Video Games Live

I'm disappointed that the Sixth Symphonic Game Music Concert will be replaced by a Video Games Live show.

Not to sound rude or anything, I appreciate the work you're doing, Tommy.
But it's just that I totally loved the atmosphere the Gewandhaus conveyed. The dim light, the cross between modern and classic architecture, the perfect acoustics, a more than professional orchestra (in addition to the professional solo-performers) - all that made these wonderful experiences for me and I absolutely object to the idea of these concert series being changed to a big stadium event.

...is a definite downgrade for me.

This evening should be about video game music, and video game music only. The moderator giving newsflashs about football results was slightly annoying last year, but destroying the whole concert by including fancy light effects, showing cutscenes and hundreds of people yelling and laughing in the midst of an orchestra performance is too much for me to handle.

This announcement really gave me a heartache. GC in Concert used to be the year's highlight for me. I know a lot of people have a different opinion than I do, but should this really be like the other VGL shows and not take place in the Gewandhaus, I will not attend the event and am saddened that the Symphonic Game Music Concert series by Thomas Böcker is dead.


An unrelated note: It seems to me like 7000 seats are far too much for such an event. The tickets of last year's concert were cheaper than this year's and still only little more than half of the seats in the Gewandhaus - approximately 1000 - were taken. The 2006 concert was sold out but back then, tickets only cost ~€15.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Tommy Tallarico

I don't think anyone has said or suggested that Thomas Boeckers' Symphonic Game Music Concert is dead by any means.

There were some rumours about Thomas planning a break after the fifth concert. I read it at G wie Gorilla. Regarding the recent events, the information seems legit - at least in some respect.

Originally Posted by Tommy Tallarico

Quite frankly, there was even some talk this year at one point about having one show at the beginning/launch of Games Convention 2007 and the other one at the end. Thomas and I spoke about this over e-mail but I think we both felt that it may be a little too confusing to have two shows at the same exact convention... maybe in the future this would work when both shows are a little more established? That may be cool.

Personally I'd prefer two separate shows in two different seasons. The traditional Symphonic Game Music Concert at the Gewandhaus still in August, at the beginning of the GC Games Convention, and an additional Video Games Live performance in spring or winter.
You're right, two concerts at the same event is probably too confusing and will cause unneeded rivalry between the two concerts, as a lot of people don't have the chance to stay in Leipzig for the whole GC timeframe (because of work or monitary reasons, hotels costs and all) and to afford both concerts. Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by Tommy Tallarico

I'm sorry that you feel the way you do about VGL without ever having experienced it for yourself. I think you may be selling the overall experience a little short and hopefully by the time the concert rolls around and we've made all of our special announcements that you'll want to come and check it out.

I know that my comments seem a little overcritical given that I never attended one of the VGL concerts. As of now, my opinion is mainly based upon the tons of videos I've seen of the performances. A lot of them seemed like recordings from a big pop concert, with people going rampant and screaming while the orchestra is playing because of a specific cutscene on the screen. The people's excited reaction to it is my biggest worry. It's like someone talking in the cinema while you're enjoying the film.

Originally Posted by Tommy Tallarico

btw... have you ever seen the VOICES concert that Uematsu put on in Japan (with Arnie Roth conducting). I have the DVD and they use lots of amazing lighting, video, special effects, etc. I (like Uematsu) believe that these visuals really help to enhance the concert experience and widen the audience for game music for people who may have normally never have come to listen.

It's really just a matter of personal preference, I guess. If done effectively, it can enhance the experience - and VOICES is a pretty good example for that, I agree.
I don't like it when the lightning goes all flash-flash-flashy-flash, I like it dim.

Anyways, thanks for addressing my concerns.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Tommy Tallarico

Wow! I must say, you really know how to spin a tale! Every statement above is incorrect in some way or another. I'll tell you what I find to be most interesting though... Some people on this forum (like yourself) bitch, moan and complain that all the game concerts can't get along and how sad and woeful it is. But I think it's people like YOU who conjure this crap up and it is people like YOU who should be ashamed of your trite fanboy behavior.

Let me just take the time to addres (and pull apart) each and every one of your statements so that the folks in here are aware of your biased nature and clear negativity towards our show (which it seems like you've never even actually seen).


1. "The Symphonic Game Music Concerts sold out instantly before you decided to spitefully take the GC concerts over."

