MAGFest
StatusActive
GenreVideo games, video game music, chiptune
VenueGaylord National Convention Center[1]
Other events
  • Bit Gen Gamer Fest:
  • The Ottobar
  • MAGLabs:
  • Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
  • MAGWest:
  • DoubleTree Hilton
Location(s)National Harbor, Maryland
Other events
CountryUnited States
InauguratedSeptember 27–29, 2002
Other events
  • Bit Gen Gamer Fest:
  • June 17, 2006
  • MAGLabs:
  • September 12–14, 2014
  • MAGWest:
  • August 25–28, 2017
Most recentJanuary 18-21, 2024
Other events
  • Bit Gen Gamer Fest:
  • August 5, 2023
  • MAGLabs:
  • September 7–9, 2018
  • MAGWest:
  • July 14–16, 2023
Next eventJanuary 23-26, 2025
Other events
  • Bit Gen Gamer Fest:
  • August 17, 2024
  • MAGLabs:
  • TBA
  • MAGWest:
  • September 27-29, 2024
Attendance24,000 in 2020
Organized byMAGFest Inc.,
501(c)(3) non-profit organization[2]
Websitehttps://magfest.org

MAGFest (Music and Gaming Festival, originally the Mid-Atlantic Gaming Festival) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to make the world a better place through video game art, music, and culture.[3] They hold multiple events throughout the year, with their flagship event being an annual festival held in the Washington metropolitan area the National Harbor. The events feature concerts by chiptune artists and video game cover bands, educational panels and activities, free-to-play arcade cabinets, a bring your own computer (BYOC) LAN party, community jam spaces, and charity speedruns & auctions.

All events are primarily run by a large volunteer base, supported and organized by a small, paid office staff.

Attractions

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The arcade hall at Super MAGFest 2023.

MAGFest's arcade hall is open 24 hours a day.[4] The exhibition hall contains hundreds of full-size arcade cabinets, and even pinball machines that are donated for the event from local collectors and vending companies. All arcades are set to play for free on admission price, and are monitored 24 hours a day by maintenance and technical staff. The arcade hall includes specialty lighting, laser lighting, and music to invoke the feeling of a traditional arcade. The game selection ranges from 1970's vintage black and white games, vector monitors games, Cathode Ray Tube games, modern/Indie arcades; as well as contemporary Japanese candy cabinets and Japanese dance/music games like Dance Dance Revolution and Taiko No Tatsujin. Arcades range from various manufacturers like Atari, Nintendo, Taito, Midway, Williams, Capcom, Sega, ICE, Rock Ola, and Exidy. Games that challenge various abilities include driving simulators, shooting simulators, labyrinth games, and others. There are multiple events and tournaments that occur during the event that allow you to challenge dozens of others for prizes. They also host a ten-game tournament that spans the entire event which allows players to openly compete on 10 classic arcade games to work on getting the highest scores possible with the ultimate prize being given to the player who scores the most points total on all games.

There a console hall open 24 hours a day that houses over a hundred televisions and attached game consoles, where guests are invited to play at will and each station's game is periodically swapped with a different one from a game library. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own controllers or fighting game pads to compete with. Consoles range from vintage Atari 2600, Intellivision style games all the way through the years to the most current and up to date Xbox/PS/Nintendo systems and games. Even steam titles are playable and indie game developers have been known to introduce or beta test new games at the events. Tournaments are performed frequently throughout the event on several platforms and game types for prizes.

In 2013 the MAGFest Indie Videogame Showcase, "MIVS"[5] was started. It features between 40 and 60 booths of indie game developers each year. Since 2016 there has been an "Indie Arcade" section, housing new arcade games created by indie developers and artists from around the world. The bulk of these cabinets are curated through Death By Audio Arcade[6] in NY. In 2017 the "Indie Homebrew" sub-section was started, which has featured new indie games that can be played on classic consoles from the 1980s and 1990s such as the Atari 2600, NES, etc...

The concert areas host nightly performances in multiple rooms simultaneously of famous and up and coming bands. Music is themed, but not limited to; Chip Tunes, video game music, and related works. Many luminaries of video game music fan culture have performed at MAGFest. Previous bands include Machinae Supremacy, Earthbound Papas, Minibosses, Powerglove, the NESkimos, the Advantage and Chromelodeon.

