Tommy Tallarico

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Tommy Tallarico
Tallarico performing with Video Games Live in 2016
Tallarico performing with Video Games Live in 2016
Background information
Born (1968-02-18) February 18, 1968 (age 54)
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres
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
Member ofVideo Games Live
Websitewww.tallarico.com

Tommy Tallarico (born February 18, 1968) is an American video game music composer, musician, sound designer, television personality, live show creative director and producer. He and his company, Tommy Tallarico Studios, worked on several video games since the 1990s.[1] He co-hosted the television shows Electric Playground and Reviews on the Run from 1997 until 2006.[2] In 2002, he created Video Games Live (VGL), a global video game music orchestra.

In 2018, after becoming the president of Intellivision Entertainment, the company began work on and sought investors for an original video game console named the Intellivision Amico, for which Tallarico was frequently present in pitch videos. He has since stepped down from his position as CEO, but remains on the company's board as president.

In 2020, it came to Tallarico's attention that a sound effect he owned from a game Tommy Tallarico Studios worked on, Messiah, was used without permission in the video game Roblox. This led to a legal dispute which ended in 2022 with the removal of the sound effect from the game.

Early life[edit]

Tommy Tallarico grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, later attending Cathedral High School.[3][4] He told the The Washington Post in an interview he would take his father's tape recorder to the arcade to record songs as a child.[5] After graduating high school, Tallarico attended Western New England University for a year.[4] According to the Los Angeles Times, Tallarico moved to Southern California in 1991 to try and obtain a job in the video game industry.[6] Tallarico took a job as a keyboard salesman at a Guitar Center in Santa Ana, California.[4] On his first day, Tallarico met an executive from Virgin Mastertronic. Shortly after, Tallarico was given a job at Virgin as one of their play-testers.[6]

Career[edit]

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 main focus of writing video game music back then was it had to be simple and have a great melody," Tallarico said.[4] Tallarico worked on a number of other games while at Virgin Interactive, including The Terminator.[7]

Tommy Tallarico Studios[edit]

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 studios collaborated on Earthworm Jim and MDK.[8] In 2005, Tallarico wrote a complete orchestral score for Advent Rising performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.[9]

In 2000 Joey Kuras (then employed at Tallarico Studios) created the "oof" sound effect for the game Messiah.[10] Tallarico has at times claimed that Kuras created the sound, that it was a collaboration between the pair, and that he created it himself.[10][11] The sound effect was subsequently used in Roblox from 2006 to 2020, played after a character died in-game, and became an iconic part of the game after its adoption by meme culture.[12] Tallarico, who claims ownership of the sound, disputed Roblox's use of it in June 2019.[13] This dispute ended in July 2022 when the Roblox Corporation pulled the sound from all games on its platform.[14]

Television[edit]

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. 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.[15][16] 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.[17][18]

Music concerts[edit]

Main article: Video Games Live

In 2002, Tallarico co-founded Video Games Live, a symphony orchestra concert series that plays music from video games, with Jack Wall.[19] Tallarico hosted and played guitar for the shows. He also created the visuals—scenes from video games, as well as lights and lasers—that are played in sync with the music.[20][21] VGL has been awarded two Guinness World Records (Gamer's Edition), one for the most video game concerts performed (357 at the time, 20 March 2016[22]), and another for largest audience to ever view a video game music concert live - 752,109 people in total, where 750,023 were streams via Yoku app, and only 2,086 people attended the concert in Beijing Exhibition Theatre, China.[23][24] It is not the largest symphony performance ever seen live, despite the claims of Tallarico,[25] as the largest attendance at the classical music concert was 800,000 at the New York Philharmonic performance in New York in 1986.[26]

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,[27] and was named 2008 Best Video Game Soundtrack for both IGN and G.A.N.G.[citation needed] The second volume, Level 2, also sold as a Blu-ray DVD concert, debuted at No. 8 on the same Billboard list.[28] However, Tallarico received lukewarm support from the recording industry for the albums.[29] 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."[citation needed] In response, Tallarico crowdsourced the third album Level 3 on Kickstarter.[30] The project beat its goal and raised $285,081 for the album.[citation needed] Since then, Video Games Live has brought out two further albums, Level 4 and Level 5, through Kickstarter.[citation needed]

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.[31] They used Kickstarter to fund an album, raising over $250,000.[citation needed] The show opened at the Miami Winter Music Conference in 2015.[citation needed]

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

Intellivision Entertainment[edit]

