MAGFest 6, Jan 3-6 2008, Alexandria VA (DC metro)

**MrMAGFest** · 09-11-2007, 09:40 AM

So, I've been reading about all of this lovely convention drama (ugh), and I figured, what a better time to promote my own event, right? (wrong) But I digress...

MAGFest is "right around the corner" (IE. it's 3 months away) and I figured I'd make a friendly post bright and early. That way, I don't have to worry about conflicting with someone else's event or plans -- not that you haven't already made them already -- but hey, maybe we can still be a part of them. There's still time to talk to your job/prof/family/whatever and say you want to go to a videogame party and blow whoever off for a weekend.

http://magfest.org/

Nitty Gritty Even Though It's In The Topic:
PLACE: Hilton Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Rd, Alexandria VA.
(airport preference: DCA, then IAD, then BWI)
DATES: 3-6 Jan 2008, that's a Thursday-Sunday block.
PRICE: $40 at the door, $35 prereg. No single-day passes.
VENDORS: $50/table, $20/badge (ex. 2 tables, 4 people, $180)
GUESSTIMATED ATTENDANCE: 1250~1500

I know we don't typically see DP folks en masse at MAGFest but I'll go ahead and start with a blatantly obvious yes, all are welcome sort of thing. Infact, I should also be public about the fact that we invite all convention chairs to come and set up at MAGFest for no cost. I'll pitch you a free table and an entry badge as long as I could expect to receive the same thing at your show. I'd even like to work with you, possibly!

So yeah, if you're not familiar with MAGFest for whatever reason.... Events like us, well, let's not even try to pretend that organizational aspects for each one aren't a retarded mess from time to time. We don't typically like to be associated with the term "expo" or "trade show" (or even "convention"), more "festival" (hence that part of the name) or even "party". We've got vendors (and we wouldn't even mind having more!) but really the aspect of MAGFest that makes it tick is the community vibe. I like to think we cultivate, breed, thrive, however you want to think about it, that vibe. We've got separate rooms for everything a la sci-cons (game room, lan room, panel room, video room, concert room), but it's all nicely, er, "confined" to one area of a hotel so you can rove around and just not worry about someone else's noise messing with whatever you want to do at the event.

There will be two game music concerts (Fri and Sat nights); each typically sports a variety of four or five different bands each night. Tournaments in both the Console and PC areas are happening all the time, and there's also other stuff like Name That Tune and Trivia (sorry, we don't have supercool names for these) going on. And since this goes down in a hotel, there is no "go home" time. Videos are playing in the video room all night so you can watch Captain N (or some bad game movie you love to hate) in the middle of the night at 4am when you can't sleep, or game on a machine at midnight after the concerts are over. Once you get tired, just go to your hotel room and come back, our goal is that there's always something to do, no matter what time it is.

From the bottom of my heart, I invite you.
For pete's sake, bring your ass to MAGFest.

Floor is open to any questions, comments, constructive criticism. I realise I don't have a lot of DP cred (check out my badass postcount!) but it's 10am and I haven't slept so I thought I would pour a little love into a post and see what you guys think.

Jesus, what a novel. Thanks for reading.

**VACRMH** · 09-11-2007, 09:48 AM

First, I want that damn shirt.

Second, 45 minutes away? I may be there

Do you think you'll be able to get Entertainment System to play? They're from the Maryland area.

**mills** · 09-11-2007, 11:23 AM

I'll try my best to make it to this one, I'm broke! I plan on hopping in a van with naz, sam, skiptastic, and others to get there. I don't know if entertainment system will be playing but I know my good friend shawn phase of temp sound solutions should be!

**DogP** · 09-11-2007, 12:09 PM

Oh... cool! Isn't this usually in Charlottesville? Alexandria is really close for me, I'll see if I can make it to this.

DogP

**MrMAGFest** · 09-11-2007, 02:57 PM

VACRMH, the list of bands that are playing this year are still up in the air, but I can tell you who has been talked to and reconfirmed so far: Armcannon, Planet Skill (Wave Theory), Powerglove, Smash Bros, Shawn Phase / Temp Sound Solutions, This Place Is Haunted.

Mills, hope to see you there again! The Shizzers will help you go, if anyone will.

DogP, we did have MAGFest in Charlottesville, but only once. It was a middleground because M1 was held in Roanoke and M2/M3 were held in Williamsburg. I wanted to have it somewhere between the two to make it easier for staff, and we needed a bigger hotel than we could get our hands on in Williamsburg. The Doubletree was great, but only lasted one year (we barely fit in it that year, so another year would not be possible), and moved M5 to Tyson's Corner. I really dreaded having everything in Northern VA at first to be honest but I'm really glad I did in the long run. This year, yep, Alexandria, with a hotel that has better layout and more space than M5, even. Hopefully these guys will let us stay there for multiple years; this is a hotel we can grow a bit in!

**mills** · 09-11-2007, 05:05 PM

just tell me the room service is a hell of a lot cheaper than the last place!!!!!!!!! 45 dollars for a chicken breast! (no sides included) +25 dollar room service fee plus 20% gratuity! rape!

**MrMAGFest** · 09-11-2007, 05:25 PM

Yeah, there are some cheaper places down the street (walking distance) that I would recommend over room service most any time. The staple hilarity among them is "Stone Hot Pizz" which is clearly missing an "a" at the end of their sign. We went there on a whim just because of that and the staff was nice and food was actually quite tasty. Also, 7-11 is right next door. Represent.

