Console Shock Podcast
Trevor and Stuart Chat about the latest news in the Retro Games World
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Console Shock Podcast 157: End of year and 2026 catch-up!
01/17/2026
Console Shock Podcast 157: End of year and 2026 catch-up!
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! We’re back for 2026! After a festive break, the crew return to kick off the new year with a big look back at 2025 and an even bigger look ahead to what gaming has in store for us next. From bargain-bin hauls to future tech, predictions, and surprises — it’s our first deep dive into gaming in 2026. 🛒 We unpack our Steam Winter Sale pick-ups ⭐ Our favourite games of 2025 🔧 Trev puts Lossless Scaling on the Steam Deck through its paces 🔮 What’s coming in 2026? 🎮 Are next-gen consoles about to be revealed? 💷 Will the Steam Machine price make us cheer… or choke? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 156: Xbox 360 20th Anniversary
12/14/2025
Console Shock Podcast 156: Xbox 360 20th Anniversary
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! A little late to the party, but Trev and Stu finally celebrate the 20th birthday of the greatest Xbox of all time—the Xbox 360! Released in November 2005, the 360 pioneered a host of features that would become industry-standard: built-in online play, DLC, achievements, robust multimedia support, wireless controllers, a full digital marketplace, and much more. In this episode: 🎮 How Xbox 360 changed the industry: From achievements to digital distribution, the features that set the template for modern consoles. 💸 Speculation on the upcoming Steam Machine’s potential high price 🌀 Stu’s thoughts on Metroid Prime 4 🛠️ Reacting to the early reveals of Xbox 360 hardware and launch-window games 🕹️ Why the Xbox 360 wireless controller was (and still is) legendary 🔴 The Red Ring of Death — and how Xbox survived one of gaming’s biggest hardware crises 🕺 Did the Kinect spark the decline of the Xbox brand? 📀 Surprisingly solid backward compatibility with the OG Xbox ⬇️ How digital downloads revived short, 2D-style games via Xbox Live Arcade Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 155: Valve Steam Machine
11/14/2025
Console Shock Podcast 155: Valve Steam Machine
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Valve drops a surprise wave of new hardware announcements, leaving a completely unprepared Trev and Stu to unravel the chaos and excitement rippling through the SteamOS/PC gaming world! 🎮 GTA VI delayed again — but is that actually good news? 🧪 Stu experiments with Bazzite on an Intel NUC PC. 💻 The Valve SteamCast (Steam Machine) is finally revealed! ⚔️ Steam Machine vs. Current-Gen Consoles — how do the specs stack up? 🛋️ Can the Steam Machine finally deliver true sofa-friendly PC gaming? 🕹️ A sequel to the Steam Controller appears! — but will it be practical? 🥽 Valve announces a new VR headset — can it take on the Meta Quest? 💸 What will all this new Valve hardware cost? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 154: PlayStation "Project Canis" Handheld
10/25/2025
Console Shock Podcast 154: PlayStation "Project Canis" Handheld
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! This Week on the Podcast: As a self-confessed handheld gaming fan, Trev is seriously excited about the rumoured PlayStation 6 handheld, codenamed “Canis”. Will it really deliver a full-fat next-gen PS6 experience in portable form — or will there be too many compromises to make you ditch your Steam Deck or ROG Ally? 🟩 Xbox Game Pass Price Hike — We unpack the latest changes, what they mean for subscribers, and whether the value still holds up. 📰 BREAKING NEWS! — Retro Games Ltd announce the full-size A1200, a dream come true for Amiga fans everywhere. 🎮 PS6 Handheld Deep Dive: 🔍 Will it truly play all PS6 games, or will it top out at PS4/PS5 level content? 🧩 How will PS5 compatibility work — every title, or only ‘handheld-patched’ releases? ⚙️ Could upcoming FSR and frame-generation tech make it the first no-compromise handheld? 💸 What sort of price tag might we see for Sony’s next portable? 💽 And how could disc-based PS6 games be supported on a handheld system? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 153: First 100 days of the Switch 2
09/30/2025
Console Shock Podcast 153: First 100 days of the Switch 2
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Console Shockpodcast 152: Steam Console Rumours
09/13/2025