Following the death of Keith Robinson in 2017, founder of Intellivision Productions, Tallarico purchased a stake in the company from the estate. In May 2018, Intellivision Entertainment was re-formed with him as president. In the winter of that year, he announced the intent for the company to release the Intellivision Amico with the target of October 2020.[32] As of July 2022, it is reportedly still being worked on.[33] As of September 2022, the Amico has been delayed at least three times.[34] The console has been viewed very negatively by critics, drawing criticism for its delays, development turmoil,[35][36] and use of NFTs.[37] The status of the console has been called "grim"[38] and compared to a car crash.[36]

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.[39]

Personal life[edit]

Tallarico is vegan.[40] 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.[41]

In 2002, Tallarico founded the Game Audio Network Guild, a non-profit to recognize video game music and audio.[42] The guild hosts annual awards for achievement in game audio.[43] Tallarico received the Ambassador Award at the 2009 Game Developers Choice Awards for his work with the Guild.[42] In 2012, he received the Game Audio Network Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award.[44]

Tallarico has claimed to be a cousin of Steven Tyler (born Steven Tallarico), lead singer of the band Aerosmith.[45]

Works[edit]

Video games[edit]

Year Title Notes Reference(s)
1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Quality assurance, Game Boy version
1992 Prince of Persia Game Boy version
M.C. Kids Quality assurance, NES version
Muhammad Ali Heavyweight Boxing Sega Genesis version
Monopoly Deluxe Music coordinator
Jeep Jamboree: Off Road Adventure
Corporation Quality assurance
Batman: Return of the Joker Sound effects
Global Gladiators With Matt Furniss, re-adapted music for the Amiga version
1993 Another World Sega Genesis version
The Terminator Sega CD version, with Joey Kuras, Bijan Shaheer & Teknoman
Cool Spot Sega Genesis and Super NES versions
Super Caesars Palace With Steve Henefin
Color a Dinosaur
Super Slap Shot
1994 Caesars Palace
Race Days
Earthworm Jim
Disney's Aladdin With Don Griffin
The Jungle Book With Mark Miller
Heart of the Alien With Jean-François Freitas
1995 Madden NFL 96 Sega Genesis and Super NES versions
Agile Warrior: F-111X Sprite actor
Earthworm Jim 2
Spot Goes To Hollywood Sega Genesis version
1996 Burning Road "U.S. Remix" Composer
Skeleton Warriors With Todd Dennis, Jean-Christophe Beck and Eric Swanson
1997 MDK
Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick Voice talent, music composition
Treasures of the Deep Music and sound effects
1998 HardBall 6 Sound effects
WarGames: Defcon 1 With Fabian Del Priore
Apocalypse Movie scoring and sound effects
Beavis and Butt-head Do U.
1999 Ultra Fighters
Redline
R/C Stunt Copter Audio script
Demolition Racer Writer, producer and performer
Knockout Kings 2000 Additional design
Tomorrow Never Dies With Howard Ulyate, Sonic Mayhem, Todd Dennis
Wings of Fury Game Boy Color version
Unreal Mission Pack 1: Return to Na Pali Sound effects
2000 Messiah Sound Effects (with Joey Kuras) [11]
Sacrifice
Spider-Man With Howard Ulyate
Evil Dead: Hail to the King Producer
2001 Knockout Kings 2001 PS2 version
Casper: Spirit Dimensions Sound and voice (Lucky Chicken)
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
2002 Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights
Street Hoops Audio director
2003 War of the Monsters Sound FX
Black & Bruised Voice over producer
Devastation Additional tracks
Maximo vs Army of Zin Music, voice acting
SpyHunter 2 Music
2004 The X-Files: Resist or Serve Audio director
The Bard's Tale With Clint Bajakian, Peter McConnell, Michael Land and Jared Emerson-Johnson
2005 Advent Rising With Emmanuel Fratianni
2006 Jaws: Unleashed Orchestrations, arrangements
AND 1 Streetball Audio director
Pac-Man World Rally Sound design
Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
2007 Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia
2008 Line Rider 2: Unbound Sound effects
2009 Sonic and the Black Knight With Howard Drossin, Richard Jacques, Jun Senoue and others
2010 Flip's Twisted World
Super Tofu Boy Music donated by
2012 Retro City Rampage Cameo

Albums[edit]

