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Tommy Tallarico is an American video game music composer, musician, sound designer, television personality, live show creative director, and producer. He has worked on many video game titles since the 1990s.[1][2] He is the creator of the concert series Video Games Live (VGL), a symphony orchestra that has played video game music across the world since 2002 and co-hosted the television shows Electric Playground and Reviews on the Run from 1997 until 2006.[3]

Tommy Tallarico
Tallarico performing with Video Games Live in 2016
Background information
Born (1968-02-18) February 18, 1968 (age 54)
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres
  • Video game music
  • symphonic
  • rock
Occupation(s)
  • Video game music composer
  • musician
  • sound designer
  • television personality
  • live show creative director
  • producer
Instrument(s)
  • Electric guitar
  • piano
  • keyboard
Years active1991–present

Early life


Tallarico spent much of his youth around music. His parents took him to see the Springfield Symphony when he was nine years old. He taught himself to play piano and guitar.[citation needed] Tallarico cites John Williams's score for Star Wars and Bill Conti's Rocky score as inspirations, in addition to classical composers such as Beethoven.

Tallarico was introduced to video games as a child. He and his father played Asteroids and Space Invaders. Tallarico would take his father's tape recorder to the arcade to record the songs. He would splice the tape into background music, and then perform guitar over the result for his neighborhood friends.[4]

Tallarico attended Cathedral High School and later Western New England University for a year. However, at 21 Tallarico went to California to try and obtain a job in the video game industry. While homeless and living under a pier, Tallarico took a job as a keyboard salesman at the Guitar Center in Santa Ana, California. On his first day, Tallarico met with an executive from Virgin Mastertronic. Shortly after, Tallarico was given a job with Virgin to be their first play-tester.[5]


Career


While play-testing, Tallarico often asked his bosses to let him create video game music. Tallarico's first musical project at Virgin Interactive was for the Game Boy version of Prince of Persia. The resulting music was approved by Virgin. He was later appointed as head of the audio division six months later. Given the constraints on video game cartridges, Tallarico focused on making short—MIDI melodies that could be looped repeatedly. "The main focus of writing video game music back then was it had to be simple and have a great melody," Tallarico said.[6]

Tallarico worked on a number of other games while at Virgin Interactive, including The Terminator, Disney's Aladdin, Cool Spot, The 7th Guest and Global Gladiators. An album compilation released by Capitol Records and titled Virgin Games Greatest Hits appeared in 1994; the second volume was released in 1996.[7][8][9]

Tallarico continued working with Virgin Interactive as head of music and video division until 1994, when he went on to found Tommy Tallarico Studios. David Perry formed Shiny Entertainment at the same time, and the two new studios worked together to create classics such as Earthworm Jim and MDK. His studio has been involved in several games since, including Spider-Man, Time Crisis, Sonic and the Black Knight, Tomorrow Never Dies, Madden NFL '96, and others.[10][11][12][13]

Tallarico wrote a complete orchestral score for Advent Rising performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which won Best Original Score from IGN.com, Mania Music, and Play Magazine. The score was termed by GameSpot as "one of the best-produced musical scores ever put into a game."[14][15]

The "oof" sound effect found on Roblox from 2006 to 2020 was an effect played after a character in game died, it became an iconic part of the game after its adoption by meme culture.[16] Tallarico Studios created the sound effect in 2000 for the game Messiah, he dispuited Roblox's use of the sound in November 2020, the dispuite formally ended July 2022 when the Roblox Corporation pulled the sound from all games on its platform.[17]


Television


In 1995, Victor Lucas—who runs the Electric Playground website—interviewed Tallarico at E3. The two built a rapport that enabled Lucas to ask Tallarico to work with him on a show. In 1997, Tallarico and Lucas wrote, produced, and co-hosted Electric Playground TV, which provided news, previews, and reviews on video games. Tallarico played the irreverent, raunchy funny man to Lucas's straight man. The program went on to win the 2001 Telly Award for Best Entertainment Cable Program. In 2002, the reviews section of Electric Playground—Reviews on the Run—was spun-off into its own program, which Tallarico and Lucas hosted as well. In the U.S., Reviews on the Run was broadcast on G4 TV as Judgment Day. The Electric Playground remains the longest-running video game television show in history.[18][19][20][21]

In 2006, as Tallarico spent more time with his new project, Video Games Live, he started to spend less time on the show, missing almost all of 2007 and 2008. In 2009, Scott Jones took over his spot as full-time co-host with Victor Lucas.[22][23]

In 2008, Tallarico collaborated with the YouTube channel Mega64 on the Gamer Warz series. The Gamer Warz is a satirical series in which three gamers debate which video game console (Sony, Nintendo or Microsoft) is more successful and these debates end with a shouting match. The Gamer Warz series continued up until the fourth episode in 2013.


