Super MAGFest 2025 Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase Judges Announced

Comprised of seven leading retro developers, influencers, and industry figures, MAGFest and Mega Cat Studios have released the list of judges for the upcoming MAGFest Indie Retro Homebrew showcase

The seventh annual version, The MAGFest Indie Retro Showcase sets out to bring together passionate developers from across the homebrew space, providing the chance to show off exciting new experiences for classic consoles and computers.

Learn more with the trailer below:

Judges Announcement for the Super MAGFest 2025 Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase

The Super MAGFest 2025 Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase judges include the following:

Mike Tucker

Co-founder, Bitmap Bureau

Mike Tucker is a game dev vet, joining the industry in 1995 as a games tester at Sales Curve Interactive. He then went on to create some of the earliest mobile phone games at “IOMO.” 

In 2008, he formed “Megadev,” which focused on Flash and Steam game development, with “Super House Of Dead Ninjas” being their most well known. 

In 2016, he joined forces with Matt Cope to form Bitmap Bureau, an indie games studio where they create games for both modern and retro platforms (Xeno Crisis, Battle Axe, and Final Vendetta).

Justin Silverman

Creative Director, Retroware

Justin Silverman serves as the Creative Director at Retroware, which sets out to create modern retro games. 

Featuring more than 15 years of experience staffing gaming conventions like TooManyGames and producing content for The Angry Video Game Nerd at Cinemassacre, Justin Silverman is deeply immersed in gaming culture.

He also brings a background in film, having worked as an editor at NFL Films, but his passion remains rooted in the gaming world.

Langel Bookbinder

Owner of Lobast

Langel Bookbinder is a retro wizard focused on creating lofi experiences with backwards tech through LoBlast. 

He also serves as  the sole developer and maintainer for Battle of the Bits, a chiptune competition website, for nearly 20 years.

Sean Robinson

VGS Community Manager & GB Magazine Copy Editor

A gamer with a special love of homebrew games, Sean Robinson is on the homebrew staff of Video Game Sage, where he posts his blogs A Homebrew Draws Near! and The Mega Cat Chronicles. 

Sean Robinson enjoys hanging out with devs and other fans, learning about their latest projects, and exploring each gaming convention city he travels to. 

Simon Butler

Veteran Video Game Artist & Developer 

Born in Liverpool, UK 1957, Simon is a pixel artist and game designer who loves games. 

While he feels making them is getting harder primarily 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.

Dale Coop

Indie Retro Developer

Dale Coop is an indie retro game developer, known best for creating homebrew games for both the NES and Famicom.

Dale Coop 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.

John Riggs 

Retro Game Influencer

John Riggs hosts a YouTube channel focused around 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 is set tl take place from January 23–26  in National Harbor, Maryland. 

The Indie Retro Showcase is one of many exciting events on the MAGFest schedule, including live music performances, panels, game tournaments, and more. 

Want to go? Tickets are available now at the Official MAGFest Site.

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