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Far Cry 3 And The Stranger In A Strange Land Ever since my initial experience with the concert tour during GDC 07, I’ve been a big fan of the Video Games Live concert series. The combination of classic video game tunes played by a symphony orchestra and classic gaming imagery, both shared with a couple thousand fellow gamers is something that everyone should try to experience at least once. That having been said, I was a bit skeptical regarding a CD release of the music from the event. How could a measly 10-track disc compare to the massive gaming music event? It can’t really, but it can give you a better appreciation of the music. Hit the jump for brief, track by track impressions of the Video Games Live Volume One CD.
The Video Games Live concert series is adding Crysis to their amazing arsenal of audio artistry, and they’ll be debuting music from the title on Crytek’s home turf. As with any giant industry event, Tiny Tommy Tallarico’s travelling tour event will be hitting the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany next week, where Inon Zur’s masterful score will be performed, accompanied by game footage and lighting effects to drive the sound home. Said award-winning composer Inon Zur, “CRYSIS is one of the most interesting and challenging games I have scored to date so I am thrilled that it is going to be featured in Video Games Live. I’m very proud and honoured to have my music played in this groundbreaking concert series”.
The concert is to be held at the 7,000 seat Leipzig arena on Wednesday, August 20th. Not sure if McWhertor or I will be stopping by at this point, but in any case we’ll be there in spirit. Or nearby drinking the local spirits. One of those.
Soon appearing on the souvenir tables at Video Games Live events around the world, EMI has announced the first CD release for the video game music event, Video Games Live: Volume One. No longer will fans be forced to choose between a crappy t-shirt or an overpriced program guide (*eyes program guide on the shelf with spite*)! The full CD should be appearing on iTunes soon (perhaps today), with the full CD release and bonus tracks spaced out to coincide with concert events in San Diego later this month and Leipzig in August.
So what’s on the tracklist? Eleven games are represented, from the whimsical Tetris Piano Opus, to the moving Medal of Honour suite. Myst, Warcraft, God of War, Kingdom Hearts…hell, they’ve even got Advent Rising on there, which goes to show that your game doesn’t have to be successful to make it on the Video Games Live CD…it just has to have music composed by Tommy Tallarico. The track that really makes the disc for me? Wendy Carlos’ Tron Montage. Makes me feel like I am 10 years old wearing a cardboard Tron helmet all over again. Hit the jump for the full track listing and sketchy details about availability!
In fear of letting the theme of “girls like video games too” fall by the wayside (because, y’know, you were all so concerned), I thought I’d let you know of my deferred Valentine’s Day plans for this weekend: the boyfriend is taking me to see Video Games Live! While Kotaku writers have been to the show in the past, I thought it might be nice to let you know how the new 2008 tour compares, since Toronto will be the fifth stop on the tour of over forty cities.
I’ll be sure to give a full report of my adventure next week. In the meantime, is anyone else going to the Toronto show – (and that’s not an invite, you’ll have to supply your own date)? Or does anyone else have gaming-related plans for V-Day?
Video Games Live rolled out their 2008 touring schedule and it looks like they’ve managed to pump up their stops to more than 40 this year, including visits to the Leipzig Games Convention and Broadway.
The first two shows are later this month in Orlando and St. Louis, followed by stops around the globe, including a bullring in Mexicali, Mexico, a stop in Taipei, Taiwan, a performance on a cruise ship and a visit to the Leipzig Games Convention.
The full calendar after the jump.
The upcoming Video Games Live performance in Los Angeles, perfectly timed with this weekend’s E For All Expo, will feature a roster of notable guests performing, appearing and simply socializing with peers and John Q. Ticketbuyer. Industry luminaries like Nolan Bushnell, Akira Yamaoka, David Hayter and David Perry will all be in attendance, with over a dozen video game soundtrack composers and sound designers promised to appear. Many of these folks will be hanging out after the show to press palms, pose for pictures, and generally be annoyed by the hordes of game music uber-fans.
Tickets run from $US 20 to $US 70, depending on how close you want to be to Tommy Tallarico and his magical shoes.
VIDEO GAMES LIVE ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUESTS FOR UPCOMING LOS ANGELES SHOW [Video Games Live]
Video Games Live may feature a lot of retro tunes, but the concerts change with current trends, too. That’s why their next concert in LA will feature music from Halo 3, BioShock and… wait for it… it’s really worth it… we promise… Conan. The international blockbuster and cultural phenomenon. Conan. We’re… thrilled.
New arrangements of Contra, Chrono Cross, Pac-Man, Tetris and Final Fantasy will debut as well. And apparently there is a whole new Blizzard segment for The Burning Crusade and Starcraft II. But we’re actually a bit less excited about VGL for the music than the post show meetup.
For those of you who haven’t been to a Video Games Live concert or are just looking for some good geek makeout music, the Tommy Tallarico album has been dated for an October 15th release date. Featuring everyone’s favourite pop pianist Martin Leung and melodies from WoW, Super Mario and Halo, it’s a must-buy to prove your dorkdom to those of us who feel you just are hardcore enough.
Yeah, we aren’t falling for that temporary Zelda tattoo. And neither is your mum. So who’s planning on picking this one up? (Fahey, hand down please. We already know.) Video Games Live CD Releases October 15 [gamelife]
The London Games Festival is coming up in October, and what’s a major gaming event without a visit from Tommy Tallarico and his travelling band of musical companion elves? Certainly not the LGF, that’s for sure. They’re kicking off the festival with a visit from the Video Games Live concert interactive celebration of gaming at the Royal Festival Hall on the 22nd. Along with the old standards from Zelda, Halo, Warcraft, Myst, etc., concert goers will enjoy a pre and post show festival featuring demos of Holiday Xbox 360 titles, a cosplay contest, meet-and-greets, and a special arrangement from Halo 3 The Music (not to be confused with Halo 3 The Ride). Hit the jump for full details, ticket purchasing information, and all sorts of musical PR goodness.
A few weeks late (the DC concerts were at the end of June), but NPR has a nice little piece that sums up the slight confusion and fascination non-gaming types have had in reaction to hordes of children, adults in t-shirts and jeans, and cosplayers invading places like the Kennedy Centre Concert Hall, where more sedate crowds in business casual (and occasionally formal dress) generally rule the roost. The looks on the faces of well-dressed Washingtonians heading to opening night of the Phantom of the Opera, down the hall at the Opera House, were pretty priceless. Plenty of people watching the concert seemed a little confused (the whooping and hollering was directly at odds with the behaviour of any crowd I’ve ever seen at the Kennedy Centre), so it’s easy to forgive the mainstream media for being mildly perplexed.