Console Shockpodcast 152: Steam Console Rumours
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! With the recent Valve leaks, Trev and Stu dive deep into what a potential “Steam Station” could look like in 2025. Can Valve really deliver a device that beats the PS5 on performance and price? Or should they roll out a whole lineup of consoles to cover every type of gamer? Here’s hoping Gabe’s got something big up his sleeve… 🎮 This episode includes: 🔫 Stu takes on Gears of War Remastered on PC! 💾 Wrestling with Games for Windows Live relics on modern setups. 🍄 Hot takes on The Last of Us Part I for PS5. 🕹️ Why picking Easy Mode is absolutely fine (and often the smarter choice). 💻 The Valve “Fremont” specs leak — what could a Steam Deck Pro / Steam Station mean for gamers? 🚀 Triple-A gaming on today’s Steam Deck, and why a beefed-up Valve console could be the ultimate option. ⚡ Does a Valve console need to exceed PS5 performance to stand out in 2025? 📺 How a streamlined, TV-only, screenless incarnation of the current Steam Deck could be the perfect entry-level machine. 🧩 Why Valve should release a suite of consoles to cover every price–performance tier. Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 151: Sega Mega Drive Buyers Guide
08/19/2025
Console Shock Podcast 151: Sega Mega Drive Buyers Guide
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! 🎙️ The Mega Drive is a legendary console we’ve revisited in many ways throughout the history of the show—but what’s it actually like to buy one and start a collection today? Are the games easy to track down, is there a best controller to seek out, and should you even bother with the Mega CD or 32X? Trev and Stu are here to guide you on your Sega journey! 🔹 In this episode: 🎮 Stu tries out Sega Rally Anniversary Edition on PC 🖥️ Which model Mega Drive should you go for? 🕹️ The obscure hardware variants like the Nomad and Multi-Mega ⚡ Why 50Hz vs 60Hz matters 🎯 The controllers you should hunt down 🔫 What’s the deal with light guns on the Mega Drive? 💾 Flash carts – play ROM files on real hardware ➕ Mega CD & 32X – worthwhile add-ons or pointless indulgences? 📀 Game collecting – where to buy and what’s a fair price Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 150: Paul Monaghan is back! Magazines
08/01/2025
Console Shock Podcast 150: Paul Monaghan is back! Magazines
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! We’ve hit a milestone — episode 150! And to celebrate, we’re welcoming back retro magazine collecting (and now magazine writing) legend Paul Monaghan for his long-awaited return! What’s he been up to over the last few years? How did he become a contributor to two of the UK’s top retro mags? And yes... what does he think of 90s boy band Let Loose? Strap in for a nostalgic deep dive into magazines, music, and memories from the golden era of gaming and pop culture. 🗂️ In This Episode: 🖥️ Paul’s latest work with Amiga Addict and Pixel Addict 💰 Thoughts on Perifractic’s purchase of Commodore 📚 A look back at the vibrant UK comic scene of the 80s & 90s 📡 Remember when Sky TV cost a fortune in the 90s? 🕹️ Reflecting on premium 90s gaming mags like Maximum 🧾 The high price of PC gaming in the mid-90s 🚀 Beyond gaming mags: Star Trek, NME, and more cultural touchstones 🧢 GamesMaster – the mag that outlived the TV show by decades! 📰 Our personal favourite gaming mags of all time 🖨️ Bonus nostalgia: the long-forgotten UK computing mag PC Plus! Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 149: The Future of Xbox
07/14/2025
Console Shock Podcast 149: The Future of Xbox
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! It’s been a turbulent few weeks for Xbox. From announcing major job cuts to dropping hints about Windows playing a bigger role in the platform’s future, the brand finds itself at its most uncertain crossroads yet. What lies ahead for Xbox? Trev and Stu dive into the speculation… Topics covered: 🕹️ A look back at Microsoft's early years in gaming 📉 Xbox’s historic struggles against its biggest rivals 🔀 Could a 3DO-style open hardware approach for Windows-based Xbox consoles actually work? 🖥️ Does SteamOS offer a blueprint for how Windows could handle console gaming? 🎮 How console-like could a future Windows experience truly be? 🛍️ Would a Windows Xbox play nicely with third-party stores like Steam? 🧰 Could it deliver a hassle-free, plug-and-play experience for console gamers? 💸 Pricing pressures — can Microsoft keep a PC-based Xbox in line with traditional console pricing? 😬 If a Windows Xbox can run everything a PC can… should Sony be worried? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 148: Switch and Xbox ROG Ally
