VGL New Haven Show Is Still Happening
 

Hi Everyone,

We've been getting some e-mail inquiries over the weekend asking us if we have cancelled our Video Games Live - New Haven, CT show on March 31st at Yale with the Yale Symphony. At first I had no idea why people kept specifically asking about our CT show this month. Then we found out from some media and press people that they recieved a press release on Friday stating that the Play! concert happening two days before our show this month had been cancelled. The show was supposed to take place in Hartford, CT and only 2 days before ours so I can see why people may have gotten the two confused. I looked on the Play! website but didn't see any mention of the show being cancelled although it was gone from their upcoming shows page.

Our ticket sales for New Haven, CT/Yale are going fantastic and should be sold out over the next week or so. We have not and will not be cancelling our New Haven, CT show and have made a comittment (after what happened 2 years ago being involved with a big corporation) to never cancel a show ever again. Now that we are on our own and control everything, our show and presence has been continuing to grow due greatly in part to all of the awesome word of mouth that people like you are continuing to spread.

For that we thank you!!! Not to sound too over the top... but together we will all help to change the worlds thinking about what an amazing art form video games and their music have become.

It's too bad that the Play! thing didn't work out in Hartford although I must admit that I thought it was a little strange that they would attempt to do a show a few days before us and right around the corner. Luckily (after just looking at both schedules) it doesn't seem like anything like that will be happening for the rest of the year.

Just wanted to make sure that everyone was aware that we did NOT cancel our New Haven, CT show.


Thanks!


Tommy

Ooh I wasn't sure of the camera/recording policy.... I guess I'll post the stuff that I have. I did notice that there was no psychotic "no cameras" rule :)

I know GDC was keeping you busy, but when you get the chance, I had sent an email to your VGL account.

Hi Tommy, and good news. (not that PLAY is cancelled, but that your fabulous show is still going strong.) Just out of curiosity, who was first in setting up the show in Hartford? If it was VGL, why do you think these concerts are all happening in the same vicinity? I am no economist, but it wouldn't it make the most sense for video game music concerts to be more spread out to possibly cover more ground and not take away from what anyone else is doing? It seems silly when multiple promoters are situating performances around a singular area. It seems to be stifling the potential of video game music in reaching out.

Anyhoo, good luck with the performances.

Ryan

Yes! Please post pics & vids!


T.T.

Yo Ryan,

I agree. I'm not sure why they do that. We just do our thing and don't really pay attention too closely to what they are doing. I am in contact with the Eminence guys and we make sure we're on the same page. Hopefully we'll get an opportunity to work together on something someday.

As for Play! I just don't like the way they have operated thier business or handled their publicity and public perception.

Can someone please tell me why when you go to the Play! website and hit the ABOUT section it CLEARLY states that they have been to New Zealand and South America???


"The concert tour took off in North America on May 27, 2006 in Chicago, followed by Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and New Zealand."


We played those countries/regions... not them. They also say they've already played Australia (which was Eminence) and they've never played Asia. This isn't rocket science... they are just lying and using others accomplishments to make themselves look better. I don't feel that is a very good way to run a business.

They also state that IMG are their agents.... that is also not true.



Tommy






Additional Spam:

Awesome!

Thanks for that.

Sorry again for any confusion or bad feelings. Wasn't my intention.


Tommy

Gaming is very popular in Belgium. Game events always attract tons of people here, I'm sure the same would happen to Videogames Live. Plus you'd get lots of publicity from magazines and video game shows such as Gamepower and Gunk TV who receive a respectable amount of viewers.

You should definately consider taking VGL to Belgium. I guess the best place to go would be Gent since all the popular game events take place there.

Wow... The deciet that Play! gets away with appalls me. I don't see any reason why anyone should go to their concerts or support them anymore. I don't care if they got Akira and other awesome composers or Angela Aki whom I REALLY wanna see live, nothing excuses them from being liars.

Speaking of which, any chance to get Miss Aki to perform for VGL? Along with Akira Yamaoka to play Silent Hill?

And Mr. Maul, no need to jump on anyone's throat when someone says something "bad" about Play!. If their dishonesty might affect VGL in anway, it needs to said and aknowledged. Sometimes people worded things wrong, and thanks to the way the forums work, can't edit everything. And no, this doesn't signify that Jason and Tommy are still at each other's throat, I'm sure in Tommy's case at least, he's taking it with a professional stride, avoiding actual name calling or insults and just state the facts, dunno about Jason though... I mean, he IS lying and all... Kinda bugs me that you tend to post when someone says something bad about Play! or Eminence posts something not to your standard, whereas you're absent in other times. Are you just a fan of Play!, or has VGL or Eminence done something not to your liking? (Aside form your personal views on Seraph, which can't possibly represent all of Eminence.) Tommy has a right to express his views on the bad things Play! has done, and his veiws can't possibly affect VGL. Stop associate one (or two) man's opinions, feelings and views and just state that it will affect their concert series badly. In fact, thanks to Tommy and Seraph, Play! just lost one potential concert goer. Me. How is THAT bad for VGL?

