Tommy Tallarico, President and CEO of Intellivision – Video Games Live
The legendary, video games veteran Tommy Tallarico sat down for a few minutes with Checkpoint XP’s Joe Sloan at the Video Game Live concert in Detroit.
Tommy Tallarico is one busy man! Tommy has made music for popular video games such as Earthworm Jim, Metroid Prime, Spider-Man, and much more. He also co-hosted television shows Electric Playground and Reviews on the Run on G4tv. Today, he is spearheading Intellivision as the CEO and President, and is touring with Video Games Live, a symphony concert tour that he founded dedicated to video game music.
He is very passionate with video games and is looking to bring gamers back to couch co-op gaming. Growing up, Tommy had an Intellivision of his own, and he remembers the days when he would sit with his family playing video games. He is looking for gaming that is a Simple, Affordable Family Entertainment. Tommy pointed out that it spells out SAFE. Thus, Intellivision revealed the Intellivision Amico, set to release in 2020.
This year, we have 1800 employees worldwide. It’s crazy. We even still have four (4) people at the company who started in 1980. So, this isn’t a company that has been traded a gazillion bunch of times. There is actually the heart and soul of the company still there. They’re still pissed at Atari. Still rivals.
– Tommy Tallarico, on Intellivision
In 2002, Tommy wanted to share his love for video game music. He created Video Games Live, a symphony concert dedicated to video game music. He spent every dollar on this show and people thought he was nuts. The first show was at the Hollywood Bowl, and 11,000 people showed up! During the Video Games Live concert at Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Video Games Live marked its 497th show. It once held the Guinness World Record for Most Video Game Concerts Performed.
Video Games Live was an incredible experience. As someone who has attended a number of orchestrated video game performances, including shows for Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, and Halo, I thought I knew what to expect. What followed was two hours of having those expectations shattered. I didn’t think there was any way I’d hear music from Mass Effect and Shadow of the Colossus in the same show. Wrong. I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that I’d get to hear orchestrated Undertale music. Wrong. And I certainly didn’t think I’d get my face melted by a Castlevania medley on electric guitar, and then laugh at the top 10 worst voice acted lines in gaming history. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Video Games Live delivered all of that and more, and is a show I’d recommend to fans of gaming everywhere. Tommy Tallarico has put together a truly amazing performance, one that shows both his passion for video games and the respect he has for the art form. 10/10! Would geek out again.
– Joe Sloan, his first experience at Video Games Live
Download and listen to the full interview:
Tommy Tallarico: Website – Twitter – Facebook
Video Games Live: Website – Twitter – Facebook
Intellivision: Website – Twitter – Facebook
We like to thank Tommy Tallarico, Video Games Live, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for their time! Please check out when Video Games Live will be in your town. If you are local to the Detroit area, please check out what’s playing at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
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