The Upper Memory Block – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Upper Memory Block

Joe Mastroianni

Leisure

Technology

Frequency: 1 episode/22d. Total Eps: 115

The Upper Memory Block podcast is all about DOS and pre-Windows XP gaming. Every two weeks we talk in-depth about a game, game series, company and/or technology from this era. Enjoy!

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🇫🇷 France - videoGames
26/06/2025
#73
🇫🇷 France - videoGames
25/06/2025
#63
🇫🇷 France - videoGames
24/06/2025
#53
🇫🇷 France - videoGames
23/06/2025
#39

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https://www.youtube.com/user/AmayirotAkago
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvlVaQl7kEk
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFv7mHTf0nA
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Score global : 53%

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UMBCast 114 - Links

Monday, February 25, 2019 • Duration 01:11:44

Welcome to episode 114, where I dive into the prolific Access Software golf sim series, Links.

Links:

My video research sessions:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2whCuUnKwYBC6SHvfn6c5yf0RTk9z9s1

French PC game magazine archive:

https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/index.php

Buy Links online:

https://www.linkscountryclub.com/

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UMBCast 113 - Unreal

Tuesday, October 2, 2018 • Duration 01:21:03

In episode 113, we take on the massively popular and genre-defining Unreal series.

Links:

My video research sessions:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2whCuUnKwYB-UhgbN7wL9lc8JerihSV4

X-Wing Soundtrack (redone):
https://soundcloud.com/laserschwert/sets/x-wing

TIE Fighter Soundtrack (redone):
https://soundcloud.com/laserschwert/sets/tie

Buy Unreal Gold
GoG: https://www.gog.com/game/unreal_gold?pp=1106a1dda2d680438ecfb0bb70fd479c55a1791f
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/13250/Unreal_Gold/

Buy Unreal 2: The Awakening
GoG: https://www.gog.com/game/unreal_2_the_awakening_se?pp=1106a1dda2d680438ecfb0bb70fd479c55a1791f
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/13200/Unreal_2_The_Awakening/

Buy Unreal Tournament
GoG: https://www.gog.com/game/unreal_tournament_goty?pp=1106a1dda2d680438ecfb0bb70fd479c55a1791f
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/13240/Unreal_Tournament_Game_of_the_Year_Edition/

Buy Unreal Tournament 2004
GoG: https://www.gog.com/game/unreal_tournament_2004_ece?pp=1106a1dda2d680438ecfb0bb70fd479c55a1791f
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/13230/Unreal_Tournament_2004_Editors_Choice_Edition/

Next Episode:

Next time, get into our first sports game with the Links series from Access Software.

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UMBCast 104 - Defender of the Crown

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 • Duration 01:04:55

Here is the long awaited episode 104 in which I dive deep into the 1986 strategy/action game, Defender of the Crown from Cinemaware.

Links:

Jim Cuomo's Amiga and gameplay CD music (authorized hosting from Tomer):
http://www.tomergabel.com/DefenderOfTheCrownMusic.aspx

Buy Defender of the Crown on GoG:
https://www.gog.com/game/defender_of_the_crown?pp=1106a1dda2d680438ecfb0bb70fd479c55a1791f

Next Episode:

Next time, we'll be discussing the 1992 Blizzard puzzle/platformer, The Lost Vikings.

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UMBCast 014 - Gabriel Knight

Sunday, September 30, 2012 • Duration 01:01:44

A little late, but here I am with episode 14! This time around we chat about the great paranormal mystery adventure game series, Gabriel Knight.

As usual though, the news:

Project Eternity is a kickstarter RPG made in the vein of late 90's PC RPG's like Icewind Dale and Planetscape: Torment. If you like that style of game, check it out!

Sword of Fargoal 2 is an attempt (again on kickstarter) to bring back the Sword of Fargoal roguelike dungeon crawler from the Commodore 64. Again, if this type of game is your bag, give it a look!

Finally, in Steam news, the demo for the new X-COM: Enemy Unknown game is available for download. The full game is due to release on October 9th, 2012.

We then have two great listener emails where we go back and chat a bit about Command & Conquer.

Now, on to our main topic for the week, Sierra's Gabriel Knight series. I go into great detail about the first game, Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers. We talk story, gameplay, tech focus and the rest. In dev story I go into the rest of the games in the series as well.

I end off with a live performance of some soundtrack music from the first game.

You can get all three GK games on GoG.com:

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers Next time, we check out an interesting 1993 tactical strategy series, . Hope to see you then!

UMBCast 013 - Mechwarrior

Friday, September 14, 2012 • Duration 01:06:40

Time for episode 13! This week we delve into the world of Mechwarrior and Battletech.

Since I'm such a big fan of this series, I've got too much to say, so I forego the news except for one small item: Over the weekend I guest hosted Treks in Sci Fi episode 401. There I talk about two 90s Star Trek adventure games by Interplay. Check it out if you'd like!

Then we quickly get into things. I talk about both Mechwarrior and Mechwarrior 2. I cover quite a bit of Battletech backstory, how the games differ, gameplay, tech focus on each and a great development story.

In current Mechwarrior news, I discuss the upcoming game, Mechwarrior Online.

I discuss how to get these games running using the community-made source port, MechVM.

Finally, we listen to a great voicemail, I give my verdict as to whether or not Mechwarrior holds up today and close out the show.

