The Video Wizards Podcast

VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 31: Winter 1988/1989

Show bill for episode 31 of Video Wizards

Follow us into the winter of ’88 going into ’89 as we step into the final year of the decade and bid adieu to President Ronnie when he exits the White House.

In the arcades, fists are flying with the likes of Technōs’ sequel to Double Dragon, SNK’s third Ikari Warriors game and SEGA’s pretty spectacular Wrestle War. SEGA also release the hyper innovative tactical shooter Gain Ground and present an alternative Wonder Boy III by Westone that feels like a bit of a throwback to the first game in its oh so confusing series. There is of course more, but maybe most notable of all is that Namco drop a polygonal racer that eclipses Atari’s Hard Drivin’ in just about any way, with Winning Run. And they do it in the very same time period!

At home, it’s all about computer gaming, but SEGA and Nintendo’s 8-bit gaming consoles are creeping on a come up in Europe, with especially the NES getting a real heavy hitter that goes by the curious name of Castlevania.

With the end of the decade nigh, the music charts and even the Metal scene make for a real uneven, but not entirely uninteresting hodge podge of musical output. On the other hand, the genre of Hip-Hop enters the second year of its first real golden era, as N.W.A., De La Soul and 2 Live Crew enter the stage while making major impact.

In movie theaters, excited silver screen enjoyers get to viddy a variety of Guns, from the Young to the Naked variety, while The Living Dead unfortunately return a second time, for a bit of fairly redundant horror schlock.

While this episode has a bit of chronological overlap with episode 1 of Video Wizards, you’ll find that there is very little redundant about this latest monster in nostalgic, retrospective and reflective podcasting fun.

Gain Ground

By The Arcade Flyers Archive, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25913568

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair

By TAFA, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32963968

Double Dragon II: The Revenge

Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7660448

M.I.A.: Missing in Action

By http://caesar.logiqx.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15132295

Winning Run

By The poster art can or could be obtained from Namco., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44233155

Asuka & Asuka

Ikari III: The Rescue

By [caesar.logiqx.com/php/game_group.php?id=ikari3 CAESAR], Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15493885

Wrestle War — The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 30, L-R-T-B: Gain Ground. Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, Double Dragon II: The Revenge, M.I.A.: Missing in Action, Winning Run, Asuka & Asuka, Ikari III: The Rescue, Wrestle War

Other music used in this episode:

Round 1 – by Shinji Hosoe for Ordyne, 1988
Genesis / Causing (Brave Men’s Themes) – by Katsuhiro Hayashi & Dolphin for Gain Ground, 1988
Stage 1 – by Shinichi Sakamoto for Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, 1988
Mission 1 – by Kazunaka Yamane for Double Dragon II: The Revenge, 1989
Boss – by ??? for M.I.A., 1989
Theme from Winning Run – by ??? for Winning Run, 1989
Current City (Round 1) – by ??? for Asuka & Asuka, 1989
Area 1 – by Kikuko Hataya & Toshikazu Tanaka for Ikari III: The Rescue, 1989
BGM 1 – by ??? for Wrestle War, 1989
Stalker – by Kinuyo Yamashita, Satoe Terashima & Hidenori Maezawa for Castlevania, 1986
Straight Outta Compton – by N.W.A., 1988
Fuck Tha Police – by N.W.A., 1988
Potholes in my Lawn (Instrumental) – by Prince Paul & De La Soul, 1988
Me So Horny – by 2 Live Crew, 1989
One in a Million – by Guns N’ Roses, 1988
Youth Gone Wild – by Skid Row, 1989
Caught Between the Tigers – by TNT, 1989
Tonight I’m Falling – by TNT, 1989
Mayor of Simpleton – by XTC, 1989
Two Hearts – by Phil Collins, 1989
Smooth Criminal – by Michael Jackson, 1988
Loco in Acapulco – by Four Tops, 1988
She Drives Me Crazy – by Fine Young Cannibals, 1988
Big Fun – by Inner City, 1988
Respect – by The Real Roxanne, 1988
Good Life – by Inner City, 1988
Buffalo Stance – by Neneh Cherry, 1988
The Lover in Me – by Sheena Easton, 1988
Main Theme from Als je begrijpt wat ik bedoel – by Herman Schoonderwalt & Gildo del Mistro for the motion picture Als je begrijpt wat ik bedoel, 1983

Episode edited by: Juli Reed & Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Android, Google Podcasts, Player FM or via RSS.

VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 30: Autumn 1991

Let us take you with us to the turbulent autumn period of 1991 in this new and improved seasonal Video Wizards podcast format. While the Soviet Union’s dissolution is in effect mode and things are kicking off in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, we yet again look at the world of arcade games and the popular culture of this time.