06/21/2025
Console Shock Podcast 148: Switch and Xbox ROG Ally
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Stu’s got his hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 and gives us his honest review — no over-the-top YouTube theatrics here! Plus, the long-rumoured Microsoft x ASUS collaboration is finally official: meet the Xbox ROG Ally, a new handheld console. But will this be the Steam Deck killer, or is the real story the custom gaming-optimised Windows OS it runs? Here’s what we’re covering: 🎮 How does the Switch 2 launch compare to the original Switch? 🏁 First impressions of Mario Kart World 💡 Did the Switch 2 really need groundbreaking innovation? 🔄 How do Switch 1 games perform on the Switch 2? 🎛️ External controller support: Switch 2 vs Steam Deck 🆚 Where the Steam Deck still outperforms Windows-based handhelds 🖥️ The most exciting part of the Xbox Ally: a gaming-optimised Windows OS ⚙️ How will the new custom Xbox Windows handle launchers, UI quirks, and game libraries? ❓ Is Xbox Ally’s branding confusing? Does the average gamer think it’s a portable Xbox console, not a Windows handheld? 📊 Gaming-optimised Windows vs SteamOS performance speculation 🕹️ Will Xbox Windows support all generations of Xbox titles? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! :
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Console Shock Podcast 147: PlayStation 5 in 2025
05/28/2025
Console Shock Podcast 147: PlayStation 5 in 2025
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Trev’s finally done it — he’s bought a PS5! The big question is: why now? Is a PS5 still worth it in 2025? Can it coexist peacefully with a Steam Deck, or is a showdown inevitable? We dive into all that and more in this week’s episode. Also in the mix: 🎮 Stu shares his thoughts on Deliver At All Costs for PC. 🆕 First impressions of the PS5 — what stands out, what falls short, and what surprised. 📺 Trev gets hands-on with PS5 YouTube streaming. ⚔️ First impressions of Space Marine 2 — and a nostalgic look back at the original. 💾 Can the Steam Deck keep up with today’s heavy-hitting games? 🕹️ Would the Steam Deck make a good PS Portal alternative? 🎲 PS Plus Premium vs Xbox Game Pass — which service comes out on top? ❌🎮 And is the Xbox still worth it now that its exclusives are creeping onto PS5? Hit play and join the conversation. Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 146: Saving the Amiga
05/01/2025
Console Shock Podcast 146: Saving the Amiga
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! In the latest instalment of our "Saving the System" series, we turn our attention to our all-time favourite gaming platform — the legendary Commodore Amiga. Its fate was sealed the moment Commodore collapsed, but can Trev and Stu breathe new life into this classic machine? Join us as we dive into what could have been, what went wrong, and what should have been possible. This episode includes: 🎮 Thoughts on Oblivion Remastered 🖥️ Could the Amiga 1000 launch have been handled better? ✨ Why the Amiga 500 was pure perfection 📀 Should Commodore have canned the CDTV and CD32 to focus on CD-ROM add-ons? ⏳ Did the Amiga 1200 arrive too late? ⚙️ Why the 68020 CPU was already showing its age in 1992 🚀 How the unreleased AAA chipset might have kept the Amiga competitive 🔮 Imagining what successors to the A1200 and A4000 could have looked like Fire up your Workbench disks — it’s time to rewrite history. Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 145: Switch 2 Thoughts
04/13/2025
Console Shock Podcast 145: Switch 2 Thoughts
