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Video Games Live heads around the world on tour
Video Games Live, which plays your favorite video game music (including some of WoW's greatest hits) with a full orchestra, is off on a world tour this year. This means that wherever you are, there's a reasonable chance they'll be playing somewhere in the vicinity. The tour kicked off in Phoenix, Arizona this weekend and is heading to Mexico before jumping around the US and then moving on to China, the Middle East, Europe, South America, and Canada. (Sorry, Australia!) If you're interested in catching Video Games Live, well, live, check out their tour dates page for tickets and backstage packages -- though tickets to shows later this year and next year aren't available yet. And if they aren't stopping anywhere in your area, they have three albums of great gaming music -- Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 -- available on iTunes and Amazon to get your game on.
Video Games Live dates over 50 new concerts around the world
Video Games Live has announced 50+ new dates for its gaming-focused concert tour, including first-ever stops in McAllen, Texas, Spokane, Washington, Benthlehem, Pennsylvania and more. The show will also travel through Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, China and other regions. The 10-venue pass through Mexico will include guest apperances from Journey composer Austin Wintory, God of War series contributor Gerard Marino, Symphony of the Goddess conductor Eimear Noone and more. The press release also teases appearances from "game composer friends from Japan," leaving us to dwell in anticipation for now. A listing of each show's date, city and venue can be found in the press release below, and you can keep track of ticket sales with Video Games Live's tour schedule. Musical tours like Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy or the Zelda series' Symphony of the Goddess pay tribute to catalogs spanning a single series, but Video Games Live's varied selections might entertain those looking for some variety in their live gaming symphonies. [Image: Video Games Live]
Blizzard music to be featured at Gamer MusiCON '09
If you're looking for a way to relax this weekend, why don't you hie off to Houston and get tickets to the Gamer MusiCON '09, an all-day event celebrating music from the video game industry. If you're familiar with the Video Games Live, the whole event has expanded somewhat with the help of Blizzard Entertainment and will now have a full hour-and-a-half Blizzard Live! to go along with the traditional Video Games Live! concert.Blizzard Live! will feature music, both old and some never performed ones, from Blizzard's different game worlds - Diablo, Starcraft, and Warcraft - paired with exclusive game footage and synchronized lighting. The Video Games Live! segment features music from other popular games like Chrono Trigger or Mega Man. Of course, just like any great geek and gamer event, Gamer MusiCON will feature a lot of fun in between, such as costume contests, Guitar Hero faceoffs, a Q&A with Blizzard's composers, autograph signings, and lots of swag. The event, conducted by Jack Wall and hosted by Tommy Talarico, comes to life with the help of the Houston Symphony. It will be held at the Jones Hall in downtown Houston. You'd better get your tickets today! Oh, and don't forget to bring a date.
Video Games Live interviews Jason Hayes in Austin
This is really interesting -- our friend Tommy Tallarico of Video Games Live recently did a show in Austin, Texas, and during the performance, they actually brought former Blizzard composer Jason Hayes up on the big screen via Skype and chatted with him about the Warcraft music they had just played. Hayes worked on some of the cinematic music for Warcraft III, and though he is no longer with Blizzard, he put together some of the new music you're hearing now in Wrath of the Lich King as well.Hayes talks about how he works closely with the cinematic team to try and come up with an appropriate mood for what's happening on screen as the music plays. Even with early animatics, he says, you can get a good sense of where the scene is going and what the story is about. He also says that the Latin lyrics in his songs aren't necessarily Latin -- he uses a translator online and picks and chooses what sounds best. So not exactly historically accurate, but it's Warcraft -- as long as it sounds good, they can justify it however they like. It's definitely a fun little chat with one of the people behind some of the sweet sounds of Azeroth.[via WorldofWar]
BlizzCon 2008: The awesome of the ending ceremony
On Saturday night the walls of the Anaheim Convention Center rocked with the cheers and laughter of thousands of BlizzCon 2008 attendees. This year's two-day event was packed full of excellent panels, cool gameplay and of course, lines that seemed to stretch from here to eternity. (I personally clocked in 3 1/2 hours in the store line - but I got awesome goodies out of it.) However, it was this final event that put the crown jewel in this year's BlizzCon event. Curious as to what all went on? Click through the gallery to check out the sights (and some sounds) from the front lines! On to the pictures! >> %Gallery-34307%
Joyswag: Video Games Live album
Update: Entry period has ended.If you can't make it to any of the upcoming Video Games Live performances, we'll bring the show to you. Joystiq is giving away five free copies of the recent Video Games Live: Volume One, delivered right to your door. Just leave a comment below (after you've read our interview with co-creator Tommy Tallarico), telling us what piece of gaming music you'd love to hear at a VGL concert, and we'll randomly select five winners to receive a copy. To enter this giveaway: Leave a comment telling us your favorite piece of game music that you'd like to hear played live. You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). Limit 1 entry per person per calendar day (comment more than once and we'll force you to play the Atari 2600 version of E.T. forever, Clockwork Orange-style). This entry period ends at 11:00pm ET on Friday, October 10th. We'll randomly select 5 winners at that time to each receive one copy of the EMI Classics album Video Games Live: Volume One (valued at $15). Please check your e-mail! For a list of complete rules, click here.
