VGBS Gaming Podcast

Jeffrey was with 8Bit Steve at Virtual Nerd Con 2020 which is a convention in a video game-style program! They talk about what's going on with Hagen's Alley Books, the Summer Sale, and Friday the 13th: The Easy Way. 8Bit Steve also beats Friday the 13th on the NES while they both do commentary!

After a bit of a retro holiday...VGBS Gaming Podcast is back and with a new adventure for everyone to join us on! In this episode we jump into the amazing world of Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest, but the way it should be played. With this new direction, Kyle and Jeff are taking classic games and playing them the way we wished we could have back in the day. From versions that fix inherent problems with a game, to tips and tricks that we now know that make a classically difficult game beatable... this should be fun! NES ROM Download link: https://archive.org/download/vgbsrr01/Castlevania_II.nes

Jeffrey gets together with Adam and Jav from Second Dimension to talk about The Curse of Illmoore Bay, a new and original 16 bit game heavily inspired by Saturday morning cartoons from the 90s fueled by a deep love for the SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive Console. This game is a horizontal scrolling action platformer that will take you through six different levels each with it's own monsters and bosses, with tons of items to collect and powerful abilities to acquire. Check out what they had to say!

For our fourth annual VGBS Live Panel at Midwest Gaming Classic, we are talking about collecting for the Nintendo Switch and this time we aren't alone! Joining us is Sarumaru aka D.J. Medina of FX Unit Yuki fame who is a huge Japanese gaming fan who also collects for the Switch. We also have the super knowledgeable Jonathan Polan aka JPSwitchmania who is one of the biggest Nintendo Switch collectors in the world! With this much brainpower in one room, will we stay on track, or will we go far down the river? This is VGBS Live!

We have the perfect episode for 100, a special interview with the AVGN himself James Rolfe. Not only do we catch up on everything that's going in his crazy world, but we also go back to our very first episode that was focused on him. Coming full circle, this is a perfect bow on VGBS, will we continue on from here? You let us know! Without further ado, let's get the show on the road.

For VGBS 99, we wanted to do something really special...This is a complementary episode to our previous Super Mario Memories installment. So let's see what the Extended Edition hack of Mario 3 entails and what we think of it as a whole package. Also covered are tips for farming lives, the Anchor/White Toad Houses, the origin of Yoshi, and even a tidbit on Mario is Missing. Finally, we delve into some online reviews to see how others feel about this hack.

Rounding out our Beat'Em Up trilogy of episodes, we continue on down the line with Target Renegade for the NES. We briefly cover Renegade III: The Final Chapter for kicks as well. So what do we think? Let's find out!

What better to follow our Double Dragon II episode than with the Godfather of Beat'em Ups! We concentrate mainly on the NES and Famicom ports, but also go into the Arcade and Sega Master System versions a bit as well… “Warriors, come out to play-i-ay!”

VGBS returns and this one's an absolute, all-time favorite of ours. It's definitely been on our episode bucket list since the inception of the cast...So get your Trejo-Abobo stache ready and join us as we dive headlong into the turf of Double Dragon II: The Revenge for the NES!

At Game On Expo 2018 I got together with that always awesome Radical Reggie where we caught up on some gaming topics, including my book projects, Hidden Gaming Gems and we go over Reggie's favorite generation, the Sony PlayStation! Warning: The beginning has a bit of a musical amalgamation!

BS Homework returns! Join us in the 16-bit trenches as we go behind enemy lines and infiltrate the inner workings of Rambo III for the Sega Genesis...

At Classic Game Fest 2018 I had a chance to catch up with Ben Moore from Limited Run Games and we ended up doing our chat live on the panel! We go over collecting old and new, along with a lot of other things going on in the gaming community.

On this episode I have on Kurt Kalata from Hardcore Gaming 101 and is an author of multiple retro gaming books. We talk about tons of different subjects, including putting out books and how crazy publishing is out in the US. We also go over different retro games and future projects he will be working on. Check out Kurt's awesome website and books at: hardcoregaming101.net

What proper project would be complete without your fair share of unforeseen obstacles and roadblocks!? Let's dig in!