Other major attractions include guest panels from the video game industry such as Sid Meier, Jon St. John[7] and Nobuo Uematsu.[8] In addition, the fan remixing community is well represented with sites such as OverClocked ReMix. Filmmakers such as X-Strike Studios, Main Moon Productions, PBC Productions, and There Will Be Brawl have also appeared at the event. MAGFest has also included academic panels such as "Game Studies 101" where attendees were given a basic introduction to the manner in which scholars study video games.

Additionally, MAGFest features DJ battles, a jam space, an open mic stage, a large LAN party environment, a film screening room, a tabletop gaming room, vendors, contests like "name-that-tune," and a video game "challenge booth" where players can "try to tackle insanely difficult gaming feats for prizes of all sorts."[9]

History

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Yamine inducted into The Walter Day Collection in 2018 for the creation of MAGFest.

MAGFest was created by Joseph "Joe" Yamine and Sean Rider in 2002, as a small event in Roanoke, Virginia. Marinelli, director of press and public relations, stated in interview that Yamine "wanted people to just come together, play games, and rock out to some great video game cover bands".[10] The original event featured three bands, an arcade room, a dealers room, a video room devoted to anime, a dance party area, and auctions of rare video games and art.[11]

Brendan Becker took over from Yamine at the following event, and the number of attendees grew from 250 to 3,000 over the course of eight years. Marinelli credited word of mouth for the slow but continued growth of the event, adding "It’s not about seeing something no one’s ever seen more; it’s about getting together and celebrating what you love".[12] Charles Margolis donated an X-Men arcade cabinet to the event for MAGFest VI in 2008, and it was placed in a central area that year. The cabinet was extremely loud, particularly Colossus' special move, and it became an event tradition to mimic the roar in later years. After Magnolis passed from brain cancer in 2017 a memorial notice was added to the cabinet.[13][14] The event was extended in length from MAGFest 8 in 2010, going from a three-day to a four-day schedule.[15] MAGFest 8 was initially billed as the host of a charity speedrunning drive by Mike Uyama and Andrew Schroeder, but internet connectivity issues at the hotel caused the event to be spun off as independantly at another venue as Games Done Quick. GDQ has since become a recurring event circuit in its own right.[16]

MAGFest went through multiple changes in 2012, with a change in venue and the incorporation of MAGFest Inc as a nonprofit organisation to manage the event.[17] The Gaylord National Harbour Convention Centre was a far larger venue than the previous, and first saw use for MAGFest X.[18] Beginning in 2014, some additional annual conventions began to be held. This started with MAGLabs at the former venue in Virginia, and MAGWest held in California each year. Attendance at the main event had reached 20,000 by 2016,[19] and peaked at 24,000 at Super MAGFest 2020, held that January.[20] From 2019 on, the primary event circuit has been known as "Super MAGFest".

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the event, with a September 2020 announcement cancelling the in-person Super MAGFest 2021, which had been due to take part the coming January. The announcement also indicated that the future of MAGfest in general was uncertain.[21] In November 2020, an organisation named "friends of MAGFest" expressed concern about the MAGFest board of directors, alleging financial neglect, mismanagement and abuse by the Executive Director, Paul Birtel. After negotiations with Friends of MAGFest, Birtel fired three board members associated with the group as well as the events director, which in effect cancelled the planned virtual event for 2021. Further board resignations occurred in January 2021,[22] followed by Birtel himself later that month.[23]

Super MAGFest 2022 was announced in August 2021, confirming a return to the in-person event schedule.[24] The event was held successfully, though there was a significant decline in attendees compared to the 24,000 seen at the peak in January 2020. 10,581 people attended in 2022,[25] rising to 18,987 in 2023.[26] Super MAGFest 2024 was announced on May 31, 2023.[27]

