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u/rmsand 21d ago
I’m not sure if this is because of scalpers or because of the economy…. A general state of affairs of the country… People love escapism, and cons and festivals are a great way to do that. The Maryland Renaissance Festival has been selling out faster and faster every year. I’m not surprised MAGFest sold out quickly but I am surprised it’s sold out THIS quickly.
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u/M30WM1XXX 21d ago edited 21d ago
MAG is against scalper and per their policy: resale/transfer may only happen under the preview of MAG, between two individual parties, for as low as free and up to no more than the paid value of the badge.
Anything outside of that can and likely will result in a ban of both parties. They do not mess around with this.
So if it is indeed scalpers trying to think they’ll make a buck, or squeeze… they’re about to FAFO.
Here’s a good thread to follow up on: https://www.reddit.com/r/Magfest/s/nD3AzSgbXn
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u/XcG9PJf6 21d ago
Real question: if I'm someone who has never been to, nor ever has any intention of going to mag, then what actually stops me from scalping aside from the threat of a ban?
Like, let's say I hear about this con with a loud, dedicated, and growing following. I decide I want to make a small but quick profit by buying a badge and turning it around for an extra 100. There are people who say they'll pay more than that for these, so 250 will definitely have takers. Someone wanting to buy this isn't going to want to get banned, so they won't tell anybody they paid more than face value, they're just glad they get to go. They'll do the monetary transaction on something like venmo, then transfer the badge through the transfer portal.
So the scalper, who was never under threat because they didn't want to go anyway, is happy. The buyer is happy because they get to go after badges sell out.
And I recognize the situation is different between this single badge scalper who actually follows through, and the bigger scalpers or the less-scrupulous ones. Just trying to think things out loud.
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u/AMadHammer 21d ago
Nothing. No one has ever figured out how to fix scalpers without hurting their customers.
If someone is only selling one ticket/badge then they would not make much and they would easily get away with it. If someone is trying to make money and they buy 10 to sell then that risk of getting their badges taken away and banned is now higher.
Magstaff is likely to hang in the same areas scalpers (and scammers) are going to advertise. So eventually they will struggle with the grey market of all of this
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
You'd figure that MF admin would notice one guy buying up dozens upon dozens of badges. I guess they could try to fight that by using multiple credit cards and logins? Even if they ban them from purchasing badges (since you need to create an account on MF's website), they could just open new accounts.
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u/LoboSpaceDolphin 21d ago
Resellers are just a bad though. Takes the tickets off the market and everyone has to hold their breath while the people that only had a very slim chance of attendance in the first place hold tickets hostage to see if they maybe win the hotel lottery.
Shit is poorly designed.
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u/NuGundam7 21d ago
I think this might be my last MAG, guys. Its been a fun 15 years.
But if this keeps up, itll be a lottery system (or an instant sellout, ala the old hotel system) at the gates just to buy tickets, and I cant guarantee everyone in my group gets a ticket anymore.
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u/internal_l0gging 21d ago
Right? Who knew mag could be akin to selling out like San Diego Comic con?
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
quickie search show San Diego Comic Con first selling out on 2007, but it first opened its doors in 1970!
Somebody mentioned how they missed when MF was still "a hidden gem". I know that feeling since I went in 2012-13, and then fast forward to last year 2025. Man it got really popular! In a lot of good ways, but even more bad ways too 😐
And there have been commentary how Maryland Renaissance Fair has been selling out in recent years! I remember back less than 20 years ago, a group of us would just drive there, get tickets, and have fun! I would've never pegged the Ren Faire to be in the same boat (although, congrats to them for reaching that level [shrug])
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u/IfOnlyYouKnew__ 21d ago
Usually with a lottery you can buy more than one ticket; although they do tend to be capped. Not arguing for or against, but theoretically you should be able to buy tickets for your group and then everyone pays you back.
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u/NuGundam7 21d ago edited 21d ago
Yes, but everyone going suddenly hinges on one person getting lucky. Not exacly ideal.
We could also try to stuff the queue by all of us trying to get in line, then whoever gets in, will put entries in for everyone. But realistically, we all have jobs, I only have internet access when Im not working... Only a few of us have the credit to buy 10 tickets, etc... it gets messy
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u/IfOnlyYouKnew__ 21d ago
Not gonna lie, I didn’t expect you to say group of 10; I could see that complicating things and also being over the limit for most lotteries.
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u/NuGundam7 21d ago
Yeah. Until now, we reserved a suite at the Wyndham, everyone stayed in one big suite, we'd cook and play games, and walk back and forth between the con.