This time around I have on my buddy Reggie Williams, the Radical one himself! We talk tons about Hidden Gems but constantly venture off talking Arcade Collecting, Video Game Movies and even Nintendo Switch Tech Talk. We also go over PS1 Collecting versus Nintendo and Cartridge Collecting and why the PS1 is his go to system. This is really what this podcast is about, just shooting the shit with cool people! Check out Radical Reggie on YouTube: youtube.com/radicalreggie

In this episode I have Philip Sidener on who is a really cool dude that is doing a lot of things in the gaming community. Not only does he run a YouTube channel doing some really high quality reviews, but also is the owner of Twincade an arcade bar in Griffith, Indiana! He has a vinyl record company and even does a reality show about life at his barcade. Come join in for the fun as we talk arcades and video games. Of course as always there is also a little bit of book updates and projects sprinkled in at the beginning. Check out Twincadia and Side Quest on YouTube: youtube.com/twincade  Philip has Side Quest up on Amazon Prime to watch and the SNES episode is pretty amazing: http://a.co/3fnLGd4 All of Season 1 of Twincadia is also up on Amazon Prime: http://a.co/1iZfX4P

Monster Jam, He's on Fire!!! Take a court-side seat as we reminisce about our childhood experiences with NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime...Boomshakalaka!

In this episode I talk about the newest book launch at Hagen's Alley Books and some of the Hidden Gaming Gems that will be in it! The campaign is live and you can support here: Link to the Book Campaign on Kickstarter

Welcome to the Hagen's Alley Books Podcast! Throughout the years I've met a lot of cool people involved in gaming and what better excuse to use my gift of gab then to chat with them about everything and anything gaming? I go back a bit with Mike Levy, we both wrote for Pixel Nation and even did some panels together last year at conventions! He is huge into video game music and is part of the new XVGM Podcast. Mike also has a really cool channel on YouTube where he has a few different series, including skits and different informational series that are all extremely well done. During our talk we dive deep into the Atari VGS and who exactly that is marketed towards. Then we talk comparisons between the Wii U and the Switch as Mike still isn't quite sold on the system. All of this, combined with Mike's passion for video game music makes this another excellent episode of the podcast! Check out Mike's Content at: Link to Miketendo on YouTube

Welcome to the Hagen's Alley Books Podcast! Throughout the years I've met a lot of cool people involved in gaming and what better excuse to use my gift of gab then to chat with them about everything and anything gaming? For Episode 2 I have on the always awesome Dan O'Day from Rebel Gaming Club. Dan is an really cool dude and has a lot to with the underground punk music scene. After the classic update, we go into the RGC, how it started and Dan's motivations behind why he does what he does. RGC is also going to be at TooManyGames doing a concert on the main stage and we talk about how he has been preparing for that and the community effort to how this all became a reality. We then go into a really interesting conversation about collecting and where things could go in the upcoming years as there are tons of variables that people never think of! Be sure to check out the sound from the underground, the Rebel Gaming Club as they are always putting out awesome stuff! Be sure to check out the Link to RGC on YouTube

More rad content from our talk with Jeff Ball, creator of the music for Tiny Barbarian DX! Jeff Ball is back on the attack! It's once again time for our pirate crew to climb aboard the S.S. VGBS and set sail down the river and out to the cosmic sea of the mind...what wonders of the deep dark ether await us this time out? Time to walk the plank!