Just about half a year after Street Fighter II’s seismic initial release, the rest of the arcade industry hasn’t quite caught up yet. In this moment in time, games in a variety of genres other than versus fighters are hitting the arcade floor. We see beat ’em ups like Captain America and The Avengers by Data East, SNK’s Robo Army and Capcom’s Knights of the Round. Shoot ’em ups like Armed Police Unit Gallop by Irem, Taito’s Metal Black and Acrobat Mission by UPL. And then there are Konami’s seminal Western themed run and gun Sunset Riders and Technos’ mammoth grappler WWF Wrestlefest… which incidentally features classic monster heel Earthquake as a playable character.

But the quaking doesn’t stop there, as the Grunge movement takes over everything guitar music based. And Hip-Hop sees a slew of successful sophomoric albums reach record store shelves, while some regional rivalries start brewing in the background.

In the European home gaming market, SEGA’s 16-bit console the Mega Drive has begun to gain proper momentum following the release of Sonic the Hedgehog – with hits like Streets of Rage, Toejam & Earl and Phantasy Star 3 – and there is a plethora of other gaming platform palates to take your pick from, from handhelds, to consoles, to home computers. While in cinemas the pickings are much more slim, as we look at 2 turds and one much better effort: the spooky season staple The Addams Family.

So get very comfortable indeed, for a 7 and a half hour audio fest of nostalgic warmth that should sort you out just nicely, as the days are getting colder and the nights are getting longer.

Sunset Riders

By C.A. Robinson, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14180885

Acrobat Mission

Armed Police Unit Gallop

By http://www.retrocpu.com/mame/roms/g/gallop_-_armed_police_unit_japan, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30077847

Robo Army

By SNK - https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=907, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59158515

Captain America and The Avengers

By The cover art can or could be obtained from Retroist.com., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31639340

WWF Wrestlefest

By The Arcade Flyer Archive, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15804385

Metal Black

By Taito - https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=5660, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12132132

Knights of the Round

By CAESAR, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15321625 — The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 30, L-R-T-B: Sunset Riders, Acrobat Mission, Armed Police Unit Gallop / Cosmic Cop, Robo Army, Captain America and The Avengers, WWF Wrestlefest, Metal Black, Knights of the Round

Other music used in this episode:

Smuggler’s Wharf – by ??? for 64th Street: A Detective Story, 1991
Magnificent Four (Attract Mode) – by Motoaki Furukawa for Sunset Riders, 1991
Countryside (Mission 1) – by Yoshio Nagashima & Hiroshi Nishikawa for Acrobat Mission, 1991
The Funky Flamingo (Zone A) – by Takushi Hiyamuta for Armed Police Unit Gallop / Cosmic Cop, 1997
Mechanical Forest – by Yasumasa Yamada & Kazuhiro Nishida for Robo Army, 1991
Attract Mode – by Tomoyoshi Sato & Tatsuya Kiuchi for Captain America and The Avengers, 1991
Royal Rumble Theme – by Yoshihiro Kameoka for WWF Wrestlefest, 1991
Red & Yellow (Attract Mode) – by Yasuhisa Watanabe of Zuntata for Metal Black, 1991
Player Select Theme – by Isao Abe for Knights of the Round, 1991
Title Theme – by Yuzo Koshiro for Streets of Rage / Bare Knuckle, 1991
Verses from the Abstract – by A Tribe Called Quest featuring Ron Carter, 1991
Uptown Anthem – by Naughty by Nature, 1991
Livin’ Like a Troopa – by Greyson & Jaysun, 1991
Excursions – by A Tribe Called Quest, 1991
Buggin’ Out – by A Tribe Called Quest, 1991
The Choice is Yours – by Black Sheep, 1991
True to the Game – by Ice Cube, 1991
Mistadobalina – by Del The Funky Homosapien, 1991
Releasing Hypnotical Gases – by Organized Konfusion, 1991
Fuck Compton – by Tim Dog, 1991
Step To Me – by Tim Dog, 1991
Even Flow – by Pearl Jam, 1991
Smells Like Teen Spirit – by Nirvana, 1991
You Could Be Mine – by Guns N’ Roses, 1991
Suck My Kiss – by Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1991
Rusty Cage – by Soundgarden, 1991
Don’t Cry – by Guns N’ Roses, 1991
Black or White – by Michael Jackson, 1991
Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good) – by Rozalla, 1991
Always There – by Incognito featuring Jocelyn Brown, 1991
Now That We Found Love – Heavy D & The Boys featuring Aaron Hall, 1991
Cream – by Prince & The New Power Generation, 1991
Gett Off – by Prince & The New Power Generation, 1991
BB’s Blues – by The Bum Notes for Bottom, 1991

Episode edited by: Juli Reed & Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Android, Google Podcasts, Player FM or via RSS.

VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 29: Summer 1997

Follow us to the transitional, warm summer glow of 1997 for episode 29 of the Video Wizards podcast. It’s a tumultuous and fisticuffs filled time in the arcades as we look at a range of fighting games that would go on to have a keen audience at home as well, such as The King of Fighters’ 1997 installment by SNK, Hudson and Eighting’s own mighty morphin’ Bloody Roar a.k.a. Beastorizer and the loudest and most attention grabbing of them all: Capcom’s Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter!!! Capcom also takes a page out of the book of Pilo Fonck and presents the rather fun Capcom Sports Club and SEGA almost effortlessly reaches a wider audience with a thirst for blockbuster spectacle with the thrill ride that is The Lost World: Jurassic Park. And then there are once again a lot of fish to shoot in G-Darius by Taito.

While the UK is reeling from the death of Lady Di and Evander Holyfield is reeling from a smack whackin’ assault on his ear by Mike Tyson, Hip-Hop starts its summer takeover, despite a widening gap between the commercial and underground branches of the genre, as Wu-Tang Clan is reunited to get the world all excited with their double LP, followed by a whole host of artists of all sorts in their wake, including the increasingly maligned Puff Daddy.

The summer of 1997 is also a great time for Hollywood, as it appears, exhibited by the major financial success of the teaming up of John Woo, John Travolta and Nicolas Cage for Face/Off… and this goes even more for Men in Black, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. And if we’re talking gaming at home, nobody has to get bored with a plethora of games to play on PlayStation including megahit Tomb Raider II, the Nintendo 64 enjoying its first summer in Europe with smashes such as Mario Kart 64 and Lylat Wars and even the Saturn is still showing signs of life, with a fine home port of SEGA arcade fighter Last Bronx!

Get ready as we dive into almost 7 hours of nostalgia basking as we cover everything from the legal challenges of rap duo CNN (Capone -N- Noreaga) to the founding of Dutch broadcasting organisation BNN (Bart’s News Network), with all the usual laughs, tears and reflective moments you’re used to from us!

Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter

By Marvel Entertainment/Capcom - http://www.ocdgamer.dk/game/?id=1130, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4791496

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

By Sega - http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=614&image=1, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54842853

The King of Fighters '97

By SNK - https://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-1528682070-pster-the-king-of-fighters-97-_JM, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73864889

Bloody Roar

G-Darius

By The Arcade Flyer Archive [1]., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14964917

Capcom Sports Club — The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 29, L-R-T-B: Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, The King of Fighters ’97, Bloody Roar, G-Darius, Capcom Sports Club

Other music used in this episode:

Jazzy NYC (Underground Edit) – by Hideki Okugawa & Yuki Iwai for Street Fighter III: The New Generation, 1997
Theme of Captain America – by Yuki Iwai & Yuko Takahara for Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, 1997
To Survive (Player Entry) – by Seiichiro Matsumura for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, 1997
Psycho Soldier Remix ’97 (Athena Asamiya Theme) – by Hideki Asanaka, Toshio Shimizu & Akihiro Uchida for The King of Fighters ’97, 1997
Tresspass (Under Highway) – by Kenichi Koyano & Hitoshi Sakimoto for Bloody Roar, 1997
KIMERA II – by Hisayoshi Ogura & Zuntata for G-Darius, 1997
Welcome to C.S.C. – by Hideki Okugawa for Capcom Sports Club, 1997
Aquas – by Koji Kondo & Hajime Wakai for Star Fox 64 / Lylat Wars, 1997
Triumph – by Wu-Tang Clan featuring Cappadonna, 1997
Reunited – by Wu-Tang Clan, 1997
Heaterz – by Wu-Tang Clan featuring Cappadonna, 1997
It’s Yourz – by Wu-Tang Clan, 1997
Severe Punishment – by Wu-Tang Clan, 1997
Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours – by Wu-Tang Clan, 1997
Visionz – by Wu-Tang Clan, 1997
Hellz Wind Staff – by Wu-Tang Clan featuring Street Life, 1997
For Heaven’s Sake – by Wu-Tang Clan featuring Cappadonna, 1997
Halfway Thugs – by Capone -N- Noreaga, 1997
T.O.N.Y. – by Capone -N- Noreaga featuring Tragedy Khadafi, 1997
Off the Books – by The Beatnuts featuring Big Punisher & Cuban Link, 1997
Just Another Case – by CRU featuring Slick Rick, 1997
Sho Shot – by Lady of Rage, 1997
The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) – by Missy Elliott, 1997
Funcrusher Scratch – by Company Flow, 1997
Silence – by Company Flow, 1996
Population Control – by Company Flow, 1997
Ho, But You Can’t Help It – by Trick Daddy Dollars, 1997
Wu-Renegades – by Killarmy, 1997
The Crow – by O.C., 1997
My World – by O.C., 1997
Iced Down Medallions – by Royal Flush featuring Noreaga, 1997
Hip Hop Drunkies – by Tha Alkaholiks featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard, 1997
A Thousand Trees – by Stereophonics, 1997
For Whom the Bell Tolls (The Irony of It All) – by Metallica & DJ Spooky, 1997
Dammit – by Blink-182, 1997
Smack My Bitch Up – by The Prodigy, 1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony – by The Verve, 1997
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Love Rollercoaster, 1997
Mo Money Mo Problems – by The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy, Mase & Kelly Price
I’ll Be – by Foxy Brown featuring Jay-Z, 1997

Episode edited by: Juli Reed & Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to テクノワールド奥州.

Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Android, Google Podcasts, Player FM or via RSS.

VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 28: May 1993

In episode 28 of the Video Wizards podcast, we are confronted with a persisting theme of assassinations and gun violence in popular media as we head back to the month May in 1993.

In the arcades, Frank Castle drags Nick Fury with him into a cycle of carnage on a rampage through the underworld, in Capcom’s The Punisher. And cinemas are in for a shock as the Hughes brothers confront audiences with how little human life is worth in the ghettos of Los Angeles, in their harrowing real world violence loaded directorial debut Menace II Society.

Away from this thematic center piece and back to the arcades, we also walk right on to the curious late era Toaplan beat ’em up Knuckle Bash, examine how SEGA’s Outrunners updates a predecessor that embodied the previous decade for the 1990s and see how Konami do with launching their very own Street Fighter II competitor, Martial Champion.

The charts are ripe with the most terrible music productions and we have to look once more for the genres of Hip-Hop and Metal to save us from the Euro dance onslaught, while the SNES, Mega Drive and Commodore Amiga demand our attention when gaming at home. And we haven’t even touched on a certain historical first silver screen adaptation of a video game property that manages to bring back a long lost Video Wizards staple… likely out of respect for the late Bob Hoskins. Yes, there is little that is Super about this 1993 Mario movie, Bros.

May 1993 feels like a pivotal moment for the 1990s era of the anti-hero and the Video Wizards are here for it. Will you be joining us on our journey of over 5 hours of nostalgic and reflective podcasting goodness? Of course you will.

The Punisher

By TAFA, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15419171

Knuckle Bash

By Toaplan - https://www.toaplangames.co.jp/license/license-22.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62364755

Outrunners

Martial Champion

By [http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/game_group.php?id=mtlchamp CAESAR - Martial Champion (ver EAB)], Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15123081 — The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 28, L-R: The Punisher, Knuckle Bash, Outrunners, Martial Champion

Other music used in this episode:

Boss 1 – by Yoko Shimomura & Isao Abe for The Punisher, 1993
Last Boss (King Building) – by Yoko Shimomura & Isao Abe for The Punisher, 1993
Stage 6 – by Masahiro Yuge & Osamu Ōta for Knuckle Bash, 1993
Passing Breeze 1993 – by Hiroshi Kawaguchi & Masayuki Nagao for Outrunners, 1993
Grasslands (Stage 1) – by Shinji Tasaka, Tsuyoshi Sekito & Hideto Inoue for Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster’s Hidden Treasure, 1993
Slaughtahouse / Jeep Ass N**** – by Masta Ace Inc, 1993
Loungin’ – by Guru presents Jazmatazz (featuring Donald Byrd), 1993
Slam – by Onyx, 1993
Streiht Up Menace – by MC Eiht for the motion picture Menace II Society, 1993
American TV – by Terrorvision, 1993
Only – by Anthrax, 1993
Live Forever (Live at Gleneagles, 1994) – by Oasis, 1994
You Suck – by Consolidated featuring The Yeastie Girlz, 1992
TV Theme Style (The Winner) – by Colin Thomson, 2018
Ghetto Bird (Instrumental) – by QDIII, 1993
Blockbusters TV Theme – by Ed Welch, 1983

Episode edited by: Juli Reed & Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Android, Google Podcasts, Player FM or via RSS.

VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 27: April 1989

In the 27th episode of Video Wizards, we close in on the end of the Cold War as the political system of communism takes hits left, right and center, in the month of April, 1989. Not in the least as Strider Hiryu bowls into Moscow and assassinates all members of the Duma, in Capcom’s arcade hit Strider. Konami, meanwhile, try their first hand at a Double Dragon style beat ’em up in the seedy and very violent Crime Fighters and Toaplan release their first horizontally scrolling shoot ’em up with Hellfire. Also, a shield carrying maiden descends to earth to cleanse it of evil in Namco’s charming Valkyrie no Densetsu.

At home, gaming is mostly done on computers and the increasingly popular 8-bit consoles, with Nintendo’s NES catching eyes as Super Mario Bros. 2 hits European store shelves, while Amiga owners are visited with the purgatorial gaming experience that is the not-so-mighty Sword of Sodan. Music wise, it’s as diverse a palette as they come, befitting the approaching turn of the century.

