collaboration
00:44:12 – Brief discussion about AI and its applications
00:48:30 – Broken Sword Reforged and AI controversy explanation
00:56:34 – Recommendation for Earthion shmup game on Steam
00:59:16 – Potential UrbX Warriors ports to other platforms (Mega Drive, Neo Geo, Amiga)
01:04:18 – Wrap-up and goodbye

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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Read the full post: Playtesting Adventures, ZX Spectrum Next (KS3), Retro LANs & Neo Geo Ports – Game & Gadget Podcast #42, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Wolverine to Discworld – Pixel Artist David Swan Shares His Journey

David Swan — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 05:05:23 +0000

David Swan shares his career in pixel art, sprites & textures - from early arcade inspiration to creating graphics for games SEGA Manx TT, Wolverine: Adamantium Rage and the Discworld series.

Read the full post: Wolverine to Discworld – Pixel Artist David Swan Shares His Journey, created by David Swan.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

30 Things for Better Game Writing by Steve Ince

Steve Ince — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:55:46 +0000

Legendary writer & game designer Steve Ince kindly shares 30 items from his '201 Things for Better Game Writing' book.

Read the full post: 30 Things for Better Game Writing by Steve Ince, created by Steve Ince.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

The Commodore 64 Phenomenon – My C64 8-bit Childhood Memories…

Chris James — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 15:26:24 +0000

The Commodore 64 didn’t just change how we played games - it changed lives. For one boy, it sparked a lifelong obsession with coding, tech and challenging the limits of 64KB.

Read the full post: The Commodore 64 Phenomenon – My C64 8-bit Childhood Memories…, created by Chris James.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

UrbX Warriors Interview – New Retro-Style Arcade Adventure Kickstarter

James Woodcock — Tue, 27 May 2025 20:53:00 +0000

I interview Tony Warriner & Stoo Cambridge on their new pixel art arcade retro adventure UrbX Warriors - The Lost City for the Spectrum Next & modern platforms.

Read the full post: UrbX Warriors Interview – New Retro-Style Arcade Adventure Kickstarter, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Stunning Vectrex Ultraviolet Overlays – Interview at ZAPP Live! 2025

James Woodcock — Fri, 23 May 2025 19:20:54 +0000

I interview Laurence Bennion of Blacklighter.co.uk, who has created an amazing selection of ultraviolet overlays for the Vectrex console.

Read the full post: Stunning Vectrex Ultraviolet Overlays – Interview at ZAPP Live! 2025, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

A Tour of ZAPP Live! 2025 – Commodore / C64 / Amiga Retro Event

James Woodcock — Mon, 19 May 2025 05:35:05 +0000

A wonderful exploration around this year's ZAPP Live! event for Commodore enthusiasts based in the UK.

Read the full post: A Tour of ZAPP Live! 2025 – Commodore / C64 / Amiga Retro Event, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

FPGA, Spectrum Next Development, Retro 90s PCs & More… – Game & Gadget Podcast #41

James Woodcock — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 14:45:39 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

FPGA devices becoming more accessible, focusing on the MiSTer project and its many retro gaming cores
Hunting down Taki Udon FPGA boards and the challenges with small production batches
Early adopter woes – memory speed concerns and analogue audio quirks
FPGA efforts to emulate complex consoles like the Sega Saturn, PlayStation 1, N64 and beyond
The dream of a consumer-level FPGA PlayStation 1 experience with the SuperStation One
Tony’s new project: UrbX Warriors – a Kickstarter-bound game for Spectrum Next, PC and more
The challenges of developing for the Spectrum Next, dealing with tight memory banking restrictions
Porting UrbX Warriors to PSX, Steam, Switch, Amiga and Mac
James’ retro PC escapades – saving and restoring early 2000s hardware for Windows 98 and XP gaming
Collecting CRT monitors and comparing the experience of CRT versus modern digital displays
The charm and madness of original hardware compared to FPGA and software emulation
Nostalgic memories of Voodoo 2 graphics cards and the thrill of early PC 3D acceleration
Scaling games like Broken Sword for different PC specs and the Game Boy Advance back in the 1990s
The ongoing rabbit hole of retro computing
CRT TV repair challenges

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: FPGA, Spectrum Next Development, Retro 90s PCs & More… – Game & Gadget Podcast #41, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Video Game Music with Rosewater’s Mark Benis – Game & Gadget Podcast #40

James Woodcock — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:42:18 +0000

I am joined by Mark Benis, who has composed the musical soundtrack for the point and click adventure game Rosewater, set in the wild west and released in 2024. Mark has also worked on the soundtrack for Lamplight City with others credits for titles including Wolfenstein: Youngblood.

In this podcast, we discuss his joy of retro chip-tune music of retro gaming platforms including the Nintendo Game Boy, which has inspired his journey creativity to now write musical soundtracks for modern gaming titles.

Topics include:

Mark Benis’ opportunity to become a game composer
Childhood love of Pokémon Red/Blue music led to a lifelong curiosity about chip music
The beauty of 8-bit music to orchestral and back again
Using Wwyse and FMOD as audio middleware to replace line-by-line coding
Mark’s early days and the audio equipment he used
The financial barrier of the many professional audio sample libraries
No woodwinds in the game Lamplight City inspiring creativity by limitation
How hardware MIDI modules (Roland MT-32, Sound Canvas etc) have been replaced with software music audio libraries
Mark’s go to piano performances to loosen his fingers and inspire his thoughts
Mark’s computer and desk setup for music composition
What is Rosewater and the musical brief you were given
Avoiding the typical wild west country style music
How much of the original work made it into the game soundtrack?
How much of the artwork and game direction did Mark see before composing the tracks?
Timing introductions to the music, or arranging the music to the intro?
Hearing the voice acting dialogue for the first time reactions
Mixing virtual instruments with live music players
Choral music creation for the game Lamplight City recorded in a church with a real choir
Mark’s future projects
Collaborating on musical projects and avoiding arguments

Featured music within the podcast, kindly provided with permission by Mark Benis…

7-43 to Rosewater
Once Upon a Time in Western Vespuccia
Night Walk
The Showdown
So Long, Partner
Flor Silvestre by Christiane Ramirez

You can download the full Rosewater Soundtrack on Mark Benis’ Bandcamp page.

The full transcript can also be downloaded…

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Video Game Music with Rosewater’s Mark Benis – Game & Gadget Podcast #40, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

The $999 NVIDIA GeForce GTX ‘Titan’ GPU Purchased for £25 with Error Code 43

James Woodcock — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 21:40:02 +0000

The 'Titan' GPU released in 2013 originally retailing for nearly $1000, which I purchased for £25 in a recent auction. However, it suffered from a crippling "code 43" issue.