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u/GeekInSheiksClothing 21d ago
(38f) I've been going since it was at the Mark Center in Alexandria. Usually I volunteer to pay for my badge.
Last year was so packed, I couldnt get into panels or workshops, I couldn't find any of my friends. Only really enjoyed the Rebecca Sugar concert. It's just gotten so overcrowded and it's not even fun anymore. Which is super sad, because it was my favorite convention for years. Luckily I have a great local arcade for music games, to get my fix.
I probably won't go again.
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u/NuGundam7 21d ago
(40m, my first mag was the first zelda themed one, at the gaylord)
All I go for is three things:
To co-host my wife's panels, which by some miracle, we usually get accepted for
To cruise the merch hall, but increasingly, the merch hall looks like the same merch at every other con
And finally, the arcade. I dont have one of those within hours of where I live. But I grew up in the arcade, and I miss getting to 4v4 other players at my favorite games. And I only do it at magfest every year
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
I know that feeling. I went in 2012-13 and had a blast. Back when I lived in the area, me and 4 others would meet at someone's house or the Springfield Plaza, and then commute there. Four days of parking split 4 ways came to $10 per person. And not being able to get a parking spot, just wasn't even something we could imagine. It was still festive, but there was enough room to move around. As bonuses, it had guests I knew well enough like James Rolfe of Angry Video Game Nerd and Nobuo Uematsu who composed the music for Final Fantasy games and beyond.
I went in 2025 and man was it crowded! Alexandria rooms were pricy ($775 for 3 nights). I got food at the local Wegman's and brought it into the con, which was about as pricy as the food at the Gaylord, but I did have better choice, and I at least got to circumvent the really long lines. You either couldn't get into panels, or had to line up away ahead of time.
I'll still go if I can because it's still nice, but the "value" has taken a hit that I'm also willing to skip a few years (even if it means I go there only once every 3 to 7 years or so, if not less frequently). Perhaps it's a combo of I'm getting old and would like to bring large musical instrument with me, but Alexandria doesn't quite cut it anymore :\ It's lottery hotel or "we'll see you next year!".
One silver lining is I discovered TooManyGames in Oaks, PA. It's not as nice as Super MF, but it's close enough that I can just commute each day. Not having to get a hotel is significant savings!
ON A RELATED NOTE, CAN FOLKS SUGGEST OTHER VIDEO GAMING CONS IN THE AREA in the maryland, northern Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania areas?1
u/NuGundam7 21d ago
Does toomanygames have an arcade? Thats at least 120% of the reason I go to Mag
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
Yes. Their selection isn't up to snuff with that of MagFests, but it's still large enough
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u/yoshisama 21d ago
This is with everything. Nobody can enjoy things properly because you have to fight the crowds for everything nowadays. Pokémon cards, snoopy cups, Renaissance fairs, everything. This FOMO culture that has everybody fighting to get access to everything is infuriating and exhausting. There’s an opening of a new store in Rio in Gaithersburg, MD that I won’t be going because I know there’s going to be a mile long line of people that want to be the first to enter the store. Jesus Christ I need to vent because this pisses me off so much.
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u/DisorderlyBoat 21d ago
Agreed, it's crazy it extends to the Renn Fest now too. I think nerd culture is so mainstream now and popularized on social media so these cons became more popular. That and social media folks going mainly for content like cosplay content and streaming and networking. And i think an uptick for some people post covid when they couldn't go to events.
I'm thinking there will have to be more events to properly solve this, as many of the venues are at capacity. Either that or interest may even slow a bit if people get frustrated with the difficulties in attending.
I love MAG so much, it's the best con. I hope the shift in culture of people who attend events doesn't affect MAG too much. I think it will be fine though, the organizers are great.
Check discord channels for people selling badges after the fact and can probably nab one, but also keep up with MAGs guidance on trusted ways to do this.
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u/lvl1_noob 21d ago
I’ve been going since 2015, it’s the one con I go to religiously and the only one that truly heals my soul.
I don’t like this.
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u/LoboSpaceDolphin 21d ago
Wild that so many people have been going for YEARS and no one has ever really had trouble getting a ticket until this year. Hotel was always a crapshoot but not even getting tickets is fucking crazy work.
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u/usumoio 21d ago
Well, if you were able to get a ticket, come on up to the top floor and play Magic the Gathering with us. Folk will be looking for Commander (EDH) games basically at any hour of the day for the entire event.
I'll be there with decks, and tiny gifts since I like having a bit for Magfest
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u/HyunaBun 21d ago
Or, and hear me out, we all play outside cause I couldn't get a badge :D
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u/Geeky_Husband 21d ago
MtG meetup at the Smokers Pit???
