Ryan Thompson
@bardicknowledge.bsky.social
Game audio professor and radio host (Monday 7:00 PM, wkar.org) at Michigan State. Husband, father of two. Go green! Thompson.RyanC@gmail.com
Watch me and my best friends stream Thursday evenings 9-11 PM Eastern at Twitch.tv/BardicKnowledge
Watch me and my best friends stream Thursday evenings 9-11 PM Eastern at Twitch.tv/BardicKnowledge
The artist primarily responsible for these does a dissertation’s worth of analysis in their creation. So smart and so wonderful.
I have never found a more satisfying explanation of the oboe solo in Beethoven 5/1 than the relevant DoodleChaos video.
I have never found a more satisfying explanation of the oboe solo in Beethoven 5/1 than the relevant DoodleChaos video.
My friends in Austria sent this and I can't stop watching...wait for the end. 🤗💜
January 4, 2026 at 1:42 PM
The artist primarily responsible for these does a dissertation’s worth of analysis in their creation. So smart and so wonderful.
I have never found a more satisfying explanation of the oboe solo in Beethoven 5/1 than the relevant DoodleChaos video.
I have never found a more satisfying explanation of the oboe solo in Beethoven 5/1 than the relevant DoodleChaos video.
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
"WE WILL NEVER AGAIN BE SLAVES."
Boy, you ****ed with the wrong one.
Boy, you ****ed with the wrong one.
January 3, 2026 at 7:37 PM
"WE WILL NEVER AGAIN BE SLAVES."
Boy, you ****ed with the wrong one.
Boy, you ****ed with the wrong one.
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
We are a rogue state, run by a dictator, and the international community should treat us as such including all appropriate economic and diplomatic sanctions
January 3, 2026 at 3:36 PM
We are a rogue state, run by a dictator, and the international community should treat us as such including all appropriate economic and diplomatic sanctions
It rules, Taucer rules, and honestly I couldn't tell you where either he or I would be without the incredible community that OverClocked ReMix has been building on the internet since 1999. It's a space older than YouTube, than Google - and it continues to be an amazing space for musicians worldwide.
OverClocked ReMix has just posted it's 5000th ReMix, which also happens to be my first new OCR track in a decade. If you like video game music and/or classic rock, check it out!
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening "Hotel Koholint" OC ReMix
OC ReMix presents a FREE video game remix MP3: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening "Hotel Koholint" by Geoffrey Taucer
ocremix.org
January 3, 2026 at 5:48 PM
It rules, Taucer rules, and honestly I couldn't tell you where either he or I would be without the incredible community that OverClocked ReMix has been building on the internet since 1999. It's a space older than YouTube, than Google - and it continues to be an amazing space for musicians worldwide.
Agreed; either the US recognizes the sovereignty of other nations or it does not. Arresting / kidnapping another country’s leader is unacceptable.
People are going to try and lure you into debates about whether Maduro was a good guy or not and the thing is, it doesn’t matter for the purposes of discussing whether violent kidnappings and extrajudicial murders by the US government are ok. No, they aren’t! End of convo.
January 3, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Agreed; either the US recognizes the sovereignty of other nations or it does not. Arresting / kidnapping another country’s leader is unacceptable.
No MAGFest for me this year team - spring semester starts on the 12th and not enough of my favorite roomies could go this year. Hoping to be there again soonish though and I will be at VGMCon in the spring!
Please jam hard and have a blast if you're going to DC! (And send some pictures :p)
Please jam hard and have a blast if you're going to DC! (And send some pictures :p)
January 3, 2026 at 3:49 AM
No MAGFest for me this year team - spring semester starts on the 12th and not enough of my favorite roomies could go this year. Hoping to be there again soonish though and I will be at VGMCon in the spring!
Please jam hard and have a blast if you're going to DC! (And send some pictures :p)
Please jam hard and have a blast if you're going to DC! (And send some pictures :p)
Extremely classy to note that Corey Adams' parents were in the crowd and for the Rebels to ask that they be given a round of applause. That's the best of college football on display.
