This week, the crew talks about Niagara Falls adventures, World Cup watch parties, international visitors discovering American mega-stores, the Strong Museum of Play, Nerdvana, Google Gemini Pro, electric vehicle camouflage, and video game news from Chachi Says.

Stories and gadgets discussed:

• World Cup travelers discovering America
  • Dave shares TikTok reactions from international soccer fans experiencing Walmart, Waffle House, Costco, ranch dressing, school buses, Bucky’s, and oversized American everything.
  • Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@josievlogsthings/video/7651983684060613890?lang=en
• Niagara Falls World Cup watch party
  • Sorg and Katie stumble into a World Cup viewing party at Niagara Falls with giant screens, fans, fireworks, and the falls lit up at night.
• The 26th-floor IHOP at Niagara Falls
  • Katie highlights the surreal breakfast experience of eating IHOP with a panoramic view of Niagara Falls, before the space transforms into a steakhouse at night.
• This Week in Pride History: Sophie Wilson
  • Dave spotlights Sophie Wilson, a computing pioneer connected to the development of ARM processor architecture, which powers phones, Macs, and many modern devices.
  • Link: https://www.marks-clerk.com/insights/latest-insights/102k16g-celebrating-lgbt-history-month-sophie-wilson-computing-pioneer-inventor-and-advocate-for-inclusion/
• Chachi Says Video Game Minute
  • Crazy Taxi, Ocarina of Time, TMNT: The Last Ronin, and Marvel’s Wolverine game news.
  • A sealed Super Mario Bros. copy reportedly sells for $3 million.
  • Tupac appears in Stranger Than Heaven, a prequel to the Like a Dragon series.
  • Links:
    • https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/switch-2-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-is-making-some-fans-regret-what-they-wished-for
    • https://www.inverse.com/gaming/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-the-last-ronin-platinum-games-ps5-xbox
    • https://kotaku.com/copy-of-super-mario-bros-sells-for-3-million-in-auction-2000706228
    • https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tupac-video-game-stranger-than-heaven-9.7232112
• Strong Museum of Play and Video Game Hall of Fame
  • Sorg and Katie visit the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York, including the Video Game Hall of Fame, giant Donkey Kong, Oregon Trail, Street Fighter, Sonic, Sesame Street, Peanuts, Hello Kitty, Dungeons & Dragons, and interactive game exhibits.
• Nerdvana
  • The crew talks about the restaurant across from the Strong Museum where guests can play Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, or board games while eating.
• Ford’s hidden QR code in EV camouflage
  • Dave discusses Ford hiding a QR code inside the camouflage pattern on a prototype electric pickup, turning spy photos into promotion.
  • Link: https://www.theautopian.com/the-30000-ford-ev-pickup-we-photographed-was-hiding-a-qr-code-on-its-camouflage-heres-where-it-takes-you/
• Google Gemini Pro and Google One
  • Sorg discovers Google AI Pro access connected to Google storage plans and talks through Gemini, Google Forms automation, vibe coding, AI tools, NotebookLM, Flow, and possible app development.
  • Link: https://gemini.google/us/subscriptions/?hl=en&brid=YWdncwHVFyhYRkb6SzEgcIU3w1kG

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Stories & Gadgets Discussed
Apple WWDC 2026 recap: Siri AI, Apple Intelligence, OS 27 updates, platform integration, device support, and on-device search
https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/09/wwdc-2026-everything-announced-on-siri-ai-os-27-apple-intelligence-and-more/
https://www.apple.com/os/
Apple photo “reframing” and improved generative photo tools discussed from Dave’s example
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0297Gj_aPuBo97xcOeuMEKq8g
Apple Developer app as a resource for WWDC sessions and platform deep dives
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-developer/id640199958
He-Man movie reactions, Masters of the Universe nostalgia, Skeletor memes, and mobile He-Man games
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mattel.amethyst&hl=en-US&pli=1
Pride Month tech history spotlight: Lynn Conway and her pioneering work in chip design
https://www.invent.org/inductees/lynn-conway
Chachi Says Video Game Minute:
California’s Protect Our Games Act moves forward
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/us-bill-requiring-paid-games-to-be-playable-after-they-shut-down-has-passed-initial-vote-and-moved-to-the-senate/
Paramount launches a new games studio
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/paramount-games-studio-launches-tony-driscoll-leads-1236614610/
Amazon may move future 007 game development in-house
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/amazon-suggests-io-interactive-might-not-return-for-007-first-light-sequel
Nintendo Direct reactions: Star Fox demo, Zelda Ocarina remake talk, Kingdom Hearts 4, and Switch 2 edition discussion
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/947120/nintendo-direct-june-2026-analysis
Awesome Tip of the Week: Sorg talks about using Neewer NL192AI LED panel lights for podcast and studio video production.

Then the crew hits a surprisingly heartfelt app story with “Are You Dead?”, a daily check-in safety app built for modern life when friends and family live far apart.  We also get into the rise of cozy “chore games” like PowerWash Simulator and other satisfyingly organized gaming obsessions. 

On the creator side, we break down Apple’s new Creator Studio approach—what it could mean for Final Cut, Logic, Motion, and Compressor—and why AI-assisted editing features are starting to matter for everyday workflows.  Plus: OpenAI’s push toward age prediction and the complications that come with automated verification. 

Show notes + links: (include the link list above)

Animal Crossing
• Animal Crossing video (Katie segment) (no URL listed in the sheet row; included as an on-show segment)

“Chore games” / cozy games
• A Game About Digging a Hole (Xbox): https://www.xbox.com/en-US/play/games/a-game-about-digging-a-hole/9NGLST31DG26
• A Game About Digging a Hole (Nintendo): https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/a-game-about-digging-a-hole-switch/
• PowerWash Simulator (Apple App Store): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/powerwash-simulator/id6477445344

“Are You Dead?” app
• BGR story: https://www.bgr.com/2074610/are-you-dead-top-paid-iphone-app-china/
• DeMumu app listing: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/demumu/id6745099872

ChachiSays Video Game Minute items (from the sheet)
• David Rosen / Sega co-founder (Tom’s Hardware): https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/sega-co-founder-david-r…d-former-us-airman-set-up-sega-after-his-service-ended-in-japan
• Assassin’s Creed Netflix casting (Deadline): https://deadline.com/2026/01/assassins-creed-tanzyn-crawford-cast-netflix-series-1236658813/
• John Wick universe AAA game (Tech4Gamers): https://tech4gamers.com/aaa-john-wick-game-development/

AI / OpenAI / Sora
• Mattel on Sora profile: https://sora.chatgpt.com/profile/mattel
• OpenAI age prediction (Engadget): https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-is-launching-age-prediction-for-chatgpt-accounts-222650340.html
• ChatGPT Health page: https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-health/

Creator tools
• Apple Creator Studio (Apple Newsroom): https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/01/introducing-apple-creator-studio-an-inspiring-collection-of-creative-apps/
• Adobe Premiere AI updates (Engadget): https://www.engadget.com/ai/adobe-unveils-new-ai-powered-vide…vlq1gStDzB9i-clNMdAMo4O0o4ro8ohtbVXETV41pRXvEFAQZh6nDH-1vO91dYLO

We also explore Disney’s Star Wars Life Day Gift Guide, the wild GameStop Trade Anything Day, a Minecraft rebuild of Pittsburgh’s legendary Century III Mall, and Google’s rollout of Gemini 3. Plus: which AI model would you trust on your iPhone?

Join us for gadgets, games, tech talk, and holiday chaos—Pittsburgh-style.