⚠️ HOTEL LOTTERY DATES CHANGED TO 10/9 ⚠️

⚠️ HOTEL LOTTERY DATES CHANGED TO 10/9 ⚠️

Before we get ahead of ourselves, please note that the hotel lottery date has been changed to WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9th at 7pm ET (was previously announced as October 2nd). This change was made to accommodate those observing Rosh Hashanah--we apologize for the oversight and inconvenience!

You still must purchase your badge by September 25th at 11:59PM ET in order to be eligible for the early-bird hotel lottery. Anyway, on with the show! 

SUPER MAGFEST 2025 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

 

Pre-registration for Super MAGFest 2025 is NOW OPEN! Head over to the Super MAGFest website to purchase your badge now!

Here are the deets:

  • Single attendee badges are $125 (price increases on November 1st)

  • You must purchase your badge by Wednesday, September 25th at 11:59PM ET to be eligible for early-bird hotel booking (hotel booking info below)

  • Hotel Lottery will take place on October 9th at 7PM ET

  • Hotel pricing is now available via the Pricing Sheet on our Hotel Info Page

  • Additional information is available on our FAQ

⭐️ Become a MAGFest Superstar! ⭐️

 

We're bringing back our “fan favorite” superfluous program for those of you who'd like to go beyond the normal avenues of support, and donate to MAGFest directly: MAGFest Superstars!

As many of you know, MAGFest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and two years ago we started a program for those of you who’d like to donate directly to the org. We were absolutely humbled by the positive response we received, and so we’re bringing back the program for those of you who love MAGFest (and want that sweet, sweet tax deduction).

So, when you're picking up your badge, make sure to explore our "Superstar Donation" section if you're interested in going above and beyond to support our organization. Click here to check out the "exciting" (read: pointless but fun) perks that await you, such as having your beloved pet showcased on our MAG Jumbotron. Whether you choose to donate or not, we sincerely appreciate your consideration. 💙


Don't forget your merch!

As you may have seen in our last announcement, our coveted merch packs are finally revealed! As always, this merch is ONLY available via pre-order, and will NOT be available to purchase at-event. We recommend pre-ordering early, as we have historically sold out in the past. (Despite us adding more packs every year!)

For full details on each of the merch packs, head over to our registration page. It's easily the coolest merch collection we've ever put together. And yes, that is a chilidog air freshener. And it smells like a chilidog. Why? Because we're unhinged and cannot be stopped.

 

DID YOU KNOW... there's even a super secret CRAZY tier of merch, available by invite only. And the only way to score that invite is to pre-order the Maniac Tier merch... 👀 You're going to want to act fast, though! Historically, the highest tier of merch sells out very quickly. Head over to our registration page to get more details!

BurgQuest is THIS WEEK!

BurgQuest takes place September 20th through 22nd, at Woodlands Hotel & Suites in Williamsburg, VA! BurgQuest is a brand new event celebrating all things tabletop gaming, and MAGFest will be there with our robust tabletop game library! The event features three days of board game and RPG free play, panels, guests, game demos, field trips, game design workshops, and more. Check out the event website and registration below:

🌭 Reg opens WED, SEPT. 18th — GOTTA GO FEST! 🏃‍♂️‍➡️

🌭 Reg opens WED, SEPT. 18th — GOTTA GO FEST! 🏃‍♂️‍➡️

REGISTRATION OPENS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th!

 

It's happening! Pre-registration for Super MAGFest 2025 opens this coming Wednesday, September 18th at 2PM ET! Here are the short and sweet details:

  • Badge sales go live on Wednesday, September 18th on the Super MAGFest website

  • Single attendee badges are $125 (price increases on November 1)

  • You must purchase your badge by Wednesday, September 25th at 11:59PM ET to be eligible for early-bird hotel booking (hotel booking info below)

  • Group badge are no longer being offered

  • Additional information is available on our FAQ

And be sure to keep an eye on your inbox (or our social media pages) next week, as we'll have our first guest reveals and more!

HOTEL BOOKING INFO

NOTE: Hotel Lottery Dates have changed from Oct. 2nd to Oct 9th. Click here for more info!

Early bird hotel booking will open 7PM ET on Wednesday, Oct. 2nd 9th to anyone who pre-registered for the event prior to the hotel cutoff of 11:59PM ET on Wednesday, Sept. 25th. Our third-party housing provider, Maritz, will email all eligible registrants with login credentials to the hotel booking website. Please note that receiving the link and login credentials does not guarantee room availability. 

 

A few hours prior to 7PM ET on Oct. 2nd 9th, a waiting room will open for users to standby. Your login credentials will be required to enter the waiting room. At 7PM ET on Oct. 2nd 9th, all users in the waiting room will be randomly ordered and placed into a queue to be given booking access. Any users that join after 7PM ET will be placed at the back of that queue.

Please visit our Hotel Info page for more detailed information, and may the RNG be ever in your favor.

MERCH PACKS REVEALED!

Blink and you'll miss it!

At long last, the 2025 pre-order merch is finally revealed, and boy do we have some insane stuff for you this year! As always, this merch is only available via pre-order when you purchase your badge, so be sure to get yours! These packs are gonna go fast!

