Music

Retro Reprise Episode 13: ’90s studio fanfares

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After an incredibly long absence, Retro Reprise is back for a kind of weird episode — but aren’t those the best? On this week’s show, Syp listens to many video game studio logos and fanfares from the 1990s. These jingles may be short, but we heard them so many times they became burned into our brains! Which one was your favorite?

Show notes (episode download, episode page)

  • Intro (Sega Scream commercial)
  • Origin Systems
  • Rare
  • Capcom
  • Apogee
  • Hot-B
  • Blizzard Entertainment
  • Konami
  • Microprose
  • Interplay
  • Crystal Dynamics
  • LG Software
  • Micronet
  • Ocean Software
  • Seta Corporation
  • Sierra
  • Telegames
  • Warp
  • Outro
  • Special thanks to the Retro Video Game Logo Project!
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Battle Bards Episode 120: Short stuff

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Look down — and it’ll be the last thing you’ll ever see! That’s because fury and death arrive in the form of short character races in MMORPGs. Even if they hit below the belt, their music is sweet to the ears! In this episode of Battle Bards, the crew take on themes from Gnomes, Halflings, Dwarves, and other short races in MMOs.

Episode 120 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Dwarf Tavern” from World of Warcraft, “The Gnomes” from Project Copernicus, and “Exploring the Shire” from Lord of the Rings Online)
  • “The Call of Stone” from Warhammer Online
  • “Gnomes” from EverQuest Online Adventures
  • “Asura Theme” from Guild Wars 2
  • “New Tinkertown” from World of Warcraft
  • “Gnome Village II” from RuneScape
  • “Thorin’s Hall” from Lord of the Rings Online
  • “Dwarven Village Theme” from Lineage II
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener Notes: Chestnut Bowl, Fair Mores
  • Jukebox Picks: “Nomads of the White Desert” from Assassin’s Creed Origins, “Deployment” from Hive Jump, and “First Steps” from Celeste
  • Outro (feat. “Dwarf Cave” from Forsaken World)

Battle Bards Episode 119: Skyforge

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Believe it or not, it’s the Battle Bards’ fifth anniversary! From its weirdly humble beginnings back in 2013 to our arrogant ramblings here in 2018, coverage of MMO music must continue! In today’s episode, we’ll be listening to a surprisingly good soundtrack: Skyforge. Yes, that Russian sci-fi MMO from the Allods team that lets you grow into your ego as a god. Groove on these tunes and see if there’s a new sleeper soundtrack waiting for you!

Episode 119 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Pioneers,” “Story Without End,” and “Wilderness”)
  • “Dreams of Aelion”
  • “Login Theme”
  • “Stronghold”
  • “Campaign Music”
  • “Aelinar”
  • “Forest Retreat”
  • “Battle”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener Notes: Rafael and Mark
  • Jukebox Picks: “Breathe the Black” from Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, “Skalitz 1403” from Kingdom Come Deliverance, and “A.C.I.D.” from Into the Breach
  • Outro (feat. “Illusion”)

Battle Bards Episode 118: More starting zone themes

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What are your favorite memories of those first few days in a brand-new MMORPG? Chances are that those memories are inextricably connected to the music of these beginning areas. On today’s episode of Battle Bards, the crew revisits starting zone themes to talk about the experience of those first critical steps in an online game — and the songs that connect us forever to that.

Episode 118 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Dun Morogh” from World of Warcraft, “Autumn in Ascalon” from Guild Wars, and “Silverwood” from RIFT)
  • “Emerald Falls” from Revelation Online
  • “Bleakrock Isle” from Elder Scrolls Online
  • “Ronfaure” from Final Fantasy XI
  • “Azuremyst Isle” from World of Warcraft
  • “Olvia” from Black Desert
  • “The Black Shroud” from Final Fantasy XIV
  • “Newbie Melody” from RuneScape
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener Notes: Hirvox and GeorgeWilson3
  • Jukebox Picks: “Main Menu” from Life is Strange: Before the Storm, “With Sympathy” from Gears of War 2, “The Descent into Spring Valley” from Nine Parchments
  • Outro (feat. “Isle of Refuge” from EverQuest II)

Battle Bards Episode 117: Destiny

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Two Destinies for the price of one! For this episode, the Battle Bards are gearing up in their favorite space armor to take on highlights from both of the Destiny soundtracks. From buyer’s regret to confusing the gender of a key character, there is all sorts of on-air therapy happening with this kooky trio!

Episode 116 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Sepiks Prime,” “The Wilds,” and “Ikora”)
  • “Inner Light” from Destiny 2
  • “The Traveler” from Destiny 1
  • “The Ecstasy (Jupiter)” from Destiny 1
  • “Lost Light” from Destiny 2
  • “The Last City” from Destiny 2
  • “Holliday” from Destiny 2
  • “The Farm” from Destiny 2
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener Notes: rafael12104, Katriana, Veon91
  • Jukebox Picks: “Becalmed” from Sea of Thieves, “Track One” from Loong Online, and “Riverside Bogie” from Railway Empire)
  • Outro (feat. “The Union (Mercury)”)

Battle Bards Episode 116: There be dragons

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Mighty and majestic, scaly in hide and shrewd of mind, smoking with fury unabated… these are the Battle Bards! Also, dragons. Yes, in today’s episode, the Bards tackle the soundtracks to one of the most iconic fantasy creatures of all time. So call over your good luck dragon and get your best Sean Connery voice on as we loot the musical hoard of these beasts.

Episode 116 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Bash the Dragons” from Guild Wars 2, “Shinryu’s Theme” from Final Fantasy XIV, and “Drakonspire Depths” from Aion)
  • “Sindragosa” from World of Warcraft
  • “The Valley of Dragons” from SUN
  • “A White Dragon Fallen into the Earth” from Dragon’s Dogma Online
  • “Mordremoth” from Guild Wars 2
  • “Dragon Considers” from The Secret World
  • “Spirit Island” from Istaria
  • “Tiamat’s Requiem” from Aion
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener notes: Frazleytastic, Pandalulz, Jdub, Mylin1
  • Jukebox picks: “The Valley of the Blinding Mist” from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, “Milton’s Tower” from What Remains of Edith Finch, and “Ave Maria” from Hitman: Blood Money
  • Outro (“Here Be Dragons” from Guild Wars 2)

Battle Bards Episode 115: EVE Online

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Forgettable ambient noise or entrancing space sounds? This is the debate that’s at the core of today’s episode, as the Battle Bards take on EVE Online’s beloved and perhaps misunderstood soundtrack. It’s a journey that goes far beyond our galaxy to one full of intrigue, industry, and space discotheques!

Episode 115 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Below the Asteroids,” “Odyssey,” and  “I Saw Your Ship (symphony version”)
  • “Akat Mountains”
  • “Minmatar Rock”
  • “Hail to the Explorer”
  • “Theme from Jita”
  • “Red Glowing Dust”
  • “Merchants, Looters, and Ghosts”
  • “The Dealer”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener notes: Veon91, Zen Dadaist, KatsPurr
  • Jukebox picks: “Musik 2” from Hotline Miami, “Battlefield One” from Battlefield 1, and “Theories of an Eager Heart” from Planet Coaster
  • Outro (feat. “EVE Fanfest 2013 Theme”)