Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/692367
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ROOSTER TEETH PRODUCTIONS READY PLAYER ONE GAMERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE INVADE AUSTIN THIS JULY FOR ROOSTER TEETH'S MEGA-POPULAR RTX. COULD IT BE THE NEXT SXSW? BY CHAD SWIATECKI What: RTX, the fifth annual three-day video game and online video festival, is the latest success of Austin-based video produc- tion company Rooster Teeth, best known for its insanely popular series Red Vs. Blue (which measures its web views by the billion) and the recent feature film Lazer Team. Don't recognize those names? Ask the closest (male) neighbor kid with a smartphone. Where: On launching the festival in 2011, Rooster Teeth co founder Gus Sorola told Austin Convention Center officials his goal was to take over the entire complex in five years. He's done it—an initial turnout of 4,500 has swelled to an expected 60,000 this year, with a satellite fest in Australia. Sorola is now exploring joint programming with Austin-based film heavies Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. "Maybe [only] 15 to 20 percent are from Austin," he says of attendees. "They come from every continent except Antarctica because they want to meet the creators of content they love and make connections with other people like them." You can expect: Appearances from game makers and online video and gaming personalities; a weekend-long virtual reality immersive adventure; and a classic arcade game wing to cater to those video game fans who just can't let go of their love of Ms. Pac-Man or Centipede. No quarters required. July 1–3; rtxevent.com . Among Rooster Teeth's hits are RWBY, an anime- influenced web series that debuted at RTX in 2013. Volume 4 will debut in the fall. 42 AUSTINWAY.COM SCENE EVENT