Video Games Live
Encyclopedia
Video Games Live is a concert series created and produced by industry veterans and video game composers Tommy Tallarico
and Jack Wall
. The concerts consist of segments of video game music performed by a live orchestra with video footage and synchronized lighting and effects, as well as several interactive segments with the audience. The concerts are conducted by Emmanuel Fratianni and Wataru Hokoyama.
, where the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Orchestra performed to an audience of 11,000 people. 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.
Each concert is performed by the local orchestra and local professional musicians.
, 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.
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. 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.
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, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, and Guitar Hero have been played live.
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, Level 2 was released as a DVD, Blu-ray and CD on October 19, 2010 by Shout! Factory
. The music was performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
, and the CD debuted at #8 on the Billboard charts
.
Tommy Tallarico
Tommy Tallarico is an American video game music composer and musician. He is best known as the co-creator of the concert series Video Games Live...
and Jack Wall
Jack Wall (composer)
Jack Wall is an American video game music composer. He has worked on video game music for over 20 games including the Myst franchise, Splinter Cell, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect...
. The concerts consist of segments of video game music performed by a live orchestra with video footage and synchronized lighting and effects, as well as several interactive segments with the audience. The concerts are conducted by Emmanuel Fratianni and Wataru Hokoyama.
History
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. The concert debuted on July 6, 2005 at the Hollywood BowlHollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
, where the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
Orchestra performed to an audience of 11,000 people. 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.
Each concert is performed by the local orchestra and local professional musicians.
Segments
Video Games Live features music from video games from all eras. Music from more recent games (and ongoing series), such as Final Fantasy, HaloHalo (video game series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
, World of Warcraft
Warcraft Universe
Warcraft is a franchise of video games, novels, and other media originally created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series is made up of Four core games: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and World of Warcraft...
, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda series
, occasionally called Legend of Zelda or simply Zelda, is a high fantasy action-adventure video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is developed and published by Nintendo, with some portable installments outsourced to Flagship/Capcom, Vanpool, and...
, Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
, and Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid
is a videogame by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake...
have been performed. Other segments feature retro arcade games such as Tetris
Tetris
Tetris is a puzzle video game originally designed and programmed by Alexey Pajitnov in the Soviet Union. It was released on June 6, 1984, while he was working for the Dorodnicyn Computing Centre of the Academy of Science of the USSR in Moscow, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
and Asteroids. Video footage of each game is shown during its segment.
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. Also discovered on the internet for her Legend of Zelda cosplaying musical skit, vocalist and flutist Laura Intravia
Laura Intravia
Laura Intravia, also known as Flute Link, is an American flutist, vocalist, arranger and composer. She became well-known as a result of a Youtube video of her performing a skit at the 2008 Otakon Masquerade, in which she cosplayed as Link from The Legend of Zelda and performed a virtuosic Zelda...
appears at the shows often as well, performing her own solo flute arrangements in addition to flute and vocal solos in the orchestral segments.
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, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, and Guitar Hero have been played live.
Performed music
The following is a list of video games from which music has been performed.- Advent RisingAdvent RisingAdvent Rising is a third-person, science fiction action-adventure video game. It was developed by GlyphX Games and published by Majesco. The game was released on May 31, 2005 for Xbox and on August 9, 2005 for Microsoft Windows. The story of this game was created by Donald Mustard, and featured a...
- Afrika
- Assassin's Creed IIAssassin's Creed IIAssassin's Creed II is a historical third-person action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It is the second video game installment of the Assassin's Creed series, and is a sequel to the 2007 video...
- Beyond Good & EvilBeyond Good & Evil (video game)Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Ubisoft and released in late for the GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and Xbox platforms. The story follows the adventures of Jade, an investigative reporter and martial artist, who works with a resistance...
- BioShockBioshockBioShock is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Boston and designed by Ken Levine. It was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on August 21, 2007 in North America, and three days later in Europe and Australia. It became available on Steam on August 21, 2007...