Music concerts


In 2002, Tallarico formed Mystical Stone Entertainment, which concomitantly formed Video Games Live, a symphony orchestra that plays music from video games, with Tallarico hosting and playing guitar. The goal of VGL is to bring video game music into mainstream as a legitimate art form. Tallarico also creates the visuals—scenes from video games, as well as lights and lasers—that are played in sync with the music.[24][25]

The New York Times has noted that Tallarico "puts on a captivating, proudly bombastic show. But that demonstration of community on the part of the audience was almost as impressive as anything on the stage." Before each concert, Tallarico holds a small festival, featuring video game set-ups, meet-and-greets, and costume contests. VGL premiered at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic to an audience of 11,000 in 2005. Since then, the show has performed for millions of people across the globe, playing in 42 countries on 5 continents, including in the Middle East, China, South Korea, Japan, Europe, South America and Australia. In 2015, he performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with more than 200 musicians, including the Colorado Symphony and Choir. In 2016, he performed 2 shows at the Bird's Nest National Olympic Stadium in Beijing to over 30,000 people. Tallarico chooses different songs for each show, based upon the area's favorite game series and by asking fans at future venues what songs they would like to hear. Over the past decade, VGL has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, the National Taiwan Symphony, the Spanish National Orchestra, and the Polish National Orchestra, among others.[26][27]

In 2010, PBS hosted the symphony as a National TV Special that appeared in 90 million households in the United States; it was also broadcast multiple times on Sky Arts in the United Kingdom and other European countries. VGL has been awarded two Guinness World Records, one for the most video game concerts performed (357 at the time), and another for largest audience to ever view a video game music concert live (752,000 people in Beijing, China in 2015).[28] The symphony has spawned several imitators. VGL was on the cover of Symphony Magazine in 2014. It regularly performs at gaming events, such as E3, Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, the Game Developers Conference, Gen Con, San Diego Comic-Con, and others.[29][30][31]

Tallarico has produced seven VGL albums. The first album, Video Games Live Volume 1, debuted at No. 10 on Billboard Top 10 for Classical Music Crossovers, and was named 2008 Best Video Game Soundtrack for both IGN and G.A.N.G. The second volume, Level 2, also sold as a Blu-ray DVD concert, debuted at No. 8 on the same Billboard list. However, Tallarico received lukewarm support from the recording industry for the albums. He noted, "they don't believe in the culturally artistic significance of video game music, and they don't believe that people are interested in listening after the game is turned off." In response, Tallarico crowdsourced the third album Level 3 on Kickstarter. The project beat its goal and raised $285,081 for the album. Since then, Video Games Live has brought out two further albums, Level 4 and Level 5, through Kickstarter.[32][33]

In 2014, Tallarico and electronic dance music artist BT began working on Electronic Opus. As with Video Games Live, Electronic Opus presents EDM music alongside a symphony orchestra. They used Kickstarter to fund an album, raising over $250,000. The show opened at the Miami Winter Music Conference in 2015.[34][35][36]

In 2016, Tallarico co-produced the Capcom Live world tour with Shota Nakama.[37]


Intellivision Entertainment


Following the death of Keith Robinson in 2017, founder of Intellivision Productions, Tallarico purchased a stake in the company from the estate.[38] In May 2018, Intellivision Entertainment was re-formed to produce the Intellivision Amico with him as president.[39] In the winter of that year, he announced the intent for the company to release a console with the target of October 2020 for "the non-gamer, the family".[38]