Not only that, the silver screen gets a double dose impact of Van Damme as the Belgian martial arts actor drops both Kickboxer and Cyborg. And British sports TV is never the same after the Hillsborough disaster. Get ready for all that and more, as the Video Wizards reminisce and reflect on this most vivid moment in time in the final year of the 1980s.

Strider

By The Arcade Flyer Archive, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18421124

Crime Fighters

By TAFA, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16167027

Hellfire

By Toaplan/Taito - https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=6454, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62402779

Valkyrie no Densetsu

Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19498616 — The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 27, L-R: Strider, Crime Fighters, Hellfire, Valkyrie no Densetsu

Other music used in this episode:

Stage 1 – by Shinichi Sakamoto for Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, 1989
St. Petersburg 1: Step Into It – by Junko Tamiya for Strider, 1989
Siberian Wilderness 1: Drive Wheel – by Junko Tamiya for Strider, 1989
Metallic Fight (Stage 1 & 5) – by Kenichi Matsubara & Mutsuhiko Izumi for Crime Fighters, 1989
Captain Lancer (Stage 1) – by Tatsuya Uemura for Hellfire, 1989
Main Theme – by Hirobe for Valkyrie no Densetsu, 1989
Overworld Theme – by Kōji Kondō for Super Mario Bros. 2, 1988
Me, Myself and I – by De La Soul, 1989
Here Comes Your Man – by The Pixies, 1989
Devil and Daughter – by Black Sabbath, 1989
Free Falling – by Tom Petty, 1989
I Won’t Back Down – by Tom Petty, 1989
Love is a Long Road – by Tom Petty, 1989
Face in the Crowd – by Tom Petty, 1989
Running Down a Dream – by Tom Petty, 1989
Lullaby – by The Cure, 1989
Straight Up – by Paula Abdul, 1988
Are You My Baby? – by Wendy & Lisa, 1989
Wild Thing – by Tone Lōc, 1988
I Can Do This – by Monie Love, 1988
Get on the Dancefloor – by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, 1988
MacGyver TV Theme – by Randy Edelman, 1985

Episode edited by: Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Android, Google Podcasts, Player FM or via RSS.

VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 26: March 1985

In episode 26 of Video Wizards, we get sucked into the cultural maelstrom of March 1985, where the global arcade industry has picked up the pieces and is striking back with, well, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by our good friends at Atari and Konami’s cutesy, sugary vertical shoot ’em up TwinBee. Namco, meanwhile, are digging in a different direction for Dig Dug II and SEGA unveil the princess of all ninjas.

In terms of gaming at home, home computers like the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore C64 and MSX dominate the European continent and there is a lot of rootin’ tootin’ sharp shootin’ going on in the classified sections of the mid 80s computer game mags. And where Run-D.M.C. have Hip Hop on lock with their King of Rock album, Rock itself sees an influx of acts from the Germanic regions. Also, chart music has never been this massive, as all pop acts and production teams are properly firing on all cylinders.

Feel even more heat as we look at funny flicks The Last Dragon and Police Academy 2 and examine the early beginnings of subscription TV. Add in your regular dosage of world and local news, Bon Jovi blastings, personal memories from your hosts and expected conversation derailments and it’s clear to see that the Video Wizards time travel tour remains on track!

The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 26, L-R: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, TwinBee, Dig Dug II, SEGA Ninja / Ninja Princess

Other music used in this episode:

BGM 1 – by ??? for TwinBee, 1985
Stage BGM – by ??? for SEGA Ninja / Ninja Princess, 1985
Ghostbusters – by Ray Parker Jr., David Crane & James Software Ltd. for Ghostbusters (ZX Spectrum), 1985
Operator – by Midnight Star, 1984
Mr. Telephone Man – by New Edition, 1985
Nightshift – by The Commodores, 1985
You Talk Too Much – by Run-D.M.C., 1985
Quasimodo – by Allied Forces, 1985
No Time to Cry – by Sisters of Mercy, 1985
Easy Lover – by Philip Bailey & Phil Collins, 1984
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – by Dead or Alive, 1984
Material Girl – by Madonna, 1985
We Close Our Eyes – by Go West, 1985
Some Like it Hot – by The Power Station, 1985
Sussudio – by Phil Collins, 1985
Shout – by Tears for Fears, 1984
This is Not America – by David Bowie & Pat Metheny Group, 1985
Jungle Love – by The Time, 1985
This is My Night – by Chaka Khan, 1985
Hill Street Blues (Theme) – by Mike Post, 1981

Episode edited by: Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Android, Google Podcasts, Player FM or via RSS.

VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 25: Winter 1983/1984

For this 25th episode of Video Wizards, we find ourselves back in the earlier 1980s, when health and safety regulations were of a lesser concern. It’s the cold, cold winter of 1983 going on 1984 and the arcade industry was rocked to the core by the “Atari Shock”. Picking up the pieces and strapped for cash, developers West and East had to make do with what they had, with incredibly varied results, ranging from Midway’s Tapper to Nintendo’s Punch-Out!! and even complete oddities such as unkowns Diatec’s Uncle Poo. Irem, meanwhile, released the influential 10-Yard Fight, Konami put out the cute and clownesque Circus Charlie and our good friends at Atari dropped a not-half-bad laserdisc game with a title that’s tough to look info up on in Altavista: Firefox.

With consoles such as the mighty Vectrex failing to etch out anything even resembling a lucrative piece of the market, it was up to computers like the MSX, C64, the freshly launched Macintosh and the ZX Spectrum to bring home some gaming goodness. All while Slayer released their first LP and Hip Hop’s early beginnings were documented with the original soundtrack of the film Wild Style. And while we’re on the topic of film, how about some iconic 80s silver screen fare like Brian de Palma’s Scarface and Footloose, as well as the incredibly poor Hot Dog… The Movie.

Grab a blanket, grab a hot beverage and get ready to warm yourself with a new four and a half hours of seasonal Video Wizards fun!

10-Yard Fight

By ?, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19644699

Uncle Poo

Tapper

Circus Charlie

By The Arcade Flyer Archive, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22487941

Punch-Out!!

Firefox — The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 25, L-R-T-B: 10-Yard Fight, Uncle Poo, Tapper, Circus Charlie, Punch-Out!!, Firefox

Other music used in this episode:

Track 3 – by Rick Hicaro for Tapper, 1984
Track 2 – by ??? for Circus Charlie, 1984
All Night Long – by Lionel Richie, 1983
Subway Theme – by Grand Wizard Theodore, 1983
The Final Command – by Slayer, 1983
Bark at the Moon – by Ozzy Osbourne, 1983
Radio Ga Ga – by Queen, 1984
Relax – by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, 1983
Holiday – by Madonna, 1983
Hey You (The Rocksteady Crew) – by Rocksteady Crew, 1983
Owner of a Lonely Heart – by Yes, 1983
Just Be Good to Me – by S.O.S. Band, 1983
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Theme – by Keith Stachan, 1998
Intro Theme for The Snowman – Howard Blake, 1982

Episode edited by: Juli Reed

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

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VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 24: Autumn 1998

In the 24th episode of Video Wizards, we travel to a time close to the “mark of the millennium”, as we find ourselves covering the autumnal months of September, October and November of 1998 for yet another very substantial seasonal spectacular. Arcade games increasingly lose floor space to slot machines and the ones that don’t have specialised cabinets often see very accurate home ports. In that category we find the monumental 2D fighting game Street Fighter Alpha 3, Taito’s 3rd game in the “Ray” series of vertical shoot ’em ups, RayCrisis, and to some extent Gauntlet Legends by our good friends at Atari. Cave’s odd disco themed shoot ’em up Dangun Feveron DID get a home port, but that would come only 18 years later. And Neo Geo games like Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad being available at home as well is nothing new… if you had the funds, that is. On the other hand, we of course still get SEGA spectacle cabs, as we take a closer look at the zeitgeist friendly Star Wars Trilogy Arcade.

Gaming at home, then, is massive in the fall of 1998, with Half-Life coming out for the PC, Tekken 3 coming out for the PlayStation, Japanese import favourite Marvel Super Heroes Vs Street Fighter coming out for the Saturn and F-Zero X coming out for the N64. As well as a whole host of other titles. And with the U.S. president fighting off impeachment in the midst of an adulterous sex scandal at the background, we see everything from Google getting founded, Hip-Hop concept albums seeing the light of day, the rise of Nu-Metal, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker teaming up on the silver screen and Edward Norton taking a paycut for a defining role in the incendiary American History X to the first airing of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the UK and everyday people living our their odd sexual fantasies on Local Dutch National TV. That’s right, the world is getting ready to party like it’s 1999.

Get extra comfortable as this all makes for the lengthiest episode of our podcast yet. For the next 8 and a half hours we’ve got you covered with another riveting, uproarious and nostalgic audio journey, right back to the later half of 1998.