For full details on each of the merch packs, head over to our registration page. But here's a quick overview of the Maniac Tier bundle. First off, you'll get our exclusive event t-shirt, lanyard, and MAG logo pin (also available in the T-Shirt tier), along with the 2025 Hot Dog Swadge, MAGFest Mania Drawstring Bag, Melty Ice Cream Bar Squishy, the classic Drive-In Coozie toy, a Themed Tattoo Sheet, an adorable Pango Go-Kart, a Uni-eye Sleep Mask (shudder), and an absolutely unhinged Chilidog Air Freshener (and yes, it smells like a chilidog). All these items are also included in the Emerald Tier.

But that's just the beginning! The Maniac Tier also features a 3-pack of FRESH pour-over coffee from our friends at Redstart Roasters (I've already tested these, and you can make them with the Gaylord room coffee makers—it's legit delicious), plus a gorgeous Emerald Coffee Tumbler so you can caffeinate in style. Plus the Gotta-Go-Fast Socks, the high-quality Maniac Messenger Bag, a gorgeous Acrylic Character Standee, the impossible Rube Cube, and a disgustingly adorable Dr. Garbotnik ultra-soft plushy!

DID YOU KNOW... there's even a super secret CRAZY tier of merch, available by invite only. And the only way to score that invite is to pre-order the Maniac Tier merch... 👀 You're going to want to act fast, though! Historically, the highest tier of merch sells out very quickly. Head over to our registration page to get more details!

Hotel Lottery Happens Tonight!

Hotel Lottery Happens Tonight!

It’s finally here, the most exciting day of the year! (Or the happiest/most infuriating, depending on your RNG.)

the MAGFest Hotel Lottery Starts Tonight at 7pm!

For those of you who purchased their Super MAGFest 2024 badge on or before September 20th, you should receive an email from Maritz with your unique code in order to enter the Hotel Lottery. (If you don’t see it, be sure to check your Spam folder.)

The short version is that you MUST enter the hotel queue before 7pm ET using the link provided in your email. At 7pm, everyone who is currently in the queue will be shuffled and given a spot in line. Once it’s your turn, you’ll have the opportunity to book any available hotel rooms from a variety of hotels in National Harbor at our discounted rate.

For much more detailed information, please check out our Hotel Info page! We’ll also be answering questions live on our Facebook page during the lottery.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.



PS:

A handful of applications are closing soon, including Indie Tabletop and Panels. Please visit magfest.org/apply to get your applications in before it’s too late!


BUY YOUR BADGE BY TONIGHT (9/20) FOR EARLY HOTEL BOOKING

BUY YOUR BADGE BY TONIGHT (9/20) FOR EARLY HOTEL BOOKING

Early Bird Hotel Booking Opens Sept. 27th - Get Your Badge By Tonight To Be Eligible!

🚨REMINDER🚨 You must purchase your badge by 11:59pm ET TONIGHT in order to be eligible for Early Bird hotel booking! If you’re planning to book a room in National Harbor from our MAGFest hotel blocks, you must complete your Super MAGFest 2024 registration by tonight. We’ll be sending out emails from Maritz with booking instructions next week for those who are eligible.

Also, OMEGA Tier merch packages are almost sold out, so act fast if you wanted one! (As of writing this post, we have a little under 10% of our stock left.)

Look out for more band and guest announcements in the coming days and weeks. We’ve got SO much we’re excited to reveal, so get hyped!

We’re just getting started.

REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY!

REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY!

AND FOR OUR FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT, PLEASE WELCOME...

THE PROTOMEN

They're back! With over a decade of MAGFest history, The Protomen are set to deliver an unforgettable headlining performance, transporting you to a rock-filled dystopian future worth fighting for. With powerful vocals, intricate instrumentation, and legendary stage presence, this is one concert you absolutely can't miss! The only question we have is... got anymore of that Act III? 👀




SΔMMUS

No galactic adventure would be complete without this out-of-this-world headliner! Equipped with lyrical missiles targeted directly at your eardrums, SΔMMUS brings a blend of rap, electronic beats, and infectious energy every performance. Bridging the worlds of hip-hop, gaming, and impactful social commentary, SΔMMUS is primed for main stage this January!







Become a MAGFest Superstar!

We're bringing back our “fan favorite” superfluous program for those of you who'd like to go beyond the normal avenues of support, and donate to MAGFest directly: MAGFest Superstars!

As many of you know, MAGFest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and last year we started a new program for those of you who’d like to donate directly to the org. We were absolutely humbled by the positive response we received, and so we’re bringing back the program for those of you who love MAGFest (and want that sweet, sweet tax deduction).

So, when you're picking up your badge, make sure to explore our "Superstar Donation" section if you're interested in going above and beyond to support our organization. Click here to check out the "exciting" (read: pointless but fun) perks that await you, such as having your beloved pet showcased on our MAG Jumbotron. Whether you choose to donate or not, we sincerely appreciate your consideration. 💙

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
REGISTRATION IS LIVE RIGHT NOW!

 

Badge Registration Info:

  • Badge registration opens RIGHT NOW on the Super MAGFest website

  • Single attendee badges are a flat $125 (prices will not change until November 1st)

  • You must purchase your badge by Wednesday September 20th at 11:59PM ET to be eligible for early-bird hotel booking

  • Hotel Booking begins on September 27th – more info available here

  • During checkout, be sure to pre-order a merch package, or optionally donate to become a Superstar!