Aside from being completely out of line, you're also completely wrong. Shame on you for spreading such negativity. As I've mentioned a number of times previously, the Games Convention folks saw our show 2 years ago at the Game Developers Conference and asked us to perform and be a part of their convention in 2007. They had already signed Thomas and his show and were thinking of doing both. Me & Thomas discussed this and decided it would be best for EVERYONE if that wasn't the case. I was the one who made the decision not to play there in 2007 and wait for 2008. Does that sound spiteful?? Hardly! We DON'T want to muddy the waters and compete in the same market at the same time. We've recieved thousands of e-mails from people in Germany wanting us to perform there. How is any of this spiteful?? PLEEEEEEAAASEE! Relax... chill out and do everyone a favor and keep your outlandish conspiracy theories to yourself.


2. "4,000 people is poor given how popular its predecessors and Symphonic Shades were."

You truly are uneducated about this. Do a little homework and find out how many seats are in those other venues, (also consider how much the ticket prices were). This isn't meant to demean any of the previous shows, I'm just trying to show you once again how out-of-line and completely off-base you are with your assine remarks. 4,000 people were the most people that have shown up for a video game concert in Germany.... fact.


3. "Furthermore, a large proportion of those attending got free promotional tickets..."

I don't know what you consider to be a "large proportion" but normally the promoter puts aside at least 200 free comps for press, schools, VIP's, sponsors, convention partners, etc. I believe for this show there was more than that because of all the different sponsors and because the Games Convention was so big and they wanted to invite a lot of special guests.


4. "...and you really needed to put a lot of effort to promote this one even with the GC being such a big event."

Hahahahhaa!! That's funny. Yeah, lets demean our show and call it a failure because we "put a lot of effort" in promoting it. Interesting. Let me guess, you would have been the first one to complain if it tanked and we didn't "promote it enough". Either way we would have lost in your eyes.


5. "Public sources say the GC apparently offered to revive the Symphonic Game Music Concert series after the commercial / critical failure of Video Games Live at Leipzig."

As previously mentioned and stated... your public sources are clearly lacking. I'll leave it at that.


6. "I'm not sure whether Thomas will take them up on that offer, but I guess that means you lost."

Once again, an immature and biased statement fueled by what seems to be some strange hatred for our show? Not sure... you'll have to search your own feelings to come up with the answer to that one. We lost?? Hmm?? Why does anyone have to win or lose? Let me again state for the record... I think it's some of the people in HERE that try to pit the concerts against each other.

We have enough things on our plate to be worrying about others. We have over 50 shows all over the world this year and that number will continue to rise in 2009. We also have a successful album on the Billboard Top 10 charts and many other VERY positive things happening in the pipeline. So, no matter what YOU may think or say... I've WON because I'm successfully creating and spreading video game music all over the world to hundreds of thousands of people.

We accomplished many great things in Leipzig and garnished much national television, newspaper and radio press. We are excited about returning in 2009 and touring more parts of Germany. For a first time show in a brand new country... it was a great success for everyone. Something that your negative words and off-base opinions will never be able to take away.

At this point, your uninformed banter isn't really worth the time I would spend on dispelling them once again. It also isn't fair of me (or you) to take this up in a thread that is celebrating the Cologne concert. If you have other issues, problems or questions you want answered... PM me and keep it out of here.

Hope you can still try to have a positive day and re-think your eletist game concert attitude. Just remember, it's okay for game concerts to be unique and different and it isn't a war with winners and losers. The only battle (fought by ALL the game concerts) is to spread the word to millions and raise awareness... which we are already on the path of achieving. Your clear anti-approach and negativity certainly doesn't subscribe to that point of view.


Tommy

Not to fuel the fire here, but according to a comment by Böcker himself, he was not informed about the plans for the 2008 show in Leipzig.
A user asked him if the planned Symphonic Shades date was his revenge for the previous people not being able to do the GC opening concert. This is what he said in response:

Originally Posted by Thomas Böcker

"Das würde aber voraussetzen, dass man die 'bisherigen Leute' (weit im voraus) über die neuen Pläne informierte."

"However, that would require that the 'previous people' were informed about the new plans (a long time in advance)."

It just doesn't sound like he was involved in the decision.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

What's up with VGL in Cologne? It was mentioned as taking place alongside the gamescom trade fair.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Prime Blue

What's up with VGL in Cologne? It was mentioned as taking place alongside the gamescom trade fair.

Quoted for curiosity.

I was speaking idiomatically.