Read the full post: The $999 NVIDIA GeForce GTX ‘Titan’ GPU Purchased for £25 with Error Code 43, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

90s Retro PCs with vswitchzero Interview – Game & Gadget Podcast #39

James Woodcock — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:43:08 +0000

I am joined by Mike from vswitchzero, who has a fascinating YouTube channel dedicated to 90s retro PC hardware and gaming. In this podcast, we explore the fascinating history of this exciting era of 3D acceleration advancement with classic graphics cards including the 3Dfx Voodoo while delving into the repairs, nostalgia and the pitfalls of revisiting retro PC computing.

Topics include:

Commander Keen, Doom, Quake and the evolution of PC gaming hardware during the 90s
Introduction of 3DFX and Voodoo graphics cards, including personal experiences and significant technological leaps
Voodoo 2 SLI configurations and their impact on 3D gaming
Comparisons between 3DFX, PowerVR and other competing technologies of the time
Popular sound cards like the Creative Sound Blaster series and Yamaha DB50XG/SW60XG
General MIDI and enhanced gaming experiences through better audio fidelity
Mike’s Train Wreck Voodoo 2 repair
Issues with capacitor failures and maintaining vintage hardware
Benefits of modern retro PC projects and new hardware options mimicking retro systems
Insights into building and maintaining retro PCs versus using modern emulation tools like DOSBox
The joy of hardware repair and the satisfaction of reviving old systems
Early PC setups, the transition to multimedia PCs and the rise of CD-ROM drives
Reflections on the transformative era of PC gaming in the 90s
Ongoing retro hardware projects and the increasing value of vintage components

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: 90s Retro PCs with vswitchzero Interview – Game & Gadget Podcast #39, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Ravensburger Disney Villainous Board Game Review – Fun Yet Evil

Sam Dugmore — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:01:51 +0000

Disney Villainous - The Worst Takes It All Board Game by Ravensburger. Sam takes a journey into the Disney's finest selection of villains.

Read the full post: Ravensburger Disney Villainous Board Game Review – Fun Yet Evil, created by Sam Dugmore.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Rabbit r1 Review – 4 Months Down the A.I. Rabbit Hole

Chris James — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 12:40:32 +0000

4 month hands-on experience with this quirky AI device that promises to redefine how we interact with artificial intelligence technology.

Read the full post: Rabbit r1 Review – 4 Months Down the A.I. Rabbit Hole, created by Chris James.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Broken Sword Reforged Impressions: Stunning 4K Nostalgia Trip

James Woodcock — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 15:01:47 +0000

Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Reforged Impressions as George and Nico set out on their finest adventure.

Read the full post: Broken Sword Reforged Impressions: Stunning 4K Nostalgia Trip, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #38 – Original Xbox Ticking Disaster, PS Vita Beauty & More…

James Woodcock — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:38:24 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

Tony wants to play Elite on his BBC Micro, but the smoking capacitors have other ideas
James’ original Xbox had a hidden surprise, a leaking clock capacitor that nearly destroyed the console
Restoring James’ Commodore 64 – real dead bugs
The C64 Tapecart SD for fast loading cassette games in just a few seconds
The amazing Commodore 64 loading graphics and music
Importance of preserving the stories from those who experienced such big tech and software advances
The Sony PlayStation Vita with its stunning OLED display where sales flopped
The cleverness of the dual screen display of the Nintendo DS
Drooling over modern crystal replacement cases for retro consoles
SEGA Dreamcast modding with the GDemu and DreamPSU
The original power supply on the C64 is another danger!
The video tour of Tony’s collection of retro gear
‘The Spectrum‘ hardware announced for emulating classic Spectrum titles
What is a ‘sensible’ retro collection purchase?
James’ lovely yet battered Amiga 500 purchased for £30

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #38 – Original Xbox Ticking Disaster, PS Vita Beauty & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

New Metro Siege Game for Amiga Interview – Programmer Alex Brown – Game & Gadget Podcast #37

James Woodcock — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 18:49:00 +0000

I am joined by Alex Brown, programmer of an upcoming brand new beat-em-up 2-player game for the Commodore Amiga – Metro Siege. With the target platform the Amiga A500, originally released way back in 1987! Alex takes us through the journey of pushing the limits of the Amiga A500, the experience of programming with the Amiga custom chips and how this wonderful passion project will become a final release.

Topics include:

How Alex became a programmer
Alex’s favourite game influences
Why create a new game for the Amiga?
Pushing the limits of the Amiga A500
Taking the Amiga online with cross system online multiplayer
The art of releasing a beta or technical preview and gathering feedback
Keeping the gameplay smooth with 2 players, enemies and lush surroundings
Parallax scrolling, moving trains and what’s needed to achieve the results
Using modular character animation on the Amiga
Given extra life to a retro computing platform
The reason for the expansion memory of 512kb memory requirement
The programming resources available for the Amiga
The tricks of the trade for programming the Amiga
The software and tools for creating Amiga games
Emulation versus real hardware for testing
The size of the team and the understanding of the capabilities of the Amiga
The biggest challenge of getting the game to work
Why AGA has not been targeted… yet?
Ensuring there is an end goal to any “passion project”

If you watch the video version of the podcast, I have captured Metro Siege running from my own Amiga A500 (which mine does have Pistorm installed, but I have been assured it will still run great without one). You can find out more by visiting the Metro Siege website.

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: New Metro Siege Game for Amiga Interview – Programmer Alex Brown – Game & Gadget Podcast #37, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

The Acorn Archimedes A3010 Kid – Battling with Amiga & Atari ST

James Woodcock — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 12:11:05 +0000

The legendary Acorn Archimedes A3010, famous for its RISC OS operating system and contributing ARM to modern phones, tablets, laptops and computers.

Read the full post: The Acorn Archimedes A3010 Kid – Battling with Amiga & Atari ST, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Dreamcast Modding Fun – GDEMU, PSU Upgrade & Silent Noctua Fan

James Woodcock — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:28:36 +0000

SEGA Dreamcast upgrades with a GD Emu for loading games from an SD Card as well as a modern PSU & quieter fan.

Read the full post: Dreamcast Modding Fun – GDEMU, PSU Upgrade & Silent Noctua Fan, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #36 – New Retro Handheld Under £1, Cost of Retro Tech & More…

James Woodcock — Fri, 31 May 2024 11:21:16 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software and Aaron Fothergill previously from Argonaut Games and now with Shifty Eye Games as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

James’ visit to Tony’s retro computer and console collection
Tony spending money to get his retro collection connected to a modern display – OSSC, RGB cables, power cables etc
Mister FPGA costs versus retro hardware collections
Aaron positive thoughts (and excellent excuses) on the cost of collecting retro hardware
The Atari Falcon, the development kit for the Atari Jaguar
Aaron’s first computer, which he still owns!
Modifying old computers ROM chips and copyright risk
My brand new retro hardware portable device for less than £1
RGB cables everywhere!
The Apple G4 Cube USB flaw
Skiving to get into computer games
The inspiration of the ZX81 and micro computers
My fondness of the Atari 65XE 8-bit computer
Bye bye ICQ
Tony and Aaron invent Code Jenga
Development is hard
Manually typing code from old books and magazines – oh the typos!
Code in books, to disks on magazines to digital DLC
What happens to digital licensed content when you die?
The importance of archiving DLC and game patches
Licensing music for games
The cost of patching a console game
The beauty of Xbox Live Arcade and developing the first games
Playing Xbox Live Arcade version of Golden Eye on an Xbox 360 debug unit

Featured Atari Falcon image By F-Andrey, CC BY 2.0, Link

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #36 – New Retro Handheld Under £1, Cost of Retro Tech & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

GitHub Copilot: In Development, AI a Help or Hinderance?