Joystiq interview: Tommy Tallarico of Video Games Live
Tommy Tallarico has been working in the video game industry since 1991, and has worked on the audio and music for over 250 games, which sounds exhausting enough. He also ocassionally co-hosts Reviews on the Run (formerly Judgement Day on G4), he's a co-founder of the Game Audio Network Guild, serves on the advisory board for the Game Developers Conference, and somewhere amidst that schedule he found time to co-create (with game composer Jack Wall) the live-action game music experience that is Video Games Live. Video Games Live has been bringing the rocking tunes of games to audiences around the world for three years now. Whereas Jack Wall provides the baton-waving, classy dress portion of the show, Tallarico is the tennis-shoe wearing, Spider-Man guitar-wielding rock element. Check out our full interview with Tommy after the break, and check the VGL schedule to see if there's a show near you -- because everyone should hear the Mario Bros. theme played live at least once. If you can't make it to one, enter our Joyswag Video Games Live giveaway.
WoW Moviewatch: Video Games Live performs a Warcraft Medley
With the flurry of activity surrounding the Worldwide Invitational, the live stream was the best thing that you could watch if you weren't in Paris yourself. During the closing ceremony, Video Games Live performed a Blizzard-centric symphony. For those that missed it, VGL is organized by Tommy Tallarico, the MC, and Jack Wall, the conductor. Both have composed music for video games for years, but now also travel around the country working with leading orchestras to perform that music live on stage for audiences.After viewing the closing ceremony, I checked out their website and discovered that they were performing in Austin, Texas two weeks later! Armed with ticket and video camera, I wasn't sure what to expect, but was thoroughly pleased with the performance. They can only play about 20 of their roughly 50 arranged pieces per night, so I was treated to music from Final Fantasy, Warcraft, Starcraft, Super Mario Brothers, Halo, Metal Gear Solid, and many others. In between the segments were games, costume contests, and commentary. At the end, they offer a meet and greet with the crew, as well as some video game industry professionals occasionally. In all, it's about a 5 hour event.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch ...Read on after the jump for more tidbits about Video Games Live ...
WoW Moviewatch: Video Games Live
If you missed the live stream of the 2008 Blizzard Worldwide Invitational closing ceremony, you'll probably be regretting it right about now. They brought back Video Games Live, a group that works with local orchestras and choirs to perform music from video games, to play a montage of Blizzard's greatest music from games such as Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, and WoW. It was so amazing that I immediately bought tickets for VGL's upcoming performance in Austin!If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch ...
Video Games Live announces 40 shows across the globe
Video Games Live has announced approximately 40 shows to take place across the globe over the next year. Full details aren't available on some locations, but there will be special concerts at GDC, Comic-Con, Leipzig and a bullring in Mexico (full list of locations after the break). There's really nothing more to say about VGL other than you should go and see hear it. The quality of the show is absolutely worth the price of admission and there's nothing quite like getting a chill from hearing your favorite piece of game music played by a full orchestra. If going into public isn't your thing, there's always the CD.[Via Press Release]
Video Games Live to make TV debut on Spike VGAs
Video Games Live, composer Tommy Tallarico's gaming-centric orchestra concert event, is making its national television debut next Sunday, December 9, on Spike TV's Video Game Awards. The performance will be recorded along with the awards show, hosted again this year by Samuel L. Jackson, December 7 in Las Vegas.No word on what songs will be performed, although the press release from VGL noted that "brand new never before seen material" is in the cards.