January 2, 2026 at 5:09 AM
Extremely classy to note that Corey Adams' parents were in the crowd and for the Rebels to ask that they be given a round of applause. That's the best of college football on display.
I just deleted the X app off my phone to start 2026 and I am now even more glad I did.
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 2:35 AM
I just deleted the X app off my phone to start 2026 and I am now even more glad I did.
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
We're at 2971 Discord users!
discord.gg/ocremix
Would love to get to 3000 video game music fans in there before 2026!
Whadda ya say? Do you hate VGM? Wanna trash VGM with other fans who DEFINITELY don't listen to game music? ;-)
discord.gg/ocremix
Would love to get to 3000 video game music fans in there before 2026!
Whadda ya say? Do you hate VGM? Wanna trash VGM with other fans who DEFINITELY don't listen to game music? ;-)
Join the OC ReMix Discord Server!
OC ReMix believes video game music is an art form. 4,500+ FREE VGM fan mixes since 1999! Open to all VGM fans! JOIN US! | 2970 members
discord.gg
December 30, 2025 at 8:36 PM
We're at 2971 Discord users!
discord.gg/ocremix
Would love to get to 3000 video game music fans in there before 2026!
Whadda ya say? Do you hate VGM? Wanna trash VGM with other fans who DEFINITELY don't listen to game music? ;-)
discord.gg/ocremix
Would love to get to 3000 video game music fans in there before 2026!
Whadda ya say? Do you hate VGM? Wanna trash VGM with other fans who DEFINITELY don't listen to game music? ;-)
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
Are we at OC ReMix #4999?!?
What happens next?
What happens next?
December 31, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Are we at OC ReMix #4999?!?
What happens next?
What happens next?
I got really good gifts for my best friends this year; our stream was nominated for an award; I reconnected with friends at VGMCon I hadn’t seen in 18 years and it was like no time had passed that whole community was so generous (Scott, Thomas, Doug, Michelle, you’re wonderful in particular.)
Every year around this time I do the same thread and it has been a lot of fun.
Tell me something you did in 2025 that you're proud of that you want everyone to know about. Did you write a book? Did you get a promotion? Did you survive the year?
I want to spend the end of the year celebrating you.
Tell me something you did in 2025 that you're proud of that you want everyone to know about. Did you write a book? Did you get a promotion? Did you survive the year?
I want to spend the end of the year celebrating you.
December 29, 2025 at 11:36 PM
I got really good gifts for my best friends this year; our stream was nominated for an award; I reconnected with friends at VGMCon I hadn’t seen in 18 years and it was like no time had passed that whole community was so generous (Scott, Thomas, Doug, Michelle, you’re wonderful in particular.)
Just saw a massive thread about one of my favorite game journalists playing through Ocarina of Time, and as a PSA to everyone, if you have not played through the Ship of Harkinian edition of the game, you need to do so -- both it and the equivalent release of Majora's Mask are the stuff of dreams.
December 29, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Just saw a massive thread about one of my favorite game journalists playing through Ocarina of Time, and as a PSA to everyone, if you have not played through the Ship of Harkinian edition of the game, you need to do so -- both it and the equivalent release of Majora's Mask are the stuff of dreams.
Reading this reminds me that I owe my parents so much — having limitless support for dropping computer science for music made my career possible, and I know not everyone gets the positive encouragement I (and Scalzi, below) received.
I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was fourteen because it was the one thing where I had an outsized facility for it relative to my peers, and also I liked it. I was extremely fortunate to have near universal support from friends, peers and teachers. Everyone expected me to do what I do now.
I will say that your focus on your goals was remarkable for a late teenager.
December 27, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Reading this reminds me that I owe my parents so much — having limitless support for dropping computer science for music made my career possible, and I know not everyone gets the positive encouragement I (and Scalzi, below) received.
I just read someone arguing that excessive drinking is an urban activity?!
Politely, to all my city-dwelling friends: if you can’t identify an animal by the smell of their shit, know that rural teens and twenty-somethings spill more beer than you will ever drink.
Politely, to all my city-dwelling friends: if you can’t identify an animal by the smell of their shit, know that rural teens and twenty-somethings spill more beer than you will ever drink.