Event history

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Main events

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Title Dates[28] Location Attendance Guests
Mid-Atlantic Gaming Festival Sep 27–29, 2002 Holiday Inn Tanglewood
Roanoke, VA
265 Everyone, The Minibosses, The OneUps[11]
MAGFest 2.0 Oct 31–Nov 2, 2003 Clarion Hotel
Williamsburg, VA
375 The Smash Bros., Wave Theory, The Minibosses
MAGFest M3 Oct 1–3, 2004 500 Inheretics, Chromelodeon, The Jenova Project, The NESkimos, Temp Sound Solutions, The Minibosses, The Smash Bros., Wave Theory
MAGFest M4 Jan 13–15, 2006 Doubletree Hilton
Charlottesville, VA
750 Parasprinter, Powerglove, Search Snake, This Place Is Haunted, Sprite Slowdown, The Minibosses, The NESkimos, The Smash Bros., Wave Theory
MAGFest M5 Jan 4–7, 2007 Sheraton Premiere
Vienna, VA
950 Armcannon, Year 200X, Chromelodeon, Parasprinter, Powerglove, The Smash Bros., Temp Sound Solutions, This Place Is Haunted, Wave Theory
MAGFest VI Jan 3–6, 2008 Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
Alexandria, VA
1050 The Advantage, Armcannon, Powerglove, Select Start, The Smash Bros., Temp Sound Solutions, This Place Is Haunted
MAGFest 7 Jan 1–4, 2009 1350 Armcannon, Armadillo Tank, Entertainment System, The Megas, Metroid Metal, A Rival, Rare Candy, Temp Sound Solutions, The Smash Bros., This Place Is Haunted,[29] Year 200X
MAGFest 8 Jan 1–4, 2010 2200 Armcannon, Armadillo Tank, Entertainment System, The Megas, Metroid Metal, A Rival, Rare Candy, Select Start, Temp Sound Solutions, The OneUps, The Smash Bros., This Place Is Haunted,[29] brentalfloss
MAGFest 9 Jan 13–16, 2011 3000+ (Capped) The Protomen, The Minibosses, The OneUps, Metroid Metal, Armcannon, Bit Brigade, The Megas, Year 200X, X-Hunters, Entertainment System, This Place Is Haunted, Rare Candy, DJ Cutman, A Rival, Powerglove, brentalfloss, Inverse Phase, Note!, Danimal Cannon, Zen Albatross, Dark Warriors, Noisewaves, George & Jonathan, Cheap Dinosaurs[30]
MAGFest X Jan 5–8, 2012 Gaylord National Convention Center
National Harbor, MD
6100+[31] Earthbound Papas,[8] Armcannon, Bit Brigade, Descendants of Erdrick, DJ Cutman, The Megas, Metroid Metal, The OneUps, Temp Sound Solutions, This Place Is Haunted, X-Hunters, Year 200X, Krieger, Random Encounter, Disasterpeace, Revengineers, Danimal Cannon, Battlecake, Chipocrite, Knife City, Virt, Inverse Phase, Animal Style, An0va, Zen Albatross, Dauragon, A Rival, DJ Cats
MAGFest 11 Jan 3–6, 2013 9000+ Yuzo Koshiro, Kinuyo Yamashita, Armcannon, Bit Brigade, Brentalfloss and The Cartridge Family, The Megas, Metroid Metal, The OneUps, Powerglove, The Protomen, Mega Ran, Rare Candy, Those Who Fight, Video Game Orchestra, Arc Impulse, Descendants of Erdrick, Dwelling of Duels Live, Fighting in the Streets, Knight of the Round, Lords of Thunder, My Parents Favorite Music, On Being Human, OverClocked University, Professor Shyguy, Super Guitar Bros, Triforce Quartet, The World Is Square, The X-Hunters, BRIGHT PRIMATE, Cheap Dinosaurs, Crashfaster, Danimal Cannon, D&D Sluggers, Inverse Phase, Kris Keyser, Jake 'Virt' Kaufman, Benjamin Briggs, bLiNd, DJ Cutman[32]
MAGFest 12 Jan 2–5, 2014 12,000+ Machinae Supremacy, The OneUps, Love Canon, Bit Brigade, Urizen, X-Hunters, The Megas, Knight of the Round, Random AKA Mega Ran, MegaDriver, Super Guitar Bros, Those Who Fight, On Being Human, This Place Is Haunted, Armcannon, Rare Candy, LonelyRollingStars, GameChops DJ Battle
MAGFest 13 Jan 23–26, 2015 17,000+ Yuu Miyake, Machinae Supremacy, Yoshihito Yano, The Protomen, Powerglove, Bit Brigade, LonelyRollingStars, The Megas, Random AKA Mega Ran, Super Guitar Bros, Kirby's Dream Band, Viking Guitar Live, Super Soul Bros., Rare Candy, Urizen, On Being Human, The Tiberian Sons, Professor Shyguy, Triforce Quartet, Dethlehem, Double Ferrari, Do a Barrell Roll!, Sammus, Descendants of Erdrick, MissingNO, DJ Cutman, Grimecraft, Ben Briggs, Kevin Villecco, Sushi Killer, Virt, Solarbear, Roboctopus, For Astronauts and Sattelites, An0va feat. Rekchadam, Crashfaster, Marshall Art, Danimal Cannon, Trey Frey[33]
