Retro Titans - the giants of retro and indie gaming in conversation

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:b9612fae-dba8-4109-a21b-21836b678fb1-9" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:b9612fae-dba8-4109-a21b-21836b678fb1-9" data-testid= "conversation-turn-20" data-turn="assistant"> Rocketship Park co-owner and game developer Shane McCafferty returns to Retro Titans to discuss his latest work for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, including Hero GP, Roguecraft GB and WOLF.
Shane explains how burnout led him back to game development through PICO-8 and the Game Boy, and why working within the limitations of Nintendo's handheld has proved so creatively rewarding. We also explore his growing connection with Evercade, the challenge of recreating Roguecraft for different hardware, and the technical tricks behind bringing a Wolfenstein-inspired first-person game to the Game Boy Color.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ Rediscovering game development How PICO-8, an Analogue Pocket and a love of the Game Boy helped Shane recover from creative burnout.
2️⃣ Hero GP comes to Evercade Shane reacts to seeing his racing game appear as an Evercade Game of the Month and looks forward to its physical release on Indie Heroes Collection 5.
3️⃣ Bringing Roguecraft to Game Boy Color How Shane rebuilt the Amiga game in C, redrew its artwork and preserved the distinctive feel of the original.
4️⃣ Making WOLF work on Game Boy The raycasting techniques, hardware limitations and design decisions behind Shane's tense Wolfenstein-inspired FPS.
5️⃣ From Cave Dave to ZERO A physical release for Cave Dave, the evolution of the Starseed series and Shane's attempt to create an F-Zero-style racer for Game Boy Color.
Plus, Shane takes on our Games of Your Life, with choices including Tetris, Sensible Soccer, Spelunky and What Remains of Edith Finch. If you enjoyed this interview, check out episode 8 of season 2 to hear Shane's first intereview. 
🔗 Guest links
Shane McCafferty on X: x.com/EGVroom
Rocketship Park games: rocketshippark.itch.io
🎙️ Credits
Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing, publisher of indie and retro games.
Production: Rocket Media Voiceover: Mark Silk Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna




 
_:empty]:hidden">

In this episode of Retro Titans, Crazy Burger returns for another Q&A, as we take turns asking each other questions about Evercade, retro gaming and the games and hardware we love.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ Our Evercade holiday picks
Which carts deserve a place in the suitcase, and what makes a great game for playing on the move?
2️⃣ The future of Evercade
We discuss new hardware, dual thumbsticks, native games and where the platform could go next.
3️⃣ Neo Geo, Banjo-Kazooie and gaming favourites
Some of the games, franchises and systems we'd love to see more of.
4️⃣ Growing the retro gaming audience
We talk marketing, retail and how retro gaming companies can reach beyond their existing communities.
5️⃣ Creating retro gaming content
Crazy Burger shares his perspective on YouTube, the retro community and making content around the games and hardware we love.
🔗 Guest links
Crazy Burger on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CrazyBurger
🎙️ Credits
Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing, publisher of indie and retro games.
Production: Rocket Media
Voiceover: Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

Phil is joined by Steve Cottam, CEO and founder of Antstream Arcade, the service offering instant access to more than 1,300 officially licensed retro games.
Steve shares the story behind Antstream, his ambition to create a kind of "Spotify for retro games", and the challenges of licensing titles whose ownership can stretch back decades. The conversation also tackles physical versus digital preservation, introducing classic games to new generations, and why Antstream is looking beyond the past to indie and modern-retro games.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ The story behind Antstream Arcade
How Steve turned an ambitious idea into a major retro game streaming service.
2️⃣ Physical vs digital
What does preservation really mean when cartridges, discs and hardware won't last forever?
3️⃣ The licensing puzzle
Why securing the rights to decades-old games can be surprisingly complicated.
4️⃣ Making old games feel new
How challenges and tournaments give classic titles a different way to be played.
5️⃣ Where retro gaming goes next
Antstream's plans for indie and modern-retro games – and bringing the classics to new generations.
Plus, Steve takes on our Games of Your Life, our regular feature where guests share the most influential games of their lives. 
🔗 Guest links
Antstream Arcade – antstream.com
🎙️ Credits
Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing
Production: Rocket Media
Voiceover: Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

In this episode of Retro Titans, we head across the Atlantic to talk retro gaming, arcades, Evercade and the journey from lifelong gamer to YouTube creator.
Phil is joined by Andrew Bender, one half of the Ronnie and Andrew YouTube channel, which has built up a huge library of videos covering retro and modern gaming. Andrew talks about how the channel developed, what he has learned along the way, and why sharing his passion for games has become such an important part of the hobby.
Andrew's gaming story goes much further back. We explore his love of Falcom games, his experiences with the American arcade scene, collecting arcade hardware, and why the social experience of playing games in an arcade still has a magic that is difficult to recreate at home.
There's plenty of Evercade discussion too, including Andrew's approach to reviewing cartridges and discovering games he might otherwise never have played.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ From gamer to YouTuber
How Andrew and his wife started creating gaming content, and the learning curve involved in building a channel with more than 600 videos.
2️⃣ Growing up with games and discovering the arcade
Andrew shares his gaming history and why arcades became such an important part of his passion for the hobby.
3️⃣ The magic of arcade hardware
From cabinets and fighting games to Neo Geo and pinball, we discuss what makes playing on original or dedicated hardware such a different experience.
4️⃣ Evercade, collecting and discovering old games
Why physical cartridges and curated collections appeal to Andrew, and how reviewing Evercade releases has introduced him to games from across gaming history.
5️⃣ Why retro gaming still matters
Andrew and Phil discuss nostalgia, collecting and the communities that continue to celebrate classic games and hardware.
 
🔗 Links
Roni and Andrew on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GameOverRandA 
Andrew's arcade tour (mentioned in the interview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naT_bFW2a_0 
 
🎙️ Credits
Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing 
Produced by Rocket Media
Voiceover by Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

In this episode of Retro Titans, we head across the Atlantic to talk retro gaming, arcades, Evercade and the journey from lifelong gamer to YouTube creator.
Phil is joined by Andrew Bender, one half of the Ronnie and Andrew YouTube channel, which has built up a huge library of videos covering retro and modern gaming. Andrew talks about how the channel developed, what he has learned along the way, and why sharing his passion for games has become such an important part of the hobby.
Andrew's gaming story goes much further back. We explore his love of Falcom games, his experiences with the American arcade scene, collecting arcade hardware, and why the social experience of playing games in an arcade still has a magic that is difficult to recreate at home.
There's plenty of Evercade discussion too, including Andrew's approach to reviewing cartridges and discovering games he might otherwise never have played.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ From gamer to YouTuber
How Andrew and his wife started creating gaming content, and the learning curve involved in building a channel with more than 600 videos.
2️⃣ Growing up with games and discovering the arcade
Andrew shares his gaming history and why arcades became such an important part of his passion for the hobby.
3️⃣ The magic of arcade hardware
From cabinets and fighting games to Neo Geo and pinball, we discuss what makes playing on original or dedicated hardware such a different experience.
4️⃣ Evercade, collecting and discovering old games
Why physical cartridges and curated collections appeal to Andrew, and how reviewing Evercade releases has introduced him to games from across gaming history.
5️⃣ Why retro gaming still matters
Andrew and Phil discuss nostalgia, collecting and the communities that continue to celebrate classic games and hardware.
 
🔗 Links
Roni and Andrew on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GameOverRandA 
🎙️ Credits
Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing
Produced by Rocket Media
Voiceover by Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna