Podcast – THE VGMBASSY

Here at The VGMbassy, we only recognize one video game console as a sovereign entity: The Atari 2600. Incomparable in it’s raw quality and power, the 2600 has been king of the console industry since 1977. On today’s very special episode, Ed dusts off some of the games of his youth, listens to their amazing soundtracks, gets his family to join in the fun, and maaaaybe destroys his house in the process!

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Trevin Hughes (aka chiptune composer Jredd) for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Ryan Steel, Cameron Werme, Kung-Fu Carlito, Scott McElhone, Chris Murray, Chris Myers, Mike Stark, KeyGlyph, Kyle Krull, The Diad, Daryl Bowers, Tom Hunt, Cameron Chiles, and Dan Laughton.

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app:

The Tracklist:

1 – “Test Pattern” from Warlords (Atari 2600, 1980) Composed by Carla Meninsky

2 – “F*&K Farms” from Barnstorming (Atari 2600, 1982) Composed by Steve Cartwright

3 – “The Stairs” from Haunted House (Atari 2600, 1982) Composed by James Andreasen

4 – “Meltdown” from Reactor (Atari 2600, 1982) Composed by David Thiel

5 – “Flying Clowns” from Circus Atari (Atari 2600, 1980) Composed by Mike Lorenzen

6 – “PALS” from the demo PALS (Atari 2600, 2021) Composed by Gorgh^Agenda

XVGM Radio’s Justin joins us this month in Joe’s absence for an evening of music and poignant gaming opinions. We’ve got a few patron-submitted questions at the top, followed by our lively topics!

Todd is fresh back from PAX, and alongside his memories of the event, he saw Bit Brigade perform and wonders what other games might be fun to watch them play.

Justin’s debut discussion involves relaxation vs stress: what kind of balance makes for a good game, and does that balance change from person to person?

Finally, Ed’s back to playing SnowRunner again, which got him thinking about learning curves in games, and how much hand-holding is appropriate, as opposed to being tossed to the metaphorical wolves.

Find all this plus some great music, lots of laughs, and crazy side-stories in today’s show!

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Jason Letourneau for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Ryan Steel, Cameron Werme, Kung-Fu Carlito, Scott McElhone, Chris Murray, Chris Myers, Mike Stark, KeyGlyph, Kyle Krull, The Diad, Daryl Bowers, Tom Hunt, Cameron Chiles, and Dan Laughton.

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app:

The Tracklist:

1 – “Shooting” from Transiruby (Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox, 2021) Composed by Yumi Kimura

2 – “Honor’s Theme” from Murder by Numbers (Switch & Steam – 2020) Composed by Masakazu Sugimori

3 – “Ontario – Afternoon” from SnowRunner (PC, Switch, PS, Xbox, 2019) Composed by Steve Molitz and Citrus Prana [Mikhail Kotov, Vitaly Chirkov]

It’s a double-crossover event! Inspired by their shared podcast The Arcane Machine, XVGM Radio co-host Justin Schneider joins Ed for a look at dark subculture music in video games. Get ready for some grindy industrial, spooky goth, and ethereal synthwave tunes! There are some great examples here, including music from Master Boot Record, Jesper Kyd, Akira Yamaoka, and more.

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Trevin Hughes (aka chiptune composer Jredd) for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Ryan Steel, Cameron Werme, Kung-Fu Carlito, Scott McElhone, Chris Murray, Chris Myers, Mike Stark, KeyGlyph, Kyle Krull, The Diad, Daryl Bowers, Tom Hunt, Cameron Chiles, and Dan Laughton.

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app:

The Tracklist:

1 – “Mot​ö​rdrone”  from the game VirtuaVerse (PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox, Switch, 2020) Composed by Master Boot Record

2 – “Disposal Unit (Imperium Mix)” from the game Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (PC, 2022) Composed by Jesper Kyd

3 – “Main Theme (Aggro Mix)” from the game Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (PC, 2004) Composed by Rik Schaffer

4 – “Then I’ll Make you Mine” from the game Trüberbrook (PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox, Switch, Mobile, 2019) Composed by The Band from Another Place

5 – “Razorback (Unreal Mix)” from the game Unreal Tournament (PC, Mac, PS2, DC, 1999) Composed by Peter Hajba

6 – “Dystopian Dimension” from the game Prodeus (PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, 2020) Composed by Andrew Hulshult

7 – “Obliterator” from the game Shakedown Hawaii (PC, Vita, PS3/4/5, Switch, Wii, Wii U, 2019) Composed by Matt Creamer

8 – “Mayheim I” from the game Silent Hill 4 (PC, Xbox, PS2/3, 2004) Composed by Akira Yamaoka

Welcome to the first regularly-available public episode of Embassy Exclusive! Previously only offered to Patreon members, EE is a fun, laid back show where VGMbassy host Ed and his friends Joe and Todd talk about the burning topics in video games and geek culture. VGMbassy Discord members have the opportunity to participate by weighing in on the month’s topics! As usual, some great VGM serves as an interlude between segment of the show. We hope you enjoy it!

On this month’s episode, we’ve got a lot of discussion about rising costs in the gaming market. Todd is tired of the expense of retro games and wonder about the likelihood of the bubble bursting soon. Similarly, Ed’s a bit concerned with the announcement that the new Zelda game will be $70US, and if it’s a justified increase. Last but not least, Joe and the guys have a discussion about the hardest games they’ve played to completion.

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Jason Letourneau for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Ryan Steel, Cameron Werme, Kung-Fu Carlito, Scott McElhone, Chris Murray, Chris Myers, Mike Stark, KeyGlyph, Kyle Krull, The Diad, Daryl Bowers, Tom Hunt, Cameron Chiles, and Dan Laughton.

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app:

The Tracklist:

1 – “Judgement” from Hell is Other Demons (Switch, PC, Mac, Linux, 2019) Composed by Remi Gallego A.K.A. The Algorithm

2 – “Don’t Deal with the Devil” from Cuphead (Everything, 2017) Composed by Kris Maddigan

3 – “Heavy Iron Knight Theme Song 2” from Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor (Xbox360, 2012) Composed by Motoi Sakuraba and Yoshikazu Takayama

To celebrate the release of their new EP, “Let’s Take This Outside,” gritty VGM cover band The Mad Gear have been offering discounts at their gym. Ed decides to get swole, checks it out, and nothing short of VGM-induced chaos ensues. Featuring a guest appearance from Rhythm & Pixels cohosts Rob and Pernell!

Check out The Mad Gear’s new release on Bandcamp:  The Mad Gear Bandcamp Page

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Trevin Hughes (aka chiptune composer Jredd) for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Ryan Steel, Cameron Werme, Kung-Fu Carlito, Scott McElhone, Chris Murray, Chris Myers, Mike Stark, KeyGlyph, Kyle Krull, The Diad, Daryl Bowers, Tom Hunt, Cameron Chiles, and Dan Laughton.

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app:

The Tracklist:

1 – “Uptown” from Shadowrun (SNES, 1993) Composed by Marshall Parker

2 – “Mansion Basement” from Resident Evil: Director’s Cut (PS1, 1997) Composed by Makoto Tomozawa, Akari Kaida, and Masami Ueda

3 – “Exercise” from Doctor Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine (Genesis, 1993) Composed by Masanori Hikichi and Masayuki Nagao

4 – “Title Theme” from Ballz 3D (SNES, 1994) Composed by Jason Scher

5 – “Burning” from Axelay (SNES, 1992 ) Composed by Taro Kudo

6 – “Title Theme” from Killer Instinct (Arcade, SNES, 1994) Composed by Robin Beanland, Arranged and Performed by The Mad Gear

7 – “Title Theme” from Cruis’n USA (Arcade, N64, 1994) Composed by Vincent Pontarelli

It’s cold outside, VGM fans! As is yearly tradition at the ol’ VGMbassy, Ed gathers around the fire with his pals Joe and Todd to share and chat about some blustery winter-themed video game music. Get cozy with a nice blanket and a warm beverage and listen to some lovely tracks from Jumping Flash, Overcooked 2, CrossCode, and more!

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Trevin Hughes (aka chiptune composer Jredd) for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Frankly Zappa, Emily Donnelly, Ryan Steel, Cameron Werme, Carlito, Scott McElhone, Chris Murray, Chris Myers, Mike Stark, Kyle Krull, The Diad, The Last Rican, Cameron Chiles, and Dan Laughton.

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app:

The Tracklist:

1 – “Bergen Trail” from CrossCode (Linux, macOS, Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Amazon Luna, 2020), composed by Deniz Akbulut

2 – “Festive Fairground” from Overcooked 2: Winter Wonderland DLC (PS, Xbox, Switch, PC, Mac, Linux, 2018) Composed by Oli Wood and Danny Hey

3 – Credit Roll 1” from KONA (Blacknut, Linux, Mac, PC, Switch, PS4, Stadia, XB1, 2017) Composed by CuréLabel

4 – “Another Winter” from Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game (PS, Xbox, Switch, PC, Mac, Linux, 2010) Composed by Anamanaguchi

5 – “When Did it Get so Cold?” from Grapple Dog (Switch, Windows, xbox, 2022) Composed by Jazz Mickle

6 – “Slippery Ice Land (World 4-1)” from Jumping Flash! (PS1, 1995) Composed by Takeo Miratsu

7 – “Far Reaches” from Iconoclasts (PS, Xbox, Switch, PC, Mac, Linux, 2018), Composed by Joakim Sandberg

8 – “Depths of Despair (Frigid Hell Stage)” from Bloodstained: Curse of The Moon (Switch, 3DS, PS4, Vita, Windows, Xbox, 2018) Composed by Ippo Yamada

9 – “Bullets on Ice” from Marble Saga: Kororinpa (Wii, 2009) Composed by Hironobu Yahata

See that spinning dice block over your head? Give it a good SMAAASH! Woohoo! You’ve won a new podcast episode all about Mario Party, with Alex Messenger, host of A VGM Journey. Alex and Ed cover all of the console Mario Party games on this episode, playing some of their favorite tunes, chatting about their favorite minigames, and dishing on fun memories playing with their friends and family.

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Trevin Hughes (aka chiptune composer Jredd) for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Alex Messenger, Frankly Zappa, Emily Donnelly, Ryan Steel, Cameron Werme, Carlito, Scott McElhone, Chris Murray, Chris Myers, Mike Stark, Kyle Krull, The Diad, The Last Rican, Cameron Chiles, and Dan Laughton.

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app:

The Tracklist:

1 – “Engine Room” from Mario Party (N64, 1999) Composed by Yasanori Mitsuda

2 – “Space Land” from Mario Party 2 (N64, 2000) Composed by Hironao Yamamoto, Shohei Bando, and Kazuhiko Sawaguchi

3 – “Deep Bloober Sea” from Mario Party 3 (N64, 2001) Composed by Ichiro Shimakura

4 – “Toad’s Midway Madness” from Mario Party 4 (GC, 2002) Composed by Ichiro Shimakura

5 – “Everybody Party” from Mario Party 5 (GC, 2003) Composed by Aya Tanaka

6 – “E. Gadd’s Garage/ Night at the Garage” from Mario Party 6 (GC, 2004) Composed by Hironobu Yahata and Shinya Outouge

7 – “Stop! Bowser Time!” from Mario Party 7 (GC, 2005) Composed by Hironobu Yahata and Shinya Outouge

8 – “Koopa’s Tycoon Town” from Mario Party 8 (Wii, 2007) Composed by Yoshihiro Tsukahara

9 – “Think About It” from Mario Party 9 (Wii, 2012) Composed by Toshiki Aida and Ryosuke Asami

10 – “Chaos Castle Theme 1” from Mario Party 10 (Wii U, 2015) Composed by Masayoshi Ishi, Rei Kondoh, and Toshiki Aida

11 – “Super Mario Party (Main Theme)” from Super Mario Party (Switch, 2018) Composed by Masayoshi Ishi, Toshiki Aida, Satoshi Okubo and Naruki Kadosaka

12 – “Party at the Haunted Mansion!” from Mario Party Superstars (Switch, 2021) composed by Toshiki Aida and Satoshi Okubo

It’s Ed’s birthday and the full release of Vampire Survivors on the same day! Coupled with Halloween just around the corner, there’s a lot to celebrate on this episode. Join the fun as he takes a look at music from top-down perspective survival shooters, a genre quickly gaining popularity due to the runway success of Vampire Survivors and its Castlevania-inspired soundtrack. From the synthwave of Neon Chrome, to the epic drum & bass of Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde, to the classic chiptunes of Necrosmith, there’s a ton of awesome jams to enjoy!

