This month on the Open Apple podcast, our hosts chat with world video game record holder and Apple II game critic Brian Picchi, whose YouTube channel showcases the best and worst of Apple II entertainment. It’s a good time to be a convention-goer: registration has opened for KansasFest 2012, the lineup for Vintage Computer Festival East 8.0 has been announced, 8 Bit Weapon played at the Smithsonian’s opening of the Art of Video Games, and Jordan Mechner is keynoting PAX East. Kickstarter continues to be popular for reviving classic franchises, Ewen Wannop updates SNAP and SAFE on a shoestring budget, and Jordan Mechner unearths his Prince of Persia source code. On eBay, we found a rarer-than-the-Apple-1 copy of Akalabeth on cassette, a rare Apple IIGS-specific wristwatch, and a potential CFFA3000 scalper. Finally, we look at some gadgets that are new to us, including old iPads, new iPads, and DSLR cameras.

Click past the jump for links mentioned in this episode.

Introduction (0:00 – 5:58)

• What is the Apple IIGS scans
• The Australian Apple Review
• Marinetti
• Apple II Scans
• The Complex III (SHK)
• The new iPad
• JACE gets MIDI support

User Login (5:59 – 21:16)

• Brian Picchi’s video reviews on YouTube
• Sony Cyber-shot camera
• Matt’s Macintosh
• Dan Bricklin’s VisiCalc for PC

II News (21:17 – 1:09:21)

• KansasFest registration opens
• John Romero to keynote KansasFest
• John Romero proposes to Brenda Brathwaite
• Retro Computing Roundtable podcast
• Vintage Computer Festival East 8.0 lineup
• The Art of Video Games exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum: Ken’s coverage with photos
• 8 Bit Weapon chiptune music group
• Chris Melissinos of PastPixels
• Billy Mitchell & Walter Day vs. Steve Wiebe in King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
• Brian Picchi ranks for Galaga, Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge, T&C Surf Designs (with video!)
• Ken Gagne’s Xbox gamertag
• High Score 3 on Kickstarter
• Wasteland 2 on Kickstarter
• Double Fine Adventures on Kickstarter
• Follow your friends on Kickstarter
• Juiced.GS Volume 17, Issue 1 now shipping
• Ken has no work-life balance
• Legend of the Star Axe game review (courtesy Antoine Vignau)

Apple Pickings (1:09:22 – 1:27:29)

• Akalabeth on cassette (hat tip: Vintage Computer Forum)