FAQ ❓

Because as we all know, FAQ stands for Fabulously Answered Queries.

• When do you usually release videos?

  • We release new videos most Saturdays around 09:30 am Pacific Time / 17:30 pm UK time. We also release Shorts on a less scheduled basis. After you subscribe turn on the notification bell and make sure your YouTube notifications are enabled in your device settings. Oh, and thanks for subscribing!
    
    

• Why are comments not enabled on a video?

  • This is an option YouTube now offer. Retro Recipes is all about the joy of nostalgia and fun for everyone, parents with kids included. Sadly, as we've grown, so have comments that spoil it for the rest of you. It's a YouTube-wide issue. To keep the vibes positive and dodge the trolls, we sometimes don't opt to enable comments on our videos, to keep it fun for all and focus on the content. In doing so we realised it was a fantastic way to encourage viewers to be more retro too, and join us in living a bit more distraction free by exercising some digital minimalism.
    
    For a more visual explanation, one reason is depicted light-heartedly in this video clip, where we highlight some of the bizarre comments received, and exercise a rare "right to reply". In the one other video clip we detail some of the more serious reasons relating to abuse, and why the channel offers a more thoughtful "comment by fax" option – aside from being incredibly retrocool and part of our "use it or lose it" campaign to Save The Fax (video).
    
    And occasionally we just pause comments on videos flooded with repeatedly answered questions, to save time for making new content and ensure no one feels ignored. Always check the popup corrections and video description!
    
    We always welcome constructive approaches through our Contact page or Patreon. As the supporter communities are smaller they're also a great way to chat more directly & keep up to date on all things Fractic! This all helps preserve & dedicate as much time and positive energy as possible for creating ongoing content for subscribers to enjoy. We greatly appreciate the vast majority who have sent kind words in the past and continue to do so. Thank you.
    
    Tl;dr: Retro Recipes is all about happy nostalgia. To keep things positive amid growing spam and repetitive questions, we may turn off comments or get creative with retro alternatives like fax. We're still eager for your feedback via our Contact page or Patreon. Thanks for the love and understanding!
    
    

• What does Fractic mean?

  • Back in school, a gifted kid who was years above his age, said to me, "Memorize this, it's your new name. It means a man who is coated in gold..." and he went on with some other details I don't remember. He made me learn this: "Chrisostomatico-perifractic-habitanamala-culacatescia-bobblers". And somehow a bit of that stuck and followed me around. Pleased t' meet ya!
    
    In turn, viewers started naming other channel guests with a Fractic last name, such as Ladyfractic (who was known as Mrs Perifractic before then), Puppyfractic, Josiefractic, Harleyfractic, and so on. Strangely everyone we work with has a name ending with an "ee" sound, that just works!
    
    

• Is the raffle organiser you use trustworthy / legal?

  • Raffall Ltd. (UK) are based in Perifractic's home country of Great Britain and have been established for well over a decade. Their TrustPilot rating of 4.5/5 out of over 15,000 votes is extremely high for the platform. Their contests comply with all UK laws and are overseen by the UK Gambling Commission. When you enter a raffle you are entering a contract solely with Raffall Ltd. (UK). Raffall host and organise 100% of the entire contest, choose the winner, and own the prize [which Raffall had purchased from CJS Enterprises (UK)], and which Raffall deliver to the winner. Raffall also deliver any percentage directly to any charity that has been chosen to benefit. You can find more info about this at their video as well as lots of other answers at their website and FAQ.
    
    

• Why do I see Ads during your videos?

  • We know we know, you hate ads; who doesn't? It's important to address any concerns about adverts. Firstly, if you would like to double the nostalgia and enjoy an ad-free experience whilst supporting the content, feel free to take a look at Retro Recipes PowerUp! on Patreon, where you will receive early access to completely ad-free videos, whilst supporting the content.

    Secondly, we'd invite you to think of YouTube ads just like TV commercials – a necessary part of the experience. Making these videos is our full-time gig, just like your job is for you. We can't create our content for less than it costs, just as an employee at any other workplace probably wouldn't work for less or for free instead of asking for a yearly raise. Ads are how we keep the studio lights on and continue to bring you the high-quality (maybe even better than TV) content you enjoy.
    
    We understand ads can be intrusive and we're working to find a balance that respects both our audience and our need to pay the production bills, versus the alternative which realistically would be to shut down the channel and get a proper job. Your understanding and continued support are greatly appreciated.
    
    

• Do you use AI in your content?

  • At Retro Recipes, we love combining retro tech & TV with modern tech. The journey from traditional celluloid film editing to computer editing has led us to experiment with the latest tech in content creation.

    For thumbnails, we use DALL-E, adding photographic elements and Photoshop. Our experimental AI-assisted presenter, PerAIfractic, brings Peri's real voiceover recording to life visually. It is created using this service which, whilst not perfect, is constantly improving. This innovative approach is driven by a genuine need to balance our passion with life's demands (like the delightful chaos of having a new baby at home!).

    We understand that the idea of AI in YouTube presentations is either cool or uncool, depending on your tastes. Our FAQ to you is: would you prefer a gap in content and no video that week, or a creatively crafted video that can exist that otherwise wouldn't. We know that many, though not all, would choose the latter, especially when it embodies the essence of a true Retro Recipes video - made with the same dedication, nostalgic heart and soul, and yes the same puns - yet wrapped in an innovative, more feasible production package. Thank you for being part of this experimental journey and for your continued support as we occasionally and carefully explore these new frontiers.
    
