Game ON! ran from 3 to 5 April as part of the Eid Al-Fitr 2025’s celebrations and offered a rare opportunity to hear iconic game scores performed live by a full orchestra, which took place in the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).

The concert, conducted by the accomplished Andy Brick, explored video game music, showcasing its evolution from its humble 8-bit origins to the sophisticated, symphonic compositions heard today. 

With over 100 musicians from the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and the Yerevan State Chamber Choir, the performance covered an array of iconic game scores, from Overwatch and League of Legends to Assassin’s Creed.

While the selection of titles was expectedly familiar, Brick’s arrangement served not just as a nostalgic trip down memory lane but as an opportunity to reconsider how far video game music has come. 

What was once a necessity driven by technical limitations has now evolved into a multifaceted genre, commanding the emotional weight and complexity of traditional symphonic music. 

Brick’s approach was reverential and exploratory, blending the technicality of video game scores with the depth of orchestral expression.

HD visuals, including gameplay footage and game art, served as a stunning backdrop to the concert.

While impressive, the visuals served as a complement rather than a distraction, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the auditory and the visual in the modern gaming experience.

Andy Brick: The Conductor Bridging Worlds

"Maestro Andy Brick has an award-winning background in film and game music, with credits ranging from Disney classics like The Little Mermaid II to video game titles such as Overwatch and Undertale. He has long bridged the gap between classical music and pop culture."

Brick played a pivotal role in engineering the vision for Game ON! since its launch in 2003 with a groundbreaking performance by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. 

Game ON! evolved into a global celebration of video game music, and has since toured prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 

“I wanted Game ON! to reflect a broad range of gaming music while still giving the orchestra something substantial to work with,” Brick explained. “It’s about striking a balance between giving the audience something they recognize and keeping it true to the orchestral format.”

The Musicians Behind the Performance

The concert brought together two formidable ensembles that added weight and depth to the Game ON! experience. The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Sergey Smbatyan, has become a force in both Armenia and internationally, known for its dynamic approach to classical and modern repertoire. Their precision and adaptability were key in navigating video game music’s varied textures and complexities, which demand a different kind of orchestral discipline.

Joining them was the Yerevan State Chamber Choir, widely regarded as one of Armenia's finest vocal ensembles, led by Kristina Voskanyan. Their ability to seamlessly blend with the orchestral force and amplify the emotional heft of the pieces was especially compelling—offering an added dimension to the music that enriched the overall performance without overwhelming the instrumental arrangements.

The evening’s performance was not just a demonstration of game music’s scope but a rare instance of it being recontextualized within a classical framework. This was not merely a "concert" of video game music, but a recalibration of how these scores, often reduced to mere background elements in the gaming experience, can hold their own alongside more traditional works.