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! We’ve been speculating for months, but now the Nintendo Switch 2 has been fully revealed! We break down the announcements, react to the hardware, and ask the big questions — is this the upgrade we were waiting for? 🕹️ Did Nintendo nail it or miss the mark? We talk expectations, surprises, and what we’re still hoping to see. 💰 £75 for Mario Kart World — are you kidding?! Is this the new normal for premium Nintendo titles, or just a launch shocker? 🛒 Whatever happened to pre-order deposits? Back in the day, a fiver held your spot. What changed? 🧠 Smart move or safe play? We debate whether building on the original Switch design was the right call. 🔍 A deep dive into the tech specs New hardware features, chipset, display — we’re getting into the weeds. 🚀 A true generational leap? Where does Switch 2 stand compared to the original — and the competition? 📺 Can it really do 1080p handheld and 4K docked? We discuss frame rates, resolution promises, and real-world expectations. 💻 Switch vs PC handhelds Steam Deck, ROG Ally — how does Nintendo’s offering stack up? 🎮 OG Switch games on Switch 2 What kind of backward compatibility are we looking at? 🕹️ Switch 2 launch lineup thoughts Our reactions to the confirmed games — what’s hot, what’s not? 🟪 GameCube emulation is here! Yep, it’s official — GameCube classics are coming to Switch Online. Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 144: #Marchintosh 2025
03/29/2025
Console Shock Podcast 144: #Marchintosh 2025
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! 🎉 is here! 🎉 Trev and Stu join in the annual YouTube tradition of Marchintosh, dedicating an episode to all things Apple Mac in March! This year, we’re flipping through a couple of Macworld UK back issues from 2004 and 2005, reminiscing about an era when Apple was transforming into the tech giant we know today. Join us as we dive into: 🎮 Stu's new obsession: Robocop: Rogue City 🎞️ Were 80s and 90s movie-licensed video games actually better than we remember? 📖 Was Macworld UK just a reprint of the US edition? 🎂 Trev’s 20th anniversary as a Mac user! 🖥️ The long-forgotten Apple eMac desktop. 💡 Apple’s simple pro vs. consumer product matrix in 2004. 🎮 The never-ending saga of gaming (or lack thereof) on Mac. 🎵 A look back at iPods and the entire iPod family. 🖥️ Remember when buying Mac OS X meant getting a massive box? 🏬 Where did Brits buy Macs before Apple Stores? A look at Mac retailers in the UK. ⏳ How mid-2000s Apple computers still hold up today. And more! Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 143: The Gaming PC Value Equation
03/08/2025
Console Shock Podcast 143: The Gaming PC Value Equation
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Nvidia has just unveiled its latest generation of RTX graphics cards, and the prices are absolutely eye-watering. But is it really worth dropping thousands on a gaming PC when a £350 second-hand PS5 could deliver a great gaming experience? Let’s dive into the debate! 🎙️ In this episode: 🕰️ Looking back & ahead – We reflect on the podcast’s journey and where it’s headed. 💰 GPU sticker shock! – Are the astronomical prices of modern graphics cards justifiable? 🎮 Console vs. PC – Is a £350 pre-owned PS5 better value than a high-end gaming rig? 🖼️ Upscaling & frame-gen – Have these technologies narrowed the image quality gap between PCs and consoles? 🚀 The PS5 Pro conundrum – Is the PS5 Pro a true alternative to a high-end gaming setup? 🕹️ A blast from the past – How gaming PCs like the Commodore Amiga stacked up against their console rivals. 💾 PC gaming on a budget – Do cheap digital games offset the high cost of hardware? 🎛️ Handheld revolution? – Are low-end gaming PCs, like those from Valve & ASUS, the real value champions? What do you think? Team PC or Team Console? Let’s discuss! Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 142: Generation Jump
02/22/2025
Console Shock Podcast 142: Generation Jump
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Are console generation leaps becoming less significant? Back in the day, each new system felt like a revolution—but have we reached a point where improvements are harder to notice? Has graphical fidelity gotten so good that new technologies struggle to stand out? Trev and Stu look back at console generations from the 90s to today, breaking down whether the leaps were truly bigger in the past or if we’re just seeing things differently. 🎮 Stu's been streaming Call of Duty on our channel 🐵 Trev’s revisiting Donkey Kong Country Returns on the 3DS—was the 3D effect actually worthwhile? 🌊 Wind Waker on Wii U—a timeless classic or just a glow-up? 📀 The massive shift from 8/16-bit to 32-bit 3D—was this the biggest leap in gaming history? 🕹️ Stu breaks down his four distinct eras of console gaming ⏳ When do console generations truly begin and end? 🧐 Is there anything on PS5/Xbox Series that last-gen couldn’t do? 💡 Do most gamers even care about ray tracing? ⌛ Why are console generations lasting longer than ever? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 141: Switch 2 Revealed!