**cyberfluxor** · 09-13-2007, 05:11 PM

Myself and a few friends have been discussing MagFest for months. We were currious as to the dates for next years gathering and see what's going on (answers are now given). One of my buds left a voicemail with you months ago (or so he says) and was asking about being a DJ there. I gave him a heads up last night about your thread and I guess he'll have a better idea as to what's going on by this weekend. It's still nice to see it's a 4-day retreat instead of just a 3-day weekend event! Also, we might be able to support the game room, not absolute yet though. If there's anything else you want to share let me know as there may be a few local stores here in Tidewater that will post a notice about the Fest.

**MrMAGFest** · 09-16-2007, 04:11 PM

Man, my voicemail has been such a mess at times, I'd recommend making sure he has my email or aim and getting in touch with me that way. I went ahead and added you, btw, I'll strike up a conversation if I see you online.

Really the best way that anyone could help me out right now (it doesn't even matter where / how far away you are) is if you could print out my flyer (website, click "flyers buttons banners" at the left) and ask those stores if they'll set a few dozen out. They're halfsheets so they don't impose on that precious counterspace.

In terms of gameroom support, I have a lot of systems but not a lot of arcade machines (though we do have somewhere around 10?)... I don't know how you're doing in that department but if travel is the issue I'll help anyone out that's willing to bring an arcade cabinet (at the very least, your badge will be free).

Anyway, hope this answers a little more for you.

**DogP** · 09-17-2007, 01:19 PM

If you need arcades, I'd be glad to bring some if I can make it... but I've only got a minivan to transport them in. If anyone's got a truck in the area, I've got a bunch of games both at my house in Gainesville, and also at my friend's house in Manassas (both are about 30-45 mins from Alexandria). I'm going to be selling a bunch soon since I'm WAY overcrowded (~50 games), but I'll still have plenty by January.

DogP

**MrMAGFest** · 09-17-2007, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by DogP

If you need arcades, I'd be glad to bring some if I can make it... but I've only got a minivan to transport them in. If anyone's got a truck in the area, I've got a bunch of games both at my house in Gainesville, and also at my friend's house in Manassas (both are about 30-45 mins from Alexandria). I'm going to be selling a bunch soon since I'm WAY overcrowded (~50 games), but I'll still have plenty by January.

What! That would be awesome! If we perhaps were to help you transport them up in a box truck, would that make things easier? =] Let me know how you would prefer to chat about the details (PM me with a phone number if you like?), and I'll be in touch.

**DogP** · 09-17-2007, 11:06 PM

Heh, yeah... a box truck would make things MUCH easier

. I'll drop you a PM in a sec.

DogP

**Sothy** · 09-17-2007, 11:27 PM

Thats sounds pretty cool.

And Ill 2nd the notion that I want a shirt that has that logo.
"Video games rock your mom" hehe

**MrMAGFest** · 09-22-2007, 01:55 AM

Sothy, if you like the sig, I've got a cafepress shirt here of basically that image/slogan:
http://www.cafepress.com/magfestius.63093496

Yeah, I know, ugh cafepress, but we do force direct print, so we've been happy with what came out, a few of the test shirts have been washed a dozen times with no degradation.

**VACRMH** · 09-26-2007, 04:51 PM

Just thought i'd mention that my friend and I have booked a room. See everyone there!

**cyberfluxor** · 09-26-2007, 07:28 PM

There's still a pretty good chance I'll be there. I'm going to start withdrawing money each paycheck to save for all of these conventions next year. I can't fork out the $400 from my check the week before anymore, just too much all at once.

**mills** · 11-05-2007, 09:28 PM

I'll be there!

Im riding with the wozz and riding back with skiptastic.
I'll be crashing on shizzies floors for free, since I'm broke.

**cyberfluxor** · 11-09-2007, 06:11 PM

I've got my ticket now I need a hotel room. Don't have the cash at the moment but maybe in a few more weeks. I'll figure something out.

**MrMAGFest** · 11-12-2007, 11:48 PM

Looks like it's time for an update:

Confirmed band list:

Advantage (new), Armcannon, Planet Skill (Wave Theory), Powerglove, Select Start (new), Smash Brothers, Shawn Phase / Temp Sound Solutions, and This Place Is Haunted.

Confirmed guests that are new this year:

Angry Video Game Nerd, Dark Maze Studios (Press Start Movie), ScrewAttack Tom and Craig of Sidescrollers fame, and we're currently working on a few game devs, namely Game Refuge, the guys behind those old great bally/midway humor titles (rampage, archrivals, pigskin, to name a few).

I will probably update the site soon...

**Aussie2B** · 11-13-2007, 06:52 PM

I'll be there with that rascally goof ball SnappleMan in tow.

He's dragging me out this year, and I'm looking forward to checking everything out.

**mills** · 12-09-2007, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Aussie2B

I'll be there with that rascally goof ball SnappleMan in tow.

He's dragging me out this year, and I'm looking forward to checking everything out.

ah snappleman, a fellow shizzie of mine. Can't wait to meet you.

**cyberfluxor** · 12-21-2007, 11:44 PM

Alright, I have a hotel room now and two friends are helping with the parking and room costs, a third person will be up for just Friday and Saturday with some MVS carts. Everything looks to be a go on my end! If for a reason someone needs an emergency night to crash let me know.