Sam Dugmore — Tue, 14 May 2024 12:10:12 +0000

How Copilot is helping development efficiency and yet will never replace a developer. A developer's view...

Read the full post: GitHub Copilot: In Development, AI a Help or Hinderance?, created by Sam Dugmore.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Retro Computer Tour with Tony Warriner – Co-Founder Revolution Software

James Woodcock — Sun, 12 May 2024 08:59:30 +0000

In this video, Tony Warriner co-founder of Revolution Software takes us on a tour of his retro computer and console tech he has collected over many years.

Read the full post: Retro Computer Tour with Tony Warriner – Co-Founder Revolution Software, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

SEGA Mega Drive (Genesis) Controller Journey – Clean Aspirations

James Woodcock — Thu, 09 May 2024 14:49:55 +0000

In this video, I explore the SEGA Mega Drive (Genesis) controller as I clean and revive a 30 year old design classic.

Read the full post: SEGA Mega Drive (Genesis) Controller Journey – Clean Aspirations, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Retro World Store Tour – Visiting Retro Gaming Nostalgia in Derby, UK

James Woodcock — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:46:33 +0000

Explore Retro World in Derby, UK - a haven for retro gaming enthusiasts run by Jane and Rob. Take a tour of classic systems and games in this video.

Read the full post: Retro World Store Tour – Visiting Retro Gaming Nostalgia in Derby, UK, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #35 – Retro Vs Modern Gaming, Subscriptions Galore & More…

James Woodcock — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:18:21 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

James hunting for a SEGA Genesis in the USA
Broken Sword Reforged Kickstarter blasts through £50,000 target to over half a million!
Broken Sword 2 remastered?
Did Tony from Revolution Software realise Broken Sword on its original release would be so popular?
The design differences between Lure of the Temptress, Beneath a Steel Sky & Broken Sword
Balancing PC minimum spec and recommended levels in development of games
Sony PlayStation 5 Pro details leaked splitting the PS5 target specs
Triple AAA titles and layoffs in the industry
Netflix, Disney Plus etc and how we are cancelling subscriptions due to raising prices
The needless pain of grinding in a game to progress
Match 3 games and the lightning energy nonsense
Apple EU App Stores
Tony’s first article on Pixel Refresh, Beneath A Steel Sky Sets as Broken Sword Dawns – Revolution Book Preview
James’ article on Pixel Refresh, CRT TV for Retro Gaming – The Beauty, Buying, Repair & Despair
Acorn Pocket Book preview
YouTube Premium, if only they would separate YouTube Music
Apple Music for lossless, even on Android
Where is Spotify HiFi lossless audio??? Literally years since the original announcement
WearOS versus Tizen on smartwatches
Tony’s Apple Watch experience

NOTE: Tony or I lost connection at the very end, so the conversation goes a little odd as we wonder where the other person went :) Luckily the software locally records so Tony continued recording!

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #35 – Retro Vs Modern Gaming, Subscriptions Galore & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

8-bit Retro Style “Wormhole Dungeon” Announced By Tony Warriner

James Woodcock — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 18:28:02 +0000

Tony Warriner co-founder of Revolution Software has independently announced a new 8-bit style game, Wormhole Dungeon, filled with adventure puzzles, sarcasm and humour.

Read the full post: 8-bit Retro Style “Wormhole Dungeon” Announced By Tony Warriner, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

CRT TV for Retro Gaming – The Beauty, Buying, Repair & Despair

James Woodcock — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 16:17:03 +0000

CRT TVs for retro gaming offer stunning nostalgic qualities, but the maintenance, weight and size can be challenging. Here is my experience...

Read the full post: CRT TV for Retro Gaming – The Beauty, Buying, Repair & Despair, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Beneath A Steel Sky Sets as Broken Sword Dawns – Revolution Book Preview

Tony Warriner — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 17:49:47 +0000

Join Tony Warriner on a journey through the untold story of Revolution Software in this book preview of Revolution: The Quest for Game Development Greatness.

Read the full post: Beneath A Steel Sky Sets as Broken Sword Dawns – Revolution Book Preview, created by Tony Warriner.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #34 – Tomb Raider, BBS, Jetstrike & More…

James Woodcock — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:57:32 +0000

I am joined by Aaron Fothergill previously from Argonaut Games and now with Shifty Eye Games, Martin Mulrooney of Alternative Magazine Online and Karl from Retro32 as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

What is BBS and how was it used?
BBS today on the Amiga
The joys and sounds of dial up internet and blocking for Grandmothers
Piracy software and the effects on development and livelihoods
Funny copy protection at level 10
Jetstrike release version not the final and included a serious bug
Jetstrike game featured Aliens “one in a million” chance though of seeing them!
How did we all use our first connections to the Internet?
The success of iTunes and iTunes Match against mp3 piracy
Broken Sword Reforged and AI as a tool
Our fondness of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered and its intentional limitations
How what is acceptable has changed over the years
Early gameplay mechanics

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #34 – Tomb Raider, BBS, Jetstrike & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #33 – Super Amiga, Real Hardware Vs FPGA & More…

James Woodcock — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 13:01:24 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software and Karl from Retro32 as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

James’ experiences with emulator Gotek floppy drives for retro computers and the Atari 520 STFM
Tony’s experience of the Anbernic portable handheld RG35XX Plus
Challenges faced when updating the Anbernic device
Using original gaming hardware versus FPGA
Keeping retro computers and consoles alive
Discussion on the financial aspects of retro gaming, accessories and their cost
ScummVM now officially available on the Apple App Store
Various handheld devices for portable emulation
So many ‘mini’ devices bringing back our retro memories
The challenge of shipping a Steam Deck to Ukraine (the update)
Super Amigas?
How long would you need to learn to become a developer!
Tony’s new game demo coming soon…

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #33 – Super Amiga, Real Hardware Vs FPGA & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Yamaha Genos 2: DX7 FM Voices Demonstrated (Video / Audio Recordings)

James Woodcock — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 16:48:14 +0000

Discover the Yamaha Genos 2 keyboard with its focus on 80s music and Yamaha DX7 FM Voices in our demonstration recordings.