Registration Opens THIS FRIDAY!

Registration Opens THIS FRIDAY!

It's almost time!

Pre-registration for Super MAGFest 2024 opens this coming Friday, September 15 at 2PM ET! Here are the short and sweet details:

  • Badge sales go live on Friday, September 15 on the Super MAGFest website

  • Single attendee badges are a flat $125 (next price increase on November 1).

  • You must purchase your badge by Wednesday, September 20 at 11:59PM ET to be eligible for early-bird hotel booking (hotel booking info below).

  • NEW THIS YEAR: all hotels in National Harbor will require a 3-night minimum to book (Thurs-Sun of the event).

  • Additional information is available on our FAQ.


UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY POLICIES

In case you missed it, Super MAGFest 2024 will not require masking or proof of vaccination in order to attend. We will continue to provide masks, hand sanitizer, reminder signage, and other supplies in order to facilitate a safer environment at-event. We continue to highly encourage masking, and will be clarifying our anti-harassment policy to underscore that we will not tolerate harassment based on a person’s choice to wear a mask.

Please note that we may update or change these policies at any time to maximize the safety of our attendees. We commit to announcing any updates across multiple mediums and as soon as possible so that people can make informed decisions about their attendance.

For much more detailed information, please head over to the Health & Safety page on our website.

HOTEL BOOKING INFO

Early bird hotel booking will open 7PM ET on Wednesday, Sept. 27 to anyone who pre-registered for the event prior to the hotel cutoff of 11:59PM ET on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Our third-party housing provider, Maritz, will email all eligible registrants with login credentials to the hotel booking website. Please note that receiving the link and login credentials does not guarantee room availability. 

A few hours prior to 7PM ET on Sept. 27, a waiting room will open for users to standby. Your login credentials will be required to enter the waiting room. At 7PM ET on Sept. 27, all users in the waiting room will be randomly ordered and placed into a queue to be given booking access. Any users that join after 7PM ET will be placed at the back of that queue.

Please visit our Hotel Info page for more detailed information, and may the RNG be ever in your favor.

The Last MAGTroid is in This Merch 

Bounty hunting through the cold depths of space can be tumultuous, and you’ve got to be prepared for anything. We've collected the most valuable artifacts across the galaxy and are excited to finally reveal the three available packs (available via pre-order only): The T-Shirt Tier, the Phazon Tier, and the OMEGA Tier.

For full details on each of the merch packs, head over to our registration page. But as a quick overview, let's go through the merch included in the OMEGA Tier bundle. First off, you'll get our exclusive event t-shirt, lanyard, and spinner pin (also available in the T-Shirt tier), along with a MAGFest Prime drawstring bag, a squishy MAGTroid jelly toy, the Gunship Swadge, a Galactic Passport with stickers and floaty space pen, as well as a Gunship luggage tag (also in the Phazon Tier).

But we're just getting started. Because the OMEGA Tier also features a full-sized MAGTroid Puppet Plushy, the coveted Body DeVillowcase (a reversible body pillowcase), a Spaceship Tech Backpack, the MAGCube Bento Box, a "Zip" bottle opener, a custom Gunship Swadge Shell, and more!

Plus, rumor has is that there's a hidden CRAZY tier of merch, available by secret invite, only. And the only way to score that invite is to pre-order the OMEGA Tier merch... 👀 You're going to want to act fast, though! Historically, the highest tier of merch sells out very quickly, despite us maxing out our production quantity. Head over to our registration page to get more details!

Super MAGFest is January 18-21, 2024

Super MAGFest is January 18-21, 2024

The biggest Music and Gaming Festival in the world returns to National Harbor, MD this January! That's right, it's time to arm your cannons, activate your scan visor, and prepare yourself for four days of non-stop music, gaming, and bounty hunting.

Join us in descending to the MAGLord IV (commonly known on Earth as the Gaylord National) this January 18th to 21st, and help us once again bring peace to the galaxy. More mission details are in the video below. Any objections?

We'll have much more information, including hotel info, merch reveals, plus guests and band announcements, coming Soon™, so stay tuned to our social media to keep up to date. But in the meantime, Stock and West are right around the corner, and we do have some big announcements for those...

MAGStock 2023 Band Lineup

MAGStock is back at Camp Ramblewood NEXT WEEK — June 8-11. If you've been keeping up with our announcements, you already know how stacked our lineup is for this outdoor, nerd camping extravaganza. We've got extra tricks up our sleeves this year, including a full pool stage lineup, a real live wizard, a new & improved shooting gallery, and the return of the chili cookoff! More details coming this week, but in the meantime...

But what about those West Coast Jams?

MAGWest returns to sunny San Jose this July 14-16, and (not to be outdone by those bums over at Stock) we ALSO have an insane band lineup for the weekend! Check it out.

Ay! (Three days of amazing concerts, pool parties, infinite gaming, and much more! It all kicks off at the San Jose DoubleTree, so gear up and throw down with us this July!)

Head over to magwest.org to grab your badge now. And be sure to check out the ink-credible swag packs still available to order.

Keep an eye on our Twitter for more announcements on everything MAG. And come check out our Discord while you're at it! :D

Guest Announcements & Hotel Lottery Info!