Forgive me for asking all this thats kinda off topic, but man its been bugging me alot. I've been to VGL and it was great. I've heard recordings and things from Play!, and I am NOT impressed at all with their management or arrangements, the performance in the leaked recording wasn't as good as VGL either. Haven't gone to Eminence yet, but will soon, and from videos their performance was amazing. Why the seemingly defense on a concert series thats horribly managed, has mediocre arrangements and have been decieving people through marketting and the media? Or is this all about your high standard of "professionalism" again? So in order to remain professional, one can't voice his veiws and opinions, and that whatver comes flying out of his mouth MUST be assiociated to their company/group? What the hell are those disclaimers for DVD commentaries then?

Play! is badly handled and they are liars, and Tommy and Seraph voiced their displeasure and facts, thats all, no need to blow this out proportion.

Thanks! This is all very good information to know. We are currently putting together our European tour which will take place in November & December.

If there is anyone reading this from a Europen country here is how you can help...


Please list your country (or one you are very familiar with) and please let us know what the best gaming websites, groups, conventions, magazines, gaming events, etc. cover video games.

Here are the list of possible countries we are curently speaking with and considering...

UK
Germany
Scandinavia
Italy
Greece
Istanbul
Spain
Portugal
Switzerland
France
Poland
Hungary
Czech Republic
Russia
Belgium

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,


Tommy

Belgium and Netherlands should be included. Looking at the succes of game events and such I'm convinced VGL will be a great succes in both countries.

Can I ask why Belgium wasn't considered? :)

Hi Stabby!,

Those were the cities we were focusing on before I read your response today. I just edited it to include Belgium as well. We will definitely look into the information you provided us with as a consideration. Please let us know if there are others. I'm totally serious when I say that all of the people in this forum can help to bring Video Games Live to their country!

I love this forum because there are so many diversified people from around the world who post here about their love and passion for VGM. I hope to meet all of you someday... especially on the day of the show which you helped us to bring to you!


Tommy

Picking our puny little Finland would be awesome. Sweden's got its share already, anyway.

Just a little hint. ;)

In Finland game music is actively covered by Zen no Santora, which you may remember, as well as game magazines and websites such as Pelit, Pelaaja, Peliplaneetta, Konsolifin and even mainstream publications such as Finland's largest newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat.

Finland has several high-quality venues such as Finlandia-talo and Tampere-talo.

Hi Kairi,

Thanks for your continued support of our show. I agree 100% with all of your above comments. I think most of the questions were directed towards Mr. Maul so I'll let him answer you directly.

My position is the same as it has always been. I have no problem with as many video game concerts in the world as possible... especially if they are different and unique to ours (which Eminence and Play! are). But where I need to absolutely draw the line is when people clearly and blatantly lie about things in order to make us look bad and to make themselves look good. No one has brought anything on themselves that they did not deserve. It is not my intention to hurt Play! they do that all by themselves... they certainly don't need my help.

It's not me who forces them to cancel shows or lie to the media. It's not me who lies on our website about where we've been or charges people to meet composers. I can only defend the misinformation spread about our show with facts which is exactly what I have always done from the start.

If those facts make Play! look bad... please don't blame us. Maybe they should have thought of that before posting crazy lies on their website or making up things to tell the press. Yeah... I get a little offended when people assume I'm purposely trying to spread bad publicity about them when all I'm doing is trying to clear OUR name which they have only tried to smear and lie about. I'm certainly not going to sit back and have someone try to destroy everything we've worked so hard to build over the past 5 years. And if people want to think that by defending our show that we're on some kind of "bad publicity" campaign... then so be it. I'm obviously not going to change anyone's mind at that point. But anyone thinking that way isn't looking at the situation for what it really is.

I remember being in here a few months ago defending the fact about what kinds of symphonies and orchestas we use. "We're not PROFESSIONAL enough" people were thinking and saying. Please take a look at the bottom of this page to see who we have worked with and who we continue to work with: http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?s=sponsors

We've played more prestigeous venues and with more prestigeous orchestras than anyone else in the world who is doing this. It saddens me to think that people would think differently.

In regards to your question about Miss Aki & Akira.... Akira is a good friend of mine and we've been trying to figure out which shows would be the best and most convenient for him to perform and attend. He was going to do our Hollywood Bowl show last year but unfortunately it feel on the same weekend as the Tokyo Game Show.

We have also been in touch with Miss Aki and she would very much like to perform with us. She was touring in Japan last we spoke with her but we will continue to speak and I'm sure you'll be seeing her name pop up eventually in our shows.

