Enjoy ten select game-style songs in this virtual demo CD.  Two genuine originals and eight remixes of various genres are included in this special collection.

Game Style Demo CD

Here's some original music from Carpoon, a downloadable Windows game being developed by Tom Arnold from GameXplain!  In Carpoon, you control a pick-up truck and harpoon escaping cars sentenced to recycling by car crusher, towing them to their doom!  The game can be played in both single player and local multiplayer for competitive demolishing action.  This theme features in the boss battle against the Monster Truck.  There are two versions of this music: one for normal gameplay starting with the guitar wail of the boss intro, and one for when the timer has less than 30 seconds remaining.

This more intense piece boasts a darker, grungier take on Parkin' Panic while retaining the whimsy that the rest of the soundtrack embraces.  Starting out with rock with a touch of blues, it sets the mood for going grill to grill with the rebellious monster truck.  It then mixes things up by switching to a quick-paced country blues rock.  Finally, the intensity is scaled back with a rock style of the 60s and 70s reminiscent of music from the British Invasion with a Motown beat for the refrain before transitioning back to the start.  One could say this is the most complex composition for the game yet!  Have fun listening!

Visit the Carpoon official site to download and play the game!
https://tombo.itch.io/carpoon

Disclaimer:
Carpoon and all imagery presented are copyright of Tom Arnold.  All rights reserved.

Carpoon

"Monster Truck Mayhem (with Intro)" ~Original~ from Carpoon

The music represented here is a sample of a game soundtrack I am composing with the KORG M01D software for the Nintendo 3DS.

"Other Sky", a concept by Ravenheart (Rick Buechler), is an upcoming title for iOS and Android devices.  Taking place in the protagonist's mind, the player flies through various stages reflecting the hero's emotions.  It is a spiritual journey filled with elegantly abstract visuals and empowering metamorphosis.

The Main Theme will feature as the title or menu music, setting the mood for the game. Inspired by a unique composition titled "Minimal Strings", this piece shows influences from classic anime, the Donkey Kong Country series, and Japanese RPGs.  Please enjoy, and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Disclaimer:
Other Sky logo, soundtrack, and all other game material are property of Ravenheart.

"Main Theme" ~Original~ from Other Sky

Many GameXplain videos in the last few years have featured custom intros covering certain game series, all created by Jan Neves, known for 3D animation.  Most of these intros had royalty-free or public domain jingles.  Starting last year, I began composing original jingles for some of these intros in various game styles: Mario Kart, Pokémon, and Zelda—specifically Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.  It's highly recommended to check the full context on YouTube in the link below.

Used in many of the Booster Course Pass analyses for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the Mario Kart jingle captures the elements of classic and modern course fanfares and race finish tunes.  The Pokémon jingle takes inspiration from the Evolution/Trade theme in the franchise.  The Zelda (Sheikah Slate) jingle embraces the atmospheric piano and orchestral instruments associated with the soundtracks of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.  Please enjoy the intro jingles from the set.  There may be more of these to come!

Intro Jingles on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOqLC2UHm3U

Visit GameXplain's channel on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/GameXplain

Disclaimer:
All graphics and audio represented here are copyright of GameXplain.
Intro animations were created by Jan Neves.  (https://www.youtube.com/Jan3d)

GameXplain - Intro Jingles (Set 1): Mario Kart, Pokémon, and Zelda (Sheikah Slate)

At long last, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has arrived.  This discussion theme for all GameXplain videos relating to the main Zelda series and official spinoffs has been in the works on and off over the past two years.  It's finally done in time for the release of the long-awaited sequel of Breath of the Wild!

Starting with inspiration from the Sun's Song, this piece has original content representing the mainline entries of The Legend of Zelda as a whole, including Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.  But this is followed by orchestral rock and dance sections to cameo the styles of Hyrule Warriors and Cadence of Hyrule respectively.  It concludes with more familiar Zelda phrasing and the classic GameXplain tune played on ocarina.  Please enjoy this adventurous arrangement!

