In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil is joined by Chris Green, co-founder of the UK Amstrad Group and co-founder and chair of the Kickstart Amiga Group, for a long-overdue celebration of the Amstrad CPC.

Chris recalls buying a CPC 464 at launch in 1984, learning to program with Locomotive BASIC and writing for Amstrad Action. He also explains why the Amstrad became the overlooked sibling of the British 8-bit computer scene, despite selling millions of machines and offering impressive hardware, software and build quality.

We explore the community keeping the CPC alive today, from user-group meetings and new games to Wi-Fi expansions, modern storage and some extremely rare hardware.

In this episode, we explore:

1️⃣ Growing up with the Amstrad CPC
From buying a CPC 464 with a green-screen monitor to discovering Amsoft, Mastertronic, Dizzy, Gryzor and RoboCop.

2️⃣ Why the Amstrad gets overlooked
How its late arrival and Amstrad's "cheap and cheerful" reputation affected the way the CPC was perceived alongside the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64.

3️⃣ Keeping 40-year-old computers alive
What happens at UK Amstrad Group meetings, and how enthusiasts are adding Wi-Fi, modern storage and other upgrades to their machines.

4️⃣ Collecting rare Amstrad hardware
Chris introduces the elusive CPC 664, the Spanish CPC 472, the GX4000 and the prototype machine known as Arnold.

5️⃣ Old hardware for a modern audience
Why recreated computers, FPGA systems and mini consoles can provide a route back into retro computing, and whether the time has come for an Amstrad CPC Mini.

🔗 Guest links

UK Amstrad Group: ukag.org.uk

🎙️ Credits

Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing, publisher of indie and retro games.

Production: Rocket Media
Voiceover: Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

This episode is a bit different from the norm, in that Phil recorded it live on location at the inaugural Evercade Community and Creator Day, held in London on 10th September 2026. This was the first time Blaze invited creators and fans together to play with devices and discuss the wonderful world of retro gaming on Evercade.

This episode is based on quick vox-pop interviews with Blaze's head of communications, Sean Cleaver, and head of marketing, Ben Grunbaum, plus Evercade Gaming Club's Matt Upton, Retro Asylum's Jim Middleton and, of course, Crazy Burger.

Just to flag, the sound levels on this episode are a bit variable, especially during Crazy Burger's section, but I hope you agree it's well worth a listen.

As always, our thanks go to our sponsors, Thalamus Digital.

This one wasn't edited by Rocket Media, as I'm sure you'll guess within about one minute!

🔗 Guest links

Evercade.co.uk

EverCade Gaming Club

Retro Asylum

Crazy Burger

...and buy the Nexux and Banjo Kazooie pack on Funstock

🎙️ Credits

Sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing, publisher of indie and retro games.

Production: Phil 🙃
Voiceover: Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna

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