Meet The MAGFest Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase Judges

National Harbor, MD – January 14, 2025 – MAGFest (Music and Gaming Festival) is excited to unveil the first look at the esteemed panel of judges who will be selecting the best games featured in the 2025 Indie Retro Showcase. The trailer, released today, introduces the personalities and gaming industry veterans who’ve carefully curated the titles that will be featured at the showcase from January 23–26, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Now in its seventh year, The MAGFest Indie Retro Showcase is an annual event that brings together passionate developers from all over the homebrew space, offering them the chance to display their exciting new experiences for classic consoles and computers.

In the trailer, viewers get a sneak peek at the showcase’s talented panel of judges, which includes a colorful collection of passionate indie retro developers, gaming influencers, and industry figures with a deep appreciation for both the retro gaming landscape and the indie scene.

Meet the Judges:

1. Mike Tucker – Co-founder, Bitmap Bureau: Mike is a veteran game developer who joined the industry in 1995 working as a games tester at Sales Curve Interactive, and then went on to create some of the earliest mobile phone games at “IOMO”; one of Europe’s top mobile game development studios. In 2008, he formed his own studio under the name of “Megadev,” which focussed on Flash and Steam game development, with “Super House Of Dead Ninjas” being their most renowned title. In 2016, he joined forces with Matt Cope to form another independent games studio, “Bitmap Bureau,” where they create games for both modern and retro platforms and have had recent success with Xeno Crisis, Battle Axe, and Final Vendetta.

2. Justin Silverman – Creative Director, Retroware: Justin Silverman is the Creative Director at Retroware, which creates modern retro games. With over 15 years of experience staffing gaming conventions like TooManyGames and producing content for The Angry Video Game Nerd at Cinemassacre, Justin has been immersed in gaming culture for years. He also brings a background in film, having worked as an editor at NFL Films, but his passion remains rooted in the world of gaming.

3. Langel Bookbinder – Owner of Lobast: Langel Bookbinder is a retro wizard focused on creating lofi experiences with backwards tech through his business, LoBlast. He has also been the sole developer and maintainer for Battle of the Bits, a chiptune competition website, for nearly 20 years.

4. Sean Robinson – VGS Community Manager & GB Magazine Copy Editor: Sean is a gamer with a special love of homebrew games. He is on the homebrew staff of Video Game Sage, where he posts his blogs A Homebrew Draws Near! and The Mega Cat Chronicles. He enjoys hanging out with devs and other fans, learning about their latest projects, and exploring the cities where gaming conventions are held.

5. Simon Butler – Veteran Video Game Artist & Developer: Born in Liverpool, UK 1957, Simon is a pixel artist and game designer who loves games. And while making them is getting harder, mainly due to his age, he will attempt to keep doing so as long as possible. Simon would like to think he’ll be found slumped over his mouse or game controller, having slipped happily away making or playing games. You can listen to Simon’s podcast, Retro Gaming Roundup, here. 

6. Dale Coop – Indie Retro Developer: Dale Coop is an indie retro game developer known for creating homebrew games for the NES and Famicom. He is active in the NESmaker community and contributes through guides and collaborations. Passionate about retrogaming, Dale regularly attends events and conventions, including speaking on panels about the homebrew scene.

7. John Riggs – Retro Game Influencer: John Riggs hosts a YouTube channel centered around retro video game nostalgia. He also loves to showcase and feature new indie titles with a retro vibe that play on modern consoles.

MAGFest 2025 will take place January 23–26, 2025, in National Harbor, Maryland. The Indie Retro Showcase is one of many exciting events on the schedule, including live music performances, panels, game tournaments, and more. Tickets are available now at the Official MAGFest Site.

More information about the Indie Retro Showcase can be found here.

About MAGFest:
MAGFest (Music and Gaming Festival) is an annual celebration of video game music and culture, bringing together gamers, musicians, and fans of all ages. The event features performances, panels, and gaming activities that celebrate both retro and contemporary gaming experiences.

About Mega Cat Studios:
Founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mega Cat Studios strives to deliver unforgettable experiences for gamers of all generations. With our hearts firmly planted somewhere in the 1990s and gazes set on the future, our team combines a passion for crafting new retro classics with an unwavering commitment to delivering compelling current-gen content.