Welcome to the Hagen's Alley Books Podcast! Throughout the years I've met a lot of cool people involved in gaming and what better excuse to use my gift of gab then to chat with them about everything and anything gaming? In this first episode I talk with David Ortiz from Mariachi Entertainment System about tons of different aspects of content creation, how to stay motivated with projects and the importance of family. We then dive deep into my upcoming release Hidden Gaming Gems: Generation by Generation and talk about whether the fickle nature of the current landscape of gaming would make the newly released Bloodstained Curse of the Moon a Hidden Gaming Gem in the future. David and I then talk in depth about tons of our favorite underappreciated games, including Celeste, Axiom Verge and slew of NES classics! Be sure to check out the Link to MES on YouTube

In this episode, we're joined by the awesome Jeff Ball, creator of the music for Tiny Barbarian DX! Today's guest is definitely on our level and we get pretty deep in this one (Don't we always?). We flow from music to gaming to the crazy distractions in our world today vs. much simpler times when we were kids back in the stone age. Come on in and set a spell!

For our third annual VGBS Live Panel at Midwest Gaming Classic 2018, we are talking about our favorite Hidden Gaming Gems for tons of consoles! Throughout the history of video games there are titles that go unnoticed by the majority of gamers. Let's sit down and go over a few of our favorite unappreciated games from various generations, both old and new. This is VGBS Live!

The Boys are here, together in one place…comin' atcha from the VGBS Retroseum! Among many things, we chat about the snowball effect from staying constant and consistent with projects, and the current YouTube demonetization issues along with YouTubers deleting their accounts. Also discussed is a classic DIY issue of not taking care of current project backers, before starting a completely new project altogether. In addition, we touch on the philosophical aspects of perception and bias in the world around us, as well as the joys of experiencing legacy media in its original form. This is VGBS!

All about the Everdrive N8... For this VGBS go-around, we discuss features of the the EverDrive N8, setting it up and getting everything started. This episode also contains SD Card info and comparisons with the PowerPak. In addition, The Boys delve into the wild world of Hacks, Famicom to English Translations, and some of the best places online to find them.

This time on the cast, we leap down the pipeline leading straight to our favorite Super Mario Memories! Starting from the original Mario Bros., we discuss how we first came upon these games and snapshots of what our lives were like during these crucial periods in gaming history. Our princess may be in another castle, but VGBS is right here, right now, and always ready to rock!

Bullshit Homework strikes for the VGBS Crew yet again! In our second love letter to this prized masterpiece, we first talk about Super Smash TV for SNES. We then go into the excellent Smash TV versions on the PS2 (from Midway Arcade Treasures) and also on Xbox CoinOPS. We then cover various types of useful gameplay strategies along with our thoughts as we played through this amazing jewel. Let's go!!

We knew from the beginning that this time would eventually come and it's finally here...Smash TV time that is!!! To start off our journey with this glorious classic, we explore and compare different versions that are out there, especially regarding controls and gameplay. From the twin stick perfection of the arcade to the odd and unique nuances of the console port control schemes. We also reminisce a bit about our own initial experiences back in the day as we get prepped for the Smash TV Bullshit Homework episode to come! "I'd buy that for a dollar!" - except you don't have to as VGBS is completely free and always will be. On with the show!

Bullshit Homework time! We tackle Ninja Spirit for the TurboGrafx16! The BS Homework road to enlightenment calls to us yet again...in the form of Ninja Spirit! Such a gem from our past and a definite bucket list candidate that simply cannot be denied. So sharpen your katana, dip those throwing stars in poison, load up on bamboo pipe bombs, and untangle that chain-sickle because as you may have guessed...Oh yes, it's time.

Bullshit Homework is back. It's time to explore Jeffrey Wittenhagen's Black Box Challenge! This is supreme badassary unbound, straight from the ever brilliant Rob Bryant and Sly Dog Studios. Now, we're not letting the cat too far out of the bag here as we do want to leave much of the exploration goodness for you all to enjoy on your own. Today, we'll concentrate on many of the basics in terms of getting a really strong start on your journey. We share tips and tricks, what to keep an eye out for, and helpful hints regarding stamina and defense that will greatly increase your fighting prowess! Additionally, there are a few really important special items you'll come across that we offer insight into. Also, we drop a super hint that will give you a huge leg up in regards to collecting currency for status upgrades during your adventure. Finally, we examine pop culture references within BBC and how you can get your hands on this wicked gem!

