Tommy Tallarico

Template:Short description Template:Pp-sock Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox musical artist Tommy Tallarico (born February 18, 1968)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is an American video game music composer, sound designer, and television producer. Since the 1990s, his company Tommy Tallarico Studios has produced audio for many video games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He co-hosted the television series Electric Playground and Reviews on the Run from 1997 until 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, he created Video Games Live (VGL), a concert series featuring orchestral performances of video game music.

In 2018, Tallarico acquired the Intellivision brand and formed a new company called Intellivision Entertainment, which began developing a new video game console named the Intellivision Amico. Tallarico frequently appeared in pitch videos to solicit investors for the Amico project. He has since stepped down from his position as CEO but remains on the company's board as president. Template:As of, the console has not been released.

In 2019, it came to Tallarico's attention that a sound effect used in the online game platform Roblox, widely known as the "Roblox oof", had been created by Tommy Tallarico Studios and legally belonged to him. This led to a legal dispute which ended in 2022 with the removal of the sound effect from the game. Later in 2022, a video essay by British YouTuber Hbomberguy documented many dubious claims that Tallarico had made about his own career, including his alleged involvement in creating the "oof" sound.

Early life

Tommy Tallarico grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts and attended Cathedral High School.<ref name="iobserve.org 2017 t702">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Dana Point Times 5-22-2014" /> He told The Washington Post that as a child, he would take his father's tape recorder to the arcade to record songs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After graduating high school, Tallarico attended Western New England University for a year.<ref name="Dana Point Times 5-22-2014" /> According to the Los Angeles Times, Tallarico moved to Southern California in 1991 to try and obtain a job in the video game industry.<ref name="LATimes 8-11-97" /> Tallarico took a job as a keyboard salesman at a Guitar Center in Santa Ana, California.<ref name="Dana Point Times 5-22-2014" /> On his first day, Tallarico met an executive from Virgin Mastertronic. Shortly after, he was given a job at Virgin as one of their play-testers.<ref name="LATimes 8-11-97">Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Tallarico's first musical project at Virgin Interactive was for the Game Boy version of Prince of Persia. "The main focus of writing video game music back then was it had to be simple and have a great melody," Tallarico said.<ref name="Dana Point Times 5-22-2014">Template:Cite web</ref> Tallarico worked on a number of other games while at Virgin Interactive, including the Sega CD version of The Terminator.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tommy Tallarico Studios

Tallarico continued working with Virgin Interactive as head of music and video division until 1994, when he went on to found Tommy Tallarico Studios. David Perry formed Shiny Entertainment at the same time, and the two studios collaborated on Earthworm Jim and MDK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2005, Tallarico wrote part of an orchestral score for Advent Rising performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In September 1999, the "oof" sound effect was created for the game Messiah, by sound designer Joey Kuras, a Tallarico Studios employee, and possibly by Tallarico himself.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="TimeExtension1" /> Tallarico has at times claimed that Kuras created the sound, that it was a collaboration between the pair, and that he created it himself.<ref name="TimeExtension1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="kuras" /> In 2006, the same audio was used in the online game platform Roblox as the default sound effect that played when a player character died, and later became iconic in meme culture due to its usage in Roblox.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tallarico, who claims ownership of the sound, disputed Roblox's use of it in June 2019.<ref name="kuras-2">Template:Cite web</ref> This dispute ended in July 2022 when the Roblox Corporation pulled the sound effect from all games on its platform.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref>

Television

In 1997, Victor Lucas, founder of the Electric Playground, started Electric Playground TV with Tallarico, which provided gaming news and reviews. In 2002, Reviews on the Run, the reviews section of Electric Playground, was spun-off into its own program, which Tallarico and Lucas hosted as well. In the U.S., Reviews on the Run was broadcast on G4 TV as Judgment Day.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2006, Tallarico began to spend less time on the show owing to other projects, missing almost all of 2007 and 2008. In 2009, Scott Jones took over his spot as full-time co-host with Victor Lucas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Concerts