Guest Announcements & Hotel Lottery Info!

Please welcome Capt Crabs & Tasbot!

Capt Crabs is a DJ, VTuber, Artist, Author, and Animator with over 15 years in the game industry, alongside compositing work for Red vs Blue, RWBY, Orange is the New Black, and more—this guy does it all! Ever-active in our very own MAGFest Discord, the Capt has been collecting quite the fanbase, especially after his phenomenal DJ set at MAGStock. Not to mention, these little Crab plushies are absolutely delightful. :3

You know the age-old saying; "no matter how skilled you are at speedrunning, there's an adorable robot out there way, way better than you." -Michael Scott

Fan favorite TASBot and his human keeper, dwangoAC, are set to return to MAG in a big, smashing way! For those not familiar, TASBot specializes in not only performing millisecond-precise inputs to achieve true gaming perfection, but this little guy straight BREAKS some of the games he gets his adorable robot clamps on. Expect a mind-blowing display of skill, engineering, and raw entertainment—not to mention galaxy brain panels—this coming January!

Register by Midnight ET to Enter The Hotel Lottery

Oh-ho! It's everyone's favorite time of year, the annual MAGFest Hotel Lottery! 🥳😭😫🫠 As is tradition, everyone who has registered for Super MAGFest 2023 by October 5th at 11:59pm ET (tonight) will receive an email on October 7th with information about the hotel booking process. On October 12th, starting at 12pm ET, Maritz will send you an email containing your unique login credentials, which will grant you access to the waiting room. At 7pm, everyone in the waiting room will be randomized and placed in a queue to book an available hotel room. Woof, that's a lot of info, let's break it down, line-by-line:

  • Register for your Super MAGFest 2023 badge by TONIGHT at Midnight ET

  • You'll receive an email from Maritz on October 7th with information about the hotel booking process

  • On October 12th at 12pm ET, Maritz will send you an email with a unique link, granting access to the hotel lottery waiting room where you will stand by until 7pm

  • At 7pm ET, everyone in the waiting room will be randomized—if you enter the waiting room after 7pm, you will be placed at the end of the queue

  • After randomization, you will either immediately be let into the site to make your hotel reservation, or (more likely) be given a queue number (i.e. #420 out of #2183)

  • Once you are on the booking site, you will have 10 minutes beyond your last activity to complete your hotel registration

Please visit our Hotel Info page for more detailed information on the entire process!

Need to Transfer Your Badge?

If you already have a badge for Super 2023 (whether you purchased it recently, or if you have a badge you deferred from 2022), you can go to your badge confirmation page (linked in your confirmation email, or click here to resend it) and click “Transfer my Badge”. You will then be prompted to send it to the person you are transferring to. THAT person must claim/transfer the badge before the deadline (11:59pm ET tonight) to ensure they receive the hotel lottery email.

In Other News...

And may the odds be ever in your favor…

REGISTRATION IS LIVE + FIRST BANDS ANNOUNCED!

REGISTRATION IS LIVE + FIRST BANDS ANNOUNCED!

Please Welcome the Grammy-Award Winning Orchestra The 8-Bit Big Band!

Founded in 2017 by Charlie Rosen, best known for his Tony Award winning work on Broadway, The 8-Bit Big Band is a world class jazz orchestra created to celebrate and reimagine video game music's most beloved hits. (Not to mention a handful of deep cuts 🔪) Their orchestra, featuring over 30 musicians, has quickly amassed a huge and well-earned following, selling out concert venues across the US.

Oh, and did we mention they won a Grammy earlier this year?

Alongside co-arranger Jake Silverman (👀), the 8BBB made history with the first ever Grammy win for a VGM arrangement, taking home Best Instrumental Arrangement with Meta Knight's Revenge. And I have it on good authority that they'll be performing it LIVE at MAGFest! (Okay, I don't actually know that, but c'mon Charlie... pleeeeaaaasseee?) We absolutely can't wait for this unrivaled orchestra to make history on our stage this coming January.

Our 20th Anniversary Wouldn't be Complete without The OneUps

I'll be frank with you. There probably wouldn't even be a MAGFest if not for the absolute legendary band The OneUps. This funk and jazz fusion band has been with us since the beginning—that's right, The OneUps played the very first MAGFest ever, all the way back in 2002.

The OneUps have been leaders and inspirations to the entire live VGM community for over 20 years, and they still continue to absolutely tear the entire damn house down with every performance! We could not be more thrilled to share our 20th Anniversary with some of the most incredible talent—and coolest people—we've ever come across. 

Become a MAGFest Superstar!

We're introducing a new, totally superfluous program for those of you who'd like to go beyond the normal avenues of support, and donate to MAGFest directly. We call it MAGFest Superstars!

You might already know, but MAGFest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and, aside from the 2020 Telethon, we generally don't directly ask for donations. However, it's no secret that the events industry has taken a hit over the last couple years. And so, for those of you who have a bit of extra cash to burn (and want that sweet, sweet tax deduction), we wanted to offer some fun (but ultimately silly) perks to donating to MAG.

So, when you're grabbing your badge, be sure to check out the "Superstar Donation" section if you're into the idea of tossing some extra cabbage to help our organization. Click here to see the list of perks (like your name featured on our MAG Jumbotron, for example), or just to learn more. We don't expect you to donate, but we are incredibly grateful for even considering to do so! 💙

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? REGISTRATION IS LIVE RIGHT NOW!

