MAGWest 2026

The 2008 global recession forced the gaming industry into radical reinvention, leading to the gaming renaissance. Between 2010 and today, gaming transformed from a niche hobby into one of the most dominant cultural forces on the planet, weaving itself into music, film, sports, and fashion along the way.

This panel takes a hard, empirically grounded look at where the industry goes from here. I focus on socioeconomic analysis and market data to map out two potential futures: one where games become less accessible due to an intersectional collective of reasons including socioeconomics, and one where games continue to innovate to strive to make sure everyone can experience games.

Let's have an honest conversation about what's at stake, what the data is already telling us, and what the industry, creators, and communities can do to ensure the next chapter of gaming is one worth playing.

Panelists:
Tamerlane Barak [Game Economy Designer, https://tamerlanedevportfolio.com/]

Spurred by a conversation in 2024, I became curious what food (and drink)-sponsored video games existed in the world. There's better-known ones, like Burger King's Xbox games and McDonald's M.C. Kids, but there were MANY more to be found. I explored everything I could, leading 100+ games with endorsements or whole games devoted to the brand. Many went beyond anything I expected, and far beyond U.S. soil. Come hungry for gaming that looks like a snack.

Panelists: Jamaal "Ryyudo" Graves [Part-Time Streamer, www.twitch.tv/ryyudo]

We're going after that little white dog, Toby Fox. This panel will focus on the history of his incredible discography, and why it so effectively reaches our hearts. We love the worlds he creates, and we love his characters, but they all become inseparable from their themes. These melodies can be both simplistically and expertly composed at the same time. We aim to examine how Toby Fox has made an art-form out of the concept of the leitmotif.

We will travel chronologically through Toby's influences which defined his style leading up to Deltarune, and even touch upon why he chose to leave certain musical pieces behind. This panel will be conducted by two musicians who have a deep love for the many projects from Toby Fox, and is mainly dedicated to the fan-base who also shares this passion. Maybe we'll play you a little something at the end!

Panelists:
Light MetaS [Musician]
Bardometer

It's Taboo! Gaming Edition! In this game show, the goal is to get your teammates to guess gaming-related terms without using any of the associated "taboo" words. Teams of 2-4 will compete to see who can get the most points by guessing the most words. Think fast, test your pro gamer knowledge, and rack your brain for any clues you can give to score your team points! Glory and prizes are in store for winners!

From the host of Double NintenDare, CurtDogg brings you a game show where you need to "press your luck" on a rotating game board to win fabulous prizes and digital store credit! But watch out for that rascal, Buckley McVideogames, 'cause he's out to take all your winnings if you land on one of his spaces!

Triss is a chiptune punk rocker based out of Oakland, CA. She writes songs about love, queerness, and stickin it to the man. When she's not shredding over 8-bit blips and boops, she's rocking the stage with her all-transfemme harcdore band, Dirty Twenties.

"Mazes & Monsters is a far-out game"--and an even more far-out story.

The Satanic gaming and pop culture enthusiasts at Black Mass Appeal bring you the complete, dramatic, and embarrassing tale of the anti-devil worship panic that almost ruined everyone's favorite TTRPG in the 1980s, culminating in a hit exploitation paperback from the least likely author and a TV movie that subjected Tom Hanks' career to its most painful Saving Throws.

We've got the whole sordid story for you--including the long lost rules of Mazes & Monsters itself.

Panelists:
Daniel Walker [Podcaster, BlackMassAppeal.com]
Tabitha Slander
Simone Lasher

An opportunity to hear some amazing convention stories from those who attend regularly and a chance to share your own stories.

Panelists: Stan Rezaee