Read the full post: Yamaha Genos 2: DX7 FM Voices Demonstrated (Video / Audio Recordings), created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Teaching AI: Will AI Consider Humans Smart Enough?

Sam Dugmore — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 08:58:18 +0000

Though AI tools such as ChatGPT can answer queries skillfully, training them with new information proves challenging due to high resource costs and ethical concerns around trustworthiness.

Read the full post: Teaching AI: Will AI Consider Humans Smart Enough?, created by Sam Dugmore.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Yamaha Genos 2 Demonstations [ 24-bit / FLAC ]

James Woodcock — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 11:22:00 +0000

Listen to 24-bit quality lossless audio files of the Yamaha Genos 2 keyboard demonstrations.

Read the full post: Yamaha Genos 2 Demonstations [ 24-bit / FLAC ], created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Music Finder Database UK Downloads for Yamaha Keyboard / Digital Piano

James Woodcock — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 20:28:38 +0000

Discover how to update your Yamaha Music Finder on your keyboard or Clavinova. Download the upgraded UK version and follow these simple steps.

Read the full post: Music Finder Database UK Downloads for Yamaha Keyboard / Digital Piano, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

How to Transfer ScummVM Games to iPad & iPhone Guide (App Store Version)

James Woodcock — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 11:49:32 +0000

Transfer your favourite point and click adventure games to the iPad or iPhone with the new ScummVM app using your web browser.

Read the full post: How to Transfer ScummVM Games to iPad & iPhone Guide (App Store Version), created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

ScummVM ‘Official’ on the Apple App Store for iPhone & iPad

James Woodcock — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 17:49:32 +0000

Enjoy without jailbreaking! ScummVM, a program that lets users play classic adventure games on modern devices is now available on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad.

Read the full post: ScummVM ‘Official’ on the Apple App Store for iPhone & iPad, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #32 – ZX Spectrum Next, Anbernic RG35XX Plus & More…

James Woodcock — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 18:02:31 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

James & Tony meeting in person for the very first time!
Crash Live 2023 Sinclair Spectrum event experiences
ZX Spectrum Vs C64 banter
ZX Spectrum Next explored
How to program the Z80 book
Tony is using Windows 11… We checked! (the dedicated macOS enthusiast)
Tony and Charles Cecil presenting at Crash Live 2023 regarding Artic Games / Revolution Software
Porting games in the 8-bit / 16-bit era
Mister FPGA Vs real hardware
The RG35XX and RG35XX Plus portable handheld consoles experiences
It’s difficult to send a Steam Deck to Kiev
What Tony is going to do with his ZX Spectrum Next for programming
Tony’s new game Wormhole Dungeon
What platforms could be targeted?
Remembering the SEGA Dreamcast
Broken Sword Reforged Kickstarter open for registration

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #32 – ZX Spectrum Next, Anbernic RG35XX Plus & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Amstrad GX4000 Controller Restoration – Grubby to Glorious

James Woodcock — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 18:51:26 +0000

Finding an Amstrad GX4000 controller at a yard sale, losing it, rediscovering it and finally restoring it for use with retro computers.

Read the full post: Amstrad GX4000 Controller Restoration – Grubby to Glorious, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

My Crash Live 2023 Experience – Sinclair Spectrum Retro Dedicated Event

James Woodcock — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 14:28:59 +0000

Hundreds gathered at the Crash Live 2023 event in the UK, celebrating the Sinclair range of retro computers. Original hardware and modern variations were on display, including enhancements for the popular Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

Read the full post: My Crash Live 2023 Experience – Sinclair Spectrum Retro Dedicated Event, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Amiga PiStorm on the A500 – Finding a Tidy 3D Printed HDMI Solution

James Woodcock — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 21:10:11 +0000

The PiStorm modification for the retro Amiga A500 enhances performance by linking to a Raspberry Pi, although what to do with the messy HDMI cable inside?

Read the full post: Amiga PiStorm on the A500 – Finding a Tidy 3D Printed HDMI Solution, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Yamaha Genos 2 Keyboard (Tyros 7) Announced – Videos, Demonstrations & Specifications

James Woodcock — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:03:57 +0000

Yamaha announces the Genos 2, its latest flagship electronic keyboard, which boasts new features, styles, and voices.

Read the full post: Yamaha Genos 2 Keyboard (Tyros 7) Announced – Videos, Demonstrations & Specifications, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #31 – Exploding Phones, Retro Future, Unity Chaos & More…

James Woodcock — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 14:38:55 +0000

Topics include:

The engineering conundrum of granny squares
You don’t have to be an expert in the field to write a game about a particular topic
Tony appears on more panels
Retro computers & consoles and inspiring the young
Unity Engine going downhill
The craziness of gaming marketing and advertising
The beauty of Apple skeuomorphism before iOS 7
Every operating system goes partially transparent
MacBook Pro 2015 craziness of design – goodbye ports, hello dongles
Collecting old phones and the battery bulging dangers
James gets himself another Commodore 64
The similarity of technology used on older retro computers
Disks surviving, discs rotting
Tony’s Amstrad CPC fixed and working
The loudness of 52x CD-ROM drives – spin spin spin!

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #31 – Exploding Phones, Retro Future, Unity Chaos & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

The Atari 520 ST 16-bit Computer – My Grubby Restoration Journey

James Woodcock — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:38:51 +0000

It arrived an extremely dirty retro computer yet now restored a stunning 16-bit wonder. This is my Atari ST journey.

Read the full post: The Atari 520 ST 16-bit Computer – My Grubby Restoration Journey, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #30 – 8-bit Computers, PiStorm, Broken Sword Reforged & More…

James Woodcock — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:52:12 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

Tony has been on an event panel and another to follow with Charles Cecil of Revolution Software
The Acorn Electron bargain £20 spend
So many 8-bit computers that didn’t make it!
Storing computers is harder than consoles!
Tony’s 8-bit computer collection
Collecting original retro computer boxes and using modern replicas
The Enterprise computer that failed
Real Amiga with PiStorm and a Raspberry Pi makes your CPU stupid fast!
All the versions of the Atari ST
The true joy of programming for the Motorola 68000
Tony wanting to write an Amiga game in the future
Programming between the different 16-bit computers
Broken Sword Reforged using AI and ‘real’ artists to increase the visual detail

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #30 – 8-bit Computers, PiStorm, Broken Sword Reforged & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Acorn Electron – An Unexpected £20 Dirty Treasure

James Woodcock — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 18:51:57 +0000

Dive into the world of Acorn Computers! A £20 discovery, as I journey through my Acorn Electron restoration and history.

Read the full post: Acorn Electron – An Unexpected £20 Dirty Treasure, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

How Does the Magic of AI Generation Work?

Sam Dugmore — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:16:40 +0000

Sam takes us on a journey of how A.I. can create an image using its collection of pictures and artwork and construct something we perceive as unique.