Badge Registration Info:

  • Badge registration opens RIGHT NOW on the Super MAGFest website

  • Single attendee badges are a flat $125 (prices will not change during pre-registration)

  • You must purchase your badge by Wednesday October 5th at 11:59PM ET to be eligible for early-bird hotel booking

  • Hotel Booking begins on October 12th – more info available here

  • During checkout, optionally pre-order a merch package, or donate to become a Superstar!

Registration Opens on Sept 28th!

Registration Opens on Sept 28th!

Badge Registration Info

  • Badge registration opens on Wednesday, September 28th at 3PM ET on the Super MAGFest website

  • Single attendee badges are a flat $125 (prices will increase on November 1st)

  • You must purchase your badge by Wednesday October 5th at 11:59PM ET to be eligible for early-bird hotel booking (info below)

  • Additional information available on our FAQ

COVID-19 Policy Information

The short version: All people attending Super MAGFest 2023 must have their original COVID-19 vaccine series, must bring proof of vaccination to pick up their badges, and must wear masks in any event space.

Furthermore, we highly encourage well-fitting, high-quality masks (such as N-95, KN-95, or KF-94 masks) and updated booster shots where eligible. For the full details, please read on!

Hotel Booking Info

Hotel room reservations will open 7PM ET on Wednesday, October 12th to anyone who pre-registered for the event prior to 11:59PM ET on October 5th. Maritz will email all eligible registrants with a link and login credentials to the hotel booking website. Receiving the link and login credentials does not guarantee room availability. 

A few hours prior to 7PM ET on October 12th, a waiting room will open for users to standby. Your login credentials will be required to enter the waiting room. At 7PM ET on October 12th, the users in the waiting room will be randomly ordered and placed into a queue to be given booking access. Any users that join after 7PM ET will be placed at the back of that queue. 

Please visit our Hotel Info page for more detailed information, and may the RNG be ever in your favor.

S-Tier Merch for our 20th Anniversary

We've decided to go all-out with this year's merch packages! To celebrate our big 20th, we've got three OP options for you: T-Shirt Tier, Brawler Tier, and ULTIMATE Tier. Let's take a look at the biggun:

With all that (and more surprises later), the ULTIMATE Tier is the quintessential way to celebrate 20 incredible MAGFest events. All of our merch is expertly crafted by our friends at Fangamer, so you can expect unrivaled quality. (Seriously, the duffel bag and memory foam pillow are my absolute favorites!)

Also, rumor has it that everyone who pre-ordered the ULTIMATE Tier package will receive a secret invite to an even CRAZIER merch tierwith the absolute most exclusive, incredible, and extremely limited item we've ever produced!

But that's not all. This year's Swadge is in a world of its own. Featuring a newly updated chipset, full color LCD screen, more LEDs, multiplayer modes, more I/O, and a HUGE roster of incredible games, our 20th Anniversary Swadge (dubbed the SquareWaveBird) is a true powerhouse. Also, for the first time ever, your Swadge is programmable via standard USB-C!

Super MAGFest is Jan 5th-8th

Super MAGFest is Jan 5th-8th

Super MAGFest Melee

The 20th Anniversary of Super is January 5th-8th

It's really happening! Super MAGFest will return to the Gaylord National Resort this upcoming January 5th through 8th, 2023. From its humble 2002 beginnings, MAGFest has finally reached our 20th main event, and it's going to be a celebration unlike anything we've ever done before.

We've been hard at work prepping for Super 2023, and while there's still a seemingly-infinite amount more to do, it's clearly shaping up to be our biggest and best event yet. Over the next few months, we'll be drip-feeding guest and band announcements, merch showcases, character reveals (!?), and so much more. So keep an eye on our Twitter account for updates, including badge and hotel info.

Y'all Got Anymore of Them Reveals?

Ya know, it really wouldn't be a MAGFest post without at least a few extra tantalizing surprises. Back in mid-July, we had an impromptu Twitch stream where we showed off in-development hardware and software for the 2023 Swadge. This project has quickly spun way, way out of control, and what began as a simple evolution of last year's badass Chainsaw Swadge has turned into something brand new, entirely. We're still working out the final form factor, but even our dev kits are absolutely nuts.

Plus, this Swadge is not only fully open source, but features data USB-C, so everyone will be able to flash/update/hack their Swadge to their heart's content. And, yes, it will still have fully dynamic RGBs, so you can look just like your tricked-out PC while partying in the concert hall. If you're interested in assisting with development, coding a game, or getting our fully-featured Swadge emulator running on your PC, shoot us an email at swadge@magfest.org.

Safety is Still Our Priority!

Similar to Super MAGFest 2022, we'll be implementing several critical measures to ensure we're all able to enjoy a classic MAGFest experience while staying safe. While our full COVID policy will be available prior to the launch of badge sales, expect similarities to our 2022 precautions, such as vaccination requirements and masks. 💙


MAGWest is BACK and IRL!

Time to soak up that San Jose sun 🌞


MAGWest 2022 is returning to The DoubleTree Hilton this August 19th-21st, just TWO WEEKS AWAY!

