Moontower Adds More Big Names

From Portlandia to popular podcasts: Moontower Festival adds more big names to 2014 lineup

The Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival has added even more big names to the already star studded lineup.

Just added to the schedule of comedians is Fred Armisen, Saturday Night Live alum and co-creator of IFC's hit show, Portlandia. Armisen will also be appearing during SXSW Comedy in March with his Portlandia counterpart Carrie Brownstein, but he'll be joined by another guest when he returns for Moontower in April. Ian Rubbish (formerly of the classic British punk band Ian Rubbish and the Bizarros) is set to take part in Moontower alongside Armisen.

Also added to the list is Marc Maron, who was a fixture at last year's Moontower Fest and will make his grand return to the Paramount Theatre. Maron recorded his hit podcast series, WTF with Marc Maron, twice last year in Austin, first during SXSW and again during Moontower. Maron is also coming off the recent success of his own IFC series, Maron.

Both Maron and Armisen are welcome additions to the year's impressive lineup, which includes Hannibal Buress, Maria Bamford, Demetri Martin, the Kids in the Hall sketch comedy gang, Dennis Miller and many more. Moontower also estimates that there are around 50 early bird Fan Badges still available at discounted prices. And due to crazy demand, Aziz Ansari will perform a third show on April 19 the week before Moontower, so grab those tickets before they also disappear.

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Moontower Comedy Festival will take place from April 23 - 26.

Marc Maron is returning to Austin in April 2014, likely to talk about punk rock and his cats.

Courtesy of Serial Optimist

Marc Maron is returning to Austin in April 2014, likely to talk about punk rock and his cats.

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Game It Out

Immersive game room brings full-body, multiplayer challenges to Austin

Players dodge lasers in this Activate game.

Photo courtesy of Activate.

In the game "Lasers," players must weave through lasers, a la Mission Impossible.

On December 17, a new team game experience called Activate is opening up in Austin. This interactive experience is a mashup of a relay race, obstacle course, escape room, and multiplayer video game — but it's happening in real life. Think of it like Squid Game, but without the dire consequences.

In an expansive new, all-access facility, players will first create a player profile that they can log into and use at all Activate facilities, across the world. Players can then choose to either compete with their friends or form teams of two to five people to work together on various short games. Throughout the building there are rooms with interactive technology, where players will have to jump, climb, and problem-solve their way through to the next challenge.

Games include:

"Strike," a sort of digital dodgeball
"Control," where players must step on and push various buttons to win the challenge, not unlike Dance Dance Revolution
"Laser," where players will duck and weave through an obstacle course of lasers, Mission Impossible-style
"Hide," a reimagined version of Hide and Seek involving four glowing eyes that trace your steps around the room
Five other adrenaline-filled interactive games.

As players move through the various rooms and games, an electronic wristband will keep track of their progress and points. Just like in a video game, players can advance through levels and even earn prizes if they rack up enough points. They may even qualify for Activate's "Tournament of Champions," to compete against the players with the highest scores from all over the world.

Players play a game of Portals at Activate. "Portals" is one of nine games available at Activate's new Austin location. Photo courtesy of Activate.

Activate has locations all over the country, as well as in Canada, Dubai, and throughout Europe. This latest location is at The Domain at 3220 Feathergrass Court.

In a press release, the Activate Team says they landed on Austin for this new location due to its "dynamic energy and thriving entertainment scene."

Reservations can be made online, by time slot. Tickets are $30 per person for 60 minutes of game play.

immersive games video games arcade