Tallarico (left) addressing the audience at Video Games Live 2007

In 2002, Tallarico co-founded Video Games Live, a symphony orchestra concert series that plays music from video games, with Jack Wall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tallarico hosted and played guitar for the shows. He also created the visuals—scenes from video games, as well as lights and lasers—that are played in sync with the music.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tallarico has produced seven VGL albums. The first album, Video Games Live Volume 1, debuted at No. 10 on Billboard Top 10 for Classical Music Crossovers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The second volume, Level 2, also sold as a Blu-ray DVD concert, debuted at No. 8 on the same Billboard list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2013, Tallarico also opened a crowdfunding campaign for the third album Level 3 on Kickstarter.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> According to Tallarico, he chose to fund the album through Kickstarter because he had not been successful in attracting support from the recording industry, which he claimed was because music producers "don't think gamers are willing to pay for music"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and did not recognize the perceived "culturally artistic significance" of video game soundtracks.<ref name=":0" /> The Level 3 campaign successfully met and surpassed its goal of $250,000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, Tallarico and electronic dance music artist BT began working on Electronic Opus. As with Video Games Live, Electronic Opus presents EDM music alongside a symphony orchestra. They used Kickstarter to fund an album, with a goal of $200,000. The show opened at the Miami Winter Music Conference in 2015.<ref name="Takahashi 2014 g247">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Tallarico co-produced the Capcom Live! concert tour with Shota Nakama.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024, video game music composer Laura Intravia accused Tallarico of selling music arrangements from Video Games Live concerts that he did not own the rights to.<ref name="e538">Template:Cite web</ref>

Intellivision Entertainment

Following the death of Intellivision Productions founder Keith Robinson in 2017, Tallarico purchased a stake in the company from the Robinson estate. In May 2018, Intellivision Entertainment was re-formed with him as president. In the winter of that year, he announced that the company would create the Intellivision Amico with a release date of October 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

By September 2022, the Amico had been delayed at least three times.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The console has been viewed very negatively by critics, drawing criticism for its delays,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> fundraising tactics,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and use of NFTs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The status of the console has been described as "grim" by TechRaptor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and compared to a car crash by Kotaku.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2022, Tallarico stepped down from his role as CEO of Intellivision, remaining on board as the company's president and largest shareholder. He was replaced by the company's former chief revenue officer Phil Adam.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:As of, the Amico has not been released.<ref name="c859">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="k981">Template:Cite web</ref>

Game Audio Network Guild

In 2002, Tallarico founded the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), a non-profit to recognize achievements in video game music and audio,<ref name="GDC">Template:Cite web</ref> and served as its CEO and chairman of the board.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The guild hosts annual awards for achievement in game audio.<ref name="IGN 2008 n165">Template:Cite web</ref>

Misleading claims

In November 2022, British YouTuber Hbomberguy published a video essay which documented many of the grandiose claims that Tallarico had made concerning his career—including the number of video games he worked on, the number of Guinness World Records he earned, being the creator of the "oof" sound effect in his Roblox legal dispute, being featured on MTV Cribs, and being the first American to work on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise—and concluded many were either exaggerations or knowingly false.<ref name="TimeExtension1" /><ref name="c912">Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Tallarico has stated that he is vegan and an advocate for PETA. In 2010, he donated music to the PETA browser game Super Tofu Boy.<ref name="IGN 2010 q604">Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the LA Times, his home in San Juan Capistrano "looks as if a 12-year-old with a huge bank account went wild", including life-size statues of Indiana Jones, several Star Wars characters, and Merlin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tallarico has falsely claimed that the house had been featured on MTV Cribs.<ref name="TimeExtension1" /><ref name="Bevan 2023 j665">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Parrish 2024 y717">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Valens 2023 s007">Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2024, he listed it for sale for $2,999,000;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in October of the same year, real estate broker Redfin marked the house as having been sold.<ref name="x691">Template:Cite web</ref>

