If there’s a gaming event here in Miami, FL and I know about it, I will do my best to attend! Throughout my life, I haven’t been to many because of financial reasons, lack of knowing of the event, or not having transportation to get there. Either way, now that I’m older and I can actually go to them without any of the above issues, I’m taking advantage. This year (2014) I’ve gone to more events than I have in all my life combined. Not many, really only four so far, but that’s a LOT for me. One of my favorite things to do is listening to music while I drive or go about my day, so being able to attend Video Games Live was a blessing.
I couldn’t believe they were coming to Miami, so I got a ticket for myself and was accompanied by a close friend. We went down to the Adrienne Archt Center in Downtown Miami (the culture hub of South Florida) and had a great time. Not only was some of the greatest franchises in gaming played LIVE during the concert, but there were many funny scenes that Tommy Tallarico created for the show. From the worst voice acting in gaming to “game vs game” which pitted two different games against each other in hilarious ways.
Tommy Tallarico, the creator of Video Games Live, really loves what he does and it shows in the performance. Not only does he play with the orchestra on his guitar, he invites local bands that play hits from famous games. This isn’t 8-bit sounds or something you’ve heard out of a console, this is a full on orchestrated experience. These are professionals that have rehearsed to play, and even the choir in the back sings with grace and excellence. That word, excellence, is something that I saw throughout the whole time. The concert wasn’t there to play some game music, clap and have a nostalgic moment, it was to truly honor the creators, effort and memories that these games and their tunes have brought to millions.
Some of my favorite choices of music were Metal Gear Solid (which I missed because I had to run back to my car to leave the parking receipt on my dashboard…), Megaman, Street Fighter, Final Fantasy 8, Sonic the Hedgehog, Zelda, and…Chrono Trigger! (one of my personal favorite VG soundtracks of all time). It really was great to see hundreds of other fans from all over Florida gathered to relive some of our best childhood memories. My childhood was full of video games, because honestly, after studying there really wasn’t much else to do in my house except watch TV or play outside. I played outside, don’t get me wrong, but after a while you want to get back and beat that game your stuck on.
If they ever come to your area, you need to make it. The tickets were about $40 each I believe, but it’s totally worth it. Cosplayers even showed up, they had a Guitar Hero challenge during the concert, and a Space Invaders challenge where a person chosen from the audience had to MOVE to control the ship and shoot with a controller! It was just fun, interactive, and I can’t recommend it more as a fan. Again, the strongest feeling I felt from Tommy was honor. He really wanted to show the legacy that these people from around the world left for the future generations of gamers.
If your interested in purchasing their music, you can snag it on Amazon MP3 below, or buy the live DVD (which I got soon after. It’s packed with extras and interviews 🙂
