The website promises music from "over 20 blockbuster video games," plus visuals, which I gather are somewhere in the same vein as Video Games Live. Included in the list are the Final Fantasy series, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Super Mario Bros.

Makes me wonder - what video game music would you drop cash on to go hear done by an orchestra? In my little opinion, Yasunori Mitsuda's Chrono Cross soundtrack is both a favorite and an ideal, but what do you think?

And yes, the very musical Haruhi just because.

Video Games Live rolled out their 2008 touring schedule and it looks like they've managed to pump up their stops to more than 40 this year, including visits to the Leipzig Games Convention and Broadway.

The first two shows are later this month in Orlando and St. Louis, followed by stops around the globe, including a bullring in Mexicali, Mexico, a stop in Taipei, Taiwan, a performance on a cruise ship and a visit to the Leipzig Games Convention.

The full calendar after the jump.

Orlando, FL
January 24, 2008
Hard Rock Live
Otronicon

St. Louis, MO
January 26, 2008
Fox Theater

Montreal, QC
February 7, 2008
St. Denis Theatre

Montreal, QC
February 8, 2008
St. Denis Theatre

Toronto, ON
February 9, 2008
Massey Hall

FT. Wayne, IN
February 15, 2008
Embassy Theatre
Ft. Wayne Phil

Edmonton, AB
February 17, 2008
Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

San Francisco, CA
February 22, 2008
Nob Hill Masonic Center
GDC

Milwaukee, WI
March 1, 2008
Riverside Theater
Milwaukee Symphony

Phoenix, AZ
March 7, 2008
Maricopa Center
Phoenix Symphony

Mexicali, Mexico
March 15, 2008
Plaza Calafia Bullring

Ogden, UT
March 27, 2008
Browning Arts Center
Utah Symphony

Salt Lake City, UT
March 28, 2008
Abravanel Hall
Utah Symphony

Salt Lake City, UT
March 29, 2008
Abravanel Hall
Utah Symphony

New York City, NY
April 26, 2008
Beacon Theatre
MSG Entertainment

Las Vegas, NV
June 14, 2008
Henderson Pavilion
Las Vegas Phil.

Austin, TX
July 11, 2008
Long Center
Austin Symphony

Austin, TX
July 12, 2008
Long Center
Austin Symphony

Louisville, KY
July 18, 2008
Kentucky Center for Arts
Louisville Orchestra

San Diego, CA
July 24, 2008
Embarcadero Marina Park
San Diego Symphony

Taipei, Taiwan
August 9, 2008
Pan-Chiao Stadium

Taipei, Taiwan
August 10, 2008
Pan-Chiao Stadium

Leipzig, Germany
August 20, 2008
ARENA Leipzig
Games Convention

Birmingham, AL
October 9, 2008
Jefferson Conv. Complex
Alabama Symphony

Vancouver, BC
October 29, 2008
Orpheum Theatre
Vancouver Symphony

Carnival Cruise Ship
November 14, 2008
Normandy Lounge
NAVIGaTR Cruise

Seattle, WA
January 24, 2009
Paramount Theatre

The show will also make appearances at yet to be announced venues in :
Anaheim, CA
Atlanta, GA
Boston, MA
Brazil (multiple cities)
Dallas, TX
Glasgow, Scotland
Houston, TX
Indianapolis, IN
Los Angeles, CA
Milan, Italy
Paris, France
Shanghai, China
Winnipeg, MB

What the hell, still no Denver!

Video Games Live

Wilco Loves Their Miis [Vh1 Game Break]

In case you don't recall, Video Games Live tried this back in 2005 and the thing imploded taking with it everyone's Ticket Master charges.

Tommy Tallarico met at a Sony event last year and talked a bit about that. His take, it seemed, was that the backers for that particular show were pushing them too hard and the event ended up over extending itself.

This particular tour doesn't exactly look small, but, as Tommy told me at the time, this time around they've tried partnering with other gaming events. Seems like a good plan for having a built in audience, unfortunately, many of the stops are still running solo, so no safety net.

