Podcast appearances and mentions of derek heemsbergen

FOUR HUNDRED BABIESIf you've listened to a Retro Encounter multiple of 50 before, you know that the panel is going to come up with a public poll for a future Retro Encounter episode. This time around, we're having a shark party! The panel will “invest” in pitches from twelve Retro Encounter panelists from past and present in a game inspired by a certain entrepreneurial television show. It took 8 years and 8 months, but Retro Encounter made it to 400 episodes.  Time to get this party started, but once the party's over, don't forget to vote in the poll below! Link to Episode 400 Poll (Google Form)Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Lucas Greene, Wes Iliff, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael SollosiGuest-starring: Hilary Andreff, Tom Cox, Robert Fenner, Alana Hagues, Derek Heemsbergen, Jonathan Logan, Stephen Meyerink, Eva Padilla, Mike Salbato, Robert Steinman, Stephanie Sybydlo, Peter TriezenbergOpening and ending music by Miles MorkriGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

Rhythm Encounter launched its first episode in February 2013. Nearly ten years later and after some changes in leadership and a multi-year break, we have hit a milestone with our 100th episode! We decided early last year that we wanted to celebrate this occasion by inviting back our show's founders, Stephen Meyerink and Derek Heemsbergen. Their love of music birthed a (wow, this is getting weird, but...) podcast to celebrate RPG music, and we carry on to this day based on their vision.Since leaving RPGFan, Stephen and Derek have excelled in their careers in localization, but still love RPG music. For this special episode, our guests and I (Mike) each chose three songs from 2022 releases we loved. This episode was a blast to record, as we talk about what Stephen and Derek have been doing post-RPGFan, the origins of Rhythm Encounter, and some thoughts about where the show may go in the future.Also, we have a ton of awesome music to listen to and discuss!Featuring: Mike Salbato, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen; Edited by Jono LoganLinks for this episode Rhythm Encounter Episode 1 – Fragile Dreamcast Rhythm Encounter 10 – Falcom Tomfoolery In the Balance - Lyric Video (YouTube) Alex Moukala on In the Balance (YouTube) Ghost Song - Lofi Remixes (YouTube) Stephen's Website Derek's Website Tracklist0:27:56 - Fons Sapientiae (Eddie Marianukroh) - Chained Echoes OST0:31:22 - Little Blue (Grant Graham) - Ghost Song OST0:33:49 - First Skirmish / Open the Shard! (Falcom Sound Team jdk) - The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki OST1:03:02 - The Dardala Company (mentioned as "ScalCap's Theme" in the show) (ACE (TOMOri Kudo, CHiCO)) - Atelier Online: Alchemist of Bressisle OST1:07:20 - Battle 01 (Go Shiina) - Tales of Luminaria OST1:10:34 - Triplet after Triplet (Hidenori Shoji) - Yakuza: Like a Dragon OST1:34:41 - Heroic Struggle (Yoko Shimomura; Arr: Noriyuki Kamikura) - LIVE A LIVE HD-2D Remake OST1:41:21 - In the Balance (Masayoshi Soken) - Endwalker: Final Fantasy XIV1:45:46 - Moebius Battle M (All parts) (Yasunori Mitsuda (PROCYON STUDIO), ACE (TOMOri Kudo, CHiCO), Kenji Hiramatsu, Manami Kiyota, Mariam Abounnasr (PROCYON STUDIO), Yutaka Kunigo) - Xenoblade Chronicles 32:30:41 - Derek's Bonus Track!Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: music@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

On this episode of Random Encounter: - E3 2018 has come and gone. We wrap up our final thoughts on the show with some input from the folks who couldn't attend the show in person. - Octopath Traveler is so close! Alana dishes on the preview she wrote after spending a few hours with the game, and the rest of us generally gush. - Xenoblade Chronicles 2's most substantial piece of DLC to date, an arena mode featuring Shulk and Fiora from Xenoblade Chronicles 1, had a surprise release during E3. How is it? - Ys VIII is out for Switch, and in case our three reviews on the site aren't enough, we engage in a little more discussion of this excellent title with a messy patch history. - Caitlin gives us the lowdown on two Western titles centered around player choice: the bloody Vampyr and not-so-bloody Detroit: Become Human. - Shining Resonance Refrain is out...today, actually! Alana's preparing to write her review and shares her initial impressions. - It's a good time for retro JRPGs ending in the number two, apparently. Alana and Sollosi jump back in time and space to Star Ocean 2 and Lunar 2, respectively. - Fenner is back with the lowdown on another weirdo niche game with a super-cool premise: The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa! Featuring: Caitlin Argyros, Alana Hagues, Derek Heemsbergen, Mike Sollosi, Robert Fenner Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