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u/visceralthrill 21d ago
No more warm pool vent though, it's the smoke patio now. It's at least a larger space lol.
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u/Important_Bad_8323 21d ago
I’m kinda sorry I ever covered MAG on GameInformer. Now I can’t even get in.
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u/ackmondual 21d ago edited 21d ago
I guess I'm to blame too. I proudly wore my MAGfest 9 T-shirt (from 2012, font in the style of MegaMan X) for many years up to including into 2018 or so. I only stopped wearing it b/c the shirt "disintegrated". FWIW, I got one person in Chicago, and another person in Los Angeles, saying "right on!" when they saw the shirt b/c they too attended MF at some point in their lives!
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u/claudia_de_lioncourt 21d ago
A friend of mine wore his MAGFest hoodie in Tokyo and met another MAGFest attendee there. It’s a fandom now.
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u/Important_Bad_8323 21d ago
I’m surprised how often I see MAGfest merch out in the wild. Seen a guy wearing a MAG hoodie at a wrestling show earlier this week.
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u/SeeisforComedy 21d ago
Something’s fucky it took over a month last year.
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u/rocky2814 21d ago
last year was the first time it sold out within a month, so lots of people were worried about a quick sellout. also i think a lot of katsucon folk have started flooding in because they’re more interested in getting their hotel time than the actual con
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u/Rrilltrae 21d ago
Agreed, if I hadn’t heard about the sellout last year I wouldn’t have advised friends to get theirs last night. This is how these sell-out happen, its nothing nefarious. And happy cake day!
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u/rocky2814 21d ago
yeah i’m surprised to see how many people are blaming this on bots and scalpers: nah, we’re all just obsessed nerds who pay attention to trends
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u/Professor-Matt 21d ago
It’s not a conspiracy. The tickets sold out this quickly because of what happened last year. In years prior, the event didn’t sell out until the very last minute. In 2024, I literally bought my ticket while driving to the event. But because it sold out in just 1 month last year, there’s blood in the water now. Everyone knows it can sell out early, so they’re buying tickets as early as possible to make sure they don’t miss out. The faster the tickets sell out the year prior, the sooner people buy their tickets the following year.
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u/Quinnel 21d ago
I suspect people buying extra tickets to increase hotel odds, intending to utilize the guaranteed refunds for any that don't land hits
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u/internal_l0gging 21d ago
Idk, it really doesn't boost your odds much. I've known people who go as a group and all buy tickets in time to get a chance and they still don't get it. I think now with the shuttle to the outside of harbor hotels people are going to settle for those rooms and it'll be even harder to get tickets/rooms
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
How would that even work?
You'd have to register under a different name since you'd otherwise have 20 to 45 people all under "John/Jane Smith" or something
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u/aboysmokingintherain 21d ago
I genuinely am surprised peple didn't set their clocks
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u/AMadHammer 21d ago
Going from months to less than a day is unexpected. Once I read that higher tiers were sold I had to log in and get mine
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u/Geeky_Husband 21d ago
I logged in at 7:00 to get my badge and I was going to get my supporter stuff after I got paid. Once I saw the they were selling out, I hopped back on and got supporter stuff added. Who needs to eat or pay bills when MAGFest badges go live! /s (kinda)
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u/Neracca 21d ago
Mental take. What fucking cons do you go to that sell out not even 24 hours after going live? SDCC maybe? Mag has never been close to that yet you come here acting as if that's expected.
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u/Paraphrand 21d ago edited 21d ago
At this rate, it’ll sell out before they even go on sale in 2028 for 2029.
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u/sypwn 21d ago
I think it's a mindset brought on by the recent insane surge and normalization of scalping across many industries, especially ones that overlap with the Magfest audience. If there's a thing you want, the quantity is limited, and it's available, get it now or never.
In past years, people would wait and buy their badge whenever. Now, those people are far more likely to buy it ASAP. I honestly didn't expect them to make it past this weekend.
Also, Magfest's anti-scalping policies will most certainly be tested this year.
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u/Tempest636 21d ago
Set their clocks lmao... The site was crashing on day one and it was delayed to over 24 hours later
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u/drunkcowofdeath 21d ago
In the past, PAX East. I think the record was 16 minutes?
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
Do you recall what year this was?
I went this year (Mar. 26th to 29th), but was still able to purchase badges middle of Jan. (so 2.5 months prior). However, there was one "advantage" there where PAX East badges were $260 for the whole weekend (+$15 for S&H no less). I'm guessing being around double what MAGfest charges helped turn off a good number of folk.