Hit the jump for the tour dates, locations and what they are tied to and hit the link for the list of international stops.

Show Announcements:

San Francisco, CA March 9th, 2007 Masonic Center Game Developers Confernce
New Haven, CT March 31st, 2007 Woolsey Hall Yale Symphony
Columbus, Ohio April 26th, 2007 Mershon Auditorium Columbus Symphony
Dallas, TX June 20th, 2007 Meyerson Hall Dallas Symphony
Dallas, TX June 21st, 2007 Meyerson Hall Dallas Symphony
Houston, TX July 13th, 2007 Jones Hall Houston Symphony
Houston, TX July 14th, 2007 Jones Hall Houston Symphony
Louisville, KY July 20th, 2007 Kentucky Arts Center Louisville Orchestra
Los Angeles, CA October 20th, 2007 Nokia Live E for All Expo
Calgary, Canada November 9th, 2007 Jack Singer Hall Calgary Philharmonic
Calgary, Canada November 9th, 2007 Jack Singer Hall Calgary Philharmonic
FT. Wayne, IN February 15th, 2008 Embassy Theatre Ft. Wayne Philharmonic
Salt Lake City, UT March 28th, 2008 Abravanel Hall Utah Symphony
Salt Lake City, UT March 29th, 2008 Abravanel Hall Utah Symphony

Video Games Live Dates [VGL]

Last night during the Penny Arcade concert, Jerry called guitarists from The Minibosses and MC Frontalot to the stage to face off on a little Guitar Hero 2 in front of the screaming fans.

The Minibosses ending up winning. MC Frontalot said, in their defense, it was their bassist.

The Minibosses are warming up on the stage.

Oh shit, they just tossed a giant blue blue pilates ball into the crowd... and there's a bazillion dollar crane cam hovering over the howling crowd. This is going to be one of those "You got peanut butter in my chocolate moments", but it ain't going to end nicely.

A PAX enforcer just stalked by saying something not to nice with the word idiots mixed in there. And the PAX crew has the ball.

On with the music.

The three guitarists just churn through the music. They all look down as they play, their eyes half closed as they pace back and fourth on the stage.

Between songs, people shout out the theme songs they want to hear, which are almost always ignored.

Oooh, it's frightening to watch people dance to Super Mario Bros. 2. I turned around after writing the above and saw a bunch of people tilting their heads back and forth to the music. It looked kinda carefree and happy, but in a sinister way.

MC Frontalot and his nerdcore posse are rocking the PAX. A guy with big ass square glasses reaming my eardrums... and I like it.

You have to be abl to really dance, to dance that bad. MCFrontalot hides some Ninja moves, you know it.

People are throwing crumpled dollar bills on the stage. Ouch, and a few quarters.

New set: It's got a groovy bass line.

MCF struts across the stage like a Rooster, cock of the walk. He stutters across the stage, bending and stretching as his chest pumps forward and he rolls out his rhymes to the delirious crowd.

His purple tie sways.

The crows moves... sorta. Then out come the light sabers. Be one with the Nerdcore.

So funny story. I've heard of MC Frontalot, but I've never seen them perform. Actually, before tonight I had no idea what they looked like.

So the opening day of PAX I'm hanging at the second floor balcony opposite the front doors, waiting to take a video of picture of everyone streaming in .

There's like four or five guys standing around shooting the shit. I start talking to them. After a little bit I ask one of them who he is. He says, oh we're with that guy, pointing a buzz-cutted beatnik kinda guy.

Oh, I say and get back to watching the front door.

That's right, it was MC Frontalot and his crew. Ya, I suck.

Oh, they're doing the Nerdcore Rise Up singalong.

They're onto their last set. And done!

Now they go back stage to wait for the crowd to chant them back out front.

And here they are.

MC Frontalot and Mini Bosses are taking the stage later on tonight. But before that can start they're going to be doing a little bit of Omegathon competition. This one to be held on Guitar Hero... II I'm told. Liveblogging to follow on the jump.

Robert Khoo and Jerry just took the stage to shred a little on Guitar Hero II. Oooooh man, the game crashed. Well it is a beta. Man, they're playing STP on expert.

