Video Games Live Launches Kickstarter Campaign To Fund Fourth Album, Gets $35K In Two Hours

The composers behind the concert series Video Games Live have launched a Kickstarter campaign on Monday to raise support for their fourth album, reaching nearly $35,000 in financial backing in just two hours.

Video Games Live is an orchestral concert series created by video game composers Tommy Tallarico, 46, and Jack Wall, 50. Wall has composed music for franchises like “Mass Effect,” “Myst” and “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.” Tallarico has worked on the “Earthworm Jim” series and the “Prince of Persia” franchise.

The concert series launched in 2005 and premiered at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater in Los Angeles. Its first show drew 11,000 people. The series expanded to a 30-city tour in 2007 and reached 47 cities in 2008. In 2009, Video Games Live performed more than 70 shows.

Now, the well-known concert event wants to launch its fourth album, as well as produce a full-length live concert motion picture.

“Although VGL has obtained a lot of accolades and success, the music industry and record companies are VERY different and no music or record company is willing to invest the budget needed to accomplish our goals and put out a top quality product that we and the entire game industry can be proud of,” reads the Kickstarter page. “They don't believe in the culturally artistic significance of video game music and they don't believe that people are interested in listening after the game is turned off.”

Video Games Live’s fourth album will be created and recorded with the help of a 72+ piece orchestra of musicians, along with a number of well-known video game composers. Tallarico hopes to incorporate songs from “World of Warcraft,” “League of Legends,” “Bioshock,” “Earthworm Jim,” “Uncharted,” “Resident Evil,” “Assassin’s Creed” and more.

The concert series has already covered scores from many popular games, including “Chrono Trigger,” “Dota 2,” “Destiny,” “God of War,” “Halo,” “Portal,” “Metroid,” “Need for Speed” and “Silent Hill.”

Funding will go toward the production process, which will include three full days in a studio, mixing, mastering, CD manufacturing, music licensing to game publishers and the use of a public relations firm.

At press time, Video Games Live has raised $35,000 out of $150,000 sought. The campaign will end on Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. EDT.