Welcome to Modern Retro!

Our mission is to explore modern ideas and products based on the technology of the 70s, 80s, and 90s merged with the modern features and sensibilities of today. "Modern" technology has shifted its focus from benefiting the user to benefiting the creator. BBS communities and forums were created, moderated, and supported by users. Now social media sites use perverse algorithms with the explicit purpose of addicting users to make money for the corporation running it.

Records, CDs, cassette tapes, and Hi-Fi allowed fans to own the music they loved and support the artists that created it. Streaming services rob users of ownership and artists of a living. Video games were made by small teams working to create an experience that would entertain players. Modern triple A games are made by huge teams are are designed to leech money from users through season passes, requiring subscriptions, and micro transactions. Computers were open and allowed users the ability to tinker and control the computer down to placing individual bits into memory. The modern Windows computers charge users for the privilege of being spied on and advertised to.

These terrible tech practices are causing real harm to real people. Modern Retro is taking technology back by blending positives of the mostly offline ideas from the past and using them in a modern always connected world. Portable CD players with Blue Tooth connectivity, independent video games made by loving fans, simple web pages that don’t track your every click or keep you addicted to the doom scroll, computers that can be understood by humans.

No one is asking anyone to get rid of their smart phone. Instead we want to give you ideas to help you put it down more often and be entertained and fulfilled while it is sitting on the table.