MAGFest 2016 Feb 18–21, 2016 20,000 + (Capped) Ippo Yamada with Inti Creates Sound Team, Ninja Sex Party, Tupper Ware Remix Party, Psychostick, Bear McCreary, The OneUps, Super Soul Bros, I Fight Dragons, Rekcahdam, Trev Wignall, Coda, FamilyJules7x, Ap0c, Sammus, LIittle Paw, Eight Bit Disaster, James Landino, bLiNd, 2ToneDisco, Mykah, The World Is Square, Metroid Metal, You Bred Raptors?, The Living Tombstone, Note!, Shirobon, Chipzel, Kubbi, Random Beats Showcase, DiscoCactus[34]
MAGFest 2017 Jan 5–8, 2017 20,000+ (Capped) The Protomen, Triforce Quartet, Makeup and Vanity Set, goto80, cTrix, Awesome Force, Monodeer, DJ Jo, A Rival, Grimecraft, DJ Cutman, The OneUps, Videri String Quartet, Bitforce, nml styl, Richie Branson, Voia, FearofDark, Knight of the Round, Danimal Cannon, Urizen, Machinae Supremacy, The Runaway Guys,[35] Arc Impulse, Mikal kHill, Gemanon, Corset Lore, Creative Mind Frame (AKA 1-UP), (T-T)b, D&D Sluggers, Armcannon, Kadesh Flow, Galaxy Tour Guides, The Returners, Emar, Schaffer the Darklord, Bit Brigade[36]
MAGFest 2018 Jan 4–7, 2018[37] 21,600+ (Capped) Amanda Lepre, Auxcide, Cowabunga Pizza Time, Crazy Composers Collective feat. Videri String Quartet, Delorean Overdrive, Dollfin, Double Experience, Dr. Zilog, Hyper Potions, Kirby's Dream Band, LonelyRollingStars feat Vince DiCola, MC Lars, Magic Hammer, Marshall Art, Master Sword, NNNNNNNNNN, Powerglove, Rare Candy, Retro-Active Live, RoboRob, Sammus, Sci-Fried, Shubzilla x Bill Beats, SiIvaGunner, Sonic Adventure Music Experience feat. series composer Jun Senoue, Super Guitar Bros, Super Soul Bros, TORIENA, Tetracase, The Mountain Chiefs, Trash80, Varien, Vic Viper, Viking Guitar Live, Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra, YTCracker, insaneintherainmusic, rainbowdragoneyes, Reid Speed[38]
Super MAGFest 2019 Jan 3–6, 2019[39] 22,200+ Takashi Tateishi, Frank Klepacki and The Tiberian Sons, Graz, bryface, don'tblinkoryou'lldie, chibi-tech, HarleyLikesMusic, Blood Code, James Landino, Grimecraft, Ralfington, D*Jadeabella, Kris Maddigan, ConSoul, The Koopa Kids, Bit Brigade, Chromelodeon, Knight of the Round, MC Frontalot, Please Lose Battle, Danimal Cannon, Ocabanda, Triforce Quartet, Supercommuter, Dethlehem, The Runaway Four, Lex The Lexicon Artist, Curious Quail, Sam Mulligan & The Donut Slayers, Wreck The System, Lame Genie, Mega Ran, Professor Shyguy, Steel Samurai[40]
Super MAGFest 2020 Jan 2–5, 2020[41] 24,000+[42] Cheap Dinosaurs, Aethernaut, K-Murdock, Zebbler, EyeQ, The Protomen, Tokyo Machine, Kabuki, Ben Briggs, Funk Fiction, Sammus, Minusworld, Armcannon, Powerglove, Guérin, Xyce, Nanode, Bleeds, Meneo, Dual Core, DiscoCactus, Math the Band, Videri String Quartet, DJ Cutman, Mariachi Entertainment System, More or Les, Marshall Art, Skatune Network, Urizen, Descendants of Erdrick, Super Soul Bros, Flabbercasters[43]
Super MAGFest 2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland. An online version was planned that year but also cancelled.[44] [45]
Super MAGFest 2022 Jan 6–9, 2022[46] Gaylord National Convention Center
National Harbor, MD
10,581[47] Bit Brigade, GR3YS0N, Let's Disinfect!, Shubzilla x Bill Beats, Inverse Phase, DV-I, Tetracase, VGR, Groovecube, Mega Ran, Master Sword, Audio Gremlins, Magnificent Danger, Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band, The Megas, Damn Selene, Kadesh Flow, Paladin, Kirby's Dream Band, Nullsleep, Dinaari, Cass Cuttlefish, Defense Mechanism, Star Fighter Dreams, Watch Out For Snakes, Super Guitar Bros, Gamebreax, Triforce Quartet, Negativland + Sue-C, Aeoxis[48]
Super MAGFest 2023 Jan 5-8, 2023 18,987[49] Cybertronic Spree, Nyokee, Metroid Metal, Math the Band, NPC Collective, WASD, Super Soul Bros, Rustage, Brentalfloss, Game Genie Sokolov, Cyanide Dansen, Maxo, Minusbaby, Mikey303, Ohm-I, Snack Attack, DJ Plynk & DJ Dark Prime, 2TD, DV-I, Obi-wan Shinobi, Ryako, Knight of the Round, Capt Crabs, Tiggs & String Player Gamer, Skatune Network, Nelward, DiscoCactus, Button Masher, Lame Genie, The Game Brass, The 8 Bit Big Band, The OneUps
Super MAGFest 2024 Jan 18-21, 2024 TBA TBA