We welcome law librarian Caitlin Argyros (RPGFan, Rhythm Encounter) to discuss being a romantic introvert, coming to terms with one's own body, and if gaming can still be considered "just" a hobby when it's a major part of one's life.Also: The uplifting melancholia of Xenogears, Ace Combat fulfilling air force fantasies, when entertainment metamorphoses into critical engagement, Boogerman, strong opinions on Metal Gear Solid, and Caitlin's top ten games of all time.Follow Caitlin on Twitter @Lian_Kazairl, and check out our friend Derek Heemsbergen's FFXIV Podcast Astral Era.Intro Music "Summer Vacation in Scanline" by Nurvuss​​​​​​​Intermission "June Mermaid" by Yasunori Mitsuda (Xenogears OST)Outro Music "トワイライトでHEART-BEAT" by パフェ♥カフェｐａｒｆａｉｔ♥ｃａｆｅ

On this episode of Random Encounter: -Ni no Kuni 2 does not disappoint. -Kiryu beats up a lot of people in Yakuza 6. -The Silver Case puts out some questionable content. -And Rob retires from RPGFan. No, really. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros, Robert Fenner and Mike Salbato Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

On this episode of Random Encounter: -Monster Hunter world is dissected. -We debate the merits of remakes (namely Secret of Mana and Shadow of the Colossus). -Wait, there's another Batman Telltale game? -And everyone seems disappointed with Tokyo Xanadu. Again. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Michael Sollosi and Robert Fenner Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

2017 is now the past and it's time to start getting excited for 2018. In what's become a tradition here at Random Encounter, we take a brief break to look back at the past year in RPGs and then refocus on what's coming up next. From NieR to Xenoblade, this past year gave us a ton of games to play and not enough time to do it, and we're hoping 2018 brings even more surprises. Enjoy! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Caitlin Argyros Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

As the year winds down, CGMagazine has taken some time to reflect on the amazing year we've had in gaming - even if 2017 itself was a little less than fantastic. Before we get into our games of the year, however, the team decides to look ahead to 2018, and explore some of the eagerly awaited titles that are set to come out in the new year. Brendan Frye and Lisa are joined by Bryan Calhoun and Derek Heemsbergen this week. The team looks back at some of the announcements made during E3, Gamescom, the Game Awards and PSX. From Monster Hunter World, God of War, Red Dead Redemption II, From shooters to JRPGs, to beloved franchises making a comeback to exciting new indies making their first appearance, 2018 is sure to be an interesting year in gaming.

On this episode of Random Encounter: -Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is dissected. -We give some initial thoughts on the Lost Sphear demo on the Nintendo Switch. -Derek tries to convince everyone that Romancing Saga 2 is worth it. -And the Monster Hunter World demo makes us feel... things? Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Nathan Lee Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

The latest installment of the Danganronpa series has proven to be a bit controversial given its explosive ending, so we're going to try something new with Random Encounter. In order to avoid ruining V3 for our regular listeners, we've decided to devote an entire episode to dissecting this title and all that comes with it. We would recommend only listening to this episode if you've played every game in the series, as we're going to have to spoil lots of stuff for all of this to make sense. Oh, and let us know if you like this style of episode. We'd love to do more in the future if there's demand! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Michael Sollosi and Alana Hagues Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

On this episode of Random Encounter: -Everyone is excited to hear about the return of Valkyria Chronicles. -Caitlin regales us with tales from the frozen lands of Horizon Zero Dawn. -Rob confirms that Skyrim on Switch is Skyrim on Switch. -Derek and newcomer Nathan Lee give some thoughts on Pokemon Ultra Sun and Moon. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Nathan Lee Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Astral Era banner by Stephanie Sybydlo Robert invites Derek Heemsbergen of the Astral Era podcast and RPGFan to MisanthroPlay for a brief discussion of their individual histories with MMORPGs, before Robert prods Derek to explain what makes Final Fantasy XIV so special, as well as tips for newcomers on how to get to grips with its lush world.Be sure to follow Derek on Twitter, listen to his podcasts Astral Era and Random Encounter, and check out his OpenCritic. NotesSimutronicsSteam: Ragnarok OnlineGiant Bomb: Arcturus: The Curse and Loss of DivinityFFXIV Wiki: Hall of the Novice

On this episode of Random Encounter: -Mike talks about South Park: The Fractured But Whole. -Derek tries to explain the history of .hack//G.U. -Rob constantly tries to derail the podcast since he hasn't played many RPGs lately. -The crew gives some thoughts on the violent trailers that came out of Sony's last press conference. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Mike Sollosi Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

On this episode of Random Encounter: -Derek discusses his complicated relationship with Chaos;Child. -Rob tries to articulate his feelings on the opening of Danganronpa V3. -Caitlin argues that we should have covered Dying Light. -Derek gushes over The Secret of Mana Collection on the Switch. -We all try to come to terms with difficulty and tedium in Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Tangledeep. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Caitlin Argyros Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

On this episode of Random Encounter: -Alana and Derek discuss the despair of Danganronpa V3. -Caitlin tries to convince Rob that Destiny 2 is worth his time. -Everyone loves the Octopath Traveler Demo. -Something something Ys VIII is awesome something something. -And everyone should check out the Etrian Odyssey 5 demo, like, right now! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Alana Hagues Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

This is another of our more random episodes of Random Encounter, but that gives us a chance to talk about a ton of games. We've got Pyre, Ever Oasis, Tokyo Xanadu, Miitopia, Final Fantasy XII and musings about how fun it's going to be to play Dragon Quest XI next year. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Stephanie Sybydlo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Episode 1: It All Starts HereGreetings, Eorzeans! Welcome to the newly-launched home of Astral Era, a Final Fantasy XIV podcast. My name is Derek Heemsbergen, and I'm joined by two co-hosts: Jeremy Wyatt and Wulf. Yes, just Wulf. He's our Deep Throat, except...Eorzean. He's corrupt, but only where it matters.Today, in our inaugural episode, we run through some brief introductions before discussing Wulf's discovery of The Hunt and Companion Chocobos, changes in the newly-released Patch 4.06, current class balance, and the new wearable goodies arriving in The Feast Season 5 and the Moonfire Faire.We welcome any comments, questions, tasteful nudes (Wulf's directive, not mine), or any feedback you have for us! We're still fresh, which means there are bound to be roadbumps. We'll continue to make changes to the sections we discuss in the show as we discover what works best. Thanks for taking the time to check us out, and I hope you like what you hear!The Astral Era has begun.Download Episode 1: It All Starts Here - MP3, 52:10Subscribe to Astral Era on iTunes! Featuring: Derek Heemsbergen, Jeremy Wyatt, Wulf  

We've obviously got to talk about Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, so that's what you're going to hear about for the vast majority of this episode of Random Encounter. Derek, Caitlin and Steph all seem to love it, and you'd probably do well to check it out yourself. After that, Rob talks a bit about his return to XCOM 2, and then we look at Famitsu's (questionable?) list of the top RPGs of all time. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Stephanie Sybydlo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Coming to you from a hotel room cramped with too many tired people, it's the RPGFan E3 2017 podcast! Listen as we take you through our thoughts on this year's show as well as our exciting award selection. Which games blew us away? What disappointed us? Do we really need that much Skyrim? Find out now! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Michael Sollosi, Mike Salbato, Robert Fenner, Peter Triezenberg, Steph Sybydlo, Colin Burns and John Alas Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Well, this one kinda came out of nowhere! The podcast crew is absolutely gushing about Prey, but what exactly makes this game so darn exciting? After that, we've got to discuss The Caligula Effect, Trails in the Sky the 3rd, and we have some more (non-spoiler) thoughts on Persona 5. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Nick Ransbottom Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

It's finally time to talk about Persona 5. In the interest of spoilers, we've included some timestamps in case you don't want to hear about specifics. After that, we've got a little Cosmic Star Heroine and we have to start the hype train for Dragon Quest XI. Localization talk at 33:15 Questionable social link talk at 46:10 All Persona 5 talk ends at 1:06:15 Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Robert Fenner and Michael Sollosi Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

It's a little early to start talking about Persona 5, so instead we're going to focus on Mass Effect Andromeda this week. After that, we've got some (brief) impressions of the latest DLC for Dark Souls 3, a few final thoughts on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and then we've got to go over the changes to Final Fantasy XV. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Caitlin Argyros Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

The Nintendo Switch is here, and the Random Encounter crew have some pretty positive impressions so far. After that, we move on to a long discussion about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a smattering of NieR: Automata, robot dinosaur hunting in Horizon Zero Dawn, and finally some initial thoughts on Torment: Tides of Numenera. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Robert Fenner Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

So, is Nintendo's mobile strategy paying off in Fire Emblem Heroes? Did Rob finally come around on Nioh? Did Michael kill all the metal slimes in Dragon Quest VIII? Can Derek hate a Digimon game even harder? And has Peter finally gotten a good Kingdom Hearts game? Find out on our latest episode of Random Encounter! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Michael Sollosi and Peter Triezenberg Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Well, we obviously have to talk about the Nintendo Switch, right? After that, we dig into Tales of Berseria, Dragon Quest VIII and Yakuza 0. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Caitlin Argyros Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

2016 has come and gone, and it's time to take our annual look at the year in RPGs. From Dragon Quest Builders to Tokyo Mirage Sessions, we run through all of the big releases this year before taking some time to look ahead to 2017. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Robert Fenner Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Most of the crew had a chance to finish Final Fantasy XV, so we're going to wrap up our thoughts without going into spoiler territory (though you should skip ahead to minute 45 if you're really concerned). After that, we try to figure out what the hell is going on with Let it Die, and then we debate some quantum mechanics with Steins;Gate 0. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros, Robert Fenner and Stephanie Sybydlo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Of course we have to talk about Pokemon Sun and Moon, but we've also got some final thoughts on all of those Dragon Quest games that have come out recently, some objections with Ace Attorney, and Jesse would kill me if I failed to mention some Echoes of Aetheria talk. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Mike Sollosi and Jesse Woo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Well, we certainly have a lot of Dragon Quest to talk about. We've got Dragon Quest Builders, and a little more Dragon Quest VII, but there's also some pretty big news going on with Final Fantasy XIV. After that, we round out the show with World of Final Fantasy, Paper Mario Color Splash, Exist Archive and the Danganronpa anime. Enjoy! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and John Tucker Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

It's been a while, so hopefully we haven't forgotten how to podcast! We've got Deus Ex: Mankind Divided to augment, Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse to negotiate, and Dragon Quest VII to, uh, quest with? We're going to start tackling those emails y'all keep sending us. And to wrap things up, we've got an interview with Chris Holzworth, Lead Editor on the SMT4A localization team and RPGFan staffer from way back! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros, Mike Sollosi and Nick Ransbottom Special Guest(s): Christopher Holzworth from Atlus Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Yep, we have to talk about the Final Fantasy XV delay. After that, we wander a bit with Shiren, Derek and Caitlin go nuts for Trails of Cold Steel 2, we do our best Batman impressions, and Peter gives some final thoughts I am Setsuna. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Peter Triezenberg Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

It's way too hot outside, so grab your favorite frosty beverage and join the crew of Random Encounter as we try to survive the insane summer heat. We've got (more!) Final Fantasy XIV, Shiren the Wanderer, 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, some disclosure agreement talk and a little NX speculation. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros, Jesse Woo, and Stephanie Sybydlo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Yay, we get to finally talk about Zero Time Dilemma! But don't worry, faithful listeners, as we won't be spoiling any of the mystery for you. We've also got The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine, Tokyo Mirage Sessions, 7th Dragon and Pokemon Go to go (HA!) over, so grab a cool beverage and enjoy. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Mike Sollosi Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

With E3 2016 in the rear-view mirror, it's time to take a breath, drink some scotch (the preferred drink of RPGFan), and try to assess everything that happened. From Zelda to God of War to Persona 5, we've got you covered when it comes to gaming at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. Scorpio! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros, Mike Sollosi, and Stephanie Sybydlo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Let's talk about our backlog a bit before the inevitable E3 hype. We've got Valkyria Chronicles HD, Romancing Saga 2, Wild Arms 3, and some Shin Megami Tensei to gush over before we try to contain our excitement for E3 2016. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Jesse Woo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

We should probably focus on all of the crazy news over the past few weeks, huh? After a brief talk about the ending to Danganronpa 2 (don't worry, no spoilers), we do our best to take apart the amazing Persona 5 trailer and try to figure out just what Nintendo's up to. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Robert Fenner Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Another week of way too many games to talk about, friends. We've got Bravely Second, Nioh, Severed and The Banner Saga 2, along with a number of quick thoughts on titles in our individual backlogs. But the real story here is at the end where we say goodbye to a longtime podcast member and friend. You don't want to miss it! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Mike Sollosi and Jesse Woo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Quick, get in the car! No time to explain! We have to breakdown the most recent Final Fantasy XV announcements, talk about why we're not covering Hyper Light Drifter, complain about coop problems in Moon Hunters, and give some final thoughts on Dark Souls III. Grab your leather jacket and let's roll! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and John Tucker Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Time to sharpen your swords and drink some caffeine to help your reflexes, friends. We've got Salt and Sanctuary and Dark Souls III to test your might, some Steins;Gate to properly investigate, Norn9 to pursue, and Zero Time Dilemma news to gush over. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Robert Fenner Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Spring is just around the corner, and we're starting to get excited for all the potential news and rumors that start this time of year right before E3. We've got a Nintendo Direct to dissect, some Fire Emblem to gush over, PoPoLoCrois to discover, and The Division to... devise? I've got nothing, folks! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Michael Sollosi Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

The New Year is upon us, and the Random Encounter crew has lots to say about the latest releases. Everyone seems super pleased with Trails of Cold Steel, Rob (despite some rage here and there) appears to really like Darkest Dungeon, Derek loves on some Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam, Caitlin got a chance to play The Division, and, of course, we have to talk about all of the latest Fire Emblem Fates news that's been lighting up the interwebs. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Robert Fenner Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

We're back with our last regular episode of 2015, and of course we're going to talk about Xenoblade Chronicles X and The Old Hunters expansion for Bloodborne. Oh, and there's that whole Final Fantasy VII Remake thing that we kinda have to analyze too, huh? Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen and Caitlin Argyros Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Well, we definitely need to talk about Fallout 4, so take a break from playing to find out what the crew of Random Encounter thinks of Bethesda's latest. After that, Rob chats about his time with Danganronpa (and Derek yells at him for not trying it sooner), Caitlin talks about the latest changes to Final Fantasy XIV, and Stephen debates some Apollo Justice. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen and Caitlin Argyros Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Well, we finally made it to 100 episodes. Take a second to breathe that in, folks. What better way to celebrate than to keep doing the same damn thing we've always done! Rob tries his best to keep calm while playing Wasteland 2 and Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition, Derek talks about his Tales of Zestiria experience and teenage angst in Life is Strange, Stephen gushes over the Ace Attorney trilogy, and Peter describes his thirst for (slime) blood in Dragon Quest Heroes. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen and Peter Triezenberg Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Kept you waiting, huh? We certainly have a lot to talk about this week, starting with catching up on the games everyone's been playing. Rob got a chance to beat Witcher 3, Caitlin gushes over Until Dawn, Mike plugs another podcast with The Last Story, and Derek enjoyed some Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls. After all that, we dig into the Tokyo Game Show and try to contain our excitement. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros and Mike Sollosi Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Well, this might be one of the craziest episodes we've ever had. Not only is it a massive crew of podcasters this week, but we've also got an insane number of topics. Of course we have to talk about the latest Dragon Quest news and then we've also got updates on Divinity II, the latest Kickstarter controversies, the legalities of a Final Fantasy beat 'em up, and Stephen gets to gush about King's Quest so you'll all buy it! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros, Mike Sollosi and Jesse Woo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

The summer calm gives our crew a chance to catch their breath and look at their backlog. Rob talks about the latest updates to The Witcher 3 and Diablo 3, Caitlin nearly persuades everyone to replay Final Fantasy Tactics, and Derek talks about betrayal and death in Lost Dimension. There's also a bit of Dragon Quest speculation during our news roundup, but that was before all of today's insanity. You better believe we will cover all of that on the next show! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen and Caitlin Argyros Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

E3 is firmly in the rearview mirror, so now we can finally get back to business. Derek and Stephen gush about Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, Rob tries to convey the utter weirdness of Lisa: The Painful RPG, and then everyone loses their minds over the news we're getting another Zero Escape game (while Jesse makes the mistake of asking if he should give it a try). Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen and Jesse Woo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Sorry to keep you waiting! E3 is behind us, and now the crew gets together to talk about all of the craziness of this year's show. From the Final Fantasy VII remake to Fallout 4, we give you our thoughts on all of the RPGs at the show and what to expect in the years to come. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Derek Heemsbergen, Jeremy Harnage and Jesse Woo Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Geralt rides into the podcast, and everyone has a ton to say about The Witcher 3. Following that, the gang engages in some discussion about sexuality, gender, race and whole bunch of hot button issues in gaming. There's a bit of Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker talk before we give some E3 predictions and desires (hint, Stephen wants Kingdom Hearts 3 info before he explodes). Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen and Caitlin Argyros Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Yeah, we're going to talk a lot about Bloodborne. You knew this was coming, so sit back and enjoy. Oh, and we also have some Final Fantasy Type-0 HD to talk about, too. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Michael Sollosi and Peter Triezenberg Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Jeez, there are almost too many games to talk about this week. We've got Citizens of Earth, Criminal Girls, Darkest Dungeon, Ghost Song, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., and a little Brandish to keep you warm during this incredibly cold winter. Oh, and there was some kind of new trailer for a game that has everyone hyped. I think it was called Persona 5 or something. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, John Tucker, and Jeremy Harnage Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

We've got a big one for y'all this week. The gang talks about Lords of the Fallen, Valkyria Chronicles, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Freedom Wars and Fantasy Life. Be sure to stay tuned after the regular show for our exclusive interview with Cameron Lee, producer of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Caitlin Argyros Special Guest(s): Cameron Lee - Producer of Dragon Age: Inquisition Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

For the first time ever, Random Encounter comes to you live from E3! Join the editors of RPGFan as they fight off sleep deprivation to talk about the glitz, glamour and majesty of the world's largest gaming trade show! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Kyle E. Miller, Liz Maas, Andrew Barker, Mike Salbato Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

If you want to find someone who knows a thing or two about overworld tunes, RPGFan is the place to look. It's lucky, then, that Stephen Meyerink and Derek Heemsbergen (both hosts of music-focused podcast Rhythm Encounter) have agreed to lend their expertise and vocal chords in an episode all about exploration themes. We travel to the heights of Hyrule and the depths of Resident Evil: Director Cut's basement, so hold onto your hats.

Kyle talks about the time he killed a man for a job in Bravely Default, Derek saves the world while trying to make sense of the story in Lightning Returns, and Stephen and Rob spend some time testing out the new patch in a game y'all are probably tired of them talking about by now. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Kyle E. Miller Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Kept you waiting, huh? We're had a heck of a time trying to get another recording together, but we've got an awesome show for y'all to make up for it. We've got lots of games to talk about, including The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Rogue Legacy, Ys: Memories of Celceta, and Baldur's Gate II. Following a rousing news section with Derek, Rob and Stephen sit down with some of the developers working on the upcoming indie title Darkest Dungeon. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, John Tucker Special Guest(s): Chris Bourassa and Tyler Sigman from Red Hook Studios Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Spoiler Warning! And now for something completely different. The podcast crew decided it was time to take a long hard look at narrative in RPGs and video games as a whole. We pretty much get lost talking about the importance of player choice, strong character interactions, and the interactive nature of the art form. There are some spoilers here and there, but we do our best to bring up the game beforehand so you can skip ahead as needed. Derek brings it home with news, including some pretty disappointing financials from Square-Enix. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Kyle E. Miller, Dave Yeager Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Y'all wanted more retro episodes, so we put together a brief discussion of System Shock 2 and its impact on the gaming world since its release nearly fourteen years ago. After that, you know we just have to talk about the big Playstation 4 announcement last week, and we've certainly got some rather divisive opinions among the group. Featuring: Robert Steinman, John, McCarroll, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Kyle E. Miller Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Our first ever Music of the Year show, featuring some of our favorite tracks from the year. Stay tuned after the show for our interview with Casey Ormond, arranger of the Piano Collections Final Fantasy XII album! And if you like the show, be sure to let us know! Featuring: Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Patrick Gann, Don Kotowski Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

