MAGFest

Last updated

MAGFest
MagfestLogosquarewave.gif
StatusActive
Genre Video games, video game music, chiptune
Venue Gaylord National Convention Center [1]
Location(s) National Harbor, Maryland
Other occurrence
CountryUnited States
InauguratedSeptember 27–29, 2002
Other events
  • MAGLabs:
  • September 12–14, 2014
  • MAGWest:
  • August 25–28, 2017
Most recentJanuary 23–26, 2025
Other events
  • MAGLabs:
  • March 29, 2025
  • MAGWest:
  • September 27–29, 2024
Next eventJanuary 8–11 2026
Other events
  • MAGLabs:
  • TBA
  • MAGWest:
  • August 8–10 2025
Attendance24,000 in 2020
Organized byMAGFest Inc.,
501(c)(3) non-profit organization [2]
Website https://magfest.org

MAGFest (Music and Gaming Festival, originally the Mid-Atlantic Gaming Festival) is a non-profit organization and video game, art, music, and culture festival. [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.

Contents

In addition to the primary "Super MAGFest" circuit, MAGWest is held annually in California and the smaller MAGLabs is held biannually in Baltimore, Maryland. All events are primarily run by a large volunteer base, supported and organized by a small, paid office staff.

Attractions

The arcade hall at Super MAGFest 2025 MAGFest2025-Arcade-HighAngle.jpg
The arcade hall at Super MAGFest 2025

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 is also 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. [5] 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" [6] 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 [7] 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, as well as a jam space. [5] 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 [8] and Nobuo Uematsu. [9] 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. In 2024, a "Folkwise" panel including employees from the US Library of Congress discussed video game culture. [5]

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." [10]

History

Origins in Virginia (2002-2011)

Yamine inducted into The Walter Day Collection in 2018 for the creation of MAGFest. Joseph Yamine.jpg
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. Nick Marinelli, director of press and public relations, stated in an interview that Yamine "wanted people to just come together, play games, and rock out to some great video game cover bands". [11] 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. [12]

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". [13] 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 Margolis passed from brain cancer in 2017, a memorial notice was added to the cabinet. [14] [15] The event was extended in length from MAGFest 8 in 2010, going from a three-day to a four-day schedule. [13] 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 independently at another venue as Games Done Quick (GDQ). GDQ has since become a recurring event circuit in its own right. [16]

New venues and expansion (2012-2020)

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 the primary event circuit became known as "Super MAGfest". MAGLabs went on hiatus from 2019.

COVID-19 pandemic and hiatus (2020-2021)

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the event. Super MAGFest 2020 was conducted that January, shortly before social distancing restrictions were introduced, but MAGWest 2020 and 2021 could only be conducted as digital events. [21] A September 2020 announcement cancelled 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. [22]

In addition to the financial challenge the pandemic represented, with the loss of 95% of the organisation's revenue for the year, "interpersonal and cultural issues" within the senior management team led to instability. [23] 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 Debra Lenik, which in effect cancelled the planned virtual event for 2021. Lenik considered the move a retaliatory action, and was told that she could only keep her health insurance if she signed an agreement not to sue the organisation. The entire board resigned in January 2021, [24] and Paul Birtel himself resigned 10 days later. [25] Through the following three months the new board worked to stabilise the organisation, with Lenik being rehired in her original role in April 2021. The organisation announced some structural changes including the presence of volunteer staff on the board, as well as the return of former staff members and volunteers. [26]

Return (2022- present)

Super MAGFest 2022 was formally announced in August 2021, confirming a return to the in-person event schedule. [27] 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, [28] rising to 18,987 in 2023. [29] Super MAGFest 2024 was announced on May 31, 2023 and was the first event to sell out at the Gaylord National Harbour Convention Centre, with an attendance of around 30,000. [30] [5]

MAGLabs returned in 2025, now held at a new venue in Baltimore. The revived MAGLabs focuses on games related arts and crafts, such as tabletop miniatures and scenery. The relaunched MAGLabs was a smaller, one day event with free entry. [31]