Other music used in this episode:

Steeple Chase – by Howard Drossin for Dynamite Cop, 1998
Prismatic Stars (Theme of R. Mika) – by Takayuki Iwai for Street Fighter Alpha 3, 1998
Dancing Bomber – by T’s Music for Dangun Feveron, 1998
2nd Mission – by Masaki Kase for Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad, 1998
Lavender Blue – by Zuntata for RayCrisis, 1998
Opening – by Nobuyoshi Sano, Keiichi Okabe, Yū Miyake, Hiroyuki Kawada, Yoshie Arakawa, Minamo Takahashi & Hideki Tobeta for Tekken 3, 1998
Second Round K.O. – by Canibus, 1998
Can I Get A… (Instrumental) – by Irv Gotti, 1998
Let the Games Begin (Instrumental) – by Young Trey, 1994
Ha (Instrumental) – by Mannie Fresh, 1998
John Blaze – by Fat Joe featuring Nas, Big Punisher, Jadakiss & Raekwon, 1998
Definition – by Black Star, 1998
Aquemini – by OutKast, 1998
Pad & Pen – by A Tribe Called Quest, 1998
Magnum Force – by Heltah Skeltah featuring Representativz & Ruste Juxx
Tha Game – by Pete Rock featuring Prodigy, Raekwon & Ghostface Killah, 1998
Take Your Time – by Pete Rock featuring Carl McIntosh & Jane Eugene of Loose Ends, 1998
Spazzola – by Method Man featuring Masta Killa, Streetlife, Inspectah Deck, Killa Sin & Raekwon, 1998
Holocaust (Silkworm) – by RZA as Bobby Digital featuring Holocaust, Doc Doom, Ghostface Killah & Ms. Roxy
Freak on a Leash – by Korn, 1998
Faith (Live at the UNO Lakefront Arena 1998) – by Limp Bizkit, 1998
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next – by Manic Street Preachers, 1998
Tsunami – by Manic Street Preachers, 1998
The Bartender and the Thief – by Stereophonics, 1998
Music Sounds Better with You – by Stardust, 1998
Doo Wop (That Thing) – by Lauryn Hill, 1998
Are You That Somebody? – by Aaliyah, 1998
Cocktail – by Postmen, 1998
More Days to Come – by E-Life featuring The Anonymous Mis & Karima, 1998
Intergalactic – by Beastie Boys, 1998
Deeper Underground – by Jamiroquai, 1998
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Theme – by Keith Stachan, 1998
BBC News Theme – by David Lowe, 1999

Episode edited by: Juli Reed & Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to テクノワールド奥州.

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VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 23: Summer 1994

In episode 23 of Video Wizards, we return to the year 1994 to bask in the sunrays of the summer, for another seasonal spectacular. With the midpoint of the ’90s just one year away and the ’80s now full and well behind us, we find ourselves in a period of cultural turmoil, where the arcade industry, the music industry AND the film industry seem to lack a general direction and focus and throw a lot at the wall to see what sticks. In the arcades, we deal with the hodge podge of flat shaded polygonal experiments Wing War and Desert Tank by SEGA and Midway’s bizarre attempt to put aging rockers Aerosmith forward as dangerous symbols of youth culture that need to be silenced by a sinister fascist government in the lightgun shooter Revolution X. Atari, meanwhile, goes full stop motion animation for the feral fighter Primal rage, as we can still count on Capcom and SNK to deliver noteworthy, quality fighting games in the shape of Darkstalkers and the first entry in the The King of Fighters series.

And what about those other industries? The pop charts in the UK and the Netherlands are generally a mess, but there is a lot of solid music being made in the scenes of Hip-Hop and metal. And in theaters we see more scattershot releases, with a massive, animated movie centered around a family of lions by Disney, a bit of 20th century history viewed through the eyes of a lovable simpleton who has a knack for cutting to the core of things and the comedic exploits of a band called The Lone Rangers, as they take a radio station hostage to get their demo played on air.

With the Atari Jaguar out on shelves and a new generation of CD-based consoles around the corner, all bets are off when it comes to this chaotic period in the late-early nineties. But these are still simpler times, and we invite you into their comforting, sun drenched embrace, for the next 6 and a half hours.

Wing War

By http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=&id=1368, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45394221

Revolution X

By The Arcade Flyer Archive, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24918181

Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors

By Capcom - http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=276&image=1, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41639608

Desert Tank

Primal Rage

May be found at the following website: The Arcade Flyer Archive, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24936497

The King of Fighters '94

By SNK - https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=3456, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65224308 — The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 23, L-R-T-B: Wing War, Revolution X, Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, Desert Tank, Primal Rage, The King of Fighters ’94

Other music used in this episode:

