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In this episode of Retro Titans, Phil sits down with Sam Dyer, founder of Bitmap Books — the publisher behind some of the most beautifully crafted retro gaming books ever produced.
From the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum to the NeoGeo and N64, Bitmap Books has become synonymous with premium retro gaming preservation, celebrating the art, culture and history of the games we grew up with. But Sam's journey started much like many of ours — with a beige computer under the TV and a lifelong fascination with games.
Together, Phil and Sam explore how nostalgia, graphic design and a love of gaming history combined to create one of the most respected retro gaming publishers in the world today.
In this episode, we explore:
1️⃣ The origins of Bitmap Books How a passion project inspired by the Commodore 64 grew into a globally recognised retro gaming publisher.
2️⃣ Designing books for retro fans Why presentation, print quality and visual storytelling matter just as much as the words on the page.
3️⃣ Preserving gaming history From arcade classics and point-and-click adventures to SNK and Neo Geo, Sam explains why these games deserve to be documented and celebrated.
4️⃣ Nostalgia, community and modern retro culture Why retro gaming continues to resonate with new generations, and how the meaning of "retro" keeps evolving.
Sam also shares stories about launching books through Kickstarter, working with legendary developers and publishers, creating collector's editions with built-in sound effects, and why games like Sensible Soccer, Monkey Island and Metal Slug still matter today.
🔗 Guest links – Sam Dyer / Bitmap Books Bitmap Books Website https://www.bitmapbooks.com/ Bitmap Books on X/Twitter https://x.com/bitmap_books Bitmap Books on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bitmapbooks
🎙️ Credits Retro Titans is sponsored by Thalamus Digital Publishing
Produced by Rocket Media, with voiceover from Mark Silk
Music: "8 Bit Skyway" © Piotr Pacyna Used under license from shockwave-sound.com