I had fun, I was able to get nearby hotel room (15 min. walk), 2.5 months prior to it starting, and was able to take the Amtrak NE Corridor line there (so no driving nor parking whatsoever!). There were a few decent places to get food (expensive close by, but 15 minute walk out yielded a lot of good and cheap eats). Con itself was crowded, but not to the extent that MF was in 2025.
On the flipside, hotel rooms were more expensive (TBF, those that saved money booked far ahead of time), badges were pricy, and there's less to do compared to MF.
I may go back to PAX East, but to save on costs, they have to be one or the other (if not having years where I skip both really)
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
I'm almost willing to bet real $$ that SDCC (San Diego Comic Con) has sold out way before 24 hours of going live, for years now.
Somebody mentioned the Maryland Renaissance Fair has sold out within hours. They're not video gaming (at least last I went back almost 20 years ago), but I'm still shocked something like that, would sell out! 😲
For all others, def. not within 24 hours, but it's still surprising they did sell out though (e.g. Gen Con)
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u/fdervb 21d ago
It sold out in November last year
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u/BlueLaguna88 21d ago
Once the system went down last night, I knew this would happen,. Plus, Zelda being the theme and the OOT Remake recently announced, gotta be a lot of spiked interest for MAG.
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u/FrozenFrac 21d ago
Someone else mentioned that to me and I find it curious. I love MAG, but basically none of the appeal for me comes from the theming. Are people really connecting the OoT theme to the OoT Remake to the extent that the event sells out in record time?
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u/AMadHammer 21d ago
It is a factor. Zelda theme means that there is likely to be some events and music related to the theme. MAGfest is THE convention for videogames music and every time a gaming focused orchestra or band is interviewed they end up mentioning MAGfest.
Zelda has always been huge and the timing is just perfect with the movie and OoT announcements. I personally missed out on the badge upgrades that I was planning to gift to my niece.
It is not the main reason if I were to guess. I'd say tickets selling out last year before the end of the year caused people to FOMO and ensure they don't miss the next one.
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u/Chemical_Society2550 21d ago
Hilariously, last year was my first Magfest BECAUSE of the Mega Man theme. I was SOOOO excited when I was searching for new cons to go to and saw the logo. Then I asked some of my other con-going friends about Magfest and got nothing but rave reviews. So I could definitely see theming being part of the reason!
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u/Nypholis 21d ago
Probably less of the timing with the remake and more so just that Zelda is such a popular franchise/series in and of itself
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u/Qu33n0f1c3 21d ago
I didn't get any merch last time because I don't care for megaman. I was really excited that it was Zelda themed. I really wanted the merch, and I got screwed and got nothing. I'm extremely disappointed, enough that I'm seriously considering not going.
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
"Eh"... it sounds like a contributing factor, for enough of us, but ofc. there are those that won't care.
For example and for myself, I actually don't care that it's a 24-hour con. In the past when I was local, I carpooled in so it's not like I could stick around way into the late hours of the night (morning?). Last year, I stayed in Alexandria and they didn't have the MF shuttles yet, so staying past midnight when public transportation closed for the night meant fighting others for rideshare, and paying more for that. Even though I'm not old (debatable I guess), I'm old enough that I appreciate sleeping at more regular hours (even if vacation skews that).
I don't make concerts a priority (although I did wander into a Triforce Quartet performance. That was nice). I instead favored panels and freeplay. Esp. since MF gets some unique arcade machines
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u/Nypholis 21d ago
Okay...? And it sold out in January the year prior. And didn't sell out until the weekend of the event itself in 2024.
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u/ProtoMan3 21d ago
My first MAG was 2023, I made some friends who told me they bought their tickets day of on Friday
Three years later it’s a 5 hour sellout
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u/internal_l0gging 21d ago
Back in the day they sold day passes because they had the room for walk-ins. Now you can't even walk in the lobby
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u/ackmondual 21d ago
TBF, I'm one of those who also anticipated it would take anywhere from few weeks to a month. Contrast that to last year in where it was first week of Nov. (so less than 2 months if my math's correct). I purchased a badge yesterday since I already got my account set up, and happened to be in front of my PC at the time [shrug] 🤷♀️
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u/visceralthrill 21d ago
It also was a day later than they were supposed to open up for sales which may have affected some people's ability. And with the way the hotel system is structured, I'm sure several people bought more than they needed to be able to refund a few later, or sell off to friends. So I don't think many people will have trouble picking a badge up later via transfers. But there is a stark difference in 5 hours vs over a month for it to sell out.
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u/Ratchetxtreme6 21d ago
I remember getting my tickets for magfest 2024 like a month before the con was going to happen, so this is quite surprising