Nice, Jerry just ended the song by smashing the guitar into pieces on the stage.

OK, stage four of the Omegathon is starting. For you PAX newbs out there, the Omegathon is the annual gamer contest held at PAX. Each year, Penny Arcade selects a random group of gamers to face off in a series of pre-selected games. The winner gets a big ass prize. This year it's a gamed up car.. truck... thingie.

They're going to call all the remaining eight up in pairs, only four advance from this round. One down, three to go. Next up, two playig Anthrax's Madhouse. The third group is coming up to do Kiss; Strutter. And now the final two take to the stage to play You Really Got Me by Van Halen.

Jerry just invited MC Frontalot and front man for the Mini Bosses to take the stage for a little Guitar Hero II action. Face off.

I'll post the video later on tonight, concert's about to start.

Duran Duran plans to rent out an island in Second Life where they can perform live concerts, according to the BBC.

The first concert it set to hit next month and the band has commissioned someone to build avatars of the group.

Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes said of the project: "Second Life has brought a third dimension to the Internet; it is the new frontier where dreams have become reality. "When the video revolution began we instantly saw the opportunity to experiment and explore a new form of expression to enhance the musical experience. Second Life is the future right now, offering endless possibilities for artists."

Kinda cool. Kinda spent, but kinda cool. Brian Crecente

Duran Duran to give virtual gigs
[BBC]

Nintendo announced the details for their annual Fusion Tour today. While the bands are always interesting, the real news this year is that the concert series will include a "sneak peek" of the Wii.

Unfortunately, that's all they say about it and the PR folks refuse to clarify, I suspect that since they're saying in the release that the DS Lite will be showcased at the event, that the Wii sneak peek will probably be just some video footage shown before the show or perhaps shown on monitors spread through-out the venue. But who knows, maybe there will be some Wii play, why else would Nintendo be so mum?

This year's band line-up will be lead by Hawthorne Heights and feature Relient K, Emery, Plain White T's and The Sleeping. That list is proof of how out of touch with current music I am, I haven't heard of a single one of these bands. Give me my Dylan and Sex Pistols and leave me alone. Brian Crecente

Hawthorne Heights Headlines Nintendo Fusion Tour [Nintendo]

In town for E3? Not not sure what to do with your evenings? Why not hang out with your fellow pallid gaming misfits in the dark, where you can fluorescently glow like strange deep-sea fish? Listen to the sounds, thrill at the sights of the hobby that brought thousands of souls from far-flung corners of the earth to converge in California's rankest armpit metropolis!

We refer, of course, to Bleep Bloop: "An evening of video game inspired sights and sounds." Some cool bands will be playing and there will be an All-Night Tetris Tournament. Not to mention Kotaku's own lascivious drunkard, Joel Johnson, who promises to make out with any Kotaku readers that happen to stumble into him on the aphotic dance floor. Pan-gender inclusive.

Click the image above to blow up the flier and squint out the address.

Chris Kohler writes about the looming battle of video game concerts for Wired today. The article looks at Play versus Video Games Live. Both events are planning international tours, with VGL's executive producer Tommy Tallarico remaining cautiously optimistic after a cancellation last year.

Tallarico's approach this time around is to tie the concerts to events with high-geek appeal, like the Game Developers Conference.

Tying the performances to existing events is part of Tallarico and Wall's strategy. And they need a solid one, because this isn't the first time around for Video Games Live. After a successful debut at the Hollywood Bowl last year, an extensive tour was planned — one that was cancelled when the first few dates failed to sell enough tickets. "I think everyone got a little overambitious," says Tallarico. "What we have done (this year) is partner not only with local symphonies but also with video game, comic book, anime and sci-fi conventions all over the world. By being one of the 'main events' during the conventions, it will help us build awareness."

I hope one of these rolls through Denver.

Battle of the Game Concerts [Wired]

Nobuo Uematsu, who composed the music for the Final Fantasy games and some of the music for Chrono Trigger, signed on to compose the official opening fanfare for PLAY! A Video Game Symphony.

