PS1 Demo Discs, Bedroom Coders and FMV Revival - Indie Games That Changed The World

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The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

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Published on August 28, 2025 11:29:36 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCtRxX2awrc

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We're joined by games journalist and author Aaron Potter to chat about his new book, 50 Indie Games That Changed the World. From the roots of the Indie scene with the 80's bedroom coders, the revival of lost genres like FMV games, and how modern indie titles are keeping classic computers and consoles alive.

50 Indie Games That Changed The World: https://tinyurl.com/4s3y5p27

00:00 Intro & guest welcome
00:00:55 Gamescom recap (retro + indies, scale)
00:01:48 First games: Mega Drive, Sonic, Golden Axe
00:03:14 Magazines, demo discs, and cheat books
00:07:13 Breaking into games journalism
00:08:45 Why game preservation matters
00:10:17 “Stop Killing Games” & server shutdowns
00:12:03 Why indies? Saturation, funding, risks
00:14:34 Flash/Newgrounds and the indie boom
00:16:59 From bedroom coders to modern tools
00:18:14 Experimentation & FMV (Her Story, risks)
00:21:52 Retro aesthetics: Metroidvanias, boomer shooters
00:24:52 Demakes & ports to classic hardware
00:29:01 New games on old systems; Atari 2600+
00:30:41 The book: origin & scope
00:34:03 Timeline: Cave Story → Sea of Stars/Vampire Survivors
00:34:46 Choosing the 50; legacy over launch scores
00:37:39 Hardest interviews: Undertale & Limbo
00:39:47 Art & concept art; the Downwell exception
00:42:14 How platforms champion indies (XBLA, Vita, Switch, Deck)
00:44:28 Bundles, indie publishers & discoverability
00:46:43 Indies keep retro systems alive
00:47:06 Where to buy & thoughts on Volume 2
00:48:16 Wrap-up & outro music