02/07/2025
Console Shock Podcast 141: Switch 2 Revealed!
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially unveiled just days after our last show, and now Trev and Stu finally get to dive in! What did we make of the slightly unusual trailer, and what does the future hold? Will the original Switch finally see a price drop when the new model launches? Tune in to find out! Trev visits 'CEX Prime' on Rathbone Place. Reminiscing about video game shopping in the 90s, including Woolworths! Stu shares his thoughts on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Cheap controllers from Amazon, are they any good? Have Nintendo played it safe with no major gimmicks for the Switch 2? How innovative will Mario Kart 9 be? Will 128gb or 256gb be the minimum storage on the Switch 2? What tricks will the Switch 2 use to make games look good on 4k screens? £350 or £400, what price will Nintendo go for? Can the OG Switch beat the PS2 for the console sales record? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Turn The Page (Tutorial Theme) - Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo
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Console Shock Podcast 140: Bazzite OS
01/18/2025
Console Shock Podcast 140: Bazzite OS
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Trev and Stu are finally back together after the Christmas break, with a whole bunch of new retro/modern gaming ramblings. This time around we dive into Bazzite, a SteamOS-like operating system that can turn Windows machines into Steam Decks, as well as looking into some of the PC gaming handheld news to come out of CES 2025. We also speculate what we might see in the upcoming Switch 2 reveal. This was recorded before the actual reveal a few days later! General overview of Bazzite, and why you might want to use it. The pain of using Windows with a controller on a gaming handheld. Trev's experience of using Bazzite on the Lenovo Legion Go. The future of SteamOS and gaming PCs in the living room. Where will the Switch 2 fall in terms of graphical performance? How the OG Switch launched into a very different climate vs the Switch 2. Will the Switch 2 launch at £350 or £399? How will backwards compatibility look on the Switch 2? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Special Stage Theme - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) - Sega Mega Drive - Composer(s): Brad Buxer, Bobby Brooks, Darryl Ross, Geoff Grace, Doug Grigsby III, Cirocco Jones, Sega Sound Team
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Console Shockcast 139: PlayStation 30th Anniversary!
12/12/2024
Console Shockcast 139: PlayStation 30th Anniversary!
