After the tremendous success of the gala Final Fantasy concert, performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic before the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) last May, acclaimed Square Enix composer Nobuo Uematsu and the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra are joining powers to celebrate the in-game music to kick off a North America tour. You can buy tickets for the 19 February gig here.
Their LA stopover sold out within three days, with fans and curious public alike queuing up to see the cultural output from one of Japan's most celebrated modern artists. So big is his impact that Time Magazine recently honoured the composer with an "Innovator" award.
In-game music fandom is distinctly niche in the West, with the emphasis on individual artists rather than composers. However, with the audio capabilities of contemporary and next generation consoles, we should see the new platforms emerging as soundboards for original classics. I've got my fingers crossed ex-Oingo Boingo front man Danny Elfman gets in on the act.
