The Upper Memory Block Podcast from billybob

[billybob476]

And episode 27 all about Strike Commander is out!

http://umbcast.com/episode-27-strike-commander/

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Hello Blockers!

For episode 27, we talk about the 1993 Origin Systems flight sim, Strike Commander.

Before that though, the news:

In light of the closure of LucasArts, Raven software has released the source code for their two great Star Wars games, Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy.

The Two Guys SpaceVenture released a short alpha preview video.

I sat in on an episode of the Elder Geek Game Club where we talked about the indie adventure game, Primordia.

We then chat about Strike Commander. Genre, story, gameplay, tech focus, dev story, all the usual stuff.

Buy Strike Commander on GoG:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/strike_commander

Next week, a bit of a different show, I'll be talking about the new 2013 release of SimCity By Maxis/EA.

Direct download:
http://umbcast.com/podcast/027-UMBCast-Strike-Commander.mp3

[billybob476]

This week I jump into current times and cover the newly released SimCity.

http://umbcast.com/episode-28-simcity-5/
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Hail Blockers!

This week we time travel to the present day and cover EA's newly released SimCity 5.

In the news:

Jane Jensen's new game, Moebius, will be out by the end of 2013.

Chris Roberts' Cloud Imperium Games opens a new office in Santa Monica, CA.

The X-COM FPS has undergone some changes and is now being developed as a realtime tactical shooter called The Bureau.

We then get into the review of the new SimCity 5 (or SimCity 2013 or whatever you'd like to call it). I talk quite a bit about gameplay and how the guts of he game work. I also discuss some of the continuing issues with the game and finally give you my verdict on whether it's worth buying or not.

Buy SimCity 5 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Arts-41018ted-Edition2-SimCity/dp/B007VTVRFA/

Buy SimCity 5 on Origin: http://store.origin.com/store/ea/html/pbPage.SimcityNA

Direct download:
http://umbcast.com/podcast/028-UMBCast-SimCity-5.mp3

[billybob476]

Forgot to post the last ep! One episode 29 I cover Myst.

http://umbcast.com/episode-29-myst/
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Howdy Blockers!

Time for episode 29 of the podcast where we're discussing the 1993 Cyan adventure/puzzle game, Myst.

As usual though, the news:

Disney and EA have entered an exclusive multi-year deal to develop a series of new Star Wars games.

Maxis has announced The Sims 4 and opened up registration for a mailing list.

Bethesda has announced a new Wolfenstein game taking place in an alternate version of the 60′s where the Nazis won the war.

We then get to the main topic, Myst. Gameplay, story and get a little deeper with tech focus and dev story.

Buy Myst on GoG:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/myst_masterpiece_edition

Buy Myst on Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/63660/

Next time, I'll be revisiting Peter Molyneux with 1997′s Dungeon Keeper.

Direct download:
http://umbcast.com/podcast/029-UMBCast-Myst.mp3

[davekill]

Great show this week - really liked it!

I was so taken with the graphics in this game when it came out, I learned to use Strata 3D software... Hypercard too.

[billybob476]

Thanks! It was fun to get into Hypercard a little bit in the show.

[Praxis]

oh cool! I loved myst back in the day (though if memory serves, never did finish it).
Some of my best video game memories involved this type of adventure/puzzle game...King's Quest, sam and max, full throttle

[billybob476]

Episode 30 all about Dungeon Keeper is out!

http://umbcast.com/episode-30-dungeon-keeper/

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Welcome Blockers!

It's episode 30! This time around we're talking about the unique 1997 Bullfrog franchise, Dungeon Keeper.

As usual though, news first:

The creators of The Incredible Machine are coming out with a new game called Contraption Maker.

A movie project called Video Games: The Movie attempts to communicate the love of video games from the people that made them.

A unique adventure game project called Armikrog has some cool looking graphics and an interesting voice cast.

Finally, the new Leisure Suit Larry has been delayed by a month due to bug fixes.

Finally, we get on to the main event: Dungeon Keeper. We cover all the bases of this fun and unique game series.

Buy Dungeon Keeper on GoG:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/dungeon_keeper

Buy Dungeon Keeper 2 on GoG:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/dungeon_keeper_2

War for the Overworld on Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/230190/

Next time, I'll be covering the infamous Duke Nukem series.

Direct download:
http://umbcast.com/podcast/030-UMBCast-Dungeon-Keeper.mp3

[billybob476]

Almost forgot to put this up! Episode 31 about DUKE NUKEM is out! This is a fun one.

http://umbcast.com/episode-31-duke-nukem/

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Hail to the Blockers, baby.