Read the full post: How Does the Magic of AI Generation Work?, created by Sam Dugmore.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #29 – Atari ST Nostalgia, Pink Genies & More…

James Woodcock — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:47:58 +0000

I am joined by Aaron Fothergill previously from Argonaut Games and now with Shifty Eye Games, Steve Ince who is an artist, game designer and writer working on games from Revolution Software such as Broken Sword and also a new guest to our podcast Rees from YouTube channel ctrl-alt-rees as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

Steve Ince discusses his retirement from gaming work
What games Steve has been playing now he has a little more time
Steve releasing yet more books!
The pain of the developer crunch time
Life as ctrl-alt-rees and his fascination with Atari
Atari ST and the MIDI capabilities
Computers for homework *cough* games!
Homework on an Acorn Archimedes A3010 and dot matrix printers
Atari ST and 32 person strong multiplayer games with MIDI connections
The horror when you realise what you have thrown away, and then it becomes valuable
Steve’s computer journey
Taking a high quality scan, reducing to 128 colours for PC, reducing to 32 colours for Amiga
A changing colour pixel for a convincing ‘blink’
Broken Sword on the Nintendo Wii
Rise of the Triads and the music of Lee Jackson
The ever growing retro community
Robin Williams suing Disney and the risk of the colour blue

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #29 – Atari ST Nostalgia, Pink Genies & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Touche: The Adventures of the Fifth Musketeer Fan-Made Soundtrack v2.0 Released for ScummVM

James Woodcock — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 10:56:51 +0000

I release version 2.0 of the soundtrack for use within ScummVM, a complete rework of my original efforts with FLAC lossless version available for free.

Read the full post: Touche: The Adventures of the Fifth Musketeer Fan-Made Soundtrack v2.0 Released for ScummVM, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Simon the Sorcerer 2 Fan-Made Game Soundtrack Coming Soon – Early Demo Sample

James Woodcock — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 06:47:43 +0000

Simon the Sorcerer 2 joins the 6 fan-made game soundtracks by James Woodcock for use within ScummVM.

Read the full post: Simon the Sorcerer 2 Fan-Made Game Soundtrack Coming Soon – Early Demo Sample, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

What is Modern AI? – From Pac-Man Ghosts to ChatGPT

Sam Dugmore — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 15:13:40 +0000

From games & chat bots to ChatGPT: exploring AI's modern usage and evolution.

Read the full post: What is Modern AI? – From Pac-Man Ghosts to ChatGPT, created by Sam Dugmore.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #28 – Atari Jaguar Development, Beyond Smartphones & More…

James Woodcock — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:04:28 +0000

Topics include:

Atari Jaguar – 64-bit development issues with Tom & Jerry chips
Threading commands with the Atari Jaguar
Nintendo Wii U naming failure
Nintendo Switch and Valve Steam Deck
Folding smartphones and remembering the Motorola V3i and WAP
Beyond smartphones, the Apple Vision Pro?
3D cinema with custom 2D glasses
3D televisions dead, but 3D movies still being released
Disney+ IMAX and the 4K Blu-ray disks NOT always including premium features (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Vision etc)
Streaming services licence issues, content removed
The Orville, more Star Trek than Star Trek
The wonders of Plex
Couldn’t even playback an MP3 music file without stuttering on a 486 PC

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #28 – Atari Jaguar Development, Beyond Smartphones & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

The Quest for a ‘Simple’ Smartwatch

Ben Gillbanks — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 08:51:23 +0000

I don't need apps, or advanced health tracking — just the basics. When smartwatches miss 3 key criteria for Ben.

Read the full post: The Quest for a ‘Simple’ Smartwatch, created by Ben Gillbanks.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Steve Ince (of Broken Sword & More) Announces Retirement – His Thoughts…

Steve Ince — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 14:43:20 +0000

Steve Ince has announced his retirement and he shares the games, his retirement plans and future in his first article with us at Pixel Refresh.

Read the full post: Steve Ince (of Broken Sword & More) Announces Retirement – His Thoughts…, created by Steve Ince.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

My Discworld Fan-Made Soundtrack Featured on the DOS GAME CLUB Podcast

James Woodcock — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:46:01 +0000

My ScummVM Music Enhancement Project featured on the DOS GAME CLUB Podcast, discussing the classic point-and-click game Discworld. Stunning VGA graphics, mind-bending puzzles, and my goal to improve game music.

Read the full post: My Discworld Fan-Made Soundtrack Featured on the DOS GAME CLUB Podcast, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Classic Point and Click Adventure Games Reimagined with AI Image Generation

James Woodcock — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 17:31:56 +0000

How will AI image generation look at classic point and click adventure games such as Simon the Sorcerer, Discworld and many more...

Read the full post: Classic Point and Click Adventure Games Reimagined with AI Image Generation, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

The 7th Guest VR Announced – 1993 FMV Classic Returns Refreshed

James Woodcock — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 18:18:46 +0000

Retro classic The 7th Guest is back, however this time using virtual reality.

Read the full post: The 7th Guest VR Announced – 1993 FMV Classic Returns Refreshed, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #27 – A.I., ChatGPT, Bard, Voice Assistant Chaos & More…

James Woodcock — Thu, 25 May 2023 20:33:55 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

Image generation with A.I. is scary good
A.I. is a replicant?
A.I. introduces James Woodcock
A.I. introduces Tony Warriner
Who is Steve Warriner? Tony wishes he knew!
The A.I. risk to copywriters
The A.I. risk to artists and copyright
The benefits of Artificial Intelligence
Using A.I. to make appointments
Creating a coffee drinking squirrel
Voice assistants that simply don’t understand
Tony’s book on the history of Revolution Software updates

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #27 – A.I., ChatGPT, Bard, Voice Assistant Chaos & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Edifier W820NB Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling Review

James Woodcock — Sun, 14 May 2023 11:01:34 +0000

The Edifier W820NB Wireless Bluetooth Headphones feature noise cancellation at an affordable price point.

Read the full post: Edifier W820NB Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling Review, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #26 – Intellivision Console, “Talkie” Versions & More…

James Woodcock — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 16:28:03 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software and Steve Ince who is an artist, game designer and writer working on games from Revolution Software such as Broken Sword as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

James acquiring the Mattel Electronics Intellivision Console and games
The Intellivision voice synthesis add-on
The joy of cartridges compared against cassette, floppy disk and more
Tony states “You could do a great game with 48K”
The juggling of switching multiple floppy disks for a single game
Why did James get a PC? To play the “talkie” version of Simon the Sorcerer!
Select, menu and adjust – remembering the Acorn Archimedes A3010
Steve explains how he managed the audio recordings for Beneath a Steel Sky “talkie” version
Characters with accents?
Discworld and the famous actors who did the many voices including ‘Jon’ Pertwee
How Broken Sword music and voice cast influenced the story of the sequel
The different voices of Nico Collard in Broken Sword
Directing the voice cast and whether any of us can act!
The easter eggs Tony and Steve have snuck into their games
Piracy… the voice of pirates
Classic TV, the good and mostly the bad

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #26 – Intellivision Console, “Talkie” Versions & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #25 – Restoring Retro Game Posters with Jan Hofmeister

James Woodcock — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 21:53:25 +0000

I am joined by Jan Hofmeister, who has spent years restoring for free, in particular point and click adventure game box art and posters – creating stunning print quality tributes to these classic titles. Titles from Lucas Arts, Adventure Soft and more in beautiful high quality using a variety of assets from the original box art, magazine full-page spreads, manuals and more.