- CastlevaniaCastlevaniaCastlevania, known as in Japan, is a video game series created and developed by Konami. The series debuted in Japan on September 26, 1986, with the release of for the Family Computer Disk System , followed by an alternate version for the MSX 2 platform on October 30...
- Chrono CrossChrono Crossis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which was released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System...
- Chrono TriggerChrono Triggeris a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
- Civilization IVCivilization IVSid Meier's Civilization IV is a turn-based strategy, 4X computer game released in 2005 and developed by lead designer Soren Johnson under the direction of Sid Meier and Meier's studio Firaxis Games. It is the fourth installment of the Civilization series...
- Command & ConquerCommand & ConquerCommand & Conquer, abbreviated to C&C and also known as Tiberian Dawn, is a 1995 real-time strategy computer game developed by Westwood Studios for MS-DOS and published by Virgin Interactive. It was the first of twelve games to date to be released under the Command & Conquer label, including a...
(Red Alert) - Diablo IIIDiablo IIIDiablo III is an upcoming dark fantasy/horror-themed action role-playing game in development by Blizzard, making it the third installment in the Diablo franchise...
- Dragon's LairDragon's LairDragon's Lair is a laserdisc video game published by Cinematronics in 1983. It featured animation created by ex-Disney animator Don Bluth....
(arcade version) - End of NationsEnd of NationsEnd of Nations is an upcoming MMORTS video game for Microsoft Windows. It is being developed by Petroglyph Games and published by Trion Worlds...
- EverQuest IIEverQuest IIEverQuest II is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment , based on EverQuest, and shipped on 8 November 2004...
- Final Fantasy (multiple segments)
- God of WarGod of War (video game)God of War is an action adventure video game for the PlayStation 2 first released by Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica division in March 2005...
- HaloHalo (video game series)Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
(multiple segments)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a video game that is based on the fifth instalment of the popular Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling and the film of the same name, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii, Game Boy Advance and Mac OS X...
- HeadhunterHeadhunterHeadhunter or head hunter may refer to:-General use:* Headhunting, the practice of literally taking a person's head after killing them* Headhunter, an informal name for an employment recruiter, sometimes referred to as executive searcher...
- Heroes of Might and MagicHeroes of Might and MagicHeroes of Might and Magic is a series of video games originally created and developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing. As part of the Might and Magic franchise, the series changed ownership when NWC was acquired by 3DO and again when 3DO closed down and sold the rights to Ubisoft...
Medley - Kingdom HeartsKingdom Heartsis an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
- The Legend of ZeldaThe Legend of Zelda series, occasionally called Legend of Zelda or simply Zelda, is a high fantasy action-adventure video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is developed and published by Nintendo, with some portable installments outsourced to Flagship/Capcom, Vanpool, and...
series (multiple segments) - LucasArtsLucasArtsLucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
Medley - Mass EffectMass EffectMass Effect is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows by Demiurge Studios. The Xbox 360 version was released worldwide in November 2007 published by Microsoft Game Studios...
- Medal of Honor
- Mega ManMega ManMega Man is a video game franchise from Capcom, starring the eponymous character Mega Man, or one of his many counterparts. The series is well-known and comprises well over fifty releases, easily making it Capcom's most prolific franchise. As of December 31, 2010, the series has sold approximately...
- Metal Gear SolidMetal Gear Solidis a videogame by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake...
(multiple segments) - MetroidMetroidis an action-adventure video game, and the first entry in the Metroid series. It was co-developed by Nintendo's Research and Development 1 division and Intelligent Systems, and was released in Japan in August 1986, in North America in August 1987, and in Europe in January 1988...
- Monkey Island series
- Myst seriesMyst (series)Myst is a franchise centered on a series of adventure video games. The first game in the series, Myst, was released in 1993 by brothers Rand and Robyn Miller and their video game company Cyan, Inc...
- Need for Speed: UndercoverNeed for Speed: UndercoverNeed for Speed: Undercover is the 12th installment of the popular racing video game series Need for Speed, developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts . It was released on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and mobile...