Bit Gen Gamer Fest

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Inspired by Pennsylvania State University's former Video Game Armageddon festival, founders John DeCampos and Chris Baines, created Bit Gen Gamer Fest in 2005 and has been "adopted" and presented by MAGFest since 2014.[50]

Title Date(s) Location Attendance Guests
8-Bit Genocide[51] Jun 17, 2006 Load of Fun
Baltimore, MD
130+ Powerglove, Entertainment System, This Place is Haunted, Temp Sound Solutions, pIENESS:The Hard Corps, 8-Bit Artist, Jude Buffum, Chuck D
16-Bit Genocide[51] Aug 25, 2007 Creative Alliance
Baltimore, MD
TBA Entertainment System, The Protomen, Powerglove, Anamanaguchi, This Place is Haunted, Temp Sound Solutions, 8-Bit Artist, Jude Buffum, Fizzman Industries, NO CARRIER, notendo, Eastcoast Earthquake, Blue Leader
32-Bit Genocide[51] Aug 16, 2008 TBA Entertainment System, The Protomen, Year 200X, The Megas, This Place is Haunted, Cheap Dinosaurs, Ultraball, 8-Bit Artist, Levi Buffum, Daniel Fleres, Gus Fink, Mike Stoneroad
64-Bit Genocide[51] Aug 22, 2009 The Ottobar
Baltimore, MD
TBA Year 200X, The Megas, This Place Is Haunted, Cheap Dinosaurs, The Ultraball, X Hunters, Rare Candy, Armadillo Tank, The Protomen
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 5[52] Aug 14, 2010 Sonar
Baltimore, MD
TBA Powerglove, Entertainment System, The Megas, This Place is Haunted, The OneUps, The X Hunters, The Ultraball, Rare Candy, Armadillo Tank, Brentalfloss
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 6 Jul 30, 2011 Bourbon Street
Baltimore, MD
TBA The Protomen, Metroid Metal, Entertainment System, Rare Candy, Armcannon, The OneUps, Year 200X, The Descendents of Erdrick, Bit Brigade, X-Hunters, Cheap Dinosaurs, Ice Cap Assault, Random Battles, DJ Cutman
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 7 Jun 30, 2012 Sonar
Baltimore, MD
TBA Metroid Metal, The Megas, Rare Candy, Brentalfloss, Armcannon, Bit Brigade, X-Hunters, Danimal Cannon, Cheap Dinosaurs, DJ Cutman, Mega Ran, Those Who Fight
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 8 Aug 10, 2013 Rams Head Live!
Baltimore, MD
TBA Powerglove, The Megas, Rare Candy, The X-Hunters, Knight of the Round, Mega Ran, Cheap Dinosaurs, Those Who Fight, Random Battles, Overclocked University, Super Guitar Bros, brentalfloss
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 9 Jul 12, 2014 TBA Bit Brigade, Mega Ran, Michael Zucker, You Bred Raptors?, [EXPLOSION SOUND], Rare Candy, The X-Hunters, Knight of the Round
Bit Gen Gamer Fest X Jul 17-19, 2015 Artscape
Baltimore, MD
TBA
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 11 2016 The Ottobar
Baltimore, MD
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 12 2017
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 13 2018
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 14 2019
Bit Gen Gamer Fest XV 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland. Lame Genie,
Bit Gen Gamer Fest 15 Aug 5, 2023 The Ottobar
Baltimore, MD
TBA
Bit Gen Gamer Fest XVI Aug 5, 2023 TBA Super Guitar Bros, Mega Ran, Danimal Cannon, Button Masher, Cheap Dinosaurs, Random Battles, Lacey Johnson, Cowabunga Pizza Time, Twill Distilled, Nmlstyl, Steel Samurai, Unicorn Hole, Zaku, Optimus Chad, Rags of Might, Quick Save
Bit Gen Gamer Fest XVII[53] Aug 17, 2024 TBA Blind Equation, You Bred Raptors, Watch Out For Snakes, Black Signal, Microphone Misfitz, WASD, Unicorn Hole, Mahn, DK Adventures, Bi Score, housethegrate, Super Strikers, Super Monster Party, Dom Palombi's Game Night, Niji Saga, Peter Le x Depth Charge, Quick Save