Although the audio version of the podcast is still available, this is very much a visual presentation as Jan takes us through a selection of his work and details for the first time the processes and applications he uses for these restorations.

Topics include:

How Jan became interested in restoring game box art and posters
Jan’s fascination with Lucas Arts point and click adventure games
The early days with the Commodore 128 and Maniac Mansion
How it became a hobby and a skill
The influence of Jurassic Park in computer graphics
Restoration of Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders process demonstrated
Restoration of The Secret of Monkey Island process demonstrated
Restoration of Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine process demonstrated
Restoration of The Curse of Monkey Island up close
Restoration of Simon the Sorcerer up close
Jan’s work on the cover of Back to the Future: The Game
The sad side of Jan’s restoration efforts
How you can support Jan’s work

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #25 – Restoring Retro Game Posters with Jan Hofmeister, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #24 – The Death of 3D, Mastodon Rise, Joys of Plex and More…

James Woodcock — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 10:17:58 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

What technology did Santa bring us in 2022?
Remembering dedicated sound cards
The loss of the headphone port on phones and tablets
The 486 CPU TURBO mode switch
Swapping through multiple floppy disks in games
Broken Sword 3 and the 3D engine
James’ Christmas Eve process or bringing out retro tech before the new stuff comes along
Tony still loves his ‘portable’ Steam Deck
Missing a Sony portable gaming device
Sony trying to rule the world with countless storage formats they created
3D televisions and cinema and its failure
Modern VR and the Metaverse
Mastodon and its recent success
The hunt for alternative social media services
Movie and TV subscriptions services, we lost the leave cable / satellite dream
The joys of Plex

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #24 – The Death of 3D, Mastodon Rise, Joys of Plex and More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #23 – Writing for Games, Xbox Live with Insignia & More…

James Woodcock — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 19:05:26 +0000

I am joined by Steve Ince who is an artist, game designer and writer working on games from Revolution Software such as Broken Sword and Aaron Fothergill previously from Argonaut Games and now with Shifty Eye Games as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

Steve Ince’s 201 Things for Better Game Writing book
Steve’s entrance to writing for games
Questioning the writing quality of Willow and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Original Xbox Live is back with Insignia
Midtown Madness 3 on Xbox Live
Atari Jaguar Emulation with BigPEmu featuring 100% compatibility
The brands that still exist, but do they really?
SEGA and the success with Sumo Digital
So many sequels and digital de-aging
AI writing, some examples better than others
The craziness of Twitter and James moving to Mastodon
Remember Friends Reunited?

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #23 – Writing for Games, Xbox Live with Insignia & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

The Secret of Monkey Island

James Woodcock — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 14:10:05 +0000

The Secret of Monkey Island started a whole series of point and click adventure titles in 1990.

Read the full post: The Secret of Monkey Island, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #22 – Arcades, Xbox 360 Live Camera & More…

James Woodcock — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:42:11 +0000

Topics include:

Tony’s ‘Revolution: The Quest for Game Development Greatness‘ book passed its goal on Kickstarter
Our experience and love of the arcade
The addiction and gameplay style of the arcade to get you hooked
Why the arcade typically had just 3 characters for your name / initials
The virtual on-screen keyboard for signing into TV apps – yuck
Not playing too much online gaming and then getting a chance only to die over and over again
Early VR headsets, cardboard VR and modern VR
The Xbox 360 Live Vision camera
Using your face likeness on the Xbox 360
What games we have been playing
How 16-bit games captured James’ imagination
AI generated pixel art
Tony’s new game is no longer a Shmup

Xbox Live vision camera with my scanned face in Rainbow Six

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #22 – Arcades, Xbox 360 Live Camera & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers Review

James Woodcock — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 08:16:24 +0000

The Edifier R1280DB are an impressive set of speakers that match their visual presentation with an equally impressive sound presence.

Read the full post: Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers Review, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Glyn Madden of Yamaha Club Magazine Announces Retirement Starting Mid-2023

James Woodcock — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 16:36:06 +0000

Glyn Madden editor and owner of the Yamaha Club Magazine announces his retirement, beginning in the middle of 2023.

Read the full post: Glyn Madden of Yamaha Club Magazine Announces Retirement Starting Mid-2023, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #21 – Revolution Software Kickstarter Book Interview

James Woodcock — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 08:20:10 +0000

In this special interview edition Game & Gadget Podcast, I am joined by authors Tony Warriner co-founder of Revolution Software and Martin Mulrooney of Alternative Magazine Online as we discuss their new book which has featured on Kickstarter recently titled Revolution: The Quest for Game Development Greatness. The story of Revolution Software, best known for their point and click adventure games as told by Tony Warriner, one of its original founders.

Their Kickstarter was funded within just 4 days of its launch, reaching their £8,000 goal in style.

Written by Tony Warriner, employee number one and co-founder of Revolution Software, with a foreword by Charles Cecil, this epic book tells the untold behind-the-scenes story of this much-loved game developer. Ten years on from the hugely successful Broken Sword 5 Kickstarter, Tony is back for another wild ride with this highly personal account of Revolution’s rise from the 1980s 8-bit gaming scene.

Revolution: The Quest for Game Development Greatness Kickstarter

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #21 – Revolution Software Kickstarter Book Interview, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Story of Revolution Software Written by Co-Founder – Book Launches on Kickstarter

James Woodcock — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 16:42:43 +0000

Tony Warriner of Revolution Software launches brand new book on Kickstarter covering the history of the company he co-founded.

