Video Games Live

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

History

October 24, 2008 Video Games Live performance

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]

Segments

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] Tallarico jumps in on guitar for some segments, from worldbeat-like folk for Chrono Trigger to heavy metal for Final Fantasy VII and themes from Castlevania.

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]

Performed music

The following is a list of video games from which music has been performed.

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.

Albums

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 (except where noted), and was released by Angel Records.[12]

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 (except where noted), and debuted at #8 on the Billboard charts.[14]

Video Games Live: Level 3 is an upcoming album that will be released in 2014. It was funded by 5,679 fans on Kickstarter beating its goal of $250,000 by reaching $285,081. Unlike the previous albums, this one will be recorded in a studio featuring a full orchestra, a 60 person choir, a full rock band and video game composers from around the world. Each segment will be personally arranged and orchestrated by their original composers and use input from the actual game designers & designers and game developers & publishers.

All of the confirmed tracks can be found on their Kickstarter page as an example of what they may sound like after recording.

An example track for "Super Mario World" was released on their Kickstarter page, however they are unable to confirm it for the album at this time because they have to get permission from Nintendo to use it.

PBS Special

The April 1, 2010 New Orleans concert was taped and broadcast 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.

Legacy

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]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Liu, Marian (2009-01-23). ""Video Games Live" is a feast for the eyes and ears". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Eberson, Sharon (2009-07-07). "PSO presents 'Video Games Live' to turn on new generation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
  3. ↑ "Video Games Live — Our Team". Video Games Live. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  4. ↑ "Wataru Hokoyama Reveals Video Games Live Conductorship". Retrieved 22 November 2011. 
  5. ↑ Graser, Marc (2009-05-29). "Video Games Live's global success". Variety. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
  6. ↑ Jean, Grace (2007-07-02). "It's All in the Playing At NSO's 'Video Games Live'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Dunlap, Brandon M. (2009-03-21). "Crowd of gamers elated by 'Video Games Live' concert at Miller". mlive.com. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
  8. ↑ Schiesel, Seth (2009-10-26). "Video Games (No Controller Needed)". nyt.com. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
  9. ↑ Ponte, Christian (2010-11-08). "Video Games Live Returns to Chicago!". thetanooki.com. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  10. ↑ Today, Malaysian (2010-05-06). "Laura Intravia". malaysiantoday.com. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Iwasaki, Scott (2008-03-29). "Symphony help breathe life into video games". Deseret News. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
  12. ↑ "Video Games live | http". //www.videogameslive.com. Retrieved 2012-12-04. 
  13. ↑ "Video Games live | http". //www.videogameslive.com. 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2012-12-04. 
  14. ↑ "Video Games live | http". //www.videogameslive.com. 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2012-12-04. 

External links

Video game music concert series
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