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Trev and Al celebrate the 30th birthday of the PlayStation with a discussion on its chaotic origins, its astonishing rise and how it became the all conquering gaming giant that it is today! The PlayStation starting life as a Super NES add-on Nintendo's betrayal, and the creation of the PS1 console as an act of Sony revenge! Ridge Racer, Wipeout and their impact on the PS1 launch. What did the early 32-Bit systems (Jaguar, 3DO, 32X etc...) offer before Sony joined the race? CD-ROMs and how they kept the PS1 ahead of the N64. The quirky reason why PS1 graphics looked 'wobbly'. How do PS1 games hold up on a modern TV? Which region had the best PS1 game box design? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Attract Mode Theme - Ridge Racer Revolution (1995) - Sony Playstation - Composer(s): Hiroshi Okubo, Nobuhide Isayama
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Console Shock Podcast 138: Digital Dystopia
11/20/2024
Console Shock Podcast 138: Digital Dystopia
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Are physical releases dying? With the PS5 Pro going fully digital by default, is the industry finally moving away from physical media for good? What does that mean for the mountains of games sitting on our shelves? Trev and Stu tackle all of these questions and more, as we debate the pro's and cons of a disc-less future. Stu is still addicted to Call of Duty! Trev dives back into the Ratchet & Clank series. PS3 on the Steam Deck vs an actual PS3. Did the PS2 do mascot platformers better than the GameCube? Is streaming a good solution for backwards compatibility? How movies and TV shows maintain forwards compatibility. Is it reasonable to expect every old game to work on every new console? Are official remasters and small official emulated game collections as good as it will ever get? Current-era games, and how they could be handled by future consoles. Is piracy the only way to preserve old games? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Collision Chaos (Present) Stage Theme - Sonic CD (1993) - Sega Mega CD - Composer(s): Masafumi Ogata
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Console Shock Podcast 137: Saving the Sega Dreamcast
10/28/2024
Console Shock Podcast 137: Saving the Sega Dreamcast
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Following on from our "Saving Saturn" episode a while back, we decided to give the Dreamcast the 'saving' treatment for the 25th anniversary of its UK launch! In reality the DC died a premature death, but can we try to turn the dials of history and give it a better life? Featuring our recurring guest, Al! Al dives into the world of Amiga emulation! DVD and the Dreamcast, was it ever feasible? The Mega CD/32X/Saturn era poisoning the SEGA well. No decent football (soccer) games limiting its appeal to sports fans. Too much focus on short-burst arcade style experiences? Publishers and developers who were MIA on the Dreamcast. Was the online capability too ahead of its time to be practical? Millions of marketing pounds spent on football club sponsorship, money that could be better spent elsewhere. Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - GO GO ! Sega Rally (Attract sequence/menu theme) - Sega Rally 2 (1998/1999) - Arcade/Sega Dreamcast - Composer(s): Tatsuhiko Fuyuno, Susumu Isa, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Jun Senoue, Kenji Eno, Hideki Naganuma, Tomonori Sawada
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Console Shock Podcast 136: Is the PlayStation 5 Pro worth it?
10/08/2024
Console Shock Podcast 136: Is the PlayStation 5 Pro worth it?
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! The Sony PlayStation 5 Pro has finally been revealed, with the main talking point being its eye-watering £700 price-tag. Do the upgrades that come with it make it worth the extra cost, or should you just save the cash for a PS6? We discuss! Stu is still addicted to Call of Duty! Trev has another go at PS3 emulation on Steam Deck, is it any better? What motivated Sony to release the PS4 Pro back 2016? Why aren't current gen consoles becoming cheaper over time like previous ones? Do the 'Pro' upgrades justify a purchase over the standard PS5? No disc drive included, and issues with digital only devices. Is £800 for an OG PS5 with PSVR2 a better deal than a PS5 Pro? Are there parallels with the PS3's original controversial pricing, and other expensive consoles of the past? Will the PS6 have even more models in varying form factors and price points at launch? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Egg Carrier: A Song That Keeps Us on the Move (Egg Carrier Theme) - Sonic Adventure (1998) - Sega Dreamcast - Composer(s): Fumie Kumatani, Kenichi Tokoi
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Console Shock Podcast 135: Generation X
09/18/2024
Console Shock Podcast 135: Generation X
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Incredibly, we are already halfway through the lifespan of the 9th generation of consoles. This means it's the perfect time to cast our minds to the future, and speculate on what the 10th gen (Gen X) may hold in store. Will Playstation still dominate, can Xbox make a comeback? Will we see even more PC gaming handhelds? - Stu's new found addiction to Call Of Duty online multiplayer. - How does the video game version of football compare to the real thing? - Trev's adventures in learning a new language. - Why dont consoles get cheaper as they age anymore? - Have console sales maxed out? - Will Microsoft still make a dedicated box to connect to your TV? - Do Sony need to evolve or should they keep iterating on their winning formula? - Could Valve create a more powerful consolized version of the Steam Deck? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Hill Top Zone Act 1 - Sonic 2 HD - PC - Composer(s): Toni Leys (Original Mega Drive Version - Masato Nakamura)