In February 2022, Tallarico stepped down from his role as CEO of Intellivision, remaining on board as the company's president and largest shareholder. He was replaced by the company's former chief revenue officer Phil Adam.[40] As of September 2022, the Amico has been delayed at least three times.[41]


Personal life


Besides video games and music, Tallarico is an obsessive baseball and Spider-Man fan, and collects balsamic vinegar.[42][43] He is also a vegan and has a dog named Houdini.[44] According to the LA Times, his house in San Juan Capistrano "looks as if a 12-year-old with a huge bank account went wild", including a life-size Indiana Jones, several Star Wars characters and a statue of Merlin.[45][46][47][48]

Tallarico became increasingly interested in promoting video game music appreciation. He and others petitioned the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS/GRAMMYs) to consider video games for Grammy Awards. In 2000, the Grammys agreed, changing the instrumental soundtrack category to "Best Instrumental Composition Written for Motion Pictures, Television or Other Visual Media," so that video games could be considered as well. Tallarico pushed video game music writers to join NARAS board of governors to provide more legitimacy to the field and help video games receive the award.[49][50]

In 2002, Tallarico founded the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), a non-profit to recognize video game music and audio. Every year, members of the video game industry vote on their favorite audio of the year, as well as fund scholarships for students pursuing audio design and lifetime achievement awards. The G.A.N.G. awards have become increasingly large and organized, with the 2016 awards featuring the Videri String Quartet playing video game themes. Tallarico remains on the board of directors. Tallarico was elected to the Board of Governors for NARAS/GRAMMYs in 2005. Tallarico is an advisory board emeritus for the Game Developers Conference and received the Ambassador Award for his work with G.A.N.G. and Video Games Live. He is a nominating peer leader for the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.[51][52][53]

In 2007, Tallarico's charitable works were recognized by the Hollywood Arts Organization when they chose him as the first honoree and recipient of their Dream Award. In 2012, Tallarico received G.A.N.G.’s Lifetime Achievement Award. G.A.N.G. president, Amer Oukour, said that he "has literally helped hundreds of people get into the video game industry and realize their dreams. There has never been a more deserving person for this award." In 2013, he gave a TEDxManchesterVillage talk entitled "Video Games – Art in Disguise."[54][55][56]

Tallarico says he is a cousin of Steven Tyler (born Steven Tallarico), lead singer of the band Aerosmith.[57]


Works



Video games


YearTitleNotes
1991Robin Hood: Prince of ThievesQuality assurance, Game Boy version
1992Prince of PersiaGame Boy version
M.C. KidsQuality assurance, NES version
Muhammad Ali Heavyweight BoxingSega Genesis version
Monopoly DeluxeMusic coordinator
Jeep Jamboree: Off Road Adventure
The TerminatorSega-CD version
CorporationQuality assurance
Batman: Return of the JokerSound effects
Global GladiatorsWith Matt Furniss, re-adapted music for the Amiga version
1993Another WorldSega Genesis version
Cool SpotSega Genesis and Super NES versions
Super Caesars PalaceWith Steve Henefin
Color a Dinosaur
Super Slap Shot
1994Caesars Palace
Race Days
Disney's AladdinWith Don Griffin
The Jungle BookWith Mark Miller
Heart of the AlienWith Jean-François Freitas
1995Madden NFL 96Sega Genesis and Super NES versions
Agile Warrior: F-111XSprite actor
Earthworm Jim 2
Spot Goes To Hollywood Sega Genesis version
1996Burning Road"U.S. Remix" Composer
Skeleton WarriorsWith Todd Dennis, Jean-Christophe Beck and Eric Swanson
1997MDK
Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private DickVoice talent, music composition
Treasures of the DeepMusic and sound effects
1998HardBall 6Sound effects
WarGames: Defcon 1With Fabian Del Priore
ApocalypseMovie scoring and sound effects
Beavis and Butt-head Do U.
1999Ultra Fighters
Redline
R/C Stunt CopterAudio script
Demolition RacerWriter, producer and performer
Knockout Kings 2000Additional design
Tomorrow Never DiesWith Howard Ulyate, Sonic Mayhem, Todd Dennis
Wings of FuryGame Boy Color version
Unreal Mission Pack 1: Return to Na PaliSound effects
2000MessiahSound Design and Audio Director
Sacrifice
Spider-ManWith Howard Ulyate
Evil Dead: Hail to the KingProducer
2001Knockout Kings 2001PS2 version
Casper: Spirit DimensionsSound and voice (Lucky Chicken)
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
2002Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights
Street HoopsAudio director
2003War of the MonstersSound FX
Black & BruisedVoice over producer
DevastationAdditional tracks
Maximo vs Army of ZinMusic, voice acting
SpyHunter 2Music
2004The X-Files: Resist or ServeAudio director
The Bard's TaleWith Clint Bajakian, Peter McConnell, Michael Land and Jared Emerson-Johnson
2005Advent RisingWith Emmanuel Fratianni
2006Jaws: UnleashedOrchestrations, arrangements
AND 1 StreetballAudio director
Pac-Man World RallySound design
Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
2007Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia
2008Line Rider 2: UnboundSound effects
2009Sonic and the Black KnightWith Howard Drossin, Richard Jacques, Jun Senoue and others
2010Flip's Twisted World
Super Tofu BoyMusic donated by
2012Retro City RampageCameo