Next week: The really cool Sierra adventure game series, Gabriel Knight.

Enjoy episode 13!

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UMBCast 012 - Railroad Tycoon

Thursday, August 30, 2012 • Duration 54:20

The time has come for episode 12! This time around, we look into our first game from the king of simulation, Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon.

Before we dive into the business simulation pool, some news:

Command & Conquer: Generals 2 will apparently not be a traditional retail boxed game. Initially, it will be released as a free to play multiplayer online game with a single player campaign to follow.

In Kickstarter news, the creator of the Broken Sword series has started a campaign with the goal of funding a new game in the Broken Sword series. There's still quite a bit of time left so check it out!

Finally, Chris Pope of the Guys from Andromeda podcast recently interviewed Lori and Corey Cole, creators of the original Quest for Glory series. In the great audio interview they discuss memories of working at Sierra and also discuss their new project, The School for Heroes.

We then get on to the main topic, the very deep, detailed and challenging 1990 business simulation game, Railroad Tycoon. As usual we talk genre, gameplay, dev story and the rest.

Download Railroad Tycoon Deluxe for free Next time, we join the clans with Mechwarrior! Hope to see you then!

UMBCast 011 - Loom

Friday, August 17, 2012 • Duration 59:29

This time around, we're heading back to the adventure genre with a great LucasArts game from 1990, Loom.

First though, some news:

Shortly after the last show, strange rumours started popping up about a new Rise of the Triad game by Apogee software. Turns out they are true!

Some more info about the new X-COM: Enemy Unknown game has come out. We're talking competitive multiplayer and a release date! You can also pre-order at their site.

Finally, some sad news: 3D modelling pioneer Paul Steed, who worked on games like Strike Commander and Quake, passed away suddenly this week.

After the news we read a few listener emails covering a few topics.

Business aside, I then start to delve into the fantastic and wonderful world of Loom. As usual we cover all the aspects of story, gameplay, development and more relating to this truly unique adventure game from Lucasfilm Games.

If you want to give Loom a go, it can be purchased on Steam.

Next week, we put on our conductor's hat when we look at yet another game from 1990, Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon.

UMBCast 010 - Descent

Friday, August 3, 2012 • Duration 01:09:30

Welcome to episode 10! This time around we go deep into the mines with Parallax Software's amazing 1995 FPS, Descent.

As usual, before we get into that, a bit of news:

First of all, I joined the GoG.com affiliate program. So, if you were planning to pick up any of the games I talk about on the show, I'd really appreciate it if you went to GoG via the show site as it gives me a small kickback that I can use to cover some of the show's expenses. You can get there by clicking the GoG banners in the right hand column!

Aside from that, last week's Red Baron show led me to check out some current games in the flight sim genre and I came across Microsoft Flight. It's free to play so I'll definitely be giving it a whirl in the near future.

Finally, I blogged about a really cool article earlier in the week. In it, one of the original developers of Warcraft: Orcs vs. Humans talks about the very beginnings of that seminal game. It's a great read!

I read an email from BJ, where he provides a bit of additional info on emulation, which I talked about back in episode 6.

Then, on to the main topic, 1995's Descent. I cover the usual suspects and talk about some cool and different ways to play it today ending off with some listener voicemails.

Buy Descent from GoG.com

Descent source port downloads: DXX-Rebirth and . Next time, I'll be talking about the unique LucasArts adventure game from 1990, . Hope to see you then!

UMBCast 009 - Red Baron

Friday, July 20, 2012 • Duration 56:34

This week we travel back to World War I with the great 1990 Dyanmix/Sierra combat flight sim, Red Baron.

Before we get to that, it's news time:

GameTrailers.com is reporting that the original Wasteland will be included with the upcoming Wasteland 2. Pre-orders are available from the developer's site.

The Steam Summer Sale is on! Lots of great deals to be had here including quite a few games I've covered on the podcast. It runs until July 22nd so check it out while it lasts.

Finally on to the main topic, Red Baron. As usual, I talk genre, story, gameplay, tech specs and a bit of development story. I also inadvertently provide a lesson on the basic mechanics of flight!

Download Red Baron for free from Wings of Honour.

Buy the Red Baron Pack on GoG.com.

Next week, by popular demand, we return to 1995 to talk about the Descent series by Parallax Software. Hope to see you then!

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UMBCast 008 - Command & Conquer

Thursday, July 5, 2012 • Duration 01:01:03

Hey Blockers!

Time for episode 8, where I talk all about the long-lived Command and Conquer series. But, first things first, a bit of news:

GoG.com has begun selling Telltale games titles. Telltale has done some great work in continuing on some great older adventure franchises like Monkey Island and Sam & Max.

Also, I was able to get my new Roland MT-32 and give you my thoughts on it thus far.

Then on to the main topic, Westwood Studios' 1995 game: Command and Conquer. I run down the usual suspects (genre, gameplay, plot, dev story) and also talk about a few followup games in the series.

Download the Command and Conquer for free (legally, I promise!)

Buy Command and Conquer: The First Decade on EA Origin or Amazon.

Stay tuned for the next show where we travel back to World War I in Red Baron.

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The Upper Memory Block – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

The Upper Memory Block – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

Youtube49

Kickstarter38

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

Youtube49

Kickstarter38