Visit GameXplain's channel on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/GameXplain

Disclaimer:
All graphics and audio represented here are copyright of GameXplain.
Zelda's Hylian Shield GameXplain Logo was created by Tom Arnold (https://twitter.com/RaginTombo)
Original GameXplain Discussion Theme was written by Alexis C.  (https://soundcloud.com/acham)

GameXplain - Zelda Discussion Theme

Many GameXplain videos in the last few years have featured custom intros covering certain game series, all created by Jan Neves, known for 3D animation.  Most of these intros had royalty-free or public domain jingles.  Starting in 2022, I began composing original jingles for some of these intros in various game styles.  This second set features short compositions inspired by Paper Mario, Metroid, and Sonic.  Each jingle here is presented with music only first, and then repeating with sound effects for full context.

First used for content relating to the remake of The Thousand-Year Door, the Paper Mario jingle takes style cues from early Paper Mario titles.  The Metroid jingle is reminiscent of the themes from Metroid's Brinstar and the theme of Super Metroid, with some instrumentation from Metroid Prime series, made in advance for upcoming Metroid Prime 4 videos.  The Sonic jingle is a love letter to the classic Sonic the Hedgehog series with its new jack swing style—complete with FM synthesis samples—in combination with rock guitar akin to that in modern Sonic games.  Please enjoy the intro jingles from this set.  There may be even more of these to come!

Intro Jingles on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLiKOedLmxA

Visit GameXplain's channel on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/GameXplain

Disclaimer:
All graphics and audio represented here are copyright of GameXplain.
Intro animations were created by Jan Neves.  (https://www.youtube.com/Jan3d)

GameXplain - Intro Jingles (Set 2): Paper Mario, Metroid, and Sonic

Cool Bits, GameXplain's video game trivia series, is back after its five-year hiatus!  And with its return is the debut of a new theme that was in the works for the past decade.  This one has quite the story behind it.  In December 2014, I pitched the idea of creating an original theme for Cool Bits to replace the Groovy Mandolin royalty-free theme, accompanied by an uninitialised substitution for the sound effect used at the time.  A couple of melody ideas were developed during this process.  Sadly, nothing really nailed the appropriate flavour, so I had to shelf the theme for a while.  But over the next few years, I dabbled with revamping it by transcribing it over to WarioWare D.I.Y.'s Record MakerMatic to establish a chiptune base.  The theme improved a lot from there, and I much more recently brought it back over to Cakewalk.  After significant refinement and expansion, it developed into what it is now.

The piece starts with an arrangement of Groovy Mandolin for its intro, but it soon transitions into an original melody.  Interestingly enough, this chosen melody was used in GameXplain's discontinued podcast, Real Talk, after being imagined for Cool Bits first, but this association now ties the motifs for GameXplain practically into musical lore.   Ever since being transferred from chiptune form, the composition stayed almost purely synth, with an accoustic piano as the exception.  It also retained the swung note flow.  Together, the catchy sound is the 'Cool' and the digital elements are the 'Bits'.  Imagine that!  If this is well-received, I may upload the WarioWare D.I.Y. version also upon request.  Please enjoy this theme that was ten years in the making!

Visit GameXplain's channel on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/GameXplain

Disclaimer:
All graphics and audio represented here are copyright of GameXplain.
Cool Bits logo was created by Tom Arnold.  (https://x.com/RaginTombo)

GameXplain - Cool Bits

The music represented here is a song I composed for an indie game soundtrack with the Roland Fantom X6 workstation keyboard.

"Seraphim", a different kind of arcade shooter by Studio Ravenheart, is an indie title coming to PS4 and Vita in 2017.  Taking place in an abstract celestial realm, you assume the role of a great otherworldly being known only as The Seraph, defending the worlds from invading constructs with blasts from your six mighty wings.

