Of course, most of the press coverage of the festival to date has focused on its video games. Despite my own irreverence, I am obliged to acknowledge some distinct truths about its ecology.

"Gaming brings people together" is a cliché but well-proven expression.

Somewhat famously, MAGFest provides a gigantic exhibit hall dedicated to arcade machines, all reprogrammed for unlimited coinless play. It's kept dark, except for stage lights and intermittent strobes decorating the haze. (I'm assuming there were smoke machines, but I forgot to look for them.) At all hours, it was packed and deafening with sounds old and new. It's the visual and auditory equivalent of a flower shop's olfactory enchantment. In my laps, I saw queuing and collaboration of an inhuman caliber; everybody played and watched, freely. For arcade enthusiasts, I doubt such a utopia exists elsewhere.

Two halls over, all kinds of developers were taking to heels, showing off their Indie wares in a complementary, more conversational environment than the arcade alcove. There, we spoke to our friend mushbruh about his charming (and already well-liked) Burrito Galaxy.

"all the while, I was gathering assumptions."