Video games

Tommy Tallarico

Year	Title	Role(s)	Notes	Template:Refh
1991	Chuck Rock	Testing		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves	Quality assurance	Game Boy version	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1992	Prince of Persia	Music and SFX		<ref name="Bevan 2023 j665" />
	Jeep Jamboree: Off Road Adventure		Game Boy version	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Greg Norman's Golf Power	Product manager, assistant manual editor		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	M.C. Kids	Quality assurance		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Mick & Mack As The Global Gladiators	Music, sound FX and samples	Sega Genesis version	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Batman: Revenge of the Joker	Music and sound		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1993	Another World			<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	The Terminator	Director of music and FX	With Brad Fiedel, Bijan Shaheer, Joey Kuras and TeknoMan of Teknologic	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Cool Spot	Music, SFX and samples	Sega Genesis and Super NES versions	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	RoboCop versus The Terminator	Director of music and FX	Sega Genesis version	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Color a Dinosaur	Music and sound		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Super Slap Shot			<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1994	Disney's Aladdin	Music	With Donald Griffn and Alan Menken	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Earthworm Jim: Special Edition	Music and SFX	With Mark Miller	<ref name="Bevan 2023 j665" />
	The Jungle Book	Director of music and FX	With several others	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1995	Madden NFL 96	Music and sound		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
	Earthworm Jim 2	Music and sound	With Tony Bernetich and Christopher Beck	<ref>Earthworm Jim 2 instruction manual (SNES), Playmate Interactive Entertainment, 1995 p. 19</ref>
	Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams	Music and sound		<ref>Jim Lee's Wild C. A. T. S Covert Action Teams instruction manual, Playmates Interactive, 1995 p. 14.</ref>
1997	The 7th Guest	Sound	With Steve Henifin	<ref>The 7th Guest instruction manual, Virgin Games & Trilobyte, 1997 p. 38</ref>
2000	Messiah	Music and sound effects	With Jesper Kyd and Joey Kuras	<ref name="kuras">Template:Cite web</ref>
	Spider-Man	Music	With Howard Ulyate	<ref name="spiderman2000">Spider-Man (PlayStation) instruction manual, Activision, 2000 p. 24</ref>
	Sacrifice	Sound effects	With Joey Kuras	<ref>Sacrifice instruction manual, Interplay, 2000 p. 72</ref>
	Evil Dead: Hail to the King	Music composer, producer and audio production coordinator	With Todd Dennis, Chris Rickwood, and Jack Wall as well as Forte Music	<ref>Evil Dead: Hail to the King instruction manual, THQ, 2000 p. 24</ref>
2003	Black & Bruised	Voice over producer		<ref>Black & Bruised instruction manual, Vivendi Universal Games, 2003 p. 29</ref>
	Devastation	Additional tracks		<ref>Devastation instruction manual, NovaLogic, 2003, p. 18</ref>
	Fugitive Hunter: War on Terror	Contributed songs		<ref name=fugitiveWOT>Fugitive Hunter: War on Terror instruction manual, Encore Software, 2003, p. 21-22</ref>
	SpyHunter 2	Cinematic sound design & composition	With Joey Kuras & Howard Ulyate	<ref name=spyhunter2>SpyHunter 2 instruction manual, Midway, 2003 p. 14</ref>
2004	The Bard's Tale	Music, lyrics, sound design	With various others	<ref name=bardstale>The Bard's Tale instruction manual, Vivendi Universal Games, 2004 p.21</ref>
	The X-Files: Resist or Serve	Audio director		<ref name="xfilesROS">The X-Files: Resist or Serve instruction manual, Vivendi Universal Games, 2004 p. 17</ref>
2005	Advent Rising			<ref name=AdvRis>Advent Rising instruction manual, Majesco Entertainment, 2005 p. 24</ref>
2006	Snoopy vs. the Red Baron	Music and sound design	With Joey Kuras and Scott Ligon	<ref>Snoopy vs. the Red Baron instruction manual, Namco Bandai Games, 2006 p. 19</ref>
	Pac-Man World Rally	Score	With Joey Kuras	<ref name="pacmanWR">Pac-Man World Rally instruction manual, Bandai Namco Games, 2006 p. 34</ref>
2009	Sonic and the Black Knight	Music, arrangements	With Howard Drossin, Richard Jacques, Jun Senoue and others	<ref name="Bevan 2023 j665" />
2010	Flip's Twisted World	Audio design	With Joey Kuras	<ref name="d144">Template:Cite web</ref>
	Super Tofu Boy	Music donation		<ref name="IGN 2010 q604" />

