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Anybody going to MAGFest this year?

Posted: 09 Jan 2016, 22:47
by DeepInTheHops
February 18-21 this year. I hadn't put any thought into going, but a few days ago I remembered it was coming up, and playing VOOT today for the first time in forever put my brain back in video game mode (I don't play much these days).

I went a couple years ago but there was really no VOOT action to speak of (just a lonely DC hooked up to a small CRT getting no love), although there was plenty of other stuff to keep me occupied for the weekend.

Re: Anybody going to MAGFest this year?

Posted: 10 Jan 2016, 17:25
by PhantomPhotonX
Hey Dave, I will be going for sure! You might have just missed it, but we had some great VOOT (DC version) games last year on Saturday night! Vash, Koopaman, and a few random strangers showed up for the action. We played late into the night, great stuff! Be there!

Re: Anybody going to MAGFest this year?

Posted: 10 Jan 2016, 19:06
by Porcupine
whats MAGFest

Re: Anybody going to MAGFest this year?

Posted: 10 Jan 2016, 21:00
by PhantomPhotonX
You can go to magfest.org to get more information. It stands for Music and Gaming Festival and it takes place in National Harbor, MD, which is just outside of Washington, DC, once a year (usually in January, but this year in February). I have the privilege of being 20 miles away from it so I have been a regular attendee for several years now.

But if I had to describe it in my own words, I would say that it is probably the best convention I have ever been to (although I don't go to many conventions so that might not be saying much). Heck, my wife loves it too. It's a complete celebration of video games and video game culture, which for people who grew up with video games or played them for a large part of their lives (myself included), is one of the greatest experiences ever. They have a whole hangar full of classic arcade and console games from ALL eras that you can play as much as you want, and I can guarantee that you'll find something you'll like; the only cost is the relatively small entry fee of $70 for the whole weekend. There are tournaments (both official and non-sanctioned), challenges, panels, Q&A's, etc. It's also not as crowded as some of the more major cons like Comic Con, although this one has been exploding in growth lately. There are heavy influences of anime and general comic book lore, so if that appeals to you, then you would enjoy this for sure. It's kind of like a nerd-utopia with an emphasis on video games.

If you're within driving distance, then you should make every effort to attend; you won't be disappointed. Washington, DC is a great place to visit if you've never been. I can't say it would be worth a plane ticket if you're farther than that, but if you love games, then it just might be. The only way for you to know is to experience it yourself!

Re: Anybody going to MAGFest this year?

Posted: 11 Jan 2016, 11:51
by Porcupine
Sounds like something I would have gone to if I were younger. These days I can't even wake up to play with the Japanese players in VOOT, so I've not had that much training over the past year. Although my rate of improvement has not slowed in the last year. Well, I guess we will find out in the upcoming tournament if my 2~3 years of training can match the 3 years of training of Schooly D hehe.

Re: Anybody going to MAGFest this year?

Posted: 22 Feb 2016, 18:36
by PhantomPhotonX
It was another great time this year. Lots of fun was had at the VOOM arcade machine, and it was the first time I've played it since, gosh, maybe middle school? I didn't see VOOT (either Dreamcast or X360) this year though, and that was unfortunate.

However, I must know who the unstoppable Raiden playing VOOM was. (I probably should have asked for your name, in case you are on this site!) Those were some great matches, and that ridiculous missed laser that somehow hit was quite hilarious!