Our special guest today is Jason Lepine: Currently and heavily involved with Enthusiast Gaming (Nintendo, PlayStation, PC Gaming Enthusiast) and Destructoid. In this episode, we discuss what initially got Jason into the gaming scene and the motivations behind his current projects. We then chat about how graphical art styles have changed through the generations and how nostalgia can play into which type we personally prefer most. Following that, we go into what it's been like seeing the gaming scene explode and expand ever outward over the past 5 to 10 years, and what is yet to come as the community continues to evolve and starts gravitating towards a universal hivemind mentality. We then ponder what brings YouTube channels to viral stardom levels, the importance of viewer retention, and the algorithms that go into it all. This and much, much more as we flow down the conversational river!

Our special guest panelist, Issa returns to wrap up his trilogy of back to back VGBS episodes. This time we concentrate primarily on establishing story and character depth in project creation. We explore both sides of the spectrum, covering what makes a well-rounded, in-depth character and story vs. the more cliche side of things where development is generally lacking. From there, we round out the cast with some BSing goodness regarding life, love, and the pursuit of podcast madness!

Issa's back on the attack and we pick up right where we left off from the previous episode. This time we discuss the issues with video game to film adaptations, citing examples from the Castlevania Netflix Animated Series, and also the films Alone in the Dark, House of the Dead, Mortal Kombat, and Super Mario Bros. We also take a sneak peek into Issa's personal Castlevania project idea and why storytelling, character development, and always retaining the continuity and spirit of the series are such integral factors.

In this episode, we're joined by our buddy Issa "The Hero" Kabeer: Nintendo Age stalwart, avid gamer, and aspiring actor. We delve into something that strongly interests all three of us, which is the topic of interconnecting gaming with other forms and mediums of entertainment. Also on the docket, we have fun discussing Castlevania series theories and thoughts on overall continuity.

We Interview VGBS Kickstarter Backer Christian A. Deitering aka Ferris Bueller, a huge NES Homebrew collector and film creator. This was a really fun conversation and Christian is a really awesome dude! Topics: VGBS Season 1 KS Project Overview Christian's Story Nintendo Age Eras Distribution Options Open Up for Homebrewers Mega Cat Studios Controversy with VG Reproductions Character Likeness Usage Issues TecmoBowlers.com & Timewalk Games Tale AdvancedPillow The Mist Toggles' Boneless GB Cart Mother to Earth - A Doc about Earthbound Nintendo: Cease and Desist! Delving into the Mind of Memblers Black Box Challenge (NES Homebrew) Straightforward vs. Esoteric Games Determining Your Target Audience The Bits of Yesterday Doc What the Future Holds for Christian

VGBS is Live at A Video Game Con in New Jersey. Jeff gives an overview of his projects thus far and provides updates on his future endeavors. Rewind Mike is along for the ride and digs into Jeff's psyche to extract further intricate details. The boys also share their love for the NES Homebrew gaming scene, and expound heavily upon the newly released Jeffrey Wittenhagen's Black Box Challenge as well as plans for a strategy guide! Wrapping up the panel, we have a special Mega Man treat featuring Rewind Mike and Dan Bulich that you won't want to miss!

With YouTube popularity expanding into the stellar sphere, some are saying this exposure of information to the masses is ruining the retro game collecting scene as a whole. Hidden gems are continually being brought into the limelight, along with retro game hunting shows giving tips of the trade and inspiring many others to follow suit. Is this rapid influx single-handedly drying up ease of availability and causing prices to skyrocket, or is there much more to take into consideration here? Much like any evolutionary process, the retro scene has taken on a life of its own and is constantly in a state of flux. Is not being able to hinder or manipulate this natural intellectual progression considered crying over spilled milk? Let's find out!