You can listen to the fanfare at Play's website.

Play Symphony [Official Site]

Tickets will sell for $20 to $55 through Ticketmaster.

This sounds familiar. I'm hoping that its connection to the GDC this time around will ensure they won't pull the rug out from under ticketholders a third time, leaving them to deal with Ticketmaster on their own, like the last time around.

Video Games Live {Site]

Play! A Video Game Symphony, which kicks off in North America next year, is going international. The event, created be the people who organized Dear Friends, will even be bringing it's game music goodness to Australia and New Zealand.

Music Coming to Oz [AusGamers]

Music4Games is reporting on an upcoming video game symphony concert that will be kick-starting a world wide tour in North America next year. PLAY! is being put together by the creative team that produced the Dear Friends Music from Final Fantasy Symphony Tour, so you can expect this one won't cancel after selling tickets to venues around the country.

PLAY! will feature modern vg music performed by an orchestra and choire. Some of the titles the tour will be performing from include Final Fantasy, Battlefield 1942, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and World of Warcraft. I smell a hit.

PLAY! Video Game Symphone Concert Series Announced [Music4Games]

The much anticipated and well-reviewed traveling video game concert, Video Games Live has been canned.

On their website Tuesday, VGL said that due to circumstances beyond their control the show will not go on. They do plan on still playing in Seattle and Vancouver on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30, but no where else.

The posting is full of spin and PR babble-speak but there is no real explanation as to why they pulled the plug on the other shows.

If you hop into the forums, the marketing coordinator seems to stop just short of blaming it on poor ticket sales.

The group go on to say you can refund your tickets, sans the handling fee, but don't really explain how to. I smell class action lawsuit.

The co-creators of the project think that despite nickel-and-diming their fans and canceling now twice, they will be able to return and convince people to trust them a third time. Twice bitten, forever shy.

2005 Tour Update [VGL]

It looks like the Video Games Live concert tour was so popular that it has been canceled... temporarily.

Due to the huge success of our first show at the Hollywood Bowl on July 6th, 2005 (over 11,000 in attendance) we are currently restructuring the schedule to include more venues and cities. As of right now, none of the cities are being canceled... just rescheduled and rearranged to accommodate for more people to be able to experience Video Games Live around North America. We will be posting our new updated and expanded schedule sometime next week. Because of the new schedule and timing of the fall and winter season, some of the current outdoor venues may be switched to indoor venues to accommodate both weather and lighting conditions. Because our show revolves heavily on visuals such as video, lasers, fog, lighting, special effects, etc. these more controllable environments will be something very positive for the show.

I just realized that they will be hitting Denver a few days before I leave for vacation. Hope this doesn't push this back to a date I won't be around.

Video Games Live [Official Site]

After adding his two cents about E3, Mr. Bunny talked on a number of points, including fashion:

For every person who wore something semi-dressy, there were two more who came to the symphony hall in sandals, dirty t-shirts, and cutoff shorts. I came back from intermission to find the ass sitting behind me with his filthy bare feet on my armrests.

Geek unity:

For a moment I felt like the biggest dork in the world. Then I looked around at the rapt faces in the crowd, some already glistening with tears of joy, and I realized...I am pretty much the biggest dork in the world, but I am with my people, so it is all right.

Crying in front of your girlfriend (what's a girlfriend?):

I teared up big time during this one, but the girlfriend thought it was cute, so it all balances out.

And a song-by-song rundown.

Bunnyspatial also taps into the gamer psyche to explain why these songs are more than simply themes to a game — a welcome and under-discussed viewpoint (at least outside of LiveJournals, DeadJournals, Xangas and personal blogs). But just like computer camp every good event comes to an end, and the audience returned once again to their parents' basements promising to reunite once again for opening night of the Halo movie!

Dear Friends... and Bunny

-SM

The concert will also feature a live performances by Rony Barrack, rock band 123min and Chris Huelsbeck. No, I've never heard of any of them either, but I guess they're big in Germany—maybe even David Hasselhoff big.

Tickets now on Sale [Music 4 Games]