BENAROYA HALL, SEATTLE, WA :: Master Chief rocked Benaroya Hall tonight! For my birthday, Kristie surprised me with tickets to PLAY!, a symphony performance of popular video game music that is touring orchestras around the world. The concert celebrated a wide range of gaming genres, from the classic 8-bit days of Super Mario Brothers and The Legend of Zelda, to more recent favorites such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy. Reminiscent scenes from the games were projected on large screens above the performers, producing cheers, laughs and a few tears from the audience.
No doubt, the Seattle area is a gaming mecca, with companies like Microsoft, Nintendo, Valve, Bungie, Square Enix, Sierra, ArenaNet, Humongous, Gas Powered Games, Wizards of the Coast, Cranium and Penny Arcade having a major presence here. The composers for Halo and Morrowind were in the audience, as well as many local game designers and developers. About half of the audience was wearing jeans and many were seen playing with a DS or PSP during the intermission.
We were not your typical symphony crowd, but we were just as passionate about the music and appreciative of the performance. Kudos to PLAY! for recognizing the often-overlooked creative talent of video game producers and allowing us to enjoy an aspect of their art in the venue it deserves. And many thanks again to my Kristie for a perfect birthday gift!
No doubt, the Seattle area is a gaming mecca, with companies like Microsoft, Nintendo, Valve, Bungie, Square Enix, Sierra, ArenaNet, Humongous, Gas Powered Games, Wizards of the Coast, Cranium and Penny Arcade having a major presence here. The composers for Halo and Morrowind were in the audience, as well as many local game designers and developers. About half of the audience was wearing jeans and many were seen playing with a DS or PSP during the intermission.
We were not your typical symphony crowd, but we were just as passionate about the music and appreciative of the performance. Kudos to PLAY! for recognizing the often-overlooked creative talent of video game producers and allowing us to enjoy an aspect of their art in the venue it deserves. And many thanks again to my Kristie for a perfect birthday gift!
Looks like a fun event! And I hope you had a great B-day in other respects as well. 🙂