Cracking! (Stage 4) – by Tamayo Kawamoto / Zuntata for RayForce, 1994
Title / Yak 141 – by Tomoyuki Kawamura for Wing War, 1994
Wake Up! & Up Against the Wall – by Chris Granner for Revolution X, 1994
Felicia’s Theme – by Takayuki Iwai & Hideki Okugawa for Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, 1994
The Cove – by Jeanne Parson for Primal Rage, 1994
Napolitan Blues – by Masahiko Hataya, Bros.Hige, Pearl Sibakiti & Akihiro Uchida for The King of Fighters ’94, 1994
Brinstar (Underground Depths) – by Kenji Yamamoto & Minako Hamano for Super Metroid, 1994
Stress – by Organized Konfusion, 1994
Regulate – by Warren G featuring Nate Dogg, 1994
Props Over Here – by The Beatnuts, 1994
Under the Sun – by Terminator X & The Godfathers of Threatt featuring Joe Sinistr, 1994
Represent – by Grand Daddy I.U., 1994
Where My Homiez? – by Ill Al Skratch, 1994
Oh My God (Remix) – by A Tribe Called Quest, 1994
Wrong Side Of Da Tracks – by Artifacts, 1994
Tears of the Dragon – by Bruce Dickinson, 1994
Vasoline – by Stone Temple Pilots, 1994
Get Your Gunn – by Marilyn Manson, 1994
Davidian – by Machine Head, 1994
Faster – by Manic Street Preachers, 1994
Live Forever – by Oasis, 1994
100% Pure Love – by Crystal Waters, 1994
Dissident – by Pearl Jam, 1994
Big Time Sensuality – by Björk, 1994
Bombtrack – by Rage Against The Machine, 1993
Feel What You Want – by Kristine W, 1994
Liar – by Rollins Band, 1994
Te Land, Ter Zee en in de Lucht Leader (1994) – by Hans van Eijck, 1994
No Mean City (Theme from Taggart) – by Mike Moran, 1985

Episode edited by: Juli Reed & Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

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VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 22: May 1988

In episode 22 of Video Wizards, we find ourselves in the glorious year of 1988, where the 2D shoot ’em up still reigned supreme as the most dominant video game genre. In the arcades we see releases of heavy hitters like Vulcan Venture a.k.a. Gradius II by Konami, Forgotten Worlds by Capcom and Silkworm by Tecmo, the three of them pushing boundaries and technology all in their own particular way. And then there is the oddball 1 versus 1 brawler Kageki by Kaneko, taking super deformed fisticuffs to new extremes.

In terms of gaming at home, SEGA and Nintendo are continuing their efforts to break the choke hold that micros like the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore C64 and MSX have over the European game industry, with their 8-bit consoles. Music, meanwhile, is in a very interesting place, as Hip Hop has landed in its most revolutionary era and a line is drawn in the sand, glam rockers Poison are trying to stink up metal, while Judas Priest and Living Colour fight back, and the charts are incredibly varied, with a bit of a theme of sociopolitical engagement running through more than one song. We also look at the successes and failings of the mega expensive silver screen blockbusters Willow and Rambo III and delve into some interesting stories from the world of television at the time.

What relevant movie quote does editor Juli drop in the middle of this month’s Video Wizards Quiz? Can Ben hold it together as Michiel drops yet more culturally significant Dutch TV personality names? Does the fact that Gradius II is the main arcade game talking point this month lead to a rift between Michiel and Ben? Will doors be slammed and angry letters be written? Find out in a new 5 and a half hours Video Wizards throwback audio tour extravaganza!

Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou

By http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/game_group.php?id=gradius2, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15135005

Forgotten Worlds

By http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/game_group.php?id=gradius2, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15135005

Silkworm

Kageki — The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 22, L-R: Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou, Forgotten Worlds, Silkworm, Kageki

Other music used in this episode:

TV Theme Style (The Winner) – by Colin Thomson, 2018
Theme from Butsuzou – by Masahiko Ishida for Ninja Spirit, 1988
Burning Heat – by Shinji Tasaka, Motoaki Furukawa, Kenichi Matsubara & Seiichi Fukami for Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou, 1988
A Shooting Star – by Shinji Tasaka, Motoaki Furukawa, Kenichi Matsubara & Seiichi Fukami for Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou, 1988
Stage Four – by Tamayo Kawamoto & Yoshihiro Sakaguchi for Forgotten Worlds, 1988
Main Theme – by ??? for Silkworm, 1988
Street Theme – by Hirokazu Tanaka for Gumshoe, 1986
My Philosophy – by BDP, 1988
Just Got Paid – by Johnny Kemp, 1988
Run’s House – by Run-D.M.C., 1988
Keep Risin’ to the Top – by Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew, 1988
I’m Still #1 – by BDP, 1988
Are You Ready for Freddy – by Fat Boys (featuring Robert Englund), 1988
Every Rose Has Its Thorn – by Poison, 1988
Cult of Personality – by Living Colour, 1988
Ram it Down – by Judas Priest, 1988
Blue Monday – by New Order, 1983
Theme from S’Express – by S’Express, 1988
Everywhere – by Fleetwood Mac, 1987
Yé Ké Yé Ké – by Mory Kanté, 1987
Beds Are Burning – by Midnight Oil, 1988
Alphabet St. – by Prince, 1988
Preparations – by Jerry Goldsmith for the motion picture Rambo III, 1988
Theme from M.A.S.K. – by Shuki Levy & Haim Saban, 1985

Episode edited by: Juli Reed & Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

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