BitNote

We deal with a set of games that take chances on new ideas, and wrap up with Shenmue. All In by Stephen Barton from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare by Infinity Ward; Forest Falls Zone: Act 1 by Chris Rezanson from Sonic Rivals by Backbone Entertainment and Sega Studio USA; Godot ~ The Fragrance of Dark-Colored Coffee by Noriyuki Iwadare from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations by Capcom; and Departure of Hope by Osamu Murata from Shenmue by SEGA

I look at game that takes 3 time periods as its inspiration, examine a mini apocalypse and take about the rises and falls of city building games. Disco Incinerator by Mark Clark used in Roundabout by No Goblin LLC; Main Menu by Frey Vladimir (aka MoozE) from S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl by GSC Game World; Dirge For The Planet by Firelake from S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl by GSC Game World; Main Theme by Jonne Valtonen and Jani Laaksonen from Cities: Skylines by Colossal Order.

We continue the story of a ghost, and somehow end up in a hellish musical? Rosa's Theme and Jamie's Song by Thomas Regin from Blackwell Deception by Wadjet Eye Games; Main Menu by Malcolm Kirby Jr. (I assume) from by Saints Row: Gat out of Hell Volition and High Voltage Software; When I Find Love by Larry E. Gates II (Music by), Steve Jaros (Music and Lyrics by), Ariel Gross (Music by), Austin Wintory (Arrangement orchestrated and produced by), performed by the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Dirk Brosse with vocals by Travis Willingham, Kate Reinders, Daniel Dae Kim and Natalie Lander all from Saints Row: Gat out of Hell Volition and High Voltage Software; and Lava Reef Zone Act 1 by Sachio Ogawa, Tatsuyuki Maeda, Jun Senoue and/or Howard Drossin from Sonic and Knuckles by Sega/STI

We celebrate the 150th episode of BitNote by playing whatever I want to play; so business as usual then! Star Light Zone (ACT 7 LUVhouse mix) by Megawolf77 (original by Masato Nakamura (and Dreams Come True) from Sonic the Hedgehog by SEGA/Sonic Team); Origin Awaken Theme Of Heroes by Szk from Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 9: Gain Ground (2004) by Sega & 3D Ages; Mind Over Metal by JP Neufeld (Guitars by Matt Wiesen and Brian James) from Solar 2 by Murudai; All Star originally by Smash Mouth, remade by Balloon303 in Mario Paint by Nintendo.

Cyborg enhacing the world's population can have drastic societal and cultural changes, but first a 90s throwback! Wonderman by Right Said Fred; Icarus, Opening Credits and Singapore Ambient (Part 2) by Michael McCann from Deus Ex: Human Revolution by Eidos Montreal; and The New Black Gold by Miracle of Sound (inspired by Deus Ex:Human Revolution).

Is it really that evil, the answer may not surprise you. Ingredients Level, Candy Order Level, Jelly Level by Johan Holmström from Candy Crush Saga by King; Candy Crush Soda Saga Theme by Johan Holmström from Candy Crush Soda Saga by King; and The Moon by Hiroshige Tonomura and Yoshihiro Sakaguchi from DuckTales by Capcom.

In which I talk about an underrated Wii game and then consider fantastical genocide. Boss and Story Mode Menu by Naoyuki Sato and Michiru Yamane from Eledees/Elebits by Konami; Castlemania, Bar Fight and Got Any Credits by Chris Rickwood from Orcs Must Die! by Robot Entertainment.

In which I cover the 2012 documentary movie: Indie Game: The Movie. Proof Of Something, Trust, Harsh Tags Pt 1 and Sympathetic Syntax by Jim Guthrie from Indie Game: The Movie by James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot.

In which I play some truly relaxing and chilled out game music. Dream Hill (Green Hill Zone remix) by Classroom Battles based on Green Hill Zone theme Masato Nakamura from Sonic the Hedgehog by Sonic Team; Cider Time, 9-bit Expedition and The Magnetic Tree by Lifeformed (Terence Lee) from Dustforce by Hitbox Team; and Lobby by Hideaki Kobayashi and Fumie Kumatani from Phantasy Star Online by Sonic Team.

Last look ot the iDIG Music Festival, focusing on two important people. Tommy Tallarico talks about Video Games Live performing in China; Tommy Tallarico performs Earthworm Jim music at Video Games Live in Dublin (music composed by Tommy Tallarico, Earthworm Jim by Shiny Entertainment); Malach by Eimear Noone from World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor by Blizzard Entertainment, performed by the YouTube Orchestra and conducted by Eimear Noone.

I dive into the Irish gaming scene bringing you news of Irish video games in development, and chat to some of the developers. Games covered: Floaty Ball by Good Man Lads (interview with Paul Bluefood and Danny Moffatt); The Little Acre by Pewter Games (interview with Christopher Conlan); The Darkside Detective by DoomCube; Gunsport by Necrosoft Games (interview with Shane Marks); Super Sword Sword Shield by Snozbot; Guild of Dungeoneering by Gambrinous (interview with Colm Larkin and Steven Gregan [also composer of Noir, which I play]); and Portalnauts by James Doyle.

In which I play some great excerpts from the game music festival that happened right here in Dublin, the iDIG Music Festival. Baba Yetu performed by the Triforce Quartet, composed by Christopher Tin from Civilisation IV by Firaxis Games; Interview with Grammy award winning game music composer Christopher Tin; and Blizzard composer Russell Brower talks about an emotional encounter with a fan after being asked what his favourite composition is.

In which I didn't play the game but I saw the stream, and why exactly should you never buy a console at launch? Slipping Away originally by Jacob Miller, Matt Naylor and Steven Stern, also by VideoBlocks & Paris Music from Tormentum - Dark Sorrow by OhNoo; Game Launch Rock! (YT) by Brent "brentalfloss" Black; Music by Shoichi Koike from Polarium by Mitchell Corporation; Aquarium Park Act 1 by Tomoya Ohtani from Sonic Colours by Sega.

In which I prepare everyone for the iDIG Music Festival. Baba Yetu (feat. Soweto Gospel Choir) and Hamsafar (feat. Sussan Deyhim) by Christopher Tin, Baba Yetu originally from Civilisation IV by Firaxis Games; Tetris Opera, based on the poem "Korobeiniki" by Nikolay Nekrasov, arranged by Greg Cox, from Video Games Live (Level 3), popularised by Tetris by Bullet Proof Software; Zelda 25th Anniversary Overture composed by Koji Kondo, Arranged by Laura Intravia from the Zelda series by Nintendo performed in from Video Games Live (Level 3).

In which we play as an assassin, and an entrepreneur. Wrenhaven River by Voodoo Highway, and Honor for All by Jon Licht & Daniel Licht from Dishonored by Arkane Studios; Closed, Wandering Fairy and Theme (vocals by Sora Yuizuki) by Team m_box, Araibear, Sarumotto, Niya from Recettear: An Item Shop?s Tale by EasyGameStation (localised by Carpe Fulgur).