hi, im kinda new here and wanted to ask what exactly VGM is? are those files from a game directly? :) thanks

VGM is an abbreviation for Video Game Music. The music you will find here (at least Video Game related) will be in one of two categories:

OST - Original Soundtrack - An official soundtrack release for a game
OSV/Game rip/Line-in Rip - An unofficial soundtrack either ripped directly from the game's files or recorded from a line-in during gameplay.

Additionally, soundtrack rips from the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis use the file extension .vgm or .vgz

BGM is also interchangeable with VGM. You may find that the music to a game is sorted into a subfolder called BGM, which is what most games call it.

BGM is also interchangeable with VGM.

BGM (BackGround Music) is often (mis)used to describe the scores from games, television, anime (particularly) and movies alike.

thanks a lot mates i normally buy/collect all soundtracks available officially from games i love the music from but many sadly dont have a soundtrack or are incomplete..... like dead space etc. how is the legality concerned for downloading a game rip for example if you own the game but dunno how to extract?

i also wanna extract myself some files from older games, is there a category or someone who might help how to extract music from specific games?

BGM (BackGround Music) is often (mis)used to describe the scores from games, television, anime (particularly) and movies alike.

How so? I mean BGM IS background music, so it's not a misuse, particularly for gaming. The others you mentioned I would say you are correct however.

thanks a lot mates i normally buy/collect all soundtracks available officially from games i love the music from but many sadly dont have a soundtrack or are incomplete..... like dead space etc. how is the legality concerned for downloading a game rip for example if you own the game but dunno how to extract?

i also wanna extract myself some files from older games, is there a category or someone who might help how to extract music from specific games?

Well, legal wise it's still wrong because it is in breach of copyright and probably any kind of EULA/Terms of use. But doing so is unlikely to result in any legal action. For example, I've uploaded a lot of game rips and the worst so far is having my rips taken down from the file hosters I uploaded them to. Additionally, the label Varase Sarabande has specifically requested that none of their releases are shared on this site.

As for doing your own game rips, it really all depends on the game and the platform they're on.

You said that the term was interchangeable with VGM, which it isn't - since it applies to music from many different mediums, not just video games.

It's a misuse, in my opinion, because the term "background" implies something considerably less creative and less important than most iconic scores deserve. They are scores - music composed to enhance, compliment, carry, clarify, and commentate... they're rarely used as musical wallpaper. :)

I have long resisted the term for that reason.

You said that the term was interchangeable with VGM, which it isn't - since it applies to music from many different mediums, not just video games.

It's a misuse, in my opinion, because the term "background" implies something considerably less creative and less important than most iconic scores deserve. They are scores - music composed to enhance, compliment, carry, clarify, and commentate... they're rarely used as musical wallpaper. :)

I have long resisted the term for that reason.

Words are created for a reason. Not to sound argumentative but when I read your post I see the kind of person who would complain about the pronunciation of the word 'tomato' if someone says it differently from you when English is a dynamic language and more often than not the pronunciation is based largely upon personal preference and the region you grew up in. Point is, BGM is background music because it is not the main focus when playing a game, it's merely there to add to the feel of it, even though you may enjoy the tunes during gameplay. I would also add that many games do not have proper names when ripping them straight from the game's files, and they are also not given CD releases often enough, furthering my argument that they are indeed less important like you say. Admittedly they are important, but not that important. Your point is taken though, and I do believe that the gaming industry should place more emphasis on the music and make a greater effort to release the scores for videogames. :P