Video Games Live boots-up Hollywood Bowl
OPINION
What gamer hasn't imagined what it would be like if the fabulous sound enveloping their playing experience was played by a full orchestra complete with electronic instrumentation and a mind blowing laser show? At last, such an experience has been produc
Video Games Live, produced by Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, is promised to be a groundbreaking live concert event where will be presented music from some of the most successful and popular video games ever created. The concert will be performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic (conducted by Mark Watters) and Choir, and will include video footage from the featured games, along with laser and light shows and live action. The show is produced in conjunction with Game Audio Network Guild. Along with Tallarico and Wall will appear G.A.N.G. members Bill Brown (Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon), Michael Giacchino (Medal of Honor), Jason Hayes (Warcraft), Richard Jacques (Headhunter and special orchestral arrangement for Sonic), Laura Karpman (EverQuest II), Marty O'Donnell (Halo), and Tom Salta (Ghost Recon).
Retro-arcade on tap
The featured games are slated to be: Mario, Zelda, Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Warcraft, Myst, Final Fantasy, Castlevania, Medal of Honor, Sonic, Tron, Tomb Raider, Advent Rising, Headhunter, Beyond Good & Evil, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, and EverQuest II. There will also be selections from the earliest video games or "retro-arcade classics from Pong to Donkey Kong" according to the show's producers.
The best in concert production
Concert production professionals who will be onhand to help create this visual audial panorama include such notables from the world of arena concert performance as production manager Malcolm Weldon who has managed world tours for numerous major artists including Janet Jackson, Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Elton John and The Eagles; sound engineer Mike Keating, known for his work with Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Cher, Don Henley, Mariah Carey, Joe Cocker, Jewel and Shakira; lighting technician Bryan Hartley credited with the lighting for Aerosmith, Kiss, Lenny Kravitz and Alicia Keys; Emmy award-winning set designer Jeremy Railton who has designed sets for Caesars Palace, Disneys Epcot Center and concert tours including Chers Farewell Tour, Phil Collins, Alice Cooper and Janes Addiction; and choreographer Dori Sanchez whose work includes Chers Farewell Tour,as well as work on Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Divas Live and the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
More than just music
Along with the musical performances, light and laser displays, the show will include re-enactments of game play and characters by stunt performers and an innovative nylon fabric screen to give the impression of video footage floating in the air above the audience. "We believe that Video Games Live will push the boundaries of the concert going experience" said Jack Wall. "It was only natural that we enlist the expertise of the industry's most respected technical professionals to help us realize our vision."
Tommy Tallarico
Producers Wall and Tallarico are prominent players in the video game industry. According to G.A.N.G. sources "Tallarico was the first musician to release a video game soundtrack worldwide (Tommy Tallarico's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 - Capitol Records). He has released six video game soundtrack albums since, including the highly acclaimed Advent Rising. Tommy was also the first to use 3-D audio in a game (Q-Sound) and was instrumental in bringing true digital interactive surround 5.1 to the gaming industry. In 1999, he helped secure official recognition of video game music by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and the Grammys. His top titles include The Terminator, Earthworm Jim, Disney's Aladdin, Cool Spot, Metroid Prime, Maximo, Tomorrow Never Dies, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Spider-Man & Advent Rising as well as top selling popular game franchises such as Madden Football, Blitz Football, Pac-Man, Knockout Kings, Unreal, Mortal Kombat, Twisted Metal and Time Crisis.
John Wall
Wall, a founding member and director of G.A.N.G., counts among his credits work with Synchro Sound Studios in Boston, and Skyline Studios NYC, where he engineered and produced records for John Cale, David Byrne, Dr. John Creaux and Patti Smith. Jack served as engineer, producer and arranger with John Cale, founding member of the seminal and highly influential band, The Velvet Underground. His video game credits include Myst III and IV, Revelation, Splinter Cell, Pandora, Tomorrow (cinematic music), Dungeon Seige II (promotional trailers), Rise of the Kasai, Wrath Unleashed and BioWare's upcoming RPG blockbuster, Jade Empire, among others.
The Game Audio Network Guild is a non-profit organization established to educate the masses in regards to interactive audio by providing information, instruction, resources, guidance and enlightenment not only to its members, but to content providers and listeners throughout the world. (G.A.N.G. mission statement)