Wizard World and Video Games Live Team-up

Wizard World Chicago To Host Popular Video Game Concert Event

CONGERS, NY ? March 1, 2006 ? Wizard Entertainment Group today announced that the Wizard World Chicago 2006 convention held in Chicago will feature the ultimate in video game entertainment, Video Games Live?.  With Video Games Live?, an immersive concert featuring music from the biggest video games of all time performed by some of the nation?s most respected orchestras and choirs, Wizard Entertainment Group continues its unrivaled commitment to providing fans with the best in pop-culture entertainment.

Wizard World Conventions serve as the foremost authority on everything pop-culture, showcasing the best in comic books, anime, toys, video games, collectibles and entertainment.  Wizard World?s 2005 conventions drew more than 125,000 attendees making it the largest show of its kind including over 56,000 people in Chicago alone.  Video Games Live? will feature exclusive video footage and music arrangements, lasers, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.

?Video Games Live brings an incredibly exciting and unique element to our events which our attendees will be certain to appreciate and enjoy,? said Gareb Shamus, Chairman and CEO of Wizard Conventions.  ?Video gaming has become an important part of today?s culture and by adding Video Games Live to our already impressive line-up of Wizard World activities, it furthers our reputation as the number one pop-culture show in the country.?               

“I?ve been a personal fan of the Wizard brand magazines and conventions for a very long time.  To be working with them on bringing our concert to thousands of fans is a dream come true?, said Tommy Tallarico, co-creator of Video Games Live and a leading game music composer.  “Comic books, anime, action figures and video games all go hand in hand.  Wizard Entertainment understands, promotes and respects all of these forms of entertainment.  We couldn?t ask for a more appropriate partner.?

Video Games Live? is a complete celebration of the video game industry which includes pre- and post-show festival activities including a costume contest, playable game demos and meet-and-greet with game designers and composers.  Music from some of the top game franchises will be performed, including Mario?, Zelda?, Halo?, Metal Gear Solid?, Warcraft?, Myst?,  Castlevania?, Medal of Honor?, Sonic?, Kingdom Hearts, Tron, Final Fantasy?, Advent Rising, Beyond Good & Evil?, God of War? and a special retro Classic Arcade Medley featuring over 20+ games from Pong? to Donkey Kong? including such classics as Dragon’s Lair, Tetris, Frogger, Gauntlet, Space Invaders & Outrun.

The performance will take place during Wizard World Chicago on Saturday, August 5th at the Rosemont Theater located directly across the street from the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center where Wizard World Chicago is being held.  Tickets and information for the Video Games Live events can be found at Ticketmaster.com.  Tickets for the Video Games Live event in Chicago at the Rosemont Theatre are on sale now and range from $20 to $55. 

To learn more about all of the Wizard World Conventions please visit www.wizardworld.com

About Wizard World (www.wizarduniverse.com)
Wizard World Los Angeles, Wizard World Philadelphia, Wizard World Chicago and Wizard World Texas are produced by Wizard Conventions Inc., a sister company to Wizard Entertainment, the industry leader in the comic book and collectibles market.  Wizard Entertainment publishes four magazines: Wizard: The Comics Magazine; InQuest Gamer: The Gaming Magazine; ToyFare: The Toy Magazine; and Anime Insider, and is the co-publisher of Toy Wishes: The Ultimate Guide to Family Entertainment.  Wizard Entertainment?s publications have a monthly national readership of more than two million and are currently sold in 25 countries and five languages.  Wizard can be found online at www.wizardunivere.com

About Video Games Live? (www.videogameslive.com)
Created by two industry leading video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, Video Games Live? (produced under their company Mystical Stone Entertainment, LLC) is the front runner in the field of live game music performance.  Video Games Live? is an immersive concert event celebration featuring music from the biggest video games of all time.  The debut performance launched on July 6th, 2005 at the world famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with the LA Philharmonic with over 11,000 people in attendance making it the largest video game concert the world had ever experienced.  Most of the game music played (Halo, Sonic, Metal Gear Solid, Mario, Zelda, Warcraft, Tomb Raider, Kingdom Hearts, Tron, Medal of Honor, Advent Rising, etc.) had never been performed live.