December 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I just read someone arguing that excessive drinking is an urban activity?!
Politely, to all my city-dwelling friends: if you can’t identify an animal by the smell of their shit, know that rural teens and twenty-somethings spill more beer than you will ever drink.
Politely, to all my city-dwelling friends: if you can’t identify an animal by the smell of their shit, know that rural teens and twenty-somethings spill more beer than you will ever drink.
Two things true at once here; first, Sheryl Sandberg is right about this.
Second: any time a C-suite exec complains about corporate culture I want it to be accompanied by a list of people they have promoted or hired at senior levels. Executives have the power to create and shape the culture.
Second: any time a C-suite exec complains about corporate culture I want it to be accompanied by a list of people they have promoted or hired at senior levels. Executives have the power to create and shape the culture.
Sheryl Sandberg says corporate climate 'one of the worst' she has ever seen l CNBC www.cnbc.com/2025/12/16/she...
Sheryl Sandberg says corporate climate 'one of the worst' she has ever seen
Sheryl Sandberg says corporate climate is 'one of the worst' ever and there is no excuse for companies to backslide on efforts to level career playing field.
www.cnbc.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Two things true at once here; first, Sheryl Sandberg is right about this.
Second: any time a C-suite exec complains about corporate culture I want it to be accompanied by a list of people they have promoted or hired at senior levels. Executives have the power to create and shape the culture.
Second: any time a C-suite exec complains about corporate culture I want it to be accompanied by a list of people they have promoted or hired at senior levels. Executives have the power to create and shape the culture.
Students: I tell you this all the time — please listen when awesome indie devs you want to become someday like Megan says it haha.
Just gonna say this again for games sphere cus we get the same question:
Networking doesn't mean schmoozing up to famous people, it means making friends with your peers. Then in 10 years, 20, one of you might be famous? And sure you're still helping each other cus well yeah friends.
Make. Friends.
Networking doesn't mean schmoozing up to famous people, it means making friends with your peers. Then in 10 years, 20, one of you might be famous? And sure you're still helping each other cus well yeah friends.
Make. Friends.
Talking to one of these types at a con who asked how I 'got in' with so many 'famous writers' who I'd been talking to and I said "we made friends before anyone knew who we were decades ago by striking up interesting conversations and enjoying each other's company" and he kept re-asking the question.
December 27, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Students: I tell you this all the time — please listen when awesome indie devs you want to become someday like Megan says it haha.
A boatload of people I respect and trust have been raving about this. Mark your February calendars for this one; we will strongly consider streaming it.
Hi new followers! If you don't already know I have a new game coming out on January 22nd! It's a narrative adventure set in the year 2003 where you are a young writer trying to make sense of the world:
store.steampowered.com/app/2088810/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2088810/...
Perfect Tides: Station to Station on Steam
A point n' click sequel to Perfect Tides about the momentum and whiplash of young adulthood. Explore the big city through 18-year-old Mara's eyes. Collect items, nurture ideas, and experience complex ...
store.steampowered.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:48 AM
A boatload of people I respect and trust have been raving about this. Mark your February calendars for this one; we will strongly consider streaming it.
Kait has really good taste and I wish I had an opportunity to put @musicologess.bsky.social and her into conversation over coffee; for now just naming a thing that should happen if they’re both ever at the same industry event…
Some games I loved this year! Not necessarily my games of the year, but games that stood out to me, felt super clever, or otherwise connected deeply.
I'll thread more, but these are the four that I keep thinking about a lot, just incredibly well executed experiences
I'll thread more, but these are the four that I keep thinking about a lot, just incredibly well executed experiences
December 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Kait has really good taste and I wish I had an opportunity to put @musicologess.bsky.social and her into conversation over coffee; for now just naming a thing that should happen if they’re both ever at the same industry event…
Honestly, this was the most hopeful thing about the year. Thanks to everyone on the team for working so hard to keep in-print games journalism alive.
From all of us at Game Informer, we want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. We are so grateful for your support this year as we brought Game Informer back, and we look forward to many years of gaming conversations ahead.