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

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rivera, Kimberly. "Achievement Unlocked! Tommy Tallarico Presents Video Games Live". San Antonio Current. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  2. ^ "The Art of Video Games". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  3. ^ CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. (May 16, 2017). "Video game industry icon and Cathedral graduate speaks to students at Pope Francis". iObserve.org. Retrieved November 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c d "South County's Tommy Tallarico Creates Music and Art through Video Games". Dana Point Times. May 22, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  5. ^ McLaughlin, Moira E. "Video Game Music as art?". Washington Post. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Huffstutter, P.J. (August 11, 1997). "Musician Is a Top Scorer for Video Games". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Park, Brian (April 25, 2014). "The Maestro of Video Games". The Capistrano Dispatch. The Capistrano Dispatch. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  9. ^ Greene, David. "Video Game Music: Big Business, Big Money". Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Yarwood, Jack (November 18, 2022). "New Video Examines The Many Lofty Claims Of Tommy Tallarico". Time Extension. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Roblox's iconic 'oof' sound removed due to licensing". PCGamesN. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  12. ^ Beckhelling, Imogen (November 12, 2020). "Roblox will soon charge for the memey "oof" death noise". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
  13. ^ "Roblox's famous 'oof' death sound allegedly came from a Tommy Tallarico game". VentureBeat. June 22, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  14. ^ "Roblox has removed its "oof" sound of death". Eurogamer.net. July 27, 2022.
  15. ^ "Power Profiles". videogameslive. Nintendo Power (April 2010). Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  16. ^ "Reviews on the Run". tv.com. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  17. ^ Reviews on the Run Episode 647 on elecplay.com Archived May 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ The O, Larry. "Production Values: Games People Play". electronic Musician. electronic Musician. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  19. ^ Cocker, Guy. "Q&A: Video Games Live's Tommy Tallarico". GameSpot. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  20. ^ Schiesel, Seth (October 26, 2009). "Video Games (No Controller Needed)". New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  21. ^ Dring, Christopher. ""People thought I was insane" - The rise of Video Games Live". MCV. MCV. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  22. ^ "Most videogame concerts performed". Guinness World Records. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  23. ^ "Largest audience for a live videogame music concert". Guinness World Records. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  24. ^ Swatman, Rachel (March 22, 2016). "Video Games Live creator Tommy Tallarico receives certificates at record-breaking concert". Guinness World Records. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  25. ^ "AWARDS". Mysite. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  26. ^ "Largest attendance at a classical concert". Guinness World Records. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  27. ^ Kuchera, Ben (August 2008). "Video Games Live album released, debuts at #10 on Billboard". ars Technica. ars Technica. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  28. ^ Kollar, Phil. "Video Games Live: Level 2 Has A Strong Debut". gameinformer. gameinformer. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  29. ^ Shearer, Stew (August 16, 2013). "Video Games Live Creator Talks Kickstarter". Escapist Magazine. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  30. ^ Chalk, Andy (August 14, 2013). "Video Games Live Kickstarts Level 3". Escapist Magazine. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ Takahashi, Dean (May 29, 2018). "Intellivision lives: Tommy Tallarico will relaunch 1980s console". VentureBeat. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  33. ^ Kim, Matt (July 5, 2022). "Intellivision Amico Console Still in Development, CEO Says". IGN. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  34. ^ "The Intellivision Amico Has Been Delayed Once Again". COGconnected. August 8, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  35. ^ Plunkett, Luke (June 8, 2022). "The Intellivision Amico Is In Deep Shit". Kotaku. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  36. ^ a b Zwiezen, Zack (September 18, 2021). "The New Gaming Console That's Become A Giant Car Crash, Explained". Kotaku. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  37. ^ Zwiezen, Zack (October 10, 2021). "Intellivision Is Selling NFT Games For A Console That Ain't Even Out Yet". Kotaku. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  38. ^ Allen, Joseph (August 8, 2022). "Leaked Intellivision Amico Documents Paint A Grim Picture". TechRaptor. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  39. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (February 7, 2022). "Intellivision CEO Tommy Tallarico Steps Down". IGN. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  40. ^ "Tommy Tallarico's PETA2 Campaign is a 1-Up for Animals". IGN. IGN. December 16, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  41. ^ Fleishman, Jeffrey (June 12, 2015). "Video game music comes to the orchestra concert hall". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  42. ^ a b "Ambassador Award Archive". Game Developers Choice Awards. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  43. ^ "GAME AUDIO NETWORK GUILD ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS FOR 6TH ANNUAL G.A.N.G. AWARDS". IGN. IGN. February 29, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  44. ^ "2011: 10th Annual GANG Awards". Game Audio Network Guild. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  45. ^ 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.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tommy_Tallarico&oldid=1125125695"