dwdonehoo
10-24-2003, 08:01 PM
TOMMY TALLARICO Interview: A call for Questions
http://www.audiogang.org/images/people/tommy_tallarico.gif
If you are in the game industry, you should know who Tommy Tallarico is. If you don\'t, here is your chance to find out who he is and why you should know about him. Those outside the game industry who are gamers or interested in games (or who just watch a lot of television) may know about Tommy by watching the G4 show on cable TV (see below).
I found out about Tommy by hanging out at the Game Developer Conference (GDC) when my interests were more in the software engineering side of things. Hanging out at the GDC got me more interested in game music, and as I asked questions and poked around, I heard a funny story. Actually, I probably heard the story from The Fat Man. The story goes like this: a composer hears that there is a lot of money to be made in the game business and ventures forth and enters the game music business. After a few years, the bitter composer (still scratching out a meager living) asks, \"Where\'s my Ferrari?\" The answer, naturally, it that his Ferrari is parked in Tommy\'s garage.
The point being (in case you are wondering) is that Tommy has made himself wealthy in the game biz. And no wonder. Tommy is one of those dynamo\'s who are always cooking up something and making it work, and usually profiting by it. And like many great success stories, Tommy started with nearly nothing living out of his car on the beach, and working his way up the ranks paying his dues until he landed in a huge house with a fine car in the garage.
So, here is a chance for you composers and aspiring composers to ask questions of one of the great success stories in the game music business.
Below is the official Tommy Tallarico BIO and other facts. Let the questions begin!
-Doyle
Game Audio Moderator
The Tommy Tallarico BIO:
Tommy Tallarico is a veritable video game industry icon. As one of the most successful video game composers in history, he has helped revolutionize the gaming world, creating unique audio landscapes that enhance the video gaming experience. As a well-recognized on-air television personality, Tommy brings his in-depth knowledge, years of experience, and love of multimedia and video games to the masses.
An accomplished musician, Tallarico has been writing music for video games for more than 12 years. In 1994, he founded Tommy Tallarico Studios, the multimedia industry’s largest audio production house. In video games, television, film, radio, soundtracks, toys and even on floats in the New Year’s Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, Tallarico’s music has been heard by hundreds of millions of people around the world. Recently Tallarico’s music was used as the opening song for Aerosmith’s last world tour. His top titles include The Terminator, Earthworm Jim, Disney’s Aladdin, Cool Spot, Metroid Prime, Maximo, Tomorrow Never Dies, Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Spider-Man as well as top selling popular game franchises such as Madden Football, Blitz Football, Pac-Man, Knockout Kings, Unreal, Mortal Kombat, Twisted Metal & Time Crisis.
Tommy recently finished designing the audio for the multi-channel DTS theatrical trailer logo appearing in movie theaters and homes across the world.
Tallarico has been featured on numerous national and international television shows, appearing repeatedly on CNN and MTV. Currently, Tommy hosts Judgment Day for G4, the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week TV network fully dedicated to the world of video games. He also hosts, writes and co-produces the award-winning video game television show, The Electric Playground (www.elecplay.com), which has been on the air since 1995. The show is syndicated internationally and airs daily in primetime on the Discovery network and MTV Canada. The Electric Playground won the 2001 Telly Award for “Best Entertainment Cable Program.”
Tallarico was the first musician to release a video game soundtrack worldwide (Tommy Tallarico’s Greatest Hits Vol. 1 – Capitol Records). He has released five video game soundtrack albums since, including the highly acclaimed James Bond Tomorrow Never Dies. He has written, produced and recorded with a wide range of talented musicians – from the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra and Budapest Chamber Choir, to the band “Fear Factory.” Tommy was also the first to use 3-D audio in a game (Q-Sound) and was instrumental in bringing true digital interactive surround 5.1 (6-channel) to the gaming industry. From 1991 to 1994, he headed Virgin Interactive’s music and video division, and executive produced numerous “green screen shoots” for films including “Demolition Man” with Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes.