MAGLabs

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In the wake of MAGFest's move from Virginia to Maryland in 2012, a secondary circuit of smaller events were held at the former primary venue in Alexandria. MAGLabs has not been held since 2018, but the organisers have indicated that future events may be held.[54]

Title Dates[55] Location Attendance Guests
MAGFest 8.5 Sep 12–14, 2014 Hilton Alexandria Mark Center,
Alexandria, VA
1,500 Armcannon, Temp Sound Solutions, Professor Shyguy, You Bred Raptors?, Steel Samurai, Eight Bit Disaster, The Protomen, The World Is Square, Those Who Fight
MAGClassic Sep 11–13, 2015 1,345 Crunk Witch, Sam Mulligan, brentalfloss, Zantilla, Professor Shyguy, James Landino, Chipocrite, DiscoCactus, Radlib, Triforce Quartet, Super Guitar Bros, You Bred Raptors?, Super Art Fight!, Starship Horizons
MAGLabs Sep 9–11, 2016 1,315 8-Bit Mullet, Bit Brigade, ChronoWolf, DJ Super Sonic, explosion sound, Flexstyle, Insane Ian, Inverse Phase, The Megas, The NESkimos, Overclocked University, Search Snake, Stargate, Steel Samurai, The Yordles, You Bred Raptors?, OverClocked ReMix, Super Art Fight
MAGLabs 2017 Sep 1–3, 2017 TBA Professor Shyguy, MASTER SWORD, NOISE 2 MEN, COWABUNGA PIZZA TIME, D&D SLUGGERS, F1NG3RS, CRUNK WITCH, WRECK THE SYSTEM, ERROR MACRO, DJ SUPER SONIC, and DJ 8-BIT MULLET[56]
MAGLabs 2018 Sep 7-9, 2018 TBA Meg Eden, Jonathan Bolding, +2 Comedy, Corey Olsen, Content Productions, Kevin Ryan, Wes Johnson, Steven Long, Mike Rosson, Ed Habib, Ryan Amon, Yoga for Gamers, Flabbercasters, VikingGuitar, Thrillkiller, Cowabunga Pizza Time, Crunk Witch, Knight of the Round, LOVE SPREAD, Master Sword, Smoochyface, Steel samurai, Kenzie Black, Chipocrite, NoisyBoys[57][58]

MAGWest

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A west coast MAGFest circuit launched in 2017. The event was conducted online in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These events were uploaded to the official YouTube channel after they concluded.[59][60]