December 26, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Honestly, this was the most hopeful thing about the year. Thanks to everyone on the team for working so hard to keep in-print games journalism alive.
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
There’s something in here about how after Jesus was born, Joseph fled with Jesus and Mary to Egypt under the cover of night…for ~4 years until Herod died.
December 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
There’s something in here about how after Jesus was born, Joseph fled with Jesus and Mary to Egypt under the cover of night…for ~4 years until Herod died.
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
For those who keep hearing about how Disco Elysium is one of the greatest games ever made: it's free on Epic Games Store, INCLUDING THE MAC VERSION (which doesn't seem to be on Internet Archive unless I've missed something)
but only for the next 18 hours, SO GRAB IT
but only for the next 18 hours, SO GRAB IT
December 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
For those who keep hearing about how Disco Elysium is one of the greatest games ever made: it's free on Epic Games Store, INCLUDING THE MAC VERSION (which doesn't seem to be on Internet Archive unless I've missed something)
but only for the next 18 hours, SO GRAB IT
but only for the next 18 hours, SO GRAB IT
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
So what are y'all doing later today? youtu.be/uJvpRGibFhg?...
The Untold Story of the Nintendo Entertainment System
YouTube video by The Video Game History Foundation
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
So what are y'all doing later today? youtu.be/uJvpRGibFhg?...
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
'Twas the night before #Christmas… DOS-style 🎄💾
In 1987, PC Life Magazine gifted us with ’Twas the Night Before Christmas: Animated Musical Christmas Disk — a charmingly low-res, CGA 4-color holiday e-card.
Play it in your browser ⤵️
archive.org/details/twas...
#HappyHolidays #HolidayGames
In 1987, PC Life Magazine gifted us with ’Twas the Night Before Christmas: Animated Musical Christmas Disk — a charmingly low-res, CGA 4-color holiday e-card.
Play it in your browser ⤵️
archive.org/details/twas...
#HappyHolidays #HolidayGames
December 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
'Twas the night before #Christmas… DOS-style 🎄💾
In 1987, PC Life Magazine gifted us with ’Twas the Night Before Christmas: Animated Musical Christmas Disk — a charmingly low-res, CGA 4-color holiday e-card.
Play it in your browser ⤵️
archive.org/details/twas...
#HappyHolidays #HolidayGames
In 1987, PC Life Magazine gifted us with ’Twas the Night Before Christmas: Animated Musical Christmas Disk — a charmingly low-res, CGA 4-color holiday e-card.
Play it in your browser ⤵️
archive.org/details/twas...
#HappyHolidays #HolidayGames
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
Yeah. Indies can hit fidelity like our old hits, but something like, say, Final Fantasy 6 could never be made today. It was cutting edge & made by a big team who were the best in the world at what they did
The sheer scope of writing, music, etc is almost as much work now as it was then.
The sheer scope of writing, music, etc is almost as much work now as it was then.
I think a lot about this. I'd never played Deus Ex before until recently, and it's in some ways depressing as hell to see this masterwork that's functionally never going to be replicated? Mostly because nobody is able to work at the fidelity necessary for it who can still get the necessary funding?
When I left 2K Marin in 2013 and went indie, this statement (from a Rock Paper Shotgun guest piece about Deus Ex written by my friend and former colleague JP LeBreton) was seared into my mind.
December 24, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Yeah. Indies can hit fidelity like our old hits, but something like, say, Final Fantasy 6 could never be made today. It was cutting edge & made by a big team who were the best in the world at what they did
The sheer scope of writing, music, etc is almost as much work now as it was then.
The sheer scope of writing, music, etc is almost as much work now as it was then.
Reposted by Ryan Thompson
Robert Schumann will haunt you the the grave
Scientists have developed a robotic hand exoskeleton that can passively train expert pianists to play faster keystrokes and overcome the ceiling effect in motor skills.
Read more in #ScienceRobotics: https://scim.ag/3N3bJil
Read more in #ScienceRobotics: https://scim.ag/3N3bJil
December 23, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Robert Schumann will haunt you the the grave