This song features while in the effect of one of several power-ups for version 2.0 of the game.  With the temporary ability, the environment changes in appearance as a continuous dance beat plays.  I originally wanted to use Vocaloid Prima for the standard version of Our Protector, but time did not allow it.  Thankfully, the idea was implemented in this energised version of the song. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer:
Seraphim logo, soundtrack, and all other game material are ©2015 Studio Ravenheart. All Rights Reserved.

"Our Protector Empowered" ~Original~ from Seraphim

My Enhanced Game MIDI collection consists of MIDI files I sequenced and routed through my Yamaha Motif ES8 keyboard, utilising its rather nice-sounding General MIDI samples. The staff view was played with Cakewalk and the presentation was recorded with OBS Studio. All instruments use the standard MIDI patches unless otherwise noted. To follow the notes in the sequence and to ensure the best sound quality, viewing full screen in 1080p (HD) is strongly advised.

In 2006, I was assigned as a music composer for a project titled Z2E (Zelda II Enhanced), a dream to recreate Zelda II with 16-bit graphics and custom features, not to be confused with the 2022 project by Hoverbat.  The town theme was the first I aimed to enhance as a MIDI, and with some playing around on the keyboard, a crude bossa nova surfaced.  The team and I discussed the direction, and we figured it would work for a specific town, namely the Harbour Town of Mido, which is directly by the sea that separates two major landmasses in Hyrule.  I continued with the project a bit with the seaside settlement in mind.  The project since came to a halt, but I just couldn't let this soothing remix go to waste.

While Mido partially inspired this remix, it is also quite possible that the online golf game, PangYa, may have also influenced the arrangement.  And despite its similarities to the town theme reference in 'Blood of Ganon' by virt (Jake Kaufman), I was completely unaware of its existence until recently.  Aside from the bossa nova and bolero flavours, a bit of a Hawaiian added to the otherwise Latin mix with the presence of lap steel, along with a cameo of Indoors, otherwise known as Inside House.  Please enjoy this long-awaited remix!

Track Details:

1: Flute
2: Accordion
3: Marimba
4: Nylon Guitar
5: Guitar Noise
6: Lap Steel Guitar
7: Strings Ensemble
8: Acoustic Bass
9: Latin Percussion
10: Drums

Disclaimer:
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is copyright of Nintendo.

Enhanced Game MIDIs: "Mido Harbour" ~Remix~ from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

After GameXplain's Real Talk podcast ended in 2020, a rebranding was in the works.  Unfortunately, this new podcast series never came into fruition, but it could in the future.  Reflecting a more relaxing vibe, a new image with a sofa, Mario plush, and arcade cabinet in the background was made.  For the theme, I explored a few ideas with The Easy Allies Podcast theme by FantomenK as a very loose inspirational reference.  The results in early 2021 were three pretty different approaches, all using the official GameXplain Discussion Theme leitmotif.

I wanted to implement this idea I had for a while for a blues remix of the theme, and I figured this was a good opportunity to explore it.  The first recordings of it sounded good, but they didn't quite hit the desired sound.  And so, the pitch was abandoned.   Since it wasn't going to be used for a podcast theme anyway, I realised that I could go all out with the bluesy idea and transform it into blues rock.  This is the resulting expansion, complete with a new intro, B section, ending, and more layers in both the B and C sections from what I had before.  Please enjoy!


Disclaimer:

Original GameXplain Discussion Theme was written by Alexis C. on SoundCloud.  (https://soundcloud.com/acham)

Visit GameXplain's channel on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/GameXplain

GameXplain Lounge Podcast Theme Blues (DITCHED PITCH!)

Undertale Purple a fan project headed up by Miracle_Captors714, who was inspired by the original Undertale and emboldened by the success of Undertale Yellow, an unrelated fan-made game.  It tells the story of the purple SOUL of Perseverance, possessed by a human named Audrey who travels the Underground to research the mysteries of the world of monsters—both friendly and hostile.

The in-game story behind this music and the process in creating it may be considered mild spoilers, so please read on only if you don't mind the identity and motivations of this final boss.