Read the full post: Story of Revolution Software Written by Co-Founder – Book Launches on Kickstarter, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #20 – Steam Deck, Gizmondo & More…

James Woodcock — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 12:08:20 +0000

Topics include:

Portable gaming with the Steam Deck
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription
Cloud gaming to try a game before you download it
Games pushing you to register an email address even on console
Developing for the failed Gizmondo portable
The range of portable consoles
James’ love for the Nintendo 3DS, even over the Switch
Gaming world record speed runs spectacle and admiration
Playing games to feel like the hero
Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace gaming visual amazement, but limited gameplay
Space Ace game on Blu-ray

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #20 – Steam Deck, Gizmondo & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #19 – Dolby Atmos Music, Magazine Games & More…

James Woodcock — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 20:37:43 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

Scorching 40 degree UK heatwave (we just aren’t used to it!)
iPad Pro Stage Manager
Beneath a Steel Sky development for the original iPad
Dolby Atmos music, DVD Audio and Super Audio CD
Spatial Audio head tracking
Tony and his history of Revolution Software book nearing completion
Creating a Kickstarter
The number of camera’s as you walk around
Buying magazines just for the demos and full games

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #19 – Dolby Atmos Music, Magazine Games & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #18 – iPad Pro Post PC Era, Pixel Art Creation & More…

James Woodcock — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 09:58:20 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software, Aaron Fothergill previously from Argonaut Games and now with Shifty Eye Games and Stoo Cambridge known for his pixel artwork for Cannon Fodder and other titles from Sensible Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

The iPad Pro 5th Generation experience
The Logitech Combo Keyboard for the iPad Pro
Video editing on the iPad Pro surprisingly great, up to a point
The Post PC Era with the iPad Pro, or is it?
iPad prototype experiences
iOS apps on macOS
Should macOS be able to run natively on the iPad Pro?
Creating pixel artwork on retro and modern devices
Pixel art… with a joystick!
How many monitors is too many monitors?
Aircraft control, 4-bit fun
Broken Sword 3 and the transition to using 3D
Text based adventure games

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
– ☕ Ko-fi – Buy James a ‘thank you’ coffee
– 💰 Patreon – Become a supporting member on Patreon

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #18 – iPad Pro Post PC Era, Pixel Art Creation & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Simon the Sorcerer Returns in 2023 Prequel Named ‘Origins’

James Woodcock — Thu, 19 May 2022 18:43:53 +0000

Point and click adventure classic Simon the Sorcerer returns in 2023 for a new prequel.

Read the full post: Simon the Sorcerer Returns in 2023 Prequel Named ‘Origins’, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Broken Sword Game Boy Advance: Development Stories with Tony Warriner

James Woodcock — Mon, 02 May 2022 14:10:21 +0000

Tony Warriner shares his developer insights in the classic point and click adventure Broken Sword for the Game Boy Advance.

Read the full post: Broken Sword Game Boy Advance: Development Stories with Tony Warriner, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Visiting RMC The Cave Exhibition – Retro Computing & Consoles Hands On [VIDEO]

James Woodcock — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 18:54:20 +0000

I visit the new Retro Computing & Console Exhibition and experience the nostalgia provided by RMC the Cave.

Read the full post: Visiting RMC The Cave Exhibition – Retro Computing & Consoles Hands On [VIDEO], created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #17 – Cannon Fodder Artwork, Roland MT-32 and More…

James Woodcock — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 17:07:26 +0000

Topics include:

The artwork design concepts of Cannon Fodder
Cannon Fodder moving from Amiga to other platforms not always respectful to original artwork
How we would love a Cannon Fodder Remaster, come on Codemasters
Cannon Fodder, heroic yet emotional devastating
Is there still an environment to truly create something new in gaming?
Sonic Mania respecting the beauty of the originals
The Roland MT-32, Adlib FM and Amiga/Acorn Module music
The amazing Commodore 64 SID chip
The CD32 quirks and oddities
Trying to find original CD32 games at reasonable prices
Did the cartridge outstay its welcome?
Sony PlayStation development hardware power overloads
Tony using Unity for his new game
The Commodore 64 loading screens with that music!
Education system originally pushing people away from computer careers
The logo Stoo Cambridge created for Pixel Refresh

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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #17 – Cannon Fodder Artwork, Roland MT-32 and More…, created by James Woodcock.

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iFi Audio hip-dac2 Review – Portable & Extremely Detailed Hi-Res DAC & Amp

James Woodcock — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 12:22:08 +0000

The iFi Audio hip-dac2 is an extremely portable high resolution DAC for headphones, laptops and computers.

Read the full post: iFi Audio hip-dac2 Review – Portable & Extremely Detailed Hi-Res DAC & Amp, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #16 – GBA Broken Sword 2 Exists, Music Streaming and More…

James Woodcock — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 09:39:53 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

Finding the perfect music streaming service mission impossible
Lossless music revolution for audio music streaming
Transferring music library from Spotify to Apple Music
Vinyl digitally remastered
Watching classic movies from 1938 onwards…
Too many video streaming services?
4K Blu-ray verses buying movies online to stream
Microsoft and Sony rush to buy game studios
Broken Sword on the Gameboy Advance
Broken Sword 2 was so nearly completed for release on the Gameboy Advance!

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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #16 – GBA Broken Sword 2 Exists, Music Streaming and More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Colouring Book Raised £43k for Retro Computer & Console Exhibition

James Woodcock — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 16:35:49 +0000

A colouring book of retro computing - Pixel Refresh proud sponsor

Read the full post: Colouring Book Raised £43k for Retro Computer & Console Exhibition, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #15 – Imagining Remasters, CD-ROM Woes & More…

James Woodcock — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:41:15 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

The influence of Double Fine on Kickstarter videos
How without mobile phones, we took less photos
Xbox celebrates 20th anniversary
Why James’ pre-ordered an original Xbox
The beauty of Doom
Our loathing of typical Free to Play gaming
Tony’s experience with Apple App Store requirements
Typing in game code from magazines isn’t dead
The joy of the Commodore 64
The weird Xbox 360 developer hardware unveiling Tony witnessed
James’ review of Broken Sword 3 on the original Xbox, read to one of the developers live!
Original Xbox built-in hard drive advantages
CD-ROM speed advantages and disadvantages
Broken Sword 3 and 4 dreaming of remasters
Grand Theft Auto remasters… oh dear!
Imagining the Simon the Sorcerer interface remastered
Open Source software when used commercially
Beneath a Steel Sky on Android exists… sort of

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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #15 – Imagining Remasters, CD-ROM Woes & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #14 – Nintendo 3DS, Revolution Software Book & More…

James Woodcock — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 10:36:57 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

Tony’s new book in progress covering the history of Revolution Software – creators of Broken Sword, Beneath a Steel Sky and many more point and click adventures
The Matrix bullet time effect… on a budget
Working on point and click adventure sequels
The point and click adventure CD-ROM talkie versions
Nintendo DS Lite – the cutest portable gaming machine
James’ loathing of free to play games on Android
The ‘New’ Nintendo 3DS XL – James’ favourite handheld gaming device
The failed 3D revolution of TV screens
The extreme difficulty of certain point and click adventures in the 1990s
Remembering Broken Sword ports, especially the Nintendo Wii version
The genius of legally sharing games on the Nintendo DS for multiplayer action
So hard to buy the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles

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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #14 – Nintendo 3DS, Revolution Software Book & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #13 – Flying Controllers, Talking to a Mouse & More…

James Woodcock — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 10:33:03 +0000

Topics include:

Tony and his new MacBook Pro experiences
So many ports
The joy and despair with USB-C
External keyboards, our obsession
The epic Steel Battalion controller for the original Xbox
Nintendo Wii controllers flying through the air
How our nostalgia and memory collide
Talking to a mouse
Games on cassette and understanding the patterns in the loading sound
Video CD, CD Video, Laser Disc and DivX
Noise Reduction headphones and spatial audio (Apple Airpods Max & Sony XM4)
Smart doorbells
Drone deliveries… really?
Self driving vehicles the future?