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Console Shock Podcast 134: Sony PlayStation Portable PSP
08/19/2024
Console Shock Podcast 134: Sony PlayStation Portable PSP
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! The Sony PSP was a groundbreaking handheld console that set a new standard for portable gaming devices. Compared to its contemporaries, such as the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance, it featured powerful processing capabilities, allowing it to handle 3D graphics that were comparable to the PlayStation 2, a remarkable feat for a portable device at the time. Al joins us as we discuss how impressed we were upon first encountering it, and how its home console level experience inspired current era handhelds like the Switch and Steam Deck. - Stu has started game streaming on our YouTube channel! - Utter Nintendo dominance of the handheld landscape in the early 00s. - A hint at the future of handheld gaming in pre-PSP consoles such as the Nokia N-Gage and Game Park GP32 - Stu recounts his Regent Street Gizmondo experience! - Trev getting his mind blown playing Wipeout Pure on an import PSP in 2004. - The revelation of the PSP providing close to a PS2 gaming experience in the palm of your hand. - UMDs, the PSPs achilles heel? - Legendary PSP games like Ridge Racer, God of War, Tekken, GTA, MGS Portable Ops, and more.... - Was the PSP useful as a music or movie player? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Attack The Barbarian (Boss battle theme) - Streets of Rage (1991) - Sega Mega Drive - Composer(s): Yuzo Koshiro
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Console Shock Podcast 133: GAME Over?
08/02/2024
Console Shock Podcast 133: GAME Over?
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! The demise of GAME stores has been slow but almost inevitable, and with their ever diminishing list of products they sell can they survive another 10 years? Trev and Stu discuss! - A very British opening to the pod with a discussion about the weather! - Do ODE solutions on retro consoles make physical game collections irrelevant? - Modern accessibility of old games vs old movies. - Is it morally wrong to physically modify retro consoles? - Retro gaming elitism and the 'correct' way to play a retro console. - GAME retail living on borrowed time and how CEX really is a better option when buying from a store. - Is Microsoft risking losing customer 'mindshare' to their rivals with their increasing focus on xCloud and Game Pass? - Some speculations on the rumoured Xbox handheld. Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - We Are Apple (Leading The Way) - Apple Marketing (1984) - Composer(s): Unknown
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Console Shock Podcast 132: Macintosh 40th Anniversary
06/15/2024
Console Shock Podcast 132: Macintosh 40th Anniversary
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! A little late to the party, but Trev and Stu are finally celebrating a very significant birthday, the Macintosh is 40! We talk about the legacy of one of the most important computers in the history of the industry, including where it all started and what makes it great! - Trev is tackling Metal Gear Solid 2 for the umpteenth time, this time for realsies! - Where Mac fandom started for Trev in 2005. - The state of the Mac in 1984 vs 2005 vs 2024. - Using a vintage Mac today. - Are the classic all-in-one 80s Macs actually worth owning? - How the Macintosh II started the Mac on the path its on today. - The PowerBook 100, where laptop design was codified. - How the Macintosh line became bloated in the early 90s. - MacOS, how it evolved and why its better than Windows. - Trev starting out on the Macintosh platform with the iBook G4 in 2005. Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro segment: "1984" Apple Television commercial - Directed by Ridley Scott - Produced by Chiat/Day & Fairbanks Films - Released in January 1984 - Used here under Fair Use guidelines Intro/Outro Music - We Are Apple (Leading The Way) - Apple Marketing (1984) - Composer(s): Unknown
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Console Shock Podcast 131: Windows XP Gaming
05/28/2024
Console Shock Podcast 131: Windows XP Gaming
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! More adventures with Stu on his retro PC gaming odyssey! This time we focus on the Windows XP era, a point in time when a single PC could natively run a game from the DOS, Win 9x, and late 00s eras. Where do you start when you have access to everything from the mid 90s all the way to the Xbox 360 generation? - The joys of picking up cheap physical copies of early-mid 00s PC games! - The story of the first PC Trev owned, featuring the legendary AMD Duron CPU. - What Mac gaming was like during the late PowerPC era. - How physical PC games started to decline, and the rise of digital downloads during the XP era. - Some thoughts on Windows Vista, does it have any value for retro PC gaming? - Trev has finally finished Red Dead Redemption 2. - Red Dead v GTA, which is better! Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - passport.mid - Windows 3.1 (1992) - IBM PC & Compatibles - Composer(s): George Stone
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Console Shock Podcast 130: Best of the Worst!