2012 has finally come to a close, and thankfully the Mayans weren't right and the world keeps turning. But before we start talking about 2013, join us for a look back at some of the major releases of last year with a bit more time and perspective on our side. Of course we've got some crazy predictions for 2013, so be sure to listen and tell us in a year just how wrong we were! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen, Kyle E. Miller Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Ya know what's a good idea? Let's send the biggest MMO-hater on the site out to Seattle to check out Guild Wars 2. It may sound like a recipe for disaster, but Rob came back with a huge smile on his face and a desire to play more of the innovative title due out later this year. In addition, John found a surprising amount of quality listener mail, giving us the oppourtunity to hold our very first Q and A session! How freakin' sweet is that?! Zack brings it all home with his usual news roundup, including a special piece that's sure to make both Rob and Stephen very happy... Featuring: Robert Steinman, John McCarroll, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen and Ashton Liu Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

It's spring time and allergy season has hit the podcast crew like a ton of bricks, but that won't stop us from talking about some great JRPG releases! We finally have Xenoblade in America as well as Tales of Graces f to satiate us during these sneeze filled months. There's also a lot of Kickstarter stuff to talk about in news, leading to the revival of some well loved franchises (yay for Shadowrun!). Featuring: Robert Steinman, John McCarroll, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen and Ashton Liu Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

Seems like everyone is talking about the JRPG Xenoblade and wondering whether or not we'll see it on domestic shores. Well, the crew of Random Encounter decided to focus on this heavily anticipated title, and reached the consensus that, yeah, it is a pretty big deal. Following an in depth analysis of the title, Derek brings the podcast home with the week's crazy news, including an Old Republic release date, the rabid anticipation of Dark Souls, a Final Fantasy remake, and the delay(?) of Diablo 3. Warning: This podcast may contain sheep. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Derek Heemsbergen and Greig McCallum Questions? Comments? Spare Potions? Email us: podcast@rpgfan.com

On this nostalgia-laden edition of Random Encounter the editors of RPGFan sit down to discuss a game that made them the RPG fans they are today: Phantasy Star IV. Listen as Rob, John, Stephen and Derek explain why exactly Phantasy Star IV ranks as one of the best JRPGs of all time. NOTE: This episode contains heavy spoilers for the Phantasy Star series. Featuring: Robert Steinman, John McCarroll, Stephen Meyerink and Derek Heemsbergen

They came. They saw. They conquered. And now the editors of RPGFan are here to tell you about the most exciting RPGs at E3 2011! Final Fantasy XIII-2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and more. Featuring: Robert Steinman, John McCarroll, Kimberley Wallace, Liz Maas and Derek Heemsbergen

A quintet of RPGFan editors present... a soundtrack spectactular! With John and Zack away for the week, Pat, Dennis and Derek join Rob and Stephen for a lengthy discussion on their favorite RPG sountracks. Sure, they talk about games as well (and boy do they talk about a lot of them), but haven't you always wanted to learn about obscure soundtrack terminology? Games Discussed: Back to the Future: The Game, Winter Voices, Rune Factory 3, Cthulu Saves the World, Final Fantasy XI, Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!, Persona 3 Portable, Dissidia: Final Fantasy, 9 Person, 9 Hours, 9 Doors, Reccetear: An Item Shop's Tale, Phantasy Star Portable 2, The Witcher, and more! Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink, Patrick Gann, Dennis Rubenshteyn and Derek Heemsbergen

This week's episode of the podcast includes discussions on the following RPGs: Lunar Harmony of Silver Star, Parasite Eve, Final Fantasy XIII, Dragon Quest IX, Persona 3 Portable, Tales of Innocence, Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age II. Our panel also chimes in on the topic of difficulty in RPGs. Featuring: Robert Steinman, Dennis Rubenshteyn, Derek Heemsbergen, Stephen Meyerink, Zachary Pintchik