Event history

Main events

TitleDates [32] LocationAttendanceGuests
Mid-Atlantic Gaming FestivalSep 27–29, 2002Holiday Inn Tanglewood
Roanoke, VA 		265Everyone, Minibosses, the OneUps [12]
MAGFest 2.0Oct 31–Nov 2, 2003Clarion Hotel
Williamsburg, VA 		375The Smash Bros., Wave Theory, Minibosses
MAGFest M3Oct 1–3, 2004500Inheretics, Chromelodeon, the Jenova Project, the NESkimos, Temp Sound Solutions, Minibosses, the Smash Bros., Wave Theory
MAGFest M4Jan 13–15, 2006Doubletree Hilton
Charlottesville, VA 		750Parasprinter, Powerglove, Search Snake, This Place Is Haunted, Sprite Slowdown, Minibosses, the NESkimos, the Smash Bros., Wave Theory
MAGFest M5Jan 4–7, 2007Sheraton Premiere
Vienna, VA 		950 Armcannon, Year 200X, Chromelodeon, Parasprinter, Powerglove, the Smash Bros., Temp Sound Solutions, This Place Is Haunted, Wave Theory
MAGFest VIJan 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 7Jan 1–4, 20091350Armcannon, Armadillo Tank, Entertainment System, the Megas, Metroid Metal, A Rival, Rare Candy, Temp Sound Solutions, the Smash Bros., This Place Is Haunted, [33] Year 200X
MAGFest 8Jan 1–4, 20102200Armcannon, 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, [33] Brentalfloss
MAGFest 9Jan 13–16, 20113000+ (Capped) The Protomen, 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 [34]
MAGFest XJan 5–8, 2012 Gaylord National Convention Center
National Harbor, MD 		6100+ [35] Earthbound Papas, [9] 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, Battlecake, Chipocrite, Knife City, Jake 'Virt' Kaufman, Inverse Phase, Animal Style, An0va, Zen Albatross, Dauragon, A Rival, DJ Cats
MAGFest 11Jan 3–6, 20139000+ 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 [36]
MAGFest 12Jan 2–5, 201412,000+ Machinae Supremacy, the OneUps, Love Canon, Bit Brigade, Urizen, X-Hunters, the Megas, Knight of the Round, Mega Ran, MegaDriver, Super Guitar Bros, Those Who Fight, On Being Human, This Place Is Haunted, Armcannon, Rare Candy, LonelyRollingStars, GameChops DJ Battle
MAGFest 13Jan 23–26, 201517,000+ Yuu Miyake, Machinae Supremacy, Yoshihito Yano, the Protomen, Powerglove, Bit Brigade, LonelyRollingStars, the Megas, 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, Jake 'Virt' Kaufman, Solarbear, Roboctopus, for Astronauts and Satellites, An0va feat. Rekchadam, Crashfaster, Marshall Art, Danimal Cannon, Trey Frey [37]
MAGFest 2016Feb 18–21, 201620,000 + (Capped) Ippo Yamada with Inti Creates Sound Team, Ninja Sex Party, TWRP, Psychostick, Bear McCreary, the OneUps, Super Soul Bros, I Fight Dragons, Rekcahdam, Trev Wignall, Coda, FamilyJules7x, Ap0c, Sammus, Llittle 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 [38]
MAGFest 2017Jan 5–8, 201720,000+ (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, [39] 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 [40]
MAGFest 2018 ( Kirby Theme)Jan 4–7, 2018 [41] 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. 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 [42]
Super MAGFest 2019 ( Star Fox Theme)Jan 3–6, 2019 [43] 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 [44]
Super MAGFest 2020 ( Donkey Kong Theme)Jan 2–5, 2020 [45] 24,000+ [20] 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 [46]
Super MAGFest 2021Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland. An online version was planned that year but also cancelled. [47] [48]
Super MAGFest 2022 ( Doom Theme)Jan 6–9, 2022 [49] Gaylord National Convention Center
National Harbor, MD		10,581 [50] 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 [51]
Super MAGFest 2023 ( Super Smash Bros. Theme)Jan 5–8, 202318,987 [52] 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 ( Metroid Theme)Jan 18–21, 2024c. 30,000 [5] Janus Rose, Zaku, EyeQ, Glorified Magnified, Cowabunga Pizza Time, Francisco "Foco" Cerda, Descendants of Erdrick, Cyanide Dansen, 88Bit, Crashfaster, Lacey Johnson, Flow Mein, Super MadNES, Floor Baba, Gwiz & Robkta, Creep-P, Suzubrah, Skyblew, the Video Game Shredventure, Tournament Arc, the Protomen, Sammus, Metroid Metal, Chk!dsk and Vektroid, Abandon Quest, Ro Panuganti Prog Experience, Project Fusion Saxophone Quartet, Dom Palombi's Game Night, Fibre, Cam Steady, Bit Brigade, Cynthia Harrell
Super MAGFest 2025 ( Sonic the Hedgehog Theme)Jan 23–26, 202524,500 (Capped) [53] Lotus Juice, Tee Lopes, Los Veros, Super Strikers, Steel Samurai, Trey Frey, Frivolousshara, Fandom Fight, Double XP Weekend, Djtaylorrae, Tiara Tastemaker & His Precious Gemstones, Lizz Robinett & Friends, Red Vox, Cybertronic Spree, DeLorean Overdrive, the Microphone Misfitz, AmateurLSDJ, Prowess the Testament, the Blueshift Big Band, Kuma the Kami, NMLSTYL, Laamaa, O_Super, Pokerus Project, Bit Shifter, Marshall Art, Shao Dow, Premium Vintage, Master Boot Record, Powerglove, Bit Brigade [54]
Super MAGFest 2026Jan 8–11, 2026TBATBA