05/07/2024
Console Shock Podcast 130: Best of the Worst!
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! No it's not RedLetterMedia, it's Console Shock! This time, Trev and Stu explore the boulevard of broken console dreams as we try to figure out which of the 90s failed systems are actually not bad. Are there any redeeming features to the likes of the CDi and CDTV, and can the Saturn triumph against the Dreamcast? - Stu describes the tragic death of a retro gaming PC. - Trev (who is English) controversially describes the Scotland national football team as "alright". - Are AAA games limiting their audience by being too complex? - Jaguar, the Atari swan song. - Why the 3DO is the best of the pre-PS1 32Bit era. - CDi vs CDTV, which is better. - Turbografx-16, not really a failure. - Handhelds and was the Game Gear really a failure? - Saturn vs Dreamcast, the Sega shootout! Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Desert Stage Replay Theme - Sega Rally (1995) - Sega Saturn - Composer(s): Takenobu Mitsuyoshi & Naofumi Hataya
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Console Shock Podcast 129: Kickstart - The UK Amiga Expo with Special Guest Ravi Abbott
04/22/2024
Console Shock Podcast 129: Kickstart - The UK Amiga Expo with Special Guest Ravi Abbott
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! Kickstart 02 is coming this summer, and we have the force behind the operation Ravi Abbott on the show to give us some background on this year’s biggest UK Amiga expo! - Trev and Stu experience some podcast recording pains! - What topics end up being popular on a retro gaming podcast? - Ravi gives us an update on the amazing Amiga Addict magazine. - How difficult it is to produce a monthly print niche magazine in the age of digital. - Amiga events in the 90s and 00s and how Ravi got into organising Amiga expo's. - Organising the first Kickstart Amiga convention last year. - What incredible Amiga goodness can we expect from Kickstart 02? - ....and all the great non-Amiga stuff that will be featured. - All the info on how to grab tickets and the after-show party! Get more info and buy tickets to the Kickstart Amiga Expo here : Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Loading Theme - Desert Strike (1993) - Commodore Amiga - Composer(s): Jason A. S. Whitely
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Console Shock Podcast 128: A 'Pro" Problem
04/07/2024
Console Shock Podcast 128: A 'Pro" Problem
Retro and current gen gaming chat, with Trev and Stu, its the Console Shockcast! With rumours of a PS5 Pro model doing the rounds, Trev and Al ponder if there is any value in mid-gen refresh hardware. We also look back on earlier attempts at 'Pro' style console upgrades, something Sega really ran with on the Mega Drive to their detriment. Has there even been a truly successful 'Pro' system or upgrade? - 4K TVs pushed the development of the Xbox One X/PS4 Pro, is there anything similar creating the demand for Pro systems now? - Has the cross-gen era of simultaneous PS4/5 and Xbone/Series X releases harmed the newer systems? - What benefits would we get from a PS5 Pro? - How big is the market for the Pro consoles? - Are there fewer new video game IP's these days? - 'Pro' style upgrades on retro systems, such as the N64 expansion pak, and Sega Mega CD/32X add-ons. - Was the NEC PC Engine CD add-on the only real must have console 'Pro" upgrade? Check out Trev and Al's other podcast where they reminisce about a different episode of Star Trek every month! : Intro/Outro Music - Mii Channel Theme - Nintendo Wii (2006) - Composer(s): Kazumi Totaka
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