Finally! Houston’s male gamers have payback for all those “Bridal Extravaganzas” they’re dragged to every year. This is a Con for anyone who still owns an Atari as well as those who weren’t born when the NES reigned. The Houston Symphony in partnership with Tommy Tallarico, Jack Wall and Blizzard Entertainment® along with hundreds of gaming fans invaded the Jones Hall last weekend, adding a bit of culture to those who spend their days in social slayer matches or leveling up.

Game Crazy contributed the console gaming making for circles of people gathered around DDR players and a few MAME cabinets. There was plenty of console gaming with 360s and Wii gaming systems. Everywhere you looked people where glued to a screen.

It’s not everyday at the Jones Hall that you get to sit next to Princess Peach (Super Mario Bros series). Or stand next to Link (Legend of Zelda) at the men’s urinal. The day passed by fairly quickly, the schedule filled with panels and game contests.

The first concert this year was Blizzard entertainment with their catalogue of WoW, Starcraft, and of course, go figure, more WoW songs! With the crowd riled up in a Horde VS. Alliance frenzy the Houston Symphony played while video game cut scenes flashed on the screen.

Rod Ryan from 94.5 the Buzz hosted a speed costume contest, the winner being a kid dressed as Altair from Assassin’s Creed. The second concert consisted of the Video Games Live portion of the evening, playing the best of video game themes. Of course with a small homage to Michael Jackson and his video game contribution, Moonwalker.

Twice they invited Martin Leung (pianist and youtube star) to the stage to perform his famous youtube piece, Super Mario Medley among others.

Everything from Donkey Kong to Halo ODST was represented. The only complaint I would have about this is event is that the screens for gaming where a bit small. The lighting designer could have chilled a little on the rotating lights too. Those few hiccups aside Gamer MusiCon is now officially added to my list of yearly Conventions to attend.

Tommy Tallarico and the director guest director Jack Wall closing out the show