The 2011 Post-MAGFest Depression Support Group

[Penis Whiskers]

Might as well get the after party started. Favorite moments? Funniest shit that went down? Discuss.

[Penis Whiskers]

MAG 9 memories:

*Shayla surprising Juese (and most of the rest of us) with her presence.
*Drunkenly singing Disney and top 40 songs at the top of our lungs.
*Dogfish Head Ale House on the last night.
*Giggling incessantly at youtube videos in the hotel room.
*Beating Derek at Blades of Steel. Again. Wasted.
*English accent-off with Wil and Dave.
*So. Much. Beer.

[gobbleskat]

Dropping off Dave in Auburn and the letdown is starting to set in. The next two hours will be a slightly somber ride.

[horsewnoname]

Well I half slept through most of work today. I think the depression will set in when I stop being tired...

[VFKevin]

I had a blast (as with each year). My response is becoming predictable!

Highlights for me include -

Heavy attendance at each panel I was a part of. Even the one on Thursday (which only had 10 or so people) was filled with 10 people who were engaged, interested and added a lot to the mix.

People having fun at the Match Game. It is a tough game to play in a play-to-win kind of way, but a fun game to watch and be a part of. With all the serious stuff I had to do ("intellectual" panels, etc), this was the perfect antidote.

Improv, specifically the strange parts (the long-form stands out in my mind as crazier than any JRPG). Plus, nice to have a slightly old/slightly new group of people.

Showing new people around. After 8 Magfests, I still love showing the place off to people who have never been. Pretty much everyone takes to it and is made welcome, fits right in, and has a kick-ass time.

Overall, the best bit from a catching up point of view was all of Onimu-Shots into the party. I spent over 5 hours in that room and drank loads of beer, but I never felt like I needed to go anywhere or do anything else because everyone I wanted to talk to ended up being in the same place.

Worst part, of course, is the withdrawal.

[Jakanden]

JoeCam talking shit to Jon St. John during Ominu shots was pretty funny

[Ekkebus]

This is a start:

-Two words: KING. WIL.

-The Friday night concert was pretty much amazing for all that I caught which was halfway through Armcannon onward. Love The OneUps new sound. The Protomen are, in fact, totally awesome and Metroid Metal made my weekend by rocking out Autobot-Decepticon Battle.

-Onimu-shots was a lot of fun to sit in on, even as a non-drinker. Even more fun was after leaving I spent a good hour and a half plus with the Fizzes. Then on my way to the Protomen show I bumped into Dan Cannon and spent the next hour watching Chris (Armcannon's keyboardist) and Shnabubula jam on the piano together.

-It was immensely satisfying to FINALLY show some new Off Campus after years of planning and months of shooting. Honestly this was the least anxious I've been going into a MAGFest premiere because as soon as I saw the episodes in their near-completed form, I knew they were good. Still it was gratifying to hear that the fans and friends agreed with me. Looking forward to getting back to work on them soon...but not TOO soon.

[bokista]

You all are the best, you know that?

Highlights:

Match Game: Afterbirth edition. I love Match Game because it's the perfect blend of people doing shtick with just enough matches to make it feel all worthwhile. We've got some shit already cooking for next year.

Hanging out for Onimu-shots and seeing how smoothly the contest went for something that is essentially about getting plastered. Sad I didn't get the chance to collect my materials this year to participate, but I'm definitely inspired to do game themed drinks throughout the year.

Hanging out after Onimu-shots. It was great to catch up with everyone, eat baklava, share in Ailsean's baby videos with Lauren, talk about sunspots with Rich, and even have a late-night snooty-drink taste test of single malt scotch with Wood. If you had told me five years ago I would be doing that instead of pounding Sparks, I'da called you mental!

Seeing Off Campus and The Crossing. Little known fact: I think X-Strike is awesome. As I was describing to Kevin in the car, it's so apparent how much you've learned over the years and your short format stuff is awesome. I felt like I was watching a sketch comedy troupe's video production rather than a bunch of dudes fucking around in front of a camera. And the opening credits are ballin'. The Crossing is brilliant too. My favorite moments in animation are when you forget that what you're watching was actually made by someone and instead seems like little clay characters acting in front of a camera. The subtlety in the characters (like the guard dog just turning his head and staring) blended perfectly with the over-the-top stuff.

I sure hope the next hotel has a whole room for arcade games because I want to spend way more time standing in front of a cabinet. It's my favorite game-playing related thing at all of MAGFest.

[shadowdancer21b]

Did anyone drink a Phoenix Down in my honor? 'Course not. I'm just some random schmuck still. It's all good though. I am starting my "MAGFest fund" this month, squirelling part of each paycheck away to ensure I get to go and even buy a t-shirt or two next year.

[Wood]

My favorite parts:

-Winning Name That Tune
-Getting some SSF4 in with some really good players
-Arcade Battletoads
-Hearing the crowd's reaction to "A Young Adult and his Blob"
-Witnessing stuff I donated being, not just used, but being utilized to the fullest for some badass content
-Meeting Wil and Dave for the first time
-Meeting up with HVGN again, and meeting LordKaT!
-Winning a badass HAPP joystick made by Mahoney himself!
-Drinking some of the best shots ever made
-Watching the Protomen perform Act I live. Fucking religious experience for me!
-Witnessing Rail getting kidnapped...up until we realized that 1)She didn't know who was picking her up, and 2)realizing "Who's THAT creepy at MAGFest?!"

oh, and most of all:
-NOT BEING FUCKING DEPLOYED FOR A MAGFEST!

Oh, I forgot to mention earlier, I really did like that Killer 7 shot. Saying "In the name of the Harmon" really makes that shot.

[DR EGG]

I really enjoyed hanging out with everyone - you guys are awesome and there's only a couple events that pull me away from our bigass family reunion. Rocking out to A_Rival was a highlight for me. The guy is consistently great no matter who he shows up with. Could be a Skillian, could be a DJ / girlfriend, could be a hypeman. We're looking forward to that new album and hopefully a performance at Comic-Con!

Off-Campus rocked hard, I really can't wait to see more. Improv was strong and everyone brought their A-game. I wish we had more time for the long form stuff. I felt like we had only completed the first quarter of the most epic quest of all time, but at least it came to an epic ending.

[Trio of 9999]

Watching the Shayla Surprise unfold was one of the best MAGFest moments of all time. Glad I was there to witness it.

Thank you to everyone who made this year what it was.

[Ekkebus]

Rail getting kidnapped was just bizarre.

The Shayla Bomb was the feel good "Pappy Proposal" moment of this years MAGFest. Assisted stealth check FTW.

[joecamnet]

The good: MAGFest
The bad: Leaving.


I wasn't too super excited about MAG this year, but it's probably the best time I've had in quite a few years at MAG.
Winning a beard contest, Match Game and Onimu-SHOTS was pretty awesome.
Going out on a date with Autovino was a dream come true as well even though we couldn't sit across from each other and stare lovingly into each other's eyes. He's so dreamy.
And yeah, it was pretty fun to call Duke Nukem a pussy to.

[pappy]

I don't think I saw anything that you guys didn't already cover. This year was amazing.
The stealth surprise was awesome, and I'm glad I got to see Juese flabbergasted for once.
Seeing everyone is pretty much the top part of my weekend. Making shots for people kind of made such a huge event feel a little smaller and more at-home, which was really great.
Also, getting there Wednesday and not leaving until Monday is the way to do it. I'm gonna do that from now on. Getting to milk MAGFest (wakka-wakka!) for all its worth is hands down the best way to do it.
So here's to going to the Music and Games Festival, only seeing ONE band and playing ONE game (Monday don't count), and having the best time yet.