Tommy has worked in the games industry as a games tester, product manager, producer, writer, designer and heads of both music and video departments. He is the founder and president of G.A.N.G. (Game Audio Network Guild), which is a non-profit organization educating and heightening the awareness of audio for the interactive world (www.audiogang.org). Tommy is an advisory board member for the Game Developers Conference and a nominating committee member for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.
Tallarico has appeared in myriad magazines and newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. In 1999, he helped secure official recognition of video game music by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and the Grammy’s. Also in 1999 he co-designed the award winning boxing game “Knockout Kings” for the N64 with Electronic Arts which went on to win the “Best Console Sports Product of 1999” by the A.I.A.S. He has won over 20 industry awards for best video game audio and has worked on more than 200 game titles; to date, they total sales of more than 50 million units and two billion dollars.
Tommy has consulted for Fortune 500 companies such as Intel, Sony, Microsoft and Apple as well as audio companies including DTS, Dolby, Roland and Creative Labs. He has given lectures and speeches all over the world on audio and video games which include his keynote at the 1999 Game Developers Conference, and 2000 MILIA (the multimedia conference in Cannes, France). He also teaches courses and has been the guest speaker at many schools, organizations & universities such as UCLA & Full Sail University.
TOMMY TALLARICO – AWARDS
\"BEST SOUND IN A VIDEO GAME 1992 - MICK & MACK GLOBAL GLADIATORS\" - Video Games & Computer Entertainment Magazine
\"BEST SOUND OF 1992 - MICK & MACK GLOBAL GLADIATORS\" - In Between The Lines
\"Best Cartridge Music of the Year 1993 - COOL SPOT\" - Sega 3rd Party
\"Best Sound of 1993 - COOL SPOT\" - Electronic Games Magazine
\"1993 BEST CD SOUNDTRACK - THE TERMINATOR SEGA-CD\" - Video Games Magazine
\"Best Sound in a Video Game Compact Disc of 1993 - The Terminator CD\" - In Between The Lines
\"Best Sound 1993 - THE TERMINATOR SEGA-CD\" - Video Views
\"Editors Choice, Best CD Music 1993 - THE TERMINATOR SEGA-CD\" - Gaming Enthusiast of America
\"Readers Choice Awards, Best Music of 1993 - ALADDIN Sega Genesis\" - GamePro Magazine
“1994 BEST SOUNDTRACK - EARTHWORM JIM” - Die Hard Gamefan Magazine
“1994 Best Sound Effects - EARTHWORM JIM” - Video Games Magazine
“1995 SOUNDTRACK OF THE YEAR - SKELETON WARRIORS” - Die Hard Gamefan Magazine
“Best Music & Sound FX of 1995 - EARTHWORM JIM 2” - Sega 3rd Party
“1995 Best Soundtrack, Sega Saturn - SKELETON WARRIORS” - Die Hard Gamefan Magazine
“1995 Best Soundtrack, Sega Genesis - EARTHWORM JIM 2” - Die Hard Gamefan Magazine
“1996 Game Soundtrack of the Year: SKELETON WARRIORS” - Gaming Enthusiast Online
“1996 Best Overall Music, Sega Saturn: SKELETON WARRIORS” - Gaming Enthusiast Online
“1996 Best Overall Music, Sony PlayStation: SKELETON WARRIORS” - Gaming Enthusiast Online
“1997 Blister Award, Best Music: TREASURES OF THE DEEP” - The Electric Playground
1998 Nominated Finalist – “Best Sound in a Video Game: Wild 9” Interactive Acedemy of Arts & Sciences
1999 EQ Magazine: Project Studio of the Year, Video Game/Multimedia nominee - EQ Magazine
1999 Blister Award, Best Console Music: “TOMORROW NEVER DIES” - The Electric Playground
Best Console Sports Product of 1999: “Knockout Kings N64” (co-designer) - Interactive Acedemy of Arts & Sciences
2001 Telly Award - Best Cable Entertainment Program: The Electric Playground
TOMMY TALLARICO PROJECTS: Too many to list!
http://www.audiogang.org/images/people/tommy_tallarico.gif
If you are in the game industry, you should know who Tommy Tallarico is. If you don\'t, here is your chance to find out who he is and why you should know about him. Those outside the game industry who are gamers or interested in games (or who just watch a lot of television) may know about Tommy by watching the G4 show on cable TV (see below).