@@@ MILD SPOILERS START @@@

This music is heard during the final showdown against Sir Durin V. Neufchâtel, who lost everything, including his pregnant wife—Skylla—and every loved one in his life, because of you, the player who chose to murder them on this path.  The composition was written to convey his sadness over this loss, having nothing left to lose but to avenge them by challenging you to a final duel.

Because his wife was so dear to him, elements of Scylla's theme appear as part of an overarching leitmotif, originally composed by salad9990.  Even the original beta melody for Scylla's theme that Miracle made appears after the Japanese section as a high saw lead.  

@@@ MILD SPOILERS END @@@

This theme starts with classical grand piano that is straight from the Undertale soundfont.  It then becomes a sombre synth rock with a leitmotif related to the theme of a particular important character associated with the boss.  After this part, the piece leads into traditional Japanese music that is fully realised in the form of enka, a style of Japanese lament music typically expressed with melancholic singing.  It returns to a different synth rock with a countermelody that I was asked to include because it was the beta melody of the aforementioned character's theme.  Near the end, more reference to the leitmotif continues before bringing it all back to the original feeling presented in the intro.  I'm quite pleased with how this turned out.  Please enjoy this track, and consider supporting Undertale Purple!


Official Site for Undertale Purple:
https://gamejolt.com/games/Undertale_Purple/888638

Official OST for Undertale Purple:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXUb8eu-CE0QWQp6b1jD0xzEEZlzpmjIU

Official Scylla's Theme by salad9990 (https://soundcloud.com/slade9990)

Art by Bililies (https://www.deviantart.com/bililies)

Undertale Purple, a fan project, is managed by Miracle_Captors714 and Frabbone.
Undertale is copyright of Royal Sciences, LLC.

"Biting the Cat" ~Genocide Route: Final Battle (Phase 1)~ from Undertale Purple

This chill piece is the theme for GameXplain's new weekly podcast series, Real Talk!  Compared to the team's YouTube discussions regarding gaming news, Real Talk provides a more casual dialogue covering three different topics every session.  We determined it would be best to create a laid back song that incorporates both remixed elements of the GameXplain discussion theme and original melodies.

During the composing process, I had two different Roland FA instrument ideas for the original melody in the third section of the song: one using the synth sequence instrument from the first section and the other using a distortion guitar.  In the end, both ideas were used in the form of opening and ending recordings.  The difference is subtle, but that is part of the charm, yeah?  We hope you enjoy!

Check out Real Talk, GameXplain's new weekly podcast on SoundCloud!
https://soundcloud.com/gamexplain/sets/gamexplain-real-talk-podcast

Visit GameXplain's channel on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/GameXplain

Disclaimer:
All graphics and audio represented here are copyright of GameXplain.
Original GameXplain Discussion Theme was written by Alexis C. on SoundCloud.  (https://soundcloud.com/acham)

GameXplain - Real Talk (Opening and Ending)

As Yoshiller from YouTube would say: Hello, humans!  Two years have passed since the start of "Ink It Up!", Yoshiller's Splatoon series.  Now the series is back again for Splatoon 2, complete with an updated version of the theme!

This lyrical composition originally was created using the Roland Fantom FA-06 in conjunction with Cakewalk Express and the Vocaloid 4 Editor.  Combining a classic American talk show theme style (maybe) with J-pop inspired by anime, this piece reflects the high energy of Splatoon with the Japanese influences of the game's design.  I wrote lyrics in Japanese to reflect those qualities and had some very famous Vocaloids perform the song.  Yoshiller and I collaborated on the subtitles presentation to give that fansubbed anime vibe.

New to the theme are the rockin' overdriven guitar, middle section with remixed elements of Inkoming and Color Pulse, English lyrics announcing the return, and overall improvement in sound quality.

I hope you all enjoy the reprise!