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #13 – Flying Controllers, Talking to a Mouse & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #12 – MacBook Pro, Windows 11 & More…

James Woodcock — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 17:18:34 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss more gaming, gadgets and technology both retro and modern.

Topics include:

The new Apple MacBook Pro 14″ & 16″ – Top notch stuff
Tony’s empty wallet from his recent Apple purchases
The Great ‘Escape’ – touchbar woes
Venting on Twitter
My move from iOS to Android… but it was the Samsung Galaxy Note 7
James’ experiences with Windows 11
iPad dominating the tablet market
Moving from Windows to macOS experiences

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #12 – MacBook Pro, Windows 11 & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #11 – Amiga CD32, ScummVM 20 Years & More…

James Woodcock — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 12:15:24 +0000

I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software, Eugene Sandulenko from ScummVM and Aaron Fothergill previously from Argonaut Games and now with Shifty Eye Games as we discuss gaming, gadgets and technology.

Topics include:

ScummVM 20th Anniversary
The processes of development and organising so many developers
How Revolution Software shared the source code from their games for ScummVM
The development insanity behind the Amiga CD32
The cost of rare Amiga CD32 games
The Acorn legacy behind ARM spec
How is Tony’s SHMUP progressing?
The hidden secrets (and comments) within game source code
Porting ScummVM to a fridge!
Porting ScummVM to the Nintendo 64
Modern development and mobile apps & games
Our favourite (and least liked) operating systems over the years

Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #11 – Amiga CD32, ScummVM 20 Years & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

ScummVM 20th Anniversary – The Survival of Point and Click Adventure Games

James Woodcock — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 07:12:55 +0000

ScummVM, the point and click adventure game open source program celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Read the full post: ScummVM 20th Anniversary – The Survival of Point and Click Adventure Games, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #10 – Clive Sinclair, 8-bit Computers & More…

James Woodcock — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 19:11:10 +0000

In the 10th Game & Gadget Podcast, I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss gaming, gadgets and technology.

Topics include:

Clive Sinclair best known for the the ZX Spectrum computers passes away aged 81
The Raspberry Pi
Early electronic devices and pocket calculators
8-bit computers small amount of memory
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) 8-bit console and it’s VERY yellow!
The horrors inside 30 year old consoles!
The many mods for retro consoles
8-bit computer loading screens
Magazines including tapes and discs with games, demos and clip art
The sound of a dial up modem
How do we cope without the internet?

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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #10 – Clive Sinclair, 8-bit Computers & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Let’s play SEGA Rally Championship – SEGA Saturn

James Woodcock — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 13:48:41 +0000

I playthrough SEGA Rally Championship on the SEGA Saturn console, released in 1995.

Read the full post: Let’s play SEGA Rally Championship – SEGA Saturn, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Edifier TWS NB2 Pro Earbuds Review

James Woodcock — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 14:44:51 +0000

Wireless earbuds from Edifier with impressive noise cancellation and good sound quality to match.

Read the full post: Edifier TWS NB2 Pro Earbuds Review, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #9 – Google Nest Doorbell Fun & More…

James Woodcock — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 20:11:31 +0000

In the 9th Game & Gadget Podcast, I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software as we discuss gaming, gadgets and technology.

Topics include:

Google Nest Doorbell (battery edition)
My first visitor using the doorbell didn’t go quite as expected
Google AI can’t tell the difference between a person and a cat
Smart tag tracking
The sad death of Windows Phone
Your questions
- Game development in the UK
- The easiest and hardest hardware and software for Tony
Tony has old hard drives that may have game assets on there, but we don’t know… yet!

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #9 – Google Nest Doorbell Fun & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #8 – FPGA, Real Retro Hardware and More…

James Woodcock — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 19:14:48 +0000

In the 8th Game & Gadget Podcast, I am joined by Tony Warriner who is one of the founders of Revolution Software and Neil Thomas who runs the RMC Retro – The Cave YouTube channel with over 130,000 subscribers.

Topics include:

The RMC Retro Museum
FPGA versus real hardware
SEGA Saturn PSU started smoking / PSU died
Early music in games… beeps versus SID chip
Tony’s Story of Revolution Software book announcement
Tony’s sequel to 1986’s Obsidian using Unity
Tony owns 40 copies of Obsidian and counting!
Broken Sword Remastered – Tony’s upscaling experiment
Console-like version of the FPGA MiSTer
The many ports of Broken Sword
Quake Remastered

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #8 – FPGA, Real Retro Hardware and More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

How to play Quake 64 on the Nintendo Switch

James Woodcock — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 19:48:28 +0000

Quake remastered is now available on the Nintendo Switch and the bonus content wonderfully includes Quake 64.

Read the full post: How to play Quake 64 on the Nintendo Switch, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #7 – 3Dfx Vs PowerVR & More…

James Woodcock — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 21:04:43 +0000

In the 7th Game & Gadget Podcast, I am joined by Will Judd who works for Eurogamer and Digital Foundry and Daniel Hughes who is one of my closest friends who went to the same college as myself, which meant we had plenty of time to argue about how my 3Dfx was better or worse than his PowerVR for 3D Acceleration in the late 1990s.

Topics include:

3Dfx Versus PowerVR
The power of the Glide API
Unreal and Unreal Tournament
Motorhead
Xbox Series X launch
PS5 10 million sold
Console versus PC gaming

🫶 SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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Read the full post: Game & Gadget Podcast #7 – 3Dfx Vs PowerVR & More…, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Amiga Classic Zool Returns in Zool Redimensioned

James Woodcock — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 06:11:33 +0000

Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension makes a return for modern systems in a brand new game.

Read the full post: Amiga Classic Zool Returns in Zool Redimensioned, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Broken Sword Remastered – Dreaming with AI Upscaling

James Woodcock — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 17:21:43 +0000

Imagining how a Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Remastered could look with AI upscaling on original assets.

Read the full post: Broken Sword Remastered – Dreaming with AI Upscaling, created by James Woodcock.

For even more content, visit Pixel Refresh - Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech.

Game & Gadget Podcast #6 – Broken Sword Development & Writing

James Woodcock — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 20:33:55 +0000

In the return of the Game & Gadget Podcast, I am joined by Tony Warriner and Steve Ince – both veterans of the game industry who discuss among other things their time working on point and click adventure classic Broken Sword with Revolution Software.