I found out about Tommy by hanging out at the Game Developer Conference (GDC) when my interests were more in the software engineering side of things. Hanging out at the GDC got me more interested in game music, and as I asked questions and poked around, I heard a funny story. Actually, I probably heard the story from The Fat Man. The story goes like this: a composer hears that there is a lot of money to be made in the game business and ventures forth and enters the game music business. After a few years, the bitter composer (still scratching out a meager living) asks, \"Where\'s my Ferrari?\" The answer, naturally, it that his Ferrari is parked in Tommy\'s garage.
The point being (in case you are wondering) is that Tommy has made himself wealthy in the game biz. And no wonder. Tommy is one of those dynamo\'s who are always cooking up something and making it work, and usually profiting by it. And like many great success stories, Tommy started with nearly nothing living out of his car on the beach, and working his way up the ranks paying his dues until he landed in a huge house with a fine car in the garage.
So, here is a chance for you composers and aspiring composers to ask questions of one of the great success stories in the game music business.
Below is the official Tommy Tallarico BIO and other facts. Let the questions begin!
-Doyle
Game Audio Moderator
The Tommy Tallarico BIO:
Tommy Tallarico is a veritable video game industry icon. As one of the most successful video game composers in history, he has helped revolutionize the gaming world, creating unique audio landscapes that enhance the video gaming experience. As a well-recognized on-air television personality, Tommy brings his in-depth knowledge, years of experience, and love of multimedia and video games to the masses.
An accomplished musician, Tallarico has been writing music for video games for more than 12 years. In 1994, he founded Tommy Tallarico Studios, the multimedia industry’s largest audio production house. In video games, television, film, radio, soundtracks, toys and even on floats in the New Year’s Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, Tallarico’s music has been heard by hundreds of millions of people around the world. Recently Tallarico’s music was used as the opening song for Aerosmith’s last world tour. His top titles include The Terminator, Earthworm Jim, Disney’s Aladdin, Cool Spot, Metroid Prime, Maximo, Tomorrow Never Dies, Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Spider-Man as well as top selling popular game franchises such as Madden Football, Blitz Football, Pac-Man, Knockout Kings, Unreal, Mortal Kombat, Twisted Metal & Time Crisis.
Tommy recently finished designing the audio for the multi-channel DTS theatrical trailer logo appearing in movie theaters and homes across the world.
Tallarico has been featured on numerous national and international television shows, appearing repeatedly on CNN and MTV. Currently, Tommy hosts Judgment Day for G4, the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week TV network fully dedicated to the world of video games. He also hosts, writes and co-produces the award-winning video game television show, The Electric Playground (www.elecplay.com), which has been on the air since 1995. The show is syndicated internationally and airs daily in primetime on the Discovery network and MTV Canada. The Electric Playground won the 2001 Telly Award for “Best Entertainment Cable Program.”
Tallarico was the first musician to release a video game soundtrack worldwide (Tommy Tallarico’s Greatest Hits Vol. 1 – Capitol Records). He has released five video game soundtrack albums since, including the highly acclaimed James Bond Tomorrow Never Dies. He has written, produced and recorded with a wide range of talented musicians – from the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra and Budapest Chamber Choir, to the band “Fear Factory.” Tommy was also the first to use 3-D audio in a game (Q-Sound) and was instrumental in bringing true digital interactive surround 5.1 (6-channel) to the gaming industry. From 1991 to 1994, he headed Virgin Interactive’s music and video division, and executive produced numerous “green screen shoots” for films including “Demolition Man” with Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes.
