Video Games Live (VGL) is a concert series created and produced by industry veterans and video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall.[1] The concerts consist of segments of video game music performed by a live orchestra with video footage and synchronized lighting and effects,[2] as well as several interactive segments with the audience. The concerts are conducted by Emmanuel Fratianni [3] and Wataru Hokoyama.[4]
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Video Games Live was first conceived by Wall and Tallarico, who spent three years planning the show. During the planning, the technology needed to let the concert master communicate with the performers, as well as to synchronize with the lights and effects, was also created.[2] The concert debuted on July 6, 2005 at the Hollywood Bowl, where the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra performed to an audience of 11,000 people.[2] Three concerts were played the first year. In 2006, the concert re-launched with an 11 show world tour. The concert was expanded to 30 cities in 2007 and 47 cities in 2008. More than 70 shows were held in 2009 alone.[5]
Each concert is performed by the local orchestra[2] and local professional musicians.[1]
Video Games Live features music from video games from all eras. Music from more recent games (and ongoing series), such as Final Fantasy, Halo, World of Warcraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, and Metal Gear Solid have been performed. Other segments feature retro arcade games such as Tetris and Asteroids. Video footage of each game is shown during its segment.[6]
VGL often features solo performers. Martin Leung, who became known on the Internet for playing video game songs on a piano while blindfolded, routinely performs during the concerts.[7][8] Also discovered on the internet for her Legend of Zelda cosplaying musical skit, vocalist and flutist Laura Intravia appears at the shows often as well, performing her own solo flute arrangements in addition to flute and vocal solos in the orchestral segments.[9][10]
The show features several interactive segments where audience members are invited on stage to play video games while the orchestra plays music to match the game. Games such as Frogger,[11] Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, and Guitar Hero have been played live.[7]
The following is a list of video games from which music has been performed.
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In addition to these segments, VGL also has a Classic Arcade medley, featuring music from over 20 games including Pong, Donkey Kong, Dragon's Lair, Tetris, Frogger, Gauntlet, Space Invaders, Contra, Outrun and others.
Video Games Live, Vol. 1, a recording of various segments from multiple shows, was released on July 22, 2008. The music on the album was performed by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra and was released by Angel Records.[12]
| Tracklisting | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Kingdom Hearts" | 3:39 | |||||||
| 2. | "Warcraft Suite" | 5:05 | |||||||
| 3. | "Myst Medley" | 6:04 | |||||||
| 4. | "Medal Of Honor (Live)" | 5:42 | |||||||
| 5. | "Civilization IV Medley" | 4:55 | |||||||
| 6. | "The Video Game Pianist: Tetris" | 1:08 | |||||||
| 7. | "God Of War Montage (Live)" | 3:35 | |||||||
| 8. | "Advent Rising Suite" | 6:27 | |||||||
| 9. | "Tron Montage" | 5:19 | |||||||
| 10. | "Halo Suite" | 6:37 | |||||||
| 11. | "Castlevania Live Performance" | 4:44 | |||||||
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Total length:
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53:24 | ||||||||
Video Games Live, Level 2 was released as a DVD, Blu-ray and CD on October 19, 2010 by Shout! Factory.[13] The music was performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and the CD debuted at #8 on the Billboard charts.[14]
| Tracklisting | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "The Legend of Zelda Suite" | 4:24 | |||||||
| 2. | "Civilization IV: Baba Yetu (Duet Version)" | 4:59 | |||||||
| 3. | "God of War: Revenge and Redemption" | 3:24 | |||||||
| 4. | "Chrono Trigger & Chrono Cross Medley" | 4:56 | |||||||
| 5. | "World of Warcraft: Lament of the Highborne" | 2:58 | |||||||
| 6. | "Mario Solo Piano Medley" | 4:19 | |||||||
| 7. | "Super Mario Bros. Medley" | 4:09 | |||||||
| 8. | "Warcraft Montage" | 5:06 | |||||||
| 9. | "Sonic the Hedgehog: Staff Credits" | 5:20 | |||||||
| 10. | "Advent Rising Overture" | 6:40 | |||||||
| 11. | "Megaman Montage" | 4:33 | |||||||
| 12. | "StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Theme" | 2:11 | |||||||
| 13. | "Final Fantasy Solo Piano Medley" | 6:55 | |||||||
| 14. | "Halo Montage" | 5:28 | |||||||
| 15. | "Castlevania Rock Overture" | 4:28 | |||||||
| 16. | "Final Fantasy VII: One Winged Angel (Rock Edition)" | 4:40 | |||||||
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Total length:
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74:39 | ||||||||
The April 1, 2010 New Orleans concert was taped and broadcasted on July 31, 2010 on PBS. The special was later released on DVD and Blu-Ray in 2010 and contains additional segments, behind the scenes footage, making of Video Games Live, interactive angles, exclusive game developer and composer interviews, and special never before seen game trailers. [1]
Wall and Tallarico see the concert as a way to show "how culturally significant video games and video game music is in the world today."[11] Video Games Live has been praised for bridging the generational gap by showing older generations that video game music is not just "bleeps and bloops."[2] When the show is performed in Brazil, it is subsidized by the government for getting young people involved in the arts.[2]
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