What is a .VGM file?
A .VGM file is a type of computer file that stores music from video games. People who enjoy video games often use special programs to save the music from their favorite games into these files. The music in a VGM file usually comes from older video games, like those you might have played on an arcade machine or on older game systems such as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, or Sega Game Gear.
To open and listen to a VGM file, you can use music player programs that are designed to work with these types of files. Some of these programs include Audio Overload, vgmstream, Audacious, Nullsoft Winamp with a special Chipamp plug-in, Foobar2000 with a vgmstream decoder plug-in, and a web version of vgmstream that works directly in your internet browser.
VGM files are special because they are designed to replicate the exact sounds of the music as it was heard in the game. This is possible because the files contain instructions for the sound chips that were used in the original game consoles or arcade machines. These sound chips, made by companies like Yamaha and Texas Instruments, were very important in creating the unique sounds of video game music from that era. However, VGM files can also include music that was meant to be played on other types of sound chips used by different game companies, such as Nintendo, Konami, Namco, Atari, and Capcom.
After someone converts video game music into VGM files, they can listen to the music on their computer using one of the compatible music players mentioned earlier. It's also common for people to share these files online, allowing others to download and enjoy the music from their favorite video games. This way, fans of classic video games can enjoy the nostalgic sounds of their favorite games even when they're not playing them.
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