Tommy has worked in the games industry as a games tester, product manager, producer, writer, designer and heads of both music and video departments. He is the founder and president of G.A.N.G. (Game Audio Network Guild), which is a non-profit organization educating and heightening the awareness of audio for the interactive world (www.audiogang.org). Tommy is an advisory board member for the Game Developers Conference and a nominating committee member for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.
Tallarico has appeared in myriad magazines and newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. In 1999, he helped secure official recognition of video game music by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and the Grammy’s. Also in 1999 he co-designed the award winning boxing game “Knockout Kings” for the N64 with Electronic Arts which went on to win the “Best Console Sports Product of 1999” by the A.I.A.S. He has won over 20 industry awards for best video game audio and has worked on more than 200 game titles; to date, they total sales of more than 50 million units and two billion dollars.
Tommy has consulted for Fortune 500 companies such as Intel, Sony, Microsoft and Apple as well as audio companies including DTS, Dolby, Roland and Creative Labs. He has given lectures and speeches all over the world on audio and video games which include his keynote at the 1999 Game Developers Conference, and 2000 MILIA (the multimedia conference in Cannes, France). He also teaches courses and has been the guest speaker at many schools, organizations & universities such as UCLA & Full Sail University.
TOMMY TALLARICO – AWARDS
\"BEST SOUND IN A VIDEO GAME 1992 - MICK & MACK GLOBAL GLADIATORS\" - Video Games & Computer Entertainment Magazine
\"BEST SOUND OF 1992 - MICK & MACK GLOBAL GLADIATORS\" - In Between The Lines
\"Best Cartridge Music of the Year 1993 - COOL SPOT\" - Sega 3rd Party
\"Best Sound of 1993 - COOL SPOT\" - Electronic Games Magazine
\"1993 BEST CD SOUNDTRACK - THE TERMINATOR SEGA-CD\" - Video Games Magazine
\"Best Sound in a Video Game Compact Disc of 1993 - The Terminator CD\" - In Between The Lines
\"Best Sound 1993 - THE TERMINATOR SEGA-CD\" - Video Views
\"Editors Choice, Best CD Music 1993 - THE TERMINATOR SEGA-CD\" - Gaming Enthusiast of America
\"Readers Choice Awards, Best Music of 1993 - ALADDIN Sega Genesis\" - GamePro Magazine
“1994 BEST SOUNDTRACK - EARTHWORM JIM” - Die Hard Gamefan Magazine
“1994 Best Sound Effects - EARTHWORM JIM” - Video Games Magazine
“1995 SOUNDTRACK OF THE YEAR - SKELETON WARRIORS” - Die Hard Gamefan Magazine
“Best Music & Sound FX of 1995 - EARTHWORM JIM 2” - Sega 3rd Party
“1995 Best Soundtrack, Sega Saturn - SKELETON WARRIORS” - Die Hard Gamefan Magazine
“1995 Best Soundtrack, Sega Genesis - EARTHWORM JIM 2” - Die Hard Gamefan Magazine
“1996 Game Soundtrack of the Year: SKELETON WARRIORS” - Gaming Enthusiast Online
“1996 Best Overall Music, Sega Saturn: SKELETON WARRIORS” - Gaming Enthusiast Online
“1996 Best Overall Music, Sony PlayStation: SKELETON WARRIORS” - Gaming Enthusiast Online
“1997 Blister Award, Best Music: TREASURES OF THE DEEP” - The Electric Playground
1998 Nominated Finalist – “Best Sound in a Video Game: Wild 9” Interactive Acedemy of Arts & Sciences
1999 EQ Magazine: Project Studio of the Year, Video Game/Multimedia nominee - EQ Magazine
1999 Blister Award, Best Console Music: “TOMORROW NEVER DIES” - The Electric Playground
Best Console Sports Product of 1999: “Knockout Kings N64” (co-designer) - Interactive Acedemy of Arts & Sciences
2001 Telly Award - Best Cable Entertainment Program: The Electric Playground
TOMMY TALLARICO PROJECTS: Too many to list!