We've got BIG names coming, from 8-Bit Music Theory to Hyper Potions to Kirby's Dream Band—the gang's all here! Not to mention Jamspace, pool parties, and some main stage concert surprises. And 1337 gamers will be happy to know that we're back with a larger arcade, more consoles, challenges, tabletops, plus indie devs all over!

Want to relive the magic of PC gaming in the Windows XP era? Retro LAN has you covered with computers and games from your awful teen years. The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (MADE) is also back with plenty of retro games for your enjoyment! We've got something for everyone, so don't miss out!

Introducing The Super MAGFest Super Show!

Introducing The Super MAGFest Super Show!

Hey.

We know that so many of your won’t be able to join us in person for Super MAGFest 2022, and while that sucks, we thought we’d try to bring a little bit of the in-person MAG Magic straight to your home.

Introducing: The Super MAGFest Super Show!

TSMSS, as we’ve started calling it internally, is a Live Hosted Digital 4D ARGVR360 Extravagasm Experience™. On both Friday and Saturday from 6pm-Midnight, join us at twitch.tv/MAGFest for 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓀𝑒 MAGFest digital content, such as:

  • Guest and band interviews

  • Behind the scenes with staff

  • Live floor coverage of the show

  • A 24/7 Live DeVito Shrine Broadcast*

    • (*maybe)

  • And all the usual surprises and host shenanigans that come with a MAGFest broadcast!

We’ll have much more information in the coming days, so keep an eye on our social medias (specifically Twitter). Seriously, it’s going to be absolutely wild.

Early Bird Hotel Launch is TODAY!

Early Bird Hotel Launch is TODAY!

If you purchased your Super MAGFest badge by prior to Tuesday, Oct 12th at 11:59pm ET, you will receive an email from Maritz with your login credentials and instructions by 3pm today. We recommend logging into the virtual waiting room by 6:45pm ET. Below is a brief walkthrough on what to do when hotel booking opens up at 7pm ET tonight.

For more detailed information, please visit our Hotel Info Page.

With love,

MAGFest Team <3

Super MAG Registration Opens NOW!

Super MAG Registration Opens NOW!

Skip the rest of this bull-honkery, and grab your badge...

More Registration Details

  • Badge registration is open RIGHT NOW on our website

  • Single attendee badges are a flat $110 (prices go up on January 1)

  • You must purchase your badge by Tuesday, October 12 at 11:59PM ET to be eligible for early-bird hotel booking (that's 1 week!! more info below)

  • Hotel booking begins on Tuesday, October 19 at 7:00PM ET

  • Check out our FAQ, including cancellation policies, for more info

Don't Forget to Order Your Merch!

As usual, there are three tiers of merch to choose from, and you'll want to pre-order it alongside your badge to guarantee getting it. Especially the Swadge, cause holy abyss, the Swadge this year is absolutely insane.

Pre-Registration Launch DELAYED

Pre-Registration Launch DELAYED

Pre-Reg for Super MAGFest 2022 is Delayed Until October 5th

This wasn’t the news we wanted to share with you today, but pre-reg is being delayed until Tuesday, October 5th. Here’s the TL;DR, but if you’re interested in the technical reasons behind the delay, more information is below.

TL;DR:

  • The entire reg & hotel booking process is delayed by 6 days (but is otherwise exactly the same!)

  • Pre-registration for Super MAGFest 2022 opens Tuesday, October 5th at 3pm ET

  • Eligibility for early bird hotel booking ends on October 12th at 11:59pm ET (meaning you must buy your badge before then if you want the best shot at hotel rooms)

  • Hotel booking begins Tuesday, October 19th at 7pm ET (waiting room opens hours prior)

We’re truly sorry. Please keep a close eye on the MAGFest Twitter account and your email inbox for updates in the coming days.

Please accept our apology in the form of these photos of the latest member to the MAG fam, Pinto: The Tiniest Bean.

Alright, so here’s what happened.

A few days ago we opened up registration for marketplace vendors. This fundamentally uses the same internal system that attendees (and even staff) use to register for their MAGFest badges, and should be familiar if you’ve bought a badge from us in recent years. Unfortunately, the configuration management software we use to scale our server infrastructure up and down for larger loads changed how they distribute the software in a way that broke the automation process we’ve been using for years.

While we tested our deployment systems last month, it turns out some time between then and now, VMWare decided to remove legacy SaltStack deployments, something completely unforeseen by us. Currently, we’re trying to adapt to the new software, which requires updating quite a lot of our code. The alternative is to manually deploy by hand, but that has the potential to be an error-prone disaster.

But hey, it wouldn’t be a MAGFest launch without at least a few hitches, right? Let’s just hope we spent our “oh no oh god” budget on pre-registration launch, and not hotel booking.

Thanks for being patient with us. <3

Registration and Hotel Launch Info Available

Registration and Hotel Launch Info Available

Registration NOW Opens on October 5th

NOTE: This article has been updated with the latest dates surrounding Super MAGFest 2022 registration and hotel booking.