VGBS is Live at Game On Expo in Arizona. Topics: Panel Opening The Goofy Foot NES Controller! Let's Talk VG Obscurities: -Puzznic (NES) -Flying Warriors (NES) -Ultimate Fighter (SNES) -Mendel Palace (NES) -Mighty Bomb Jack (NES) -Pyros/Wardner (Arcade) -Crime Busters (Famicom Disk System/NES Clone Consoles) -Tailgate Party (NES Homebrew) -Super Russian Roulette (NES Homebrew) -Black Box Challenge (NES Homebrew) -Knight 'n' Grail (Commodore 64) -Legends of Owlia (NES Homebrew) -Space Invaders (Famicom) -Galaxian (Famicom) -Goonies (Famicom/Playchoice-10/VS System) -Space Harrier (Famicom) -Legend of Prince Valiant (PAL NES) -Banana Prince (Famicom/PAL NES) Panel Closing This is VGBS!

We talk about one of our favorite non-Nintendo consoles of all time...the TurboGrafx-16 and it's superior Japanese brethren the PC Engine. Come Join us for the great memories! Topics Covered: Intro/Preface Classic Capacitor Issues Cord Extensions Our Initial TG-16 Experiences Bonk Talk Tricky Kick Splatterhouse Gamepad Goodness Cousin Bryan: Mad Genius (RIP) Tracking Down the Consoles Star Soldier Series PSP Modding Emulation Market Value: Then & Now Japan vs. America (PCE vs. TG-16) Shady Seller Tactics Cheap Card Sleeve Alternatives Ripping ISO Game Files to CD PC Engine Memories Controversy Turbo EverDrive SuperGrafx & Other Obscurities Henshin Engine & The Homebrew Scene Scoring a Recapped Turbo Express Neutopia II & Lords of Thunder Sealed! Erased, Over, Out

VGBS is Live at Coleco Expo in New Jersey. Topics: Panel Intros/Backgrounds Author Styles & Differences Publisher Woes Getting YOUR Vision Out There DIY Publishing & Distribution Phoenix IV by Leonard Herman Antoine Clerc-Renaud's Story Dealing with Criticism Patrick Hickey Jr.'s Story The Beauty of a Tangible Item Get that Good Community Karma! Conclusion This is VGBS!

It's time to go down to Elm Street and see what's behind that red door... Topics : Introduction Favorite Nightmare Film? The Brilliance of the Original The Strength of Dream Warriors Our 1st Freddy Experiences Pop-Culture Personified Marketing to Younger Audiences Wes Craven: Genius Rising How the Concepts of Freddy were Born Patricia Arquette > Tuesday Knight New Nightmare Foreshadowing Scream Craven Ushers in Postmodern Horror The Original NOES Ending Wes Craven vs. Robert Shaye Layne Staley Resemblance NOES Video Games: Past & Present Craven Taps into our Primal Nature Dreams = Infinite Possibilities Freddy's Dead Fun & Oprah Noodlemantra What Sets the Glove Apart? Conclusion

Season 4 begins with a slash! It's time... Topics: Kickstarter Project Overview Who's Affiliated? Digging into the Details! Launch Issues Initial Experience Stories Online Gaming Negatives Death Sequences Abound Abilities, Achievements, & Unlockables Different Jason Skins Single Player Mode Excitement Being the Hunter vs. the Hunted Solo Campaign Possibilities Wrap-Up

Our 3rd Season Finale is finally here! The ever-extending Hylian Path stretches before us again with this exalted and prized gem...Time to do this one some VGBS Justice! Topics Covered --------------- Introduction Timeline Madness Our Initial Experiences LTTP's Linear, Intuitive Nature Fairy Fountain Fun Maxing out Arrows and Bombs Early The Cave of Infinite Rupees Chibi Pa Anime Festival Tournament Tale Item Drops & Respawn Rates "Perhaps we had better start from the beginning..." Kakariko Village The House of Infinite Bombs Toughest Heart Containers to Acquire The Light World Palaces Anti-Fairy Powder Trickery Acquiring All 4 Bottles/Jars Getting the Master Sword! The Dark World Dungeons Ganon's Tower The Final Showdown BS Zelda & The Satellaview The Chris Houlihan Room The Comic Four Swords Spiritual Sequels & Fan Hacks Zelda Randomizer Conclusion