Albums


YearTitleNotes
1994Virgin Games Greatest Hits, Vol. 1Compilation of tracks from various games
1996Games Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
2006Earthworm Jim AnthologyCompilation of music from Earthworm Jim with remixes
2008Video Games Live - Level 1
2010Video Games Live - Level 2
2011Play for Japan: The AlbumWith various others, charity album
2014Video Games Live - Level 3
2015Video Games Live - Through Time and Space: Chrono Piano Album
Video Games Live - Level 4
2016Video Games Live - Zelda Majora's Mask Piano Album
Video Games Live - Level 5
2018Video Games Live - Level 6

References


  1. "Tommy Tallarico". Moby Games. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  2. Rivera, Kimberly. "Achievement Unlocked! Tommy Tallarico Presents Video Games Live". San Antonio Current. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  3. "The Art of Video Games". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  4. McLaughlin, Moira E. "Video Game Music as art?". Washington Post. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  5. Huffstutter, P.J. (August 11, 1997). "Musician Is a Top Scorer for Video Games". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "South County's Tommy Tallarico Creates Music and Art through Video Games". Dana Point Times. May 22, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  7. "Electric Playground". imdb. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  8. Thomas, Sarah (July 27, 2015). "From Beethoven to bleeps and bloops: the symphony of video game soundtracks". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  9. Pino, Nicck (February 28, 2015). "Video Games Live: Tommy Tallarico on 21st century sound". techradar. techradar. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  10. "Interview with GANG founder, Tommy Tallarico". Game Audio Network Guild. Game Audio Network Guild. January 26, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  11. Weinbender, Nathan. "Video game tunes get symphonic lift". The Spokesman Review. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  12. Park, Brian (April 25, 2014). "The Maestro of Video Games". The Capistrano Dispatch. The Capistrano Dispatch. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  13. Jeremy, Carter. "The T-shirt that changed the video game industry". ABC. ABC. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  14. "Video Games Live: Our team". Video Games Live. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  15. Aaron Marks (April 2, 2013). The Complete Guide to Game Audio: For Composers, Musicians, Sound Designers, and Game Developers. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-136-14022-8.
  16. Beckhelling, Imogen (November 12, 2020). "Roblox will soon charge for the memey "oof" death noise". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
  17. "Roblox has removed its "oof" sound of death". Eurogamer.net. July 27, 2022.
  18. Greene, David. "Video Game Music: Big Business, Big Money". Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  19. "Power Profiles". videogameslive. Nintendo Power (April 2010). Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  20. "Reviews on the Run". tv.com. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  21. "Tommy Tallarico". Moby Games. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  22. Reviews on the Run Episode 647 on elecplay.com Archived May 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  23. The O, Larry. "Production Values: Games People Play". electronic Musician. electronic Musician. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  24. Schiesel, Seth (October 26, 2009). "Video Games (No Controller Needed)". New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  25. Dring, Christopher. ""People thought I was insane" - The rise of Video Games Live". MCV. MCV. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  26. Goodman, Paul. "Video Games Live Over Ten Years Old and Still Going Strong". Escapist Magazine. Escapist Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  27. Bloodworth, Daniel. "Video Games Live Returns to GDC". Nintendo World Report. Nintendo World Report. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  28. Swatman, Rachel (March 22, 2016). "Video Games Live creator Tommy Tallarico receives certificates at record-breaking concert". Guinness World Records. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  29. Sinclair, Brendan. "Video Games Live tunes up for Gen Con". GameSpot. GameSpot. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  30. Bischoff, Daniel (July 18, 2014). "Video Games Live Returns to Comic-Con". GameRevolution. GameRevolution. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  31. "Tour Dates". Video Games Live. Video Games Live. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  32. Kuchera, Ben (August 2008). "Video Games Live album released, debuts at #10 on Billboard". ars Technica. ars Technica. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  33. Kollar, Phil. "Video Games Live: Level 2 Has A Strong Debut". gameinformer. gameinformer. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  34. Chalk, Andy. "Video Games Live Kickstarts Level 3". Escapist Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  35. Shearer, Stew. "Video Games Live Creator Talks Kickstarter". Escapist Magazine. Escapist Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  36. Tommy Tallarico discography at Discogs
  37. Cocker, Guy. "Q&A: Video Games Live's Tommy Tallarico". GameSpot. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  38. Takahashi, Dean (May 29, 2018). "Intellivision lives: Tommy Tallarico will relaunch 1980s console". VentureBeat. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  39. Takahashi, Dean (May 29, 2018). "Intellivision lives: Tommy Tallarico will relaunch 1980s console". VentureBeat. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  40. Valentine, Rebekah (February 7, 2022). "Intellivision CEO Tommy Tallarico Steps Down". IGN. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  41. "The Intellivision Amico Has Been Delayed Once Again". COGconnected. August 8, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  42. "2009 Choice Awards Names Ambassador, Pioneers, Schafer As Host". Game Developers Conference. Game Developers Conference. February 3, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  43. Curtis, Tom (March 14, 2012). "Battlefield 3, Portal 2, more win big at 10th annual G.A.N.G. Awards". Gamasutra. Gamasutra. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  44. "Tommy Tallarico's PETA2 Campaign is a 1-Up for Animals". IGN. IGN. December 16, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  45. Thomas, Sarah (July 23, 2015). "From Beethoven to bleeps and bloops: the symphony of video game soundtracks". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  46. "Biography". Archived from the original on September 10, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
  47. "Vic's Basement podcast". On The Road with E3 and Tommy – 13-minute mark. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  48. "ABOUT GDC". Game Developers Conference. Game Developers Conference. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  49. TAKAHASHI, DEAN (November 10, 2014). "'Video Games Live' producer Tommy Tallarico's new project is 'Electronic Opus' — classical meets electronic dance music". Venture Beat. Venture Beat. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  50. Philips, Winifred (February 9, 2016). "A Grammy Category for the Game Music Composer". Gamasutra. Gamasutra. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  51. McDonald, Glenn. "A History of Video Game Music". GameSpot. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  52. Marks, Aaron (February 25, 2000). "Working the Grammy Angle". Gamasutra. Gamasutra. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  53. "GAME AUDIO NETWORK GUILD ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS FOR 6TH ANNUAL G.A.N.G. AWARDS". IGN. IGN. February 29, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  54. Crowley, Dale. "The 2016 G.A.N.G. Awards Ceremony and Award Winners". Designing Music Now. Designing Music Now. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  55. "Leadership". Game Audio Network Guild. Game Audio Network Guild. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  56. Northam, Mark. "Hollywood Arts Dream Awards to Honor Tommy Tallarico Feb 17". Film Music Magazine. Film Music Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  57. Desrochers, Dan (May 7, 2017). "World-renowned video game music composer brings his music live to Springfield". The Westfield News. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.



На других языках

- [en] Tommy Tallarico

[es] Tommy Tallarico

Tommy Tallarines (Massachusetts, Springfield; 18 de febrero de 1968) es un músico y compositor de música de videojuegos. Es mayormente conocido por ser el cocreador de la serie de conciertos llamada Video Games Live.

[ru] Талларико, Томми

Томми Талларико (англ. Tommy Tallarico; род. 18 февраля 1968 года) — американский композитор, работающий над саундтреками к компьютерным играм.


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