**********************FEATURED SONGS*********************

Chorus of Calamari County
Splatfest!
Main Theme
Inkoming
Color Pulse

*************************SINGERS*************************

Teal: Hatsune Miku
Dark Pink: Megurine Luka
Light Yellow: Kagamine Rin
Dark Yellow: Kagamine Len

Pink: Tako Luka (Octopus Luka) as Ika Musume (Squid Girl)


**************************LYRICS*************************

日本語：


貴方の武器を選んでください。
これは縄張り BATTLE です。

☆ でゲソ？！ ☆

カラーインクで由果を塗りまして。 頑張れ！

☆ OK! ☆

青、PINK や緑なあ！
どの TEAM が勝つのだろうか？

貴方は子だ！

君はイカだ！

さあ、行きましょう！


Romaji:


Anata no buki o erande kudasai.
Kore wa Nawabari BATTLE desu.

☆ De Geso?! ☆

KARA- INKU de yuka o nurimashite. Ganbare!

☆ OK! ☆

We are back!  We are back!  We're back again!
We are back!  We are back!  We're back again!

Ao, PINK ya midori naa!
Dono TEAM ga katsu nodarou ka?

Anata wa ko da!

Kimi wa ika da!

Saa, ikimashou!


English:


Please choose your weapon.
This is a Turf War (Territory Battle).

☆ De Geso?! ☆

Plaster the floor with coloured ink.  Go for it!

☆ OK! ☆

Blue, pink, and/or green!
Which team will win?

You're a kid!

You're a squid!

Well then, let's go!


************************CREDITS**************************

Yoshiller is the awesome creator of the "Splatoon 2 - Ink It Up!" series.  Check out his channel here!
https://www.youtube.com/user/Yoshiller2?&ab_channel=Yoshiller
Chris Szczesiul is the talented artist for the custom character artwork.  His works can be seen here!
https://twitter.com/ChrisSzczesiul

Special thanks go to Timaeus from OverClocked ReMix for his help in determining some audio engineering.

Splatoon 2 is copyright of Nintendo.

Yoshiller's Splatoon 2 Series, "Ink It Up!"

"Splatoon 2 - Ink It Up! Opening" ~Remix~ from Yoshiller's Splatoon 2 Series, "Ink It Up!"

Shout out to all of you Smash Bros. fans and music lovers alike!  Let's all get pumped for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with this upbeat remix of the GameXplain Discussion Theme!  Featuring in GameXplain discussions relating to the title, this composition is one of the most ambitious songs in GameXplain's official music collection.  Originally pitched by one of our very own GameXplain Patrons on the Discord server, the concept came into fruition after much experimentation.

While the orchestral piece consists of mostly of classical instruments, a daring rock-seasoned section serves as its apex.  This also is the first remix from me to arrange the middle portion of the source material.  Starting in 4/4 time and ending with a coda in 6/8 time, you may relish the dynamics of this theme inspired by the Super Smash Bros. series.  Have a Smashing good time listening to the results!

Disclaimer:
All graphics and audio represented here are copyright of GameXplain.
Original GameXplain Discussion Theme was written by Alexis C. (@acham) on SoundCloud.

GameXplain - Smash Discussion Theme

This remix enhances and expands upon Cranky's Dojo from Donkey Kong Country 3 on the Game Boy Adavnce.  It is one of the 77 remixes featured in the DKC3 OverClocked ReMix album, "Double the Trouble!"  Cranky's Mojo is found on Disc 4: Track 4.  Please download for best quality!

If you like this remix, please share with those who may enjoy listening.  Also, check out other remixes from the "Double the Trouble!" album!

Background:

Late in Summer 2010, a well-respected OCR community member informed me of the DKC3 album project and suggested that I contact Emunator, despite the fact that all of the tracks were reserved at the time. I was told that a track likely would be dropped, and in this case, it was Cranky's Dojo. It was an excellent opportunity that I was honoured to seize, especially since I had no posted ReMixes on the site.