Video Games Live CD coming October 15
Find yourself a CD player, yet? An album of epic, gaming proportions is coming October 15 when EMI Classics releases Video Games Live: Greatest Hits -- Volume One. Although it's not a live recording (according to the press release, it was mixed and recorded at London's Abbey Road studios), the collection does feature music from Zelda, Mario, Halo, Warcraft, Sonic, Myst, Civilization IV, Final Fantasy ... and Tron.No word on the previously-mentioned DVD release, also expected this fall. We've contacted VGL co-creator Tommy Tallarico for more information.
Video Games Live goes to London with Halo 3
In an effort to bring the Video Games Live concert series to the worldwide masses, Microsoft and the Xbox 360 will be sponsoring a London VGL concert. The London concert will take place at the The Royal Festival Hall on October 22nd and feature the normal video game music lineup plus a special Halo 3 musical arrangement performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. And since Xbox 360 will be sponsoring all the VGL fun, concert goers will be able to play some of this Fall's amazing 360 games, do a little cos-play and partake in gaming tournaments at the event. If you're in the London area and are interested in going you can purchase your tickets online at the Southbank Centre.
Halo as performed by the Yale orchestra
Let's face it, most people don't play Halo for the pretty music, but it does feature a unique score for a first person shooter. The iconic chanting has firmly planted itself in the hearts and minds of gamers the world over. It even seems that the haunting refrain has wormed its way into the great minds of Yale University. In one of the recent performances of Video Games Live, the Yale Symphony Orchestra-Choir performed pieces from the games. The group performed music from both Halo 2 and the first Halo 3 trailer, all set to footage from the series. Tommy Tallarico even busted out the electric guitar for the finale. Scrutinize the video above, enjoy it's soothing sounds, and dream of May 16th.[Via Bungie.net]
Castlevania music hits it really, really big
Our lives are officially forfeit. At a recent Video Games Live show at Yale's Woolsey Hall, classic Castlevania music was performed on a three-story pipe organ, like it was always meant to be. And we were nowhere near it. What is there to live for now? Oh, right, playing this video of it over and over again. Check out the video after the break, and gasp along with us as Vampire Killer kicks in. We feel bad for the poor pipe organ, having gotten a taste of Vania music and forced now to return to its former life.[Via Joystiq]
Video Games Live holding 14 shows at 10 North American cities [update 1]
Video Games Live continues to spread its musically inclined tendrils across the North American continent, with the announcement of 13 upcoming concerts in 10 different cities. If you can't make the GDC concert next month (featuring Nintendo's Koji Kondo), perhaps you'll find solace in the complete list of events presented after the break.In addition, Video Games Live concerts are currently being planned for several European, Asian and South American venues. Keep an eye (and an ear) out for further announcements regarding international events.
Video Games Live seats in Indy up for sale
Tickets are now on sale for the two Video Games Live shows planned in conjunction with Gen Con Indy Friday & Saturday, August 11-12.After a stop in Philly earlier this month, the VGL tour is moving on to Houston July 14th, Chicago August 5th, and then Indianapolis the weekend after that. More on reserving seats for the Hilbert Circle Theatre can be found on the official announcement page (via the pic to the right or the Read link below).Judging by the reviews of the Philly show so far, Video Games Live sounds like it could be a lot of fun. If they keep providing public access to Guitar Hero II, they may have sold this blogger on going already. We hope Midwestern gamers not attending the Chicago show can make a pitstop in Indy to keep Tommy's show on the road. So, yeah ... rock on.See also: Official VGL report from Philly (with some local links to boot) Video Games Live ticket purchases opened a bit early The official page for Gen Con Indy PS2 impressions: Guitar Hero II