Title Date Location Attendance Guests
MAGWest Aug 25–28, 2017[61] Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA TBA Jason Cirillo, Ben Prunty,[62] Yoga for Gamers, Nino MegaDriver, John Patrick Lowrie, Super Soul Bros, Kirby's Dream Band, Vector Hold, Curious Quail, Space Town, crashfaster, boaconstructor, Extent of the Jam, Myrone, Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett,[63] Richie Branson, The Koopas, Viking Guitar, James Landino, Hyper Potions, and Grimecraft[64][65][66]
MAGWest 2018 Aug 10-12, 2018[67] TBA B/I/R/T/H/D/A/Y, Bleeds, Continuum Kingdom, Dokoe, E.N.Cowell, Extra Lives, Kabuki, LEX the Lexicon Artist, MAGWest Chipspace Showcase, Naju, Normal Activity, RoboRob, Sergio and the Holograms, Street Cleaner, Super MadNES, Super Soul Bros., Tetrimino, The Megas, The Night We Met, The Runaway Four, Three O'Clock Rock (School Showcase), Vic Viper[68]
MAGWest 2019 Sep 13-15, 2019[69] DoubleTree Hilton, San Jose, CA TBA 8-Bit Jazz Heroes, Alice Knows Karate, Birthday, Ben Briggs, Bolide, Chibi-tech, Chuck None, Comsmicosmo, Dokoe, Hiero, Infinite Combo, Mega Ran, Nick Drexler, Nikola Whallon, NyteXing, Odyssey Eurobeat, Petriform, RoboRob, Ronin Op F, Sergio and the Holograms, SkyBlew, Stemage, Super Soul Bros, The Minibosses, Triss, Tttlllrrr, Vector Hold
MAGWest 2020 Oct 2-5, 2020 Moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic in California[70] Sare, Toriena, Crashfaster, Bleeds, 88bit, Wreck the System, G-Wiz, Adora Blue, Odyssey Eurobeat, Ohm-I, Super Marcato Bros, Airy Connect, The Arkadian, The Runaway Four, Button Masher, Starfarer, Super Soul Bros, Mark Cooper, Kyozo, Business Pastel[71]
MAGWest 2021 Nov 4-6, 2021 Button Mashers, Lacey Johnson, Israfelcello, Super Soul Bros, The Red Panda, Find the Rabbit, Jewel Maiden, Faith in the Glitch, Tinywaves, Watch out for Snakes, Game Genie Sokolov, Only One Ronin, OrchKeystraMusic[72]
MAGWest 2022 Aug 19-21, 2022[73] DoubleTree Hilton, San Jose, CA TBA 88bit, Bleeds, dwangoAC, manadream, Petriform, TheRedPanda, VGT, VVGO, Fetz A/V, 7th Street Big Band, Kirby's Dream Band, Shubzilla & Bill Beats, Robbie "Gwobs" Benson, Chase Bethea, Ben Briggs, Super Soul Bros, The Completionist, Mark Cooper, Ian Cowell, Ronin OP F, Lacey Johnson, Extra Lives, Button Masher, Ryan McGaughey, Audio Mocha, Da Rap Nerd, Abstract the Origin, Hyper Potions, Find the Rabbit, Ray Reck, Only One Ronin, Character Select, Wario Speedwagon, Josh of Bonus Stage, Prowess the Testament, 8 Bit Music Theory, The Tonberries, Ben Visini, Tiny Waves
MAGWest 2023 Jul 14-16, 2023 TBA The Living Tombstone, SSJ/Dragon Ball Z Experience, Audio Mocha, Character Select, E. N. Cowell, Super Soul Bros, Extra Lives Experience, Illexotic, KEIFERGR33N, 7th Street Big Band, Aniclover, Prowess the Testament, Lucrecia, Alice Knows Karate, Noa James, Stickband, The Last Seahorse, Ultra Combo's Mega Jam, Ross Tregenza & Graeme Norgate, Gwiz, Crashfaster, Avery Write & Da Rap Nerd, Nobel Yoo, Bayokyo[74]

References

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  2. ^ "MAGFest - What is MAGFest?". MAGFest. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Super Magfest 2024". www.pcgamesinsider.biz. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
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  7. ^ "MAGFest 2010 Lineup Released". Wired. November 21, 2009.
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  11. ^ a b http://rafaelporrata.com/pdf/magfest.pdf
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  13. ^ Cayari, Christopher (2022). "Learning strategies of video game music makers: Informal and schoolbased learning for online publication". International Journal of Music Education. 40 (3): 445–459.
  14. ^ https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/01/gallery-the-amazing-costumes-weird-controllers-and-gaming-rarities-of-magfest-2020/
  15. ^ "MAGFest: A long weekend of games, music, and heavy drinking (Interview)". 31 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Summer Games Done Quick Starts This Weekend: Watch and Be Wowed". Vice.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  17. ^ "Nonprofit info".
  18. ^ "Magfest X: A Report". 12 January 2012.
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  21. ^ "MAGFest is Cancelled". 8 September 2020.
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