I selected the Roland Fantom X6 workstation keyboard to remix the track, and began compiling various samples from Roland's World Collection and Complete Orchestra expansion boards. Being a past MIDI transcriber, I wanted to sequence Cranky's Dojo accurately and build from there. My initial WIP was nothing more than a transcription of the source with an improvised synth lead, but the director accepted it. This simple recording was the beginning of a long line of ideas for the remix I dubbed "Cranky's Mojo."

My original plan was to have a bit of a dance section and mix in a Chinese-Japanese refrain, but the dance part became sort of a synth rock hybrid. While performing a trumpet solo improv overlay on Yoshi's "Tropical Island" from Mario Party, I got the idea of using the sample for a jazzy section of the piece, and it was then that I realised I would separate my remix into movements. A new chord progression for the source melody came to mind and I went on to use it for the aforementioned East-Asian part of the arrangement.

After many hours of labour, I was quite pleased with the results. A moody first movement, an upbeat rock section with a lot of source, an Oriental part, and a 1940s sassy swing made this remix very dynamic. However, it had much room for improvement.

An opportunity arose to enhance Cranky's Mojo, which the director for the album approved. With some advice, I implemented a richer piano arrangement for the opening movement, a more realistic rock drumline using Yamaha Motif ES8 keyboard samples, and a myriad of smaller refinements. The outcome of the extra effort feels much more polished than the previous recordings.

Many thanks go to Bahamut, Nutritious, Emunator, Cody Wedel, DragonAvenger, Flexstyle, and all those who helped make this possible.

Song Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJCWt6oWDjQ
"Double the Trouble" Remix Album: http://dkc3.ocremix.org/

Disclaimer:

Customised Screenshot by Cody Wedel
Transitions and visual stylisation by Peach

Donkey Kong Country 3 is copyright of Nintendo and RARE, Ltd.

"Cranky's Mojo" ~Remix~ from the Donkey Kong Country 3 OCReMix Album, "Double the Trouble!"

Let's get together for an island getaway!  Departure is scheduled for 20 March 2020, so now's a great time for an official Animal Crossing arrangement of the GameXplain Discussion Theme!  This music initially featured in the discussion video that followed the New Horizons Nintendo Direct on 20 February 2020.

The first part of the song captures the folk feeling of the classic installments, which transitions into a tropical vibe.  The latter part has a strong focus on bossa nova—a beloved style referenced throughout the series, including the anime.  It's almost like the composition starts in the forest and then takes you on a trip for a tour of the islands.  Even a special guest makes an appearance!  Please enjoy this relaxing arrangement!

Visit GameXplain's channel on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/GameXplain

Disclaimer:
All graphics and audio represented here are copyright of GameXplain.
Animal Crossing animation was created by Jan Neves.  (https://www.youtube.com/Jan3d)
Original GameXplain Discussion Theme was written by Alexis C.  (https://soundcloud.com/acham)

GameXplain - Animal Crossing Discussion Theme

Here's some original music from Carpoon, a downloadable Windows game being developed by Tom Arnold from GameXplain!  In Carpoon, you control a pick-up truck and harpoon escaping cars sentenced to recycling by car crusher, towing them to their doom!  The game can be played in both single player and local multiplayer for competitive demolishing action.  This theme features on the map for The Autoworks, which takes place in an automobile factory with an assembly line and molten steel.  There are two versions of this music: one for normal gameplay, and one for when the timer has less than 30 seconds remaining.

Inspired by industrial rhythms, this composition was written as a catchy electronica piece with jazz blues and even classical elements mixed in.  The piano, saxophone, and strings that accompany the digital and unorthodox percussive instruments help to achieve that.  Much like with the other tracks, the guitar fret slide towards the beginning and mute trumpet simulate the sounds of a revving engine and beeping car horn.  Its more serious-sounding undertones are intended to give the track the feeling of a final or decisive stage in this otherwise light-hearted and whimsical game.  Have fun listening!

Visit the Carpoon official site to download and play the game!
https://tombo.itch.io/carpoon

Disclaimer:
Carpoon and all imagery presented are copyright of Tom Arnold.  All rights reserved.

Game Style Demo CD

Peach Toadstool