Thanks,


Tommy

Yay, that's what I've been waiting for.
Where would be a better place to hold a concert than in Central Europe? :D
As somebody from Cologne, West Germany would be perfect for me and it's not too far away from Belgium and Netherlands, either.
We've got the Games Convention concert in Leipzig, that covers the whole east.

As for gaming websites and magazines, I have to admit that listening to game music has superseded any addiction to play games for me.
I guess when you hang out at Gamingforce you don't need any equivalent in your language anymore.


edit: May I add that the Cologne Philharmony takes approximately 2,000 people, the Cologne Arena takes approx. 20,000 :D

Yeah... we've been talking in great detail to 5 different areas/cities in Germany. They are extremely excited about bringing VGL over there. Everything is being worked on now and we will hopefully have some kind of announcement coming in April.


Tommy

Hey Tommy,

any news concerning the upcoming Montreal venue ?

Also would you consider performing in the atlantic canadian provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P. E. I. and Newfoundland) ?

Hey Tommy,

LOVED your show in Sept. '06 when you came to the Hollywood Bowl. Can't wait to see you guys live again. I'm a bit bummed I didn't go up to SF to see the past show you just did; heard it was a blast!

Just thought I'd say "keep up the awesome work!" and I'm looking very forward to your next Los Angeles / San Diego show for something new and exciting. :)

Best Regards,
Shorty

Nothing yet... but very soon. Been having lots of meetings and are getting close to a deal.

Tommy






Additional Spam:

Yo!,

Thanks! Yeah... the San Fran show was great and really special! We just posted a bunch of pics but have a lot more on the way. We're just finishing up a story that we'll be posting on the front page. Been collecting all the photos, videos, reviews, comments, etc.

Here's a good one with Miyamoto & Kondo in my dressing room:
http://www.videogameslive.com/galler...lguests?full=1

For anyone interested... we have about 200 pics we uploaded with lots more on the way: http://www.videogameslive.com/gallery/album31?page=1


Thanks for the support Shorty (that's my nickname too! haahhaaa!)

We're playing during the big E4 gaming convention in Los Angeles on Oct. 19th at a very special and unique venue that no one has ever played before! It's gonna be really cool... special announcements coming soon.


Tommy

Yeah, there's a group of kids from my college who were going to go to the Play! concert in Hartford. When it got cancelled, all five of them bought tickets for your New Haven show instead, on my recommendation. Not that they needed to be told; they're as excited about this as I am.

I sent you a message as well, here at GXF. I completely understand if it's not on your list of priorities, of course, and you don't have the time/inclination to look at it. Just thought I'd make sure you got it.

Yo!,

Just sent you a PM in regards to the interview. Maybe we can do it in person in New Haven? Thanks for the recommendation! It's going to be an amazing show with something very special that we have never done before!

More info coming on Monday.


Tommy

It's nice to hear :) I really do hope that you'll come to Athens :D We'll be there again cheering :D

Working on it this week actually!

I'll keep ya posted.


Tommy

VGL coming to Germany? Oh hell yes! *jumping around*

I prefer a location in the south. Maybe Munich or Stuttgart? The area around of Cologne is overloaded with events of all kind. (:P @ Teioh)

Aaaand I have one music wish: something from Secret of Mana. Secret of Mana was one of the first big SNES RPGs coming out here and many Gamers in Germany (or maybe whole western Europe) have some special moments with it. :)

Yeah, Stuttgart would be really cool!

I agree with Secret of Mana....

i would also love to see...eh...hear Music from Zelda (especially Ocarina of Time and A link to the past; Dark Overworld / Overworld Theme kicks ass) and F-Zero X (N64) [i remember the guitar arranged version OST, that was great)
Other interesting Game Music:

Golden Eye
Katamari Damacy (:D)
Conkers Bad Fur Day ("Bats", "Sloprano")
Final Fantasy VIII (Battle Music!)
Soul Calibur (Dreamcast)
Super Metroid

Some music I would love to be played:

- Soul Calibur II
- Zelda ALTTP: Dark Overworld
- Donkey Kong Country: Coral Capers (water music)
- Black: Main Theme
- Skies of Arcadia: anything
- Shadow of the Colossus: Revived Power ~ Battle with the Colossus
- Headhunter: Jack's Theme

Anyway, Belgium has a higher percentage of gamers than Germany and that's an impressive thing considering that most of Germany's gamers are MMO-players (who wouldn't come to VGL I guess).

All you guys making "I'd like to hear XXX game" posts - you might as well throw out any Square Enix games out the window as the rights to those are locked up tight (except KH).

But as for other games to add to the lineup, the lack of Metroid/Super Metroid is the most noticeable of all, considering it's part of Nintendo's holy triforce of franchises (especially since the other two, Mario and Zelda, are represented).