MAGLabs

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. From 2016 these were branded as "MAGLabs". The event circuit went on hiatus in 2019 but returned in 2025, with a new venue in Baltimore and the intention of holding it biannually. [55] [56]

TitleDates [32] LocationAttendanceGuests
MAGFest 8.5Sep 12–14, 2014Hilton 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
MAGClassicSep 11–13, 20151,345Crunk 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
MAGLabsSep 9–11, 20161,3158-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 2017Sep 1–3, 2017TBCProfessor Shyguy, Master Sword, Noise 2 Men, Cowabunga Pizza Time, D&D Sluggers, F1NG3RS, Crunk Witch, Wreck the System, ERROR MACRO, DJ Super Sonic, and 8-Bit Mullet [57]
MAGLabs 2018Sep 7-9, 2018TBC
MAGLabs 2025 [58] March 29, 2025 Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore, MD TBADK Adventures, Bard City, Steel Samurai [59]

MAGWest

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. [60] [61]

TitleDateLocationAttendanceGuests
MAGWestAug 25–28, 2017 [62] Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA TBAJason Cirillo, Ben Prunty, [63] 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, [64] Richie Branson, the Koopas, Viking Guitar, James Landino, Hyper Potions, and Grimecraft [65] [66] [67]
MAGWest 2018Aug 10-12, 2018 [68] TBAB/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 [69]
MAGWest 2019Sep 13-15, 2019 [70] DoubleTree Hilton, San Jose, CA TBA8-Bit Jazz Heroes, Alice Knows Karate, B/I/R/T/H/D/A/Y, 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, Minibosses, Triss, Tttlllrrr, Vector Hold
MAGWest 2020Oct 2-5, 2020Moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic in California [71] 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 [72]
MAGWest 2021Nov 4-6, 2021Button Mashers, Lacey Johnson, Israfelcello, Super Soul Bros, the Red Panda, Find the Rabbit, Jewel Maiden, Faith in the Glitch, Subskile, Tinywaves, Watch Out For Snakes, Game Genie Sokolov, Only One Ronin, OrchKeystraMusic [73]
MAGWest 2022Aug 19-21, 2022 [74] DoubleTree Hilton, San Jose, CA 879 [75] 88bit, Bleeds, dwangoAC, manadream, Petriform, the Red Panda, 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 2023Jul 14-16, 2023TBA 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 [76]
MAGWest 2024Sep 27-29, 2024TBATBA
MAGWest 2025Aug 8–10, 2025TBATBA

References

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  3. ↑ "Super Magfest 2024". www.pcgamesinsider.biz. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  4. ↑ Cantler, Topher (January 6, 2010). "What you missed at MAGfest 8".
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Fenn, John (May 8, 2024). "Folklife, Videogames, Cosplay, and More | Folklife Today". The Library of Congress. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  6. ↑ "MIVS 2016 Games List". Youtube. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
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  8. ↑ "MAGFest 2010 Lineup Released". Wired. November 21, 2009.
  9. 1 2 "From Mega Man To Final Fantasy, Live Video Game Music". NPR.org. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
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  12. 1 2 "MAGFest" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "MAGFest: A long weekend of games, music, and heavy drinking (Interview)". July 31, 2012.
  14. ↑ 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. doi:10.1177/02557614211070037. S2CID   246937174.
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  17. ↑ "Nonprofit info".
  18. ↑ "Magfest X: A Report". January 12, 2012.
  19. ↑ "MAGFest just gets bigger and bigger every year". January 7, 2017.
  20. 1 2 "What is MAGFest?".
  21. ↑ "x.com".
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  29. ↑ "COVID Information".
  30. ↑ "Super MAGFest is January 18-21, 2024". May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
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  35. ↑ North, Dale (January 8, 2012). "Magfest X: The best one yet".
  36. ↑ "Magfest Releases the Full Musical Lineup for its January 2013 Event". July 12, 2023.
  37. ↑ Cutman (January 11, 2015). "MAGFest 13 Full Musical Lineup Announced". Video Game DJ | Chiptune and Video Game Music. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  38. ↑ "MAGfest 2016: National Harbor, February 2016". February 25, 2016.
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  47. ↑ "MAGFest Is Cancelled". Super Magfest. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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  73. ↑ "2021 Performers". October 26, 2021.
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