(featuring Splitting AdamSplitting AdamSplitting Adam is an independent Canadian contemporary rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia consisting of five band members: Seren , Thompson , Antonio , Rob and Jordo .In 2000, Splitting Adam licensed two songs to NBC for use in the television series Just Deal...
)
- PokémonPokémonis a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
- Portal
- Rayman: Raving Rabbids
- Resident Evil 5Resident Evil 5Resident Evil 5, known in Japan as , is a survival horror third-person shooter video game developed and published by Capcom. The game is the seventh installment in the Resident Evil survival horror series, and was released on March 5, 2009 in Japan and on March 13, 2009 in North America and Europe...
- Shadow of the ColossusShadow of the ColossusShadow of the Colossus, released in Japan as , is an action-adventure game published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was released in North America and Japan in October 2005 and PAL territories in February 2006...
- Silent HillSilent Hillis a survival horror video game series consisting of seven installments published by Konami and its subsidiary Konami Digital Entertainment. The first four games in the series, Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4, have been developed by an internal factor, Team Silent...
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Space AceSpace AceSpace Ace is a laserdisc video game produced by Don Bluth Studios, Cinematronics, and Advanced Microcomputer Systems...
- StarCraftStarCraftStarCraft is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The first game of the StarCraft series was released for Microsoft Windows on 31 March 1998. With more than 11 million copies sold worldwide as of February 2009, it is one of the best-selling...
& StarCraft II - Street FighterStreet Fighter, commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another...
- Super Mario SeriesMario (series)The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
(multiple segments) - TetrisTetrisTetris is a puzzle video game originally designed and programmed by Alexey Pajitnov in the Soviet Union. It was released on June 6, 1984, while he was working for the Dorodnicyn Computing Centre of the Academy of Science of the USSR in Moscow, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
- Tom Clancy Series Medley
- Tomb Raider (series)
- Top GearTop Gear (video game)Top Gear , is a 1992 racing video game for the Super NES, published by Kemco and developed by Gremlin Graphics. Not only does it mark first game in the Top Gear racing game franchise, but it is also one of the first racing games to be released on the Super NES...
- TronTron-Film:*Tron , a franchise that began in 1982 with the Walt Disney Pictures film Tron** Tron , a 1982 science fiction film by Disney, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, Dan Shor and David Warner...
- Uncharted 2
- World of WarcraftWarcraft UniverseWarcraft is a franchise of video games, novels, and other media originally created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series is made up of Four core games: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and World of Warcraft...
(multiple segments)
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 and was released by Angel RecordsAngel Records
Angel Records is a record label belonging to EMI. It was formed in 1953 and specialised in classical music, but included an occasional operetta or Broadway score...
.
Video Games Live, Level 2 was released as a DVD, Blu-ray and CD on October 19, 2010 by Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
. The music was performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is an American orchestra based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the Gulf South. The music director is Carlos Miguel Prieto....
, and the CD debuted at #8 on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
.
PBS Special
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. http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?story=233Legacy
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." 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." When the show is performed in Brazil, it is subsidized by the government for getting young people involved in the arts.See also
- Video game music
- Play! A Video Game SymphonyPlay! A Video Game SymphonyPLAY! A Video Game Symphony is a concert series that features music from video games performed by a live orchestra. The concerts from 2006 to 2010 were conducted by Arnie Roth...
- Mario & Zelda Big Band LiveMario & Zelda Big Band LiveMario & Zelda Big Band Live is a recording of a live big band performance of songs based on the Mario and The Legend of Zelda game series. The performance was at Nihon Seinenkan Hall on September 14, 2003...
- The Black MagesThe Black MagesThe Black Mages were a Japanese instrumental rock band formed in 2002 by Nobuo Uematsu, Kenichiro Fukui and Tsuyoshi Sekito - three composers for Square Enix. The band arranged Uematsu's Final Fantasy video game series-based compositions in a rock style often similar to progressive metal, achieved...
- Gamer Symphony Orchestra