Welcome to episode 31 where we talk about the long running Apogee/3D Realms series, Duke Nukem.

In the news:

E3 week! We heard all about the new XBox One and PS4, in addition to iOS 7 at Apple's WWDC. Busy week in the tech world!

A few weeks ago, Tim Schafer's DoubleFine Productions has launched its second Kickstarter campaign for a tactical strategy game called Massive Chalice.

A remake of Shadow Warrior appears to be in the works from 3D Realms for release this fall.

In mobile news, I am totally obsessed with Ron Gilbert's Scurvy Scallywags. Check it out.

Interplay repurchased the Descent Freespace IP from now defunct THQ. maybe a new Freespace? Hmmm...

Then we talk Duke Nukem. I cover Duke 1, 2, 3D and a little about Duke Nukem Forever. Story (such as it is), gameplay, tech focus, dev story, all of it!

Buy Duke Nukem 1 & 2 on GoG:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/duke_nukem_12

Buy Duke Nukem 3D on GoG:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/duke_nukem_3d_atomic_edition

Buy Duke Nukem Forever on Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/57900/

Next time, I'll be covering the 1998 Activision game, Interstate '76.

Direct download:
http://umbcast.com/podcast/031-UMBCast-Duke-Nukem.mp3

[billybob476]

Episode 32 covering Interstate 76 is out!

http://umbcast.com/episode-32-interstate-76/
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Hello Blockers,

It's episode 32 we're talking the groovy 1997 Activision game, Interstate 76.

Before that though, we've got some news:

DoubleFine Productions has announced two new game projects backed by IndieFund.

Fans of Total Annihilation should check out Planetary Annihilation, now in early access alpha on Steam.

Some more news about Jane Jensen's Mobeius project has come to light.

The last Larry backer up went out stating the game will be shipping very shortly, on schedule for their revised date at the end of the month.

Finally, the Retro Game Music Bundle contest is ongoing. Just drop an email to podcast@umbcast.com with the subject "game music bundle". I'll randomly pick an entry on the next show.

Now on to the main topic of the show, the vehicular combat sim, Interstate 76. We talk all about this under appreciated game.

Buy Interstate 76 on GoG:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/interstate76

Buy Interstate 82 on GoG:
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/interstate_82

Next time, we'll be talking pirates with Monkey Island.

Direct download:
http://umbcast.com/podcast/032-UMBCast-Interstate-76.mp3

[billybob476]

Hey guys! I posted a quick little 10 minute test stream on Twitch where I played some Lemmings.

Check it out!

http://www.twitch.tv/umbcast/b/447182008

[billybob476]

For you viewing pleasure, I streamed a bit of my Thief "research" for the next show, still fiddling with my streamign setup. I might go back to a two screen setup since it's tough to tell when you're streaming.

http://www.twitch.tv/umbcast/b/456961223

[billybob476]

New video is up of some Tex Murphy research for the upcoming show!

Mean Streets Research

[billybob476]

Keep forgetting to post in here, this one is especially noteworthy for TrekSF...in episode 40 I cover the Dark Forces series!

http://umbcast.com/episode-40-dark-forces/

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May the Force be with you, Blockers!

It's time for episode 40, where I am covering the 1995 LucasArts FPS series, Dark Forces/Jedi Knight.

Dark Forces box artBefore that though, the news:

Damon Slye has launched and retracted a Red Baron Kickstarter.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun has done an interesting compare/contrast review of Dungeon Keeper vs. War for the Overworld.

Trilobyte Games has launched a kickstarter to develop the third game in the 7th Guest series.

From Blizcon 2013, Blizzard has a team working on bringing the original two Warcraft RTS games to modern PCs.

We then discuss the four games in Dark Forces / Jedi Knight series. All the usual suspects and a ton of your emails!

Buy the Jedi Knight collection on Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/sub/2103/?snr=1_7_15__13

Next time, we'll be covering the 1993 horror adventure, the 7th Guest.

Direct download:
http://umbcast.com/podcast/040-UMBCast-Dark-Forces.mp3

Youtube research sessions: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2whCuUnKwYBVD9hR5dQHkKuXVtuIqsDY

[ChrisMC]

Oooh, love those games! I used to play lots of online in Jedi Academy...with lots of custom skins. Pretty fun!

[billybob476]

For sure! I dabbled in a bit of multiplayer myself. It's a great series.