QuakeCon 2009 - BYOC Interviews
We were able to talk to just a handful of nearly 3,000 attendees of the BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) portion of QuakeCon, and ask them about where they were from, what they had been doing, and what they liked most (and least) about QuakeCon. Take a look at the video:
QuakeCon 2009 comes to Gaylord Texan
QuakeCon, the annual geek fest for id software, has begun, with big announcements and some new titles that are sure to push the boundary of what can be done on a gaming PC. We're starting our coverage with some videos to show you the event, and give you a little look at what you're missing out on. QuakeCon is a free show, so there's really no reason to stay home if you live in the DFW area.
We'll start with a quick walk through of the Exhibition area, where you can play games, and get free stuff from the vendors:
Then we have a walk through the BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) section:
During the id Software Press Conference a new trailer for Rage was shown:
And that night there was an invite-only party to celebrate QuakeCon and Wolfenstein:
Look for more coverage coming in the next few days.
Video Games Live - Recap and Contest!
It's been a couple weeks since we started our coverage of Video Games Live, and you may not have noticed all the stories, so let's recap. First was our review of the show in Fort Worth. Then came our interview with Tommy Tallarico, where he discussed a few upcoming games that would probably be added to the show in the coming year. After that was our interview with Jack Wall, composer and conductor for VGL, where he discussed travelling with his family and his role in the show. And of course there is our photo gallery from the show, where you can get just a small taste of what the experience is like.
But what about the music? Well, to help promote the show, and to do something a little extra for our readers, we're giving away a copy of Video Games Live, Volume 1, signed by both Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall! All you need to do is leave a comment on this story with what you would be most excited to see if you went to see Video Games Live. That's it! In one week, we'll randomly select one of the comments, and send the CD to the winner. Good luck!
And if you want read our coverage of Video Games Live in Dallas, check out our wrap-up story from 2007.
Limit one entry per person. All entries must be submitted by Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at 12PM (Noon) Central US Time.
[Update: Congrats to our winner, Spike116! Hope you enjoy the music! ]
Jack Wall talks traveling, and the future of Video Games Live
Along with Tommy Tallarico, we also caught up with Jack Wall at the Video Games Live concert in Fort Worth on July 14, 2009. We were able to chat about his travels since he last visited DFW, and find out how Jack likes playing the silent partner in Video Games Live. We also ask him about Mass Effect 2, but he keeps pretty quiet.
Luke Wallace, Realm Media Networks: In the past 2 years since you came to the DFW area you've been to Mexico, Canada, England, France, Portugal, Scotland, Germany, Taiwan, plus...
Jack Wall: South Korea, Spain...
RMN: So have you enjoyed all that traveling?
Review & Contest: Rock Band Country Track Pack
It's been almost two months since our last Rock Band Track Pack Review, so its time for another! If you remember our AC/DC LIVE Track Pack Review from last year, or the Classic Rock Track Pack review from just a couple months ago, you'll probably have a pretty good idea of how this review is going to go. But there are a few differences, could those make this Track Pack any different? You'll have to read the rest of the review to find out, and of course, enter our contest to win the game!
[Update: Well, not one single person left a comment before the deadline, so we'll just hold onto the game and give it away at a later date.]
Tommy Tallarico talks Video Games Live, TGS, and even... Portal?
We caught up with Tommy Tallarico, co-creator of Video Games live again last week as they came through DFW to perform with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Tommy told us about what all has changed since they performed in Dallas in 2007, and about some upcoming projects, both for him personally, and for Video Games Live.
Luke Wallace, Realm Media Networks (RMN): So it's been two years since we last spoke. That was back in 2007. Video Games Live was just starting a regular schedule at that point. It had been pretty sporadic before then, but it had become more regular, with shows a few times a month. Since then, you've been real busy. I count about 100 shows since then. Can you tell us about some of the places you remember the most out of those last couple years?
Tommy Tallarico (TT): Yeah, some of the places, like when we go down to Brazil, for example, it's just a whole other vibe. It's insane. We go down for three weeks at a time, and play sold out shows to 5-6-7,000 people at a time. And their so passionate about it down there. Screaming through the whole show, chanting through the whole show, humming along to the symphonies, it's real intense. We also played a couple shows in Taiwan a couple times, and they really, really love Video Games Live out there. We get off the airplane at the airport, there's like 100 people, holding signs and stuff, greeting us at the airport! Last time we played there, we played in February at the Taiwan International Music Festival, with synchronized fireworks, big outdoor thing. There were 100,000 people there. It was crazy. That was huge. Those are some memorable ones, but we played Wolf Trap with the National Symphony Orchestra, our country's orchestra, just this past weekend. And some other highlights over the past couple years? Portugal, Spain, the first video game concert in France. We played Germany, London, and Mexico, we played in a 6,000 seat bullring in Mexico, which was insane! And our big news coming up, in regards to the rest of the year, is that we're doing a whole tour in China, which is gonna be huge, and we're right about to announce two dates in Tokyo, Japan during the Tokyo Game Show (TGS), and I can tell you we're going to put out some press releases in a few weeks here. It's going to be the greatest video game concert ever produced! Because we're going to have every single major game composer in the world at that event, either performing on stage with us, or as a special guest. And when I say all the greatest, I really mean all the greatest. If you were to list your top 10 game composers, I guarantee they're going to be at the event.
Video Games Live: What a Tease! (In a Good Way)
Video Games Live (VGL) is a lot like that cute girl in high school that you liked and you thought she sort of liked you back. She'll talk to you, flirt with you, and maybe even hang out with you a while after school every few weeks or so. Once you finally get her on a date, it ends with a quick kiss on the cheek seconds before she runs back inside the confines of her home. You want more! But you can't have more. Maybe next time.
No, wait a second. What am I even writing here? VGL is more like the appetizer platter from your favorite local eatery.
Use the read more link below to enjoy the rest of the story.