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, what he is currently playing, what games he’s looking forward to, and his all time favorites. We also find out how the composer of the Side Quest theme song is doing during the pandemic.

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 games, for 2019, with a quick note about what I though of each. I follow that with a portion of my list of games that I would like to complete in 2020 and why I want to play them.

Finally, I very briefly talk about Side Quests in 2020.

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. So, while it should focus more on music in the grand scheme, it won't be about music exclusively.

Other than talking about all of that, this episode is also a (late) companion to July's TWRM Radio mix, "Pelagic." I talk about video game music used for seas, oceans, sailing, and nautical adventure. I discuss a few of the instruments, commonalities between tracks based on the scenario or setting, RPG themes vs. pirate themes, and pirate games in general. I also ask for some input from you, the listeners!

Check us out on The Well-Red Mage!