Video Games Live just made a stop in Winnipeg, the first performance of its 14-show, 12-city Canadian tour.

VGL is a touring concert that celebrates music from popular video games, blending orchestra with the guitar work of VGL creator Tommy Tallarico. The show often features other performers, as well, and includes special guests. For this tour, VGL is bringing along Jason Paige, the original singer of the American version of the Pokemon TV show.

Tallarico has worked on more than 320 games in his career, and holds the Guinness World Record for that feat. He's a composer and performer, has worked as a TV personality, as well as a games designer, product manager, producer, writer, tester, and music and video department head. He's been running VGL since 2002.

The VGL show brings out a passionate fanbase. Some come in costume; a cosplay contest was held just before the music started last night, judged by audience reaction. During the performance, the audience is encouraged to shout and cheer, as well as take pictures and video.

Winnipeg's own J Tanooki emcees the cosplay contest before the show.

Tallarico has long championed video game music as art. On stage last night, he mentioned that part of the mission for VGL is to not only expose more people to video game music, but to expose young gamers to the symphony. According to Tallarico, if Beethoven were alive today, he'd be a video game composer.

"I kind of say it tongue-in-cheek but I'm being serious as well, when you really think about it. You know, Beethoven was all about -- he wanted his music to control people's emotions, to put people in a different emotional state of mind, and that's exactly what a video game composer does. You know, if you're in a dark room, depending on what I'm doing from a composer's standpoint, if I'm playing scary music you're going to draw your sword, if I'm playing mysterious music in a dark room you're going to search around for a key, you know, or whatever," said Tallarico during intermission.

Bryan Deans of Vancouver was the conductor for last night's performance in Winnipeg. The setlist included well-known classics like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Castlevania, as well as deeper cuts like Okami and Phoenix Wright. Tonight, VGL plays in Regina.