Badge Registration Info

  • Badge registration opens on Tuesday, October 5th at 3PM ET on the Super MAGFest website

  • Single attendee badges are a flat $110 (prices will not change during pre-registration)

  • You must purchase your badge by Tuesday October 12th at 11:59PM ET to be eligible for early-bird hotel booking (info below)

  • Additional information – including cancellation policies – are available on this page

 

Hotel Booking Info

Hotel room reservations will open 7PM ET on Tuesday, October 19th to anyone who pre-registered for the event prior to 11:59PM ET on October 12th. Maritz will email all eligible registrants with a link and login credentials to the hotel booking website. Receiving the link and login credentials does not guarantee room availability. 

A few hours prior to 7PM ET on October 19th, a waiting room will open for users to standby. Your login credentials will be required to enter the waiting room. At 7PM ET on October 19th, the users in the waiting room will be randomly ordered and placed into a queue to be given booking access. Any users that join after 7PM ET will be placed at the back of that queue. 

Please visit our Hotel Info page for more detailed information, and may the RNG be ever in your favor.

Sweet Merciful Succubus, This Merch is HOT

This year's exclusive kick-in merch comes straight from the fiery depths of the underworld. The only question is... do you think can you handle it? Here's just a sneak peek:

As usual, there are three tiers of merch to choose from, and you'll want to pre-order it alongside your badge to guarantee getting it. Especially the Swadge, cause holy abyss, the Swadge this year is absolutely insane.

Swadge_Features.png

Marketplace is Invite-Only This Year

Marketplace is Invite-Only This Year

This year is INVITE-ONLY!

ADDED NOTE: If you were eligible and applied for the Marketplace for Super MAGFest 2022, you will automatically receive the email for Early Bird hotel booking when it goes live.

—————————-

Hello vendors and artists!

Due to the ongoing complexities with COVID-19, we have decided to make Super MAGFest 2022's Marketplace application invite-only.

To qualify to apply, you or your business must have been accepted and participated as a seller during Super MAGFest 2019 or 2020; this includes table shares we approved for both years as well.

The invitation to apply does NOT guarantee a table in our Marketplace – the invitation only permits the ability to apply.

How things will work:

If you are eligible to apply for the Super MAGFest 2022 Marketplace, you will receive an email on Monday, September 20th. Upon receiving that email, you'll get additional instructions on application dates, eligibility, and how to apply.

If your business has changed names or rebranded and you believe you qualify for Super MAGFest 2022's Marketplace application, please email marketplace@magfest.org with details on your business's changes.

If you do NOT receive an email on Monday and believe this to be in error, please contact marketplace@magfest.org.

Okay. But why?

We completely recognize this sucks, especially for new vendors and artists who were hoping to participate in the Marketplace for 2022. The truth is that there are far more variables this year due to COVID-19 that we've had to plan for, and this has put us in a position of significantly reduced staff bandwidth, including the team who meticulously audits and selects vendors each year.

This was a very difficult choice, because the last thing we want is to disappoint people. But unfortunately this was a necessary concession in order for us to run a Marketplace comparable to previous years for the attendees and vendors alike.

We absolutely plan for the Super MAGFest 2023 Marketplace to return to its standard state with open applications, and more lead time for vendors. Honestly, we can't express how sorry we are to those unable to apply and truly hope they'll stick with us and apply for Super 2023.

Sincerely,
The Marketplace Team

Super MAGFest is January 6-9, 2022

Super MAGFest is January 6-9, 2022

MAGFest is UnDead

One might even say we're... Eternal.

We're back, and deader than ever! Get those Doom Slayer cosplays ready, because Super MAGFest is happening from January 6th through the 9th, 2022 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor.

Can you believe it? We all actually get to meet up. In person. Like we used to do in the before-fore times. Actual real concerts with human beings around us, and gigantic rooms full of video games we can play with our friends... without an internet connection.

What's that even going to be like? I'm pretty sure we've entirely forgotten how to make small talk anymore. Well, we can all wade through our awkward re-emergence into the real world together, and start off 2022 in the absolute best way possible: waiting in line for 15 minutes to play that washing machine rhythm game thing.

While we'll certainly bring you the same awesome experience you'd expect from MAGFest, we expect there to be a few policy changes and precautionary measures. Presently, we don't have specifics regarding COVID safety, but rest assured that our top priority is your safety, and we'll be closely following CDC guidelines. In the meantime, please take a sec to take this safety survey for us (only 2 required questions!).

While we plan out the festivities, we'd love to hear from you on who or what you'd love to see. Do you have a guest from MAGs past you'd like to see return? Hoping for a fresh face that we've never booked? Our Guest Department is looking for suggestions for 2022 and beyond. Tell us who you'd like to see!

And what would MAGFest be without music? Well, I guess "AGFest". Anyway, performer applications for our mainstage are LIVE and we are looking for all types of acts for Super 2022! This form is the only way to be considered for a slot, and applications close on 9/1. (Visualists, please apply using this form as well!) Apply right here!

Interested in applying to sell in our Marketplace? Vendor applications will open in mid-August, with more information coming soon. You can sign up for our vendor interest list to receive those updates by email, or just keep an eye on our social media channels until then!

MAGWest is the MAGBest!

They paid me thirty MPoints to write that.


MAGWest 2021 will be a digital extravaganza taking place November 4-6! We've got some big plans in store this year, with more info to come soon! Application windows are currently OPEN for Panels, Indie Games, and Marketplace, so if you've got a great idea, great game, or great wares, head on over to magwest.org to submit your application! Hurry, though! Applications close July 31.