    

• When will you release another KITT / KITTesla video?

  • Thank you for enjoying that series! I am saving funds for what I think will be the final two episodes where I get a bunch of automation upgrades installed (KITT, I need you! KITTesla drives to me and opens the driver door automagically), and in the final episode at long last get that all gloss black wrap installed. If you'd like this to happen sooner, support always helps and is greatly appreciated - plus you get a bunch of exclusive perks too. Thanks!
    
    

• Who is Josiefractic?

  • We have no idea!
    
    Seriously though, she is a work friend of Ladyfractic's (they're not sisters) and of mine. But check out the "Meet Josiefractic!" video where Ladyfractic asks Josie some Supporter questions.
    
    

• What happened to Ashleyfractic?

  • You can find the answer to that in the "Ask Ashley!" video video where she also explains that she left her job at Wal-mart to take on a new job working double shifts while also studying. Unfortunately, this left her with no time for our silly YouTube shenanigans. While we were not close friends and only knew each other through Wal-mart trips, we enjoyed filming fun moments together. If Ashley's situation changes in the future, we've made it clear to her that the door is always open for her to return to the channel!
    
    

• What's with the 70s yellow glasses? Are you a serial killer?

  • Let me check - no. Those are actually fantastic Gunnar blue light blocking retro gaming glasses with an added bonus; they not only reduce eye strain when using CRT screens and promote better sleep, but they also help with my colourblindness. With protanopia I see about 50% as much red and green as full colour-sighted people, so purple can look blue for example because I don't see the red element. Here's a simulator to see what I see (both images look identical to me!). Because these block blue light (the colour I can see best), they closen the balance between blue and red/green. Whilst it isn't a cure, it can help me detect differences between colours better.
    
    

• Have you tried Enchroma colourblindness glasses?

  • For some reason those didn't work for me, but thanks for asking! According to their website different types of colourblindness including variations of protanopia which I have, may not be improved by their glasses. I do actually wonder if all the videos you see of people having emotional reactions to them are genuine, but if it works for people I'm very happy for them indeed. For now, I'll just continue to call pink purple and brown green while looking like a serial killer.
    
    

• You said you worked on Star Wars/Avengers. Was that a joke or did I miss something?

  • I am honoured to have worked on a number of Star Wars movies and games, along with other franchises, as a voice and screen actor. More info is at the Acting page on this website.
    
    

• What's that Sony monitor that features in many of your videos?

  • It’s a Sony Trinitron GVM-1311Q. I use it as it supports PAL and NTSC and has incredible picture clarity.
    
    

• Why aren't you part of The 8-Bit Guy's Commander X16 project any more? Did you have a falling out?

  • Not at all. I explained in detail on that forum but in brief, I left at the time of a loss in the family where I needed to focus my energies elsewhere. At that time I had completed most of my work on the project anyway, such as designing the logo, product name, user guides, BASIC screen, website, keyboard, potential cases, and so on, therefore it was a logical decision to take a step back.
    
    David and I are still good friends (often the truth isn't as exciting as gossip) and are in regular contact. You'll still find me lurking at the X16 group as a moderator, and I remain one of the co-founders of the project. The team know they are able to use my designs going forward, as indeed they are doing. Good luck 9-Bit Guy!
    
    

• Why do you call him The 9-Bit Guy sometimes?

  • The extra bit is for parity.
    
    

• Why did you do that thing in that video your way not my way?

  • As a YouTuber, it can be challenging to handle comments that question or criticise our decisions and methods. It's essential to understand that simply, tastes differ. Some like anchovies or pineapple on pizza. While some viewers may feel passionately that something should be done one way, we prioritize our own tastes and style on our channel. The beauty of YouTube however is that if someone has different tastes and preferences, they are free to start their own channel and create content that aligns with their vision, and we look forward to watching!
    
    

• What's with the sound effects / dogs / speech bubbles / other thing? My other retro channels don't do that.

  • Answered in this video clip. Please also see the answer above; Tastes differ. Our slogan "Retro Recipes: Retro with a twist" sets out that we're perhaps knowingly a little different to some cookie cutter channels (Recipe pun intended). We prioritize our supporters' feedback and lean towards what they have told us they enjoy. Our pet sidekick interjections for example have been very well-received and have perhaps even inspired the similar content that has since arisen on other channels (such as the excellent The Why Files with his pet Hecklefish for example).
    
    We understand that not everyone will enjoy every aspect of any channel's videos, but we create what we love and what makes us, subscribers, and supporters happy. Our content may seem childish to some, but in so doing it makes many feel happy and young, whilst other viewers watch with their kids, and this all brings people together for a few minutes on Saturdays to remember the happiness of childhood nostalgia in a light-hearted format.
    
    

• What is Ladyfracitc nostalgic for?

  • We've talked about it a few times. Although she remembers early childhood fondly, she doesn't have quite the same fascination with nostalgia for "things" and we wonder if it's because then so-called "boyish" machines like computers somehow hooked into our psyches more than other things... But she will be making more videos soon so don't be surprised if that changes a bit :)
    
    

• Where can I get more involved and support the channel?

  • The best place is Patreon where we offer closer contact options, regular updates, early video access, music and novel perks, name credits, Patreon Lens access, and much more. All our options are listed here. Thank you for your interest and support - it genuinely helps the content continue!