VGBS is Live at ReplayFX in Pittsburgh, PA. Topic Include: Hagen's Alley Books: Past, Present, Future 'NES Oddities' Book Project Breakdown Research: Universally Playable Famicom Games Going down the Homebrew Rabbit Hole Battery Saves & Passwords Pinball & Arcade Machines Nintendo Playchoice-10 & VS. System Jeff's Custom Red Tent Shooting the Dog in VS. Duck Hunt VS. Slalom ahead of its Time VGBS BS Homework in a Nutshell Can NES Flash Cart Voltage Cause Issues? VGBS Season 1 Kickstarter Project "And now, for a taste of things to come." Neo Geo and the Homebrew Scene NES Dumpster Find Tale vs. Raccoons! Presentation Windup This is VGBS!

In our precursor to the VGBS Season 3 Finale, the boys finally catch up with the gorgeous, hidden gem mega-classic, Vice: Project Doom! This audio journey takes you through each and every stage, offering solid strategies and our individual methods of approach. Many of the bosses seem intimidating at first, but we've hammered out effective solutions to their many patterns of destruction. Also included are detailed graphical descriptions of what puts this puppy on the top tier of the NES treat heap. Spanning over 90 minutes, we attempt to expose and bring to light a game no old school collection should be without.

In our 3rd love letter to the F13 Series, Kyle & Jeff theorize and share more thoughts about making the timeline work in ways that would make the most sense. We also address popular fan questions and talk about our thoughts regarding where Crystal Lake could actually be located according to evidence provided in the films. Finally, we discuss many classic cast members and what other notable films and TV shows they are associated with.

Kyle and Jeff go over their entire weekend of madness in detail at Midwest Gaming Classic. From the partying to the games, it's all here! Do we find anything to buy from the seller tent? Let's find out... Topics Covered: Jeff's Journey to the Midwest VGBS Heads to MGC Friday Night Arrival Tailgate Party (NES Homebrew) Power Pad Cornhole Fun Spook-o'-tron (NES Homebrew) & The Virtual Boy Retro TV The Terror of Room 150... Saturday Begins: Panel Time! (Check out VGBS Live 13) The Quest to Play All Arcades at MGC Sunday Comes All too Soon Checking out the Seller Tent (Finally!) Scorpion vs Kylefucious This is VGBS!

Going further down the Crystal Lake path, Jeff & Kyle deeply analyze the official Friday the 13th Wiki timeline, and attempt to tie the story arc continuity of the films together in a way that makes sense. The Phobos Boys also explore the different parallel universes that can possibly exist within the entire series, while offering fun facts along the gory way.

GameCenter CX is a long-running show in Japan about video games! We bullshit about it and talk about our favorite aspects of the series. Topics Covered: GameCenter CX Synopsis Shinya Arino Arcade Field Trips Abound The Northernmost Game Center Travelogue A Look into Japanese Culture Takahashi Meijin, The Real-Life Master Higgins Star Force: Defeating Rarios Season 1 Overview Free Subtitled Episodes Online Games Associated with the Show GameCenter MSX & DX Fan Community Translation Preservation This is VGBS!

Topics: Our Introduction to Jason & Horror Flicks Hunting Down All Friday the 13th VHS What Sets Jason Apart? Savini & Special Effects Drawing Power Favorite Friday Films? Archiving and Preserving Obscurities Exploitation Film & Negative Critiques Jason, The Tragic Character The Final Female & Feminism in Horror Jeff and Wifey's First Date Old Character Types vs New The 80s Slasher Scene Explodes! Film Feel & Music through the F13 Years Favorite Friday Kills? The Crispin Glover Dance! The Brutality of Kane Hodder Cheesy Friday Moments