~ S'more Updates ~

Aw man now I want a s'more.

MAGStock is sadly cancelled again this year. And right after I bought this clearanced 8-person cabin tent from Dick's. It even has a freaking vestibule! Well, there's always next year.

Be sure to check out Dreamhack Beyond – starting tomorrow until July 31st – and swing by the virtual MAGFest booth! Seriously, their digital event is incredible this year!

Announcing Virtual MAGFest

Announcing Virtual MAGFest

Update: This event is no longer happening due to internal and external issues. We appreciate your understanding. Sorry, everyone.

It's Happening. Virtually.

Virtual MAGFest is happening January 22-24 on Twitch.tv/MAGFest& Discord.gg/MAGFest


Let's just rip this band-aid off now. It absolutely SUCKS that we can't gather together in person at our beloved January event, but that's not gonna slow us down. We've been working hard behind the scenes to prepare you for the most INTENSE MOTHERCRUSHING VIRTUAL EVENT YOU'VE EVER SEEN.

This ain't your standard "2020 livestream last-ditch digital event". We're not only bringing you the classic concerts and gaming stuff, but we're focusing on ridiculous interactive content that we normally wouldn't be able to do at a physical event. (Bean pits, game jams, etc...) Stay tuned for more specifics, but while you're here, I guess we could tease this:

Can we talk about this for a second? That's a virtual event space we're dubbing The MAGLord, and you'll be able to join in on the fun in VRChat come January 22nd. More on this later, but we hope you're as pumped as we are. Btw, we're looking for more talented folks to help us craft things like our Digital DeVito Dump Shrine, so please toss an email to vrchat@magfest.org and join the Discord.

MAGFest Is Cancelled

MAGFest Is Cancelled

MORE INFORMATION REGARDING VIRTUAL MAGFEST COMING SOON!

magtelethon_long_02.png

Hey everyone - 

We know many of you saw this coming. Like you, we also held out hope for good news, a vaccine, anything that would mean we’d be able to Super MAG together safely in January. That hasn’t happened. The last six months have been devastating, and we hate to add one more thing to your List of Events Cancelled by COVID, but, here we are. For the first time in our 18-year history, we will not be able to put on the greatest weekend of music and gaming for the community we love. There will be no in-person Super MAGFest in January 2021.

Taking a year off from an in-person MAGFest is not something we take lightly. All year, we look forward to the chance to see our friends, have fun, and immerse ourselves in gaming, music, DeVito shrines, and everything in between. The proceeds from Super MAGFest go towards covering event costs, paying our employees, and nurturing our communities across MAGWest, MAGStock, Bitgen, and other events. Without Super in 2021, it’s difficult to predict what our organization’s future will look like.

If you know us, you know that we care a lot about our Core Values, and that our community (that’s you!) is everything. And in striving to be sincere and transparent with you, we have to let you know how serious this decision is for us. It’s very possible that we, as an organization, will be in dire straits in the coming year or two.  

We don’t want to see that happen, and we hope you don’t either. So, we’re asking for your support by inviting you to MAGTelethon: The Big-Ass Big Ask on Twitch, this Sunday 9/13 at 12pm ET. 

A telethon? Yeah buddy, like it’s 1992. Join us for fundraising shenanigans, special guests, and absolutely ridiculous programming on twitch.tv/magfest.

And there are multiple ways that YOU can help us:

  • Make a tax-deductible donation to MAGFest. Any donations totalling $85 or more between now and 9/15 will get you a Telethon-themed badge and lanyard (mailed this fall)

  • Submit a short ~30 second video of your favorite MAGMemory, MAGStory, or what MAGFest means to you here. (it might get played during the telethon!)

  • Create and submit MAGFest art here – as beautiful or as stupid as you’d like – to be featured on the badge (DeVito fanart has entered the chat)

  • Tune in at 12pm ET on Sunday 9/13 to twitch.tv/magfest

  • And keep an eye on our Twitter for updates, surprises, and superb shitposts

Here are some FANTASTIC reasons to donate!

  • MAGFest is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so can you say “TAX DEDUCTIBLE”?

  • If you donate $85 or more (in total), we’ll mail you a badge and lanyard, featuring the community art sent to us this week!

  • You’ll be featured on our Prestigious List of Bonors Donors on our website

  • MAGFest is a pretty cool guy

  • The Telethon will feature asinine donation goal incentives, such as:

    • Live song requests

    • Barefoot LEGO walks

    • Playing your terrible Mario Maker levels live

    • Arbitrary loading and unloading of arcade machines

    • Exclusive access to the Official MAGFest FansOnly livestream

    • AND SO MUCH MORE!

  • But seriously, MAGFest is entering some mysterious waters that no one (seriously, who saw 2020 unfolding like this?) expected, and your support will help us stay afloat so we can come back with a vengeance with Super MAGFest 2022.

You already know - MAGFest is more than just our events - we’re an organization built around making the world a better place through video games. Not only do over 1,300 volunteers come together each January to make Super MAGFest a memorable experience for almost 25,000 people, we have 8 employees and tons of volunteers working year-round to make our events happen.


Donate if you can. Submit a video! Join us on Sunday for MAGFest foolishness. Your support today ensures that we will be able to continue providing programming in some way until it’s safe for us to be together in person again. We love you and can’t wait to party in person.