Topic: Radio Free Nintendo: Tommy Tallarico Interview

[Jonnyboy117]

Jonny talks to the legendary game composer about Video Games Live, Metroid Prime, and Miyamoto!
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/podcastArt.cfm?artid=23227

 Tommy Tallarico Interview    

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With Video Games Live going to Los Angeles on the last day of E3, it seemed like the perfect time to speak with the show's co-founder, Tommy Tallarico. You may know his name from nearly 300 game credits as music composer and/or sound designer. Tommy has also spent plenty of time on TV with his colleague Victor Lucas on Electric Playground and Judgment Day (a.k.a. Reviews on the Run). Currently, he is on tour with Video Games Live, the mega-production that blends orchestral arrangements of video game music with lights, lasers, video screens, and even interactive segments.    

There is plenty of discussion about Video Games Live and its upcoming national debut on PBS, but we also mine Tommy's extensive career in game music. He finally sets the record straight on his involvement with Metroid Prime, dispels the notion that he hates Nintendo, and follows through with an anecdote about Miyamoto's unique approach to game development. We hope you enjoy the interview, and be sure to check out Video Games Live when it comes through your area!    

We're always looking for great Listener Mail to read and discuss on the show, so please send your questions or comments! (We really love seeing your praise and feedback regarding the show itself; however, in the interest of time, we may edit your letter to be read on the podcast.)      Credits:    

This podcast was edited by Michael Cole.    

Music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is copyrighted to Virgin Games and Shiny Entertainment and is included under fair use protection.  

[AV]

Thank you for having such a great interview. I had no idea about him doing sfx for Metroid Prime that's fairly interesting. The 6 month rule sounds like a great thing for polish, but I don't think that accounts for EVERY game just the major games.  Either way I really enjoyed this interview, at first I didn't like the man but I have grown to respect him allot so this is a great treat.


Please do more interviews like this. Possibly at E3

[TJ Spyke]

I have never understood the hate he gets from people online. Not only does he do a great job creating music for games, but he's always seemed like a nice guy in interviews (and I enjoyed watching him on G4's video game review show Judgement Day).

[NWR_pap64]

I have never understood the hate he gets from people online. Not only does he do a great job creating music for games, but he's always seemed like a nice guy in interviews (and I enjoyed watching him on G4's video game review show Judgement Day).

I admit I used to hate the guy, but then I kept reading and watching interviews and realized that he doesn't seem to be that bad of a guy. I tend to blame it on G4 for the persona I hated. The channel had the annoying tendency of forcing its personalities to have "wild and crazy" attitudes towards gaming (as proof of this, I watched X-Play when the channel was Tech TV and while there was humor Adam Sezzler looked to be a very smart, cool guy. But when the channel was bought by G4, the show became extremely obnoxious). So Tommy tended to be the loud mouth on his show (and had a tendency of pulling stuff out of his pants...).

[Crimm]

I'm saving this for the flight, but I'm so thrilled it went well. Not to give too much a "look behind the curtain," but Greg and I were recording the last segment of RFN in parallel, so how this went was a total mystery to us.

[TJ Spyke]

Adam Sezzler looked to be a very smart, cool guy.

I've heard the same thing from people who have talked to him off-camera. They say he's a pretty cool guy and really knows a lot about video games, but he basically has to be a moron on TV. I've always hated X-Play and Attack of the Show, so I am disappointed that those are the only video game related shows left on G4. I liked Icons, Cinematech, and Judgement Day.

I will get around to this soon, probably Monday.

[NWR_Neal]

This is a plane ride listen for me, too.

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Editing this was a real joy.

[happyastoria]

Very unexpected and very awesome. You guys are very sneaky.

[Kytim89]

Adam Sezzler looked to be a very smart, cool guy.

I've heard the same thing from people who have talked to him off-camera. They say he's a pretty cool guy and really knows a lot about video games, but he basically has to be a moron on TV. I've always hated X-Play and Attack of the Show, so I am disappointed that those are the only video game related shows left on G4. I liked Icons, Cinematech, and Judgement Day.

I will get around to this soon, probably Monday.

The Best thing on G4 is Olivia Munn.

[Crimm]

Adam Sezzler looked to be a very smart, cool guy.

I've heard the same thing from people who have talked to him off-camera. They say he's a pretty cool guy and really knows a lot about video games, but he basically has to be a moron on TV. I've always hated X-Play and Attack of the Show, so I am disappointed that those are the only video game related shows left on G4. I liked Icons, Cinematech, and Judgement Day.

I will get around to this soon, probably Monday.

The Best thing on G4 is Olivia Munn.

I only wish we had an emoticon that can express disapproval.

[AV]

Adam Sezzler looked to be a very smart, cool guy.

I've heard the same thing from people who have talked to him off-camera. They say he's a pretty cool guy and really knows a lot about video games, but he basically has to be a moron on TV. I've always hated X-Play and Attack of the Show, so I am disappointed that those are the only video game related shows left on G4. I liked Icons, Cinematech, and Judgement Day.

I will get around to this soon, probably Monday.

The Best thing on G4 is Olivia Munn.

Does she still work at G4, she is the new correspondent on the Daily Show.

[TJ Spyke]

That was only a try out (something Comedy Central themselves have confirmed), here main job is still with G4. At most her duties on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart would be secondary and a side-gig.

[Jonnyboy117]

Just in case anyone wondered, we still have a regular episode coming up Sunday night, which will actually feature a certain B.B.

We don't have a strict podcast schedule for E3, but I plan to record roundtable episodes every night and would like to have them available the same night or early the next morning. Refresh your feeds often, and make sure you don't miss a single episode!

[Kytim89]

Just in case anyone wondered, we still have a regular episode coming up Sunday night, which will actually feature a certain B.B.

We don't have a strict podcast schedule for E3, but I plan to record roundtable episodes every night and would like to have them available the same night or early the next morning. Refresh your feeds often, and make sure you don't miss a single episode!

Will you guys be reprting strictly on the Nintendo games, or are you going to talk a little about everything you see while you are there? Kind of a dumb question, but I am just curious to hear what your observations are on natal and move.

[Crimm]

The focus will be on Nintendo stuff, but I doubt it will be exclusive.

[NWR_insanolord]

It just wouldn't be RFN if you spent too much time talking about Nintendo-related stuff.

[Kytim89]

RFN has been doing non-Nintendo games on their new buisness section of the podcast.

[Crimm]

More like: It wouldn't be RFN if I didn't hold down the Nintendo Fort.

[Yoshidious]

More like: It wouldn't be RFN if I didn't hold down the Nintendo Fort.

I'll let you know when you've finally made up for your repeated droning on about The Last Remnant.

[Crimm]

If I have to make up for it then Jon can never account for himself no mater how many Nintendo games he buys and doesn't play.

[Yoshidious]

If I have to make up for it then Jon can never account for himself no mater how many Nintendo games he buys and doesn't play.

I don't disagree with that statement.

[Jet Pilot]

This was a great interview.  I really liked the topic and the thorough discussion.  Definitely going in my permanent podcast folder.  Hopefully you can make this a more frequent feature on the site. 

[vudu]

I only wish we had an emoticon that can express disapproval.

We do!  Meet moonface.

[SouthFork]

That was one of the most interesting video game interviews I've ever heard. Just checked the dates and saw that they are scheduling a trip to Atlanta so it looks like daddy may be getting a late Father's Day gift.


Was I right about composer popularity becoming a possibility? At any rate, my wife still laughs at me if I put on Super Mario Galaxy's soundtrack. But where I teach the students love it.