Scores for “World of Warcraft” and other games call for strings, woodwinds, brass and choruses - whirling scales for an industry whose franchises rival Hollywood’s. The bleep-bleep, blip-blip days of “Pac-Man” and “Space Invaders” are, like the Cold War and Woodstock, ancient history. ![]() At the same time, video game music has become increasingly sophisticated. ![]() Orchestras these days can no longer rely on the likes of Brahms and Mahler to fill seats. “We love our musicians in their tuxedos, but this takes it to a whole new level in reaching out to younger, tech-savvy audiences.” “We’re trying to find the sweet spot that transcends generational differences,” said Susan Webb, marketing director for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, which last month performed a “Video Games Live” show in which audience members dressed up as their favorite characters. I checked out a copy of Beethoven’s greatest hits from the library and it changed my life. “I said, ‘Who is this guy?’ I read about him and how he was influenced by these Mozart and Beethoven guys. The soundtrack by John Williams was mesmerizing. Music’s power to evoke warriors and imaginary galaxies struck him as a boy when he saw “Star Wars” in a theater in Springfield, Mass. His music is the soundtrack of your life.” When you play a video game, that character is you. “Video game music is the most unique in history. “If Beethoven were around today he’d be a video game composer,” said Tommy Tallarico, who has worked on more than 300 titles, including “Mortal Kombat” and “Knockout Kings,” that have about $4 billion in sales. He can rhapsodize for long stretches about Bugs Bunny, Spider-Man, Rocky Balboa and Beethoven, whose bust, draped in a scarf, looks over a piano in his home in the hills of San Juan Capistrano. He plays a guitar shaped like a sniper rifle, keeps pirates by the pool and is one of the world’s leading composers of video game music. Tallarico is the cousin of Steven Tyler, the lead singer of Aerosmith.He’s an impresario with a little-boy streak. In March 2009, Tommy Tallarico received the Ambassador award at the Game Developers Conference for his contributions to the video game industry. A two page interview with Tallarico was featured in Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008, focusing only on his soundtrack and Video Games Live work. As of now, he has only come back for one Reviews on the Run on episode number 647 and has not yet made another appearance. ![]() As of August 2007, Tallarico has not co-hosted any episodes of The Electric Playground or Reviews on the Run, as he is not available due to commitments to Video Games Live. He and Lucas also act as video game correspondents for HypaSpace Weekly. In January 2006, Tallarico announced on his website that he and Victor Lucas had decided to move Judgment Day from G4 to a different network, under the name Reviews on the Run, as it is known in Canada. Tallarico is the co-creator, executive producer, and host of Video Games Live. His work can also be found on additional releases in official game soundtrack albums with his music featured on them. A subsequent volume in the series was released in 1997. ![]() He released a CD with his music on it, entitled Virgin Games: Greatest Hits, Vol. He is also an advisory board member for the Game Developers Conference, a governor for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS/Grammy) and a nominating peer panel leader for the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Tallarico co-hosts alongside Victor Lucas in both television programs. He writes, co-hosts, and co-produces The Electric Playground and Reviews on the Run (formerly Judgment Day on the G4 network). He founded Tommy Tallarico Studios in 1994 and the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), of which he is also the president, in 2002. Tallarico has won over 25 industry awards for best video game audio. He is best-known as the co-creator of the concert series Video Games Live.Ī native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Tallarico entered the video game industry in 1991, working on more than 250 games, including the Earthworm Jim series, Disney's Aladdin, MDK, Wild 9, Maximo, and Advent Rising. Read Full Bio Tommy Tallarico (born February 18, 1968) is an American video game music composer and musician. Tommy Tallarico (born February 18, 1968) is an American video game music composer and musician.
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