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Trevin Hughes (aka chiptune composer Jredd) for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Alex Messenger, Frankly Zappa, Emily Donnelly, Ryan Steel, Cameron Werme, Carlito, Scott McElhone, Chris Murray, Chris Myers, Mike Stark, Kyle Krull, The Diad, The Last Rican, Cameron Chiles, and Dan Laughton.

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app:

The Tracklist:

Intro – “Before Concession” from Vampire Survivors (PC, 2021) Composed by Daniele Zandara

1 – “Addon 2” from Crimsonland (PC, 2003) Composed by Ville Eriksson

2 – “Cybernetic” from Neon Chrome (PC, Switch, PS4, XB1, 2017) Composed by Johnathan Geer

3 – “”Down to Business” from Jydge (PC, Switch, PS4, XB1, 2017) Composed by Jay Man

4 – “Extreme Chaos” from Brotato (PC, 2022) Composed by 2050

5 – “Libro Inferno (Remake)” from Vampire Survivors (PC, 2021) Composed by Filippo Vicarelli

6 – “Wasteland Combat” from 20 Minutes till Dawn (PC, 2022) Composed by Flanne

7 – “Cemetery” from Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde (PC, 2022) Composed by Neil “Injekted” Stevens

8 – “Be Careful” from Necrosmith (PC, 2022) Composed by Deallry

9 – “Battlefield” from Nordic Ashes: Survivors of Ragnarok (PC, 2022) Composed by Julian Korbl

Outro – “Born to be Undead” from Vampire Survivors (PC, 2021) Composed by Filippo Vicarelli

On this episode, Rob and Pernell from the Rhythm & Pixels VGM podcast hang out with Ed and Logan in the VGMbassy studio for a fun casual chat! Recorded on the night before Retro World Expo, Ed gathered some fun questions from VGMbassy Discord members and put his guests in the Hot Seat. We’re light on VGM this time around, but super heavy in laughs, personality, and spirit!

Check out the Masters of VGM Twitter: @MastersofVGM

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Trevin Hughes (aka chiptune composer Jredd) for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Nathan Cooper, Mike Stark, Ryan Steel, Chris Murray, Cameron Chiles,  Chris Myers, Voltz Supreme, Darryl Bowers, Ben “The Diad” Dishman, Chris Steenerson, Dan Laughton, Jordan Werme, Cameron Werme, Kung Fu Carlito,  Scott McElhone, FranklyZappa, and Alex “The Messenger” Messenger.

Join our Facebook group for discussion and bonus content: facebook.com/groups/thevgmbassy

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app!

June is Masters of VGM month for Game Music Podcasts worldwide! Ed joins a cavalcade of likeminded podcasters and shares music from his top 4 composers of all time. Think you can guess who they are without looking? Head over to MastersOfVGM.com to discover more participating podcasts and take a look at which composers got the most votes!

Check out the Masters of VGM Twitter: @MastersofVGM

A huge thank you to Indira J (The Misadventures of Buddy and Friend, Sacrimony) for the amazing VGMbassy artwork and design, and to Trevin Hughes (aka chiptune composer Jredd) for the podcast theme song!

Check out the VGMbassy Patreon for some fantastic bonuses, including exclusive podcast content!

Thanks to our supporting Patreon patrons, who help make this show possible: Nathan Cooper, Mike Stark, Ryan Steel, Chris Murray, Cameron Chiles,  Chris Myers, Voltz Supreme, Darryl Bowers, Ben “The Diad” Dishman, Chris Steenerson, Dan Laughton, Jordan Werme, Cameron Werme, Kung Fu Carlito,  Scott McElhone, FranklyZappa, and Alex “The Messenger” Messenger.

Join our Facebook group for discussion and bonus content: facebook.com/groups/thevgmbassy

Follow The VGMbassy on Twitter: @TheVGMbassy

Check out the Instagram account for artsy-fartsy game-related images: @TheVGMbassy

Listen here or find us on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app!

The Tracklist:

1 – “To Sunshine Forest” from Mother 3 (GBA, 2006) Composed by Shogo Sakai

2 – “Alone in the Town” from Silent Hill 2 (PS2, Xbox, 2001) Composed by Akira Yamaoka

3 – “Main Menu” from V-Rally (GBC, 1998) Composed by Alberto Jose Gonzalez

4 – “Gambit’s Theme” from Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade’s Revenge (SNES, 1992) Composed by Tim and Geoff Follin