Episode 006: Electronics

Podcast: Episode #006

Subtitle: Electronics

Post Date: February 18, 2018

Hosts: Andrew James, Eric D. and The Real Voice Mel

Show Notes: Co-hosts Andrew James (@OneWhoSeesDimly) and Eric D. (@HopSnobbery) are joined by Mel Allen (@TheRealVoiceMel) to launch Episode 006 of Riff On, talking electronics and namely computers, video games and technology because at this point, all of the hosts have been around computers and technology for 30+ years, including Coleco Vision, the Atari 2600, Merlin and Simon. 

Recollecting Ames, Service Merchandise and Star Trek technology, Mel was introduced to computers in 1984, Andrew, in 1981 and Eric D. around 1984 with an IBM PC Jr. TRS-80 and CAT computers are discussed in early technology.

First video game systems are discussed, including Atari, Nintendo and Sega Genesis.  Mel still has a Genesis and Eric D. misses the simplicity of the single button and two-button controls like Atari and Nintendo, even though he has a Playstation 3.

Retro gaming lives on at The Archives in Burlington, Vermont, which is home to an incredible craft beer list, with 80s upright arcade games. Aladdin's Castle in the University Mall, Dream Machine in the Square Mall, Skateland in Williston, and the Milton laundromat all had upright video game machines that the hosts played at.

Eric D. recollects the Nintendo Track & Field trick with the pen cap, as well as playing Atari 8-bit baseball, Sega 94 Hockey and the retirement of Jaromir Jagr and having recently visting a Game Stop to buy a used wrestling video game.  But now, it's all about Egames and Egaming and the use of Twitch to live stream video games.

Mortal Kombat, Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road and Missile Command video games are all dwelled upon, as welel as Andrew James talking about coding when he first got into gaming. Zork and Leisure Suit Larry were old school computer games and "Deep Fake" would be the modern-age version of cutting-edge technology and electronics. 

The gang discusses Dragon's Lair to Call of Duty in regards to graphics capabilities and how we're moving into AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) including Pokemon Go. 

Andrew James has his Wii and plays bowling with his girls, which Eric D. never had.  How great would a Wii be with Nintendo games? Interactive gaming is all the rage at the local bowling alley (Spare Time) including a large scale Connect Four and a 'beer pong' type game.  Interactive gaming also includes Guitar Hero and DJ Hero. 

The rabbit hole moves through hip-hop music, including A Tribe Called Quest, Eminem, Run DMC, N.W.A., Drake, Migos and Kanye West.  However, when it all comes said and done, this is all part of modern day electronics.

Be sure to check out Mel Allen on Twitter and Instagram and at www.therealvoice.com online.

Andrew James hosts The Local Haunt on Facebook.

Eric D. also hosts the Let's Fix Construction podcast.

Thank you for tuning in and be sure to give us a follow on Twitter or Instagram at @RiffOnPodcast and a like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RiffOnPodcast/

Stream this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Q--WaRbL9bc