In this episode, I talk to Russell Gordon, who is also The Iron Mage. He’s a musician who is trying to get into the business of scoring video games. In the first part of our conversation, I find out what games Russell has been playing recently,

Episode 18: Looking Back & Moving Forward

Jan 24th, 2020 27m 34s

I only completed fourteen games in 2019, and I wrote even fewer reviews. Toward the end of the year, I all but stopped doing episodes of Side Quests. Well, 2020 is a new year.In my first episode for the new year, I start by recapping my year in

Episode 17: Another Maiden Voyage (High Seas)

Aug 22nd, 2019 16m 27s

While the podcast still plans to focus on video games and video game related topics, I am going to try and focus a little more on the musical aspect of games. But, I still have ideas that I haven't gotten to and I'm sure more will come along. S

Episode 15: Huh!? Pt. 2 {with The Well-Red Mage}

Jun 23rd, 2019 26m 44s

In part two of the discussion with The ABXY Mage and The Well-Red Mage, they talk about how they mispronounced different video game words when they were stupid, little kids. Some of these include Ryu, from Street Fighter, the difference between

Episode 14: Huh!? Pt. 1 {with The Well-Red Mage}

Jun 23rd, 2019 25m 50s

In this episode, The ABXY Mage and The Well-Red Mage talk about different ways to pronounce various video game names, places, beasts, etc.They start with a simple example of Mar-ee-o vs. Mary-o and how location can determine how you pronounce d

Episode 16: Huh!? Pt. 3 {with The Well-Red Mage}

Jun 23rd, 2019 41m 35s

In the conclusion of the dialogue between The ABXY Mage and his legendary and loquacious friend, The Well-Red Mage, they begin by spending a little more time on their favorite--and the objectively greatest--game ever: Chrono Trigger. This bags

Episode 11: Non-Final Bosses Pt. 1 {with The Bizzaro Mage & The Off-Centered Earth Mage}

Jun 21st, 2019 27m 11s

Memorable bosses and memorbale boss fights are one of the enduring characteristics of video games. And, we don't just mean final bosses. In fact, for this episode of Side Quests, we decided not to talk about final bosses at all. Instead, we foc

Episode 13: Non-Final Bosses Pt. 3 {with The Bizzaro Mage & The Off-Centered Earth Mage}

Jun 21st, 2019 33m 15s

In the third, and final, part of their conversation on non-final bosses, The ABXY Mage, The Bizzaro Mage, and The Off-Centered Earth Mage talk about some their favorite boss battle songs, and they also discuss the pros and cons of multi-stage b

Episode 12: Non-Final Bosses Pt. 2 {with The Bizzaro Mage & The Off-Centered Earth Mage}

Jun 21st, 2019 29m 15s

The ABXY Mage, The Bizzaro Mage, and The Off-Centered Earth Mage continue their talk about boss fights by covering their favorite game genres for boss battles, as well as the annoying, wussy bosses that rely on minions to do their dirty work fo

Episode 8: Mario Kart Tour & Dr. Mario World {with The Kingly Yellow Mage}

Jun 21st, 2019 28m 30s

Did you know that Nintendo has two, new mobile games coming out in 2019? Well, The ABXY Mage and Kingly Yellow Mage talk about both of them. First, they talk about whether or not a need or desire exists for Mario Kart Tour. Will a Mario Kart ga

Episode 9: Apex Legends & Taxing Violent Games {with The Kingly Yellow Mage}

Jun 21st, 2019 17m 9s

Apex Legends came virtually out of nowhere. The Kingly Yellow Mage educates The ABXY Mage on it, Fortnite, PUBG, and Titanfall.He also brings a news article regarding a proposal for a tax on violent video games. This leads to talk about educati

Episode 10: Q&ABXY with The ABXY Mage

Jun 21st, 2019 30m 40s

Have you ever wondered what the mages are like? Have you ever wanted to know more about who they are and why? Well, that's where this new series comes in.Q&ABXY is a series of interviews consisting of listener, follower, contributor, and fellow

Episode 7: (Faux)pen World Problems & The Future of Final Fantasy {with The Kingly Yellow Mage}

Jun 20th, 2019 25m 29s

The ABXY Mage and The Kingly Yellow Mage talk about what they liked and disliked about Final Fantasy XV as well as the difference between the series' time in turn-based and active combat systems. Intertwined with all of this, they also touch on

Episode 4: Resident Evil (1996) - Attack/Counterattack Pt. 1 {with The Bizzaro Mage}

Jun 20th, 2019 36m 6s

In this episode, The ABXY Mage talks to The Bizzaro Mage about how he came to join The Well-Red Mage and how he was introduced to the Resident Evil series. On whether or not Resident Evil is still a good game, they start by covering the graphic

Episode 5: Resident Evil (1996) - Attack/Counterattack Pt. 2 {with The Bizzaro Mage}

Jun 20th, 2019 38m 1s

Continuing the discussion on whether or not Resident Evil (1996) holds up, The Bizzaro Mage and The ABXY Mage talk about the various plot holes and the legendarily bad voice acting. They also get into the other games in the series and how the o

Episode 3: VGM History Pt. 3 - Genres, Silence, & Favorites {with The Well-Red Mage}

Jun 20th, 2019 33m 44s

In this episode, The ABXY Mage and The Well-Red Mage start by discussing iconic songs from multiple games, franchises, and composers. We then move on to music and game genres and how they mix as well as games that attempt to incorporate silence

Episode 6: Resident Evil (1996) - Attack/Counterattack Pt. 3 {with The Bizzaro Mage}

Jun 20th, 2019 27m 16s

Well, this is it. There's a helicopter coming in to end this show. Did we decide that Resident Evil is still worth playing? Is it still a classic? How does it hold up against the remakes and the sequels?Of course, The ABXY Mage and The Bizzaro

Episode 2: VGM History Pt. 2 - Nintendo & Early Composers {with The Well-Red Mage}

Jun 19th, 2019 41m 4s

In the second episode, The ABXY Mage and The Well-Red Mage move into Nintendo’s impact on video game music, notable and early composers and songs, and their mutual-favorite game composer.Check us out on The Well-Red Mage!

Episode 1: VGM History Pt. 1 - From Strauss To Commodore {with The Well-Red Mage}

Jun 19th, 2019 25m 55s

In the first episode, The ABXY Mage and The Well-Red Mage discuss where the idea for Side Quests came from, where it would like to go, public perception of video game music, earliest soundtracks, and the C64.Check us out on The Well-Red Mage!