Tommy Tallarico Studios

Year	Title	Role(s)	Staff credited and other people involved	Ref.
1996	Black Dawn	Music and sound effects	Todd Dennis	<ref>Black Dawn instruction manual (PlayStation), Virgin Interactive Entertainment, 1996 p. 15</ref>
	Skeleton Warriors	Music and FX	Todd Dennis, Jean-Christoph Beck, and Eric Swanson	<ref>Skeleton Warriors instruction manual, Playmates Interactive Entertainment, 1996 p. 16</ref>
1998	Apocalypse	In-game sound effects and cut-scene audio		<ref>Apocalypse instruction manual, Activision, 1997 p. 19</ref>
1999	Redline	Music		<ref>Redline instruction manual, Accolade, 1999 p. 11</ref>
	Knockout Kings 2000	Sound design	Joey Kuras	<ref>Knockout Kings 2000 instruction manual, EA Sports, 1999 p. 24</ref>
	Tomorrow Never Dies	Music and sound FX		<ref>Tomorrows Never Dies instruction manual, Electronic Arts and MGM Entertainment, 1999 p. 16</ref>
	Unreal Mission Pack I: Return to Na Pali	Sound	Alexander Brandon and Eric Heberling	<ref>Unreal Mission Pack I: Return to Na Pali instruction manual, GT Interactive Software, 1999 p. 16</ref>
2000	Spider-Man	Sound	Joey Kuras	<ref name="spiderman2000" />
2001	Casper: Spirit Dimensions	Sound and voices	Joey Kuras	<ref>Caspar: Spirit Dimensions instruction manual, TDK, 2001 p. 16</ref>
	Time Crisis: Project Titan	Music and sound FX		Template:Citation needed
2002	Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights	Music and sound FX	Joey Kuras (sound design)	<ref>Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights instruction manual, THQ, 2002 p. 26</ref>
2003	War of the Monsters	Sound FX		<ref>War of the Monsters instruction manual, Sony Computer Entertainment, 2003 p. 16</ref>
2004	The Incredibles	Sound FX design	With Nathan Lee Smith	<ref>The Incredibles instruction manual, THQ, 2004 p. 21</ref>
	The Bard's Tale	Audio		<ref name=bardstale />
	Fugitive Hunter: War on Terror	Audio direction, sound FX	Joey Kuras	<ref name=fugitiveWOT />
	The X-Files: Resist or Serve	Sound design and foley	Joey Kuras (sound design), Mike Tallarico (voice over editing)	<ref name=xfilesROS />
2005	Advent Rising	Audio and score composition	Joey Kuras (sound design), Michael Richard Plowman, Emmanuel Fratianni	<ref name=AdvRis />
2006	Jaws: Unleashed	Music		<ref>Jaws: Unleashed instruction manual,Majesco Entertainment, 2006 p. 15</ref>
	Pac-Man World Rally	Music		<ref name=pacmanWR />

Albums

Year	Title	Notes	Ref.
1994	Virgin Games Greatest Hits, Vol. 1	Compilation of tracks from various games	<ref name="r021">Template:Cite web</ref>
1996	Games Greatest Hits, Vol. 2		<ref name="w196">Template:Cite web</ref>
2006	Earthworm Jim Anthology	Compilation of music from Earthworm Jim with remixes	<ref name="z309">Template:Cite web</ref>
2011	Play for Japan: The Album	Charity album. Tallarico contributed the song "Greater Lights" from Advent Rising.	<ref name="d746">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="q555">Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:IMDb name
• ROBLOX_OOF.mp3 by Hbomberguy