The Dell Summer Rocks tour closed out its festival run and definitely saved the best for last — the Austin City Limits music festival. With sold-out days that capped attendance at 65,000, the three-day event saw record crowds over the weekend. And while the weather was hot, it was certainly not as oppressive as in years past.

2008 ACL Festival Entrance

We came, we saw, we kicked its a**! - Bill Murray (Ghostbusters)

An appropriate quote, which sums up the Dell Dome and Dell Stage presence during the event. Bill Murray was at the festival and even local hero Lance Armstrong was spotted hanging out at Dell backstage, just two of the many celebrities that were in town for ACL this weekend.

Dell Sound and the Jury contest winners The Steps opened up the Dell Stage on Friday. Having come out on top of the battle of the bands at Antone’s earlier in the week, The Steps showed no sign of wear as they provided another memorable performance for the crowd.

Sound and the Jury Winners – The Steps

The Dell Dome was again the center of activity for those who wanted to get out of the sun and take part in one of the many activities that were available. From button making to temporary tattoos, from artist interviews to the occasional impromptu hip-hop dance contest… the Dell Dome brought smiles and joy to many festival attendees.

Dell Dome 2008 ACL Festival

MC Johnny Santos and dancer at Dell Dome

The 2008 ACL music festival hosted over 130 bands on eight stages, with Manu Chao, Beck and Foo Fighters headlining the evening lineups over the weekend. Manu Chao drew one of the largest crowds with his eclectic music, which draws influence and sounds from artists across the globe. Foo Fighters closed out the weekend on Sunday with a performance that was certainly epic in nature. While rumors swirl that the Foo Fighters may be taking a break, they certainly left it all out on the stage with a performance that at least for me will go down as one of the best in event history.

2008 ACL Sunday Sunset

As the dust settles on another successful year, stay tuned to see what Dell Lounge has in store for the rest of year.

The crowd was buzzing as I walked into Antone’s last night. Six bands were left standing from more than 700 entrants in this year’s Dell Sound and the Jury contest. After weeks of voting, fans and celebrity judges had finally narrowed down the selection to the six … however, there could be only one winner.

After great early performances in the evening from bands such as Quiet Company, 60 Tigres and T-Bird & the Breaks, the final act from Austin’s own The Steps brought the house down.

With plenty of supportive fans on hand, The Steps took the stage and electrified the audience. Battling and playing through technical difficulties during their set, The Steps proved they had the talent and presence to handle the pressure and still kill it on stage.

The Steps (Photo by Marleigh Jones)

With the win, Will Thompson (vocals and guitar), Sam Thompson (lead guitar), Stephen Ross (bass) and Z Lynch (drums) have earned the right to take the Dell Stage front and center for this weekend’s Austin City Limits music festival. Congratulations!

The Steps will be first on the Dell ACL Stage for Friday. For the rest of the stage lineup, please refer to the following list:

Friday, Sept. 26

11:45 a.m. — The Steps

1:30 p.m. — Yeasayer

3:30 p.m. — Jamie Lidell

5:30 p.m. — Slightly Stoopid

7:30 p.m. — G. Love & Special Sauce

Saturday, Sept. 27

11:45 a.m. — Langhorne Slim

1:30 p.m. — José González

3:30 p.m. — Man Man

5:30 p.m. — Spiritualized

7:30 p.m. — Iron & Wine

Sunday, Sept. 28

11:45 a.m. — AA Bondy

1:30 p.m. — Octopus Project

3:30 p.m. — Against Me!

5:30 p.m. — Blues Traveler

7:30 p.m. — Band of Horses

The Dell Dome will also be a hub of activity during the festival. Take a look at what the Austin American-Statesman had to say earlier today in its piece headlined “Inside the Dell Dome: music, mirth and ping-pong.”

Which act are you most excited to see during the festival?

The Dell Summer Rocks tour makes its last stop this weekend with an appearance at the world famous Austin City Limits Music Festival.  Yes, we are back home in Texas again. =)

From all reports the Dell Summer Rocks tour has been a tremendous success and, with this last stop, we close out with style and showcase the winner of the Dell Sound and the Jury contest, in which over 700 bands battled for a chance to play live on the Dell Stage during the event.  Check out what News 8 Austin had to say this morning about the contest.

For a breakdown of the final six bands competing for the spot, check out my blog post from last week.

The Dell Dome will again be in attendance, providing many activities for the festival goers during the event.  For those interested in stopping by and checking out the live interviews with artists, refer to the schedule below for details:

Friday
1-1:20 p.m. - Louis XIV
2-2:20 p.m. - Autamata
3-3:20 p.m. - The Strange Boys

Saturday
1:30-1:50 p.m. - Eli “Paperboy” Reed and the True Loves
2-2:20 p.m. - Electric Touch
3-3:20 p.m. - Langhorne Slim
3:30-3:50 p.m. - We Go To 11
4:45-5:05 p.m. - Roky Erickson

Sunday
4-4:40 p.m. - White Denim
5-5:20 p.m. - Nicole Atkins & the Sea
5:30-5:50 p.m. - Stars

If you are attending the event, please be sure to stop by the Dell Dome and say hello!  For those of you who would like to receive updates during the festival, make sure to follow me on Twitter @ChrisBatDell.

Last Friday, I made the tragic mistake of getting a Warhammer Online account. Now I’m addicted. All of you DAOC players from back in the day should really check this game out, if you haven’t already. You’ll feel right at home, I promise. Once I can unpeel myself from the game long enough to write about it, I’ll give the game full blog-treatment. Until then, I created the following “motivational” poster to tide you over:

On a different note, the Dell/World of Warcraft Machinima Contest entry deadline has come, and at final count, has 13 very creative entries. I encourage everyone to drop on by the forums and tell the contestants what you think of their submissions, ask questions, or just join in the general discussion. Last night, we had five new submissions before the deadline, and from these thirteen, ten will go in for final judging. A grand prize winner will be selected before Oct. 5, and that winner will receive an XPS M1730 World of Warcraft Edition laptop!

Something tells me this contest is going to be a nail biter. If we ever do a machinima contest for EVE or WAR, I’m hoping they’ll let Dell employees in, but I’m not holding my breath…

About WAR: why is it that three out of every four people play Destruction? I decided to go with an Order character (Archmage) so I could have a “target rich environment.” That’s right, Chaos scum. Prepare to be griefed.

The finalists for the Sound and the Jury contest have been announced. Chosen from over 700 entries, six bands will compete live in Austin for a spot on the Dell stage at the 2008 Austin City Limits Festival.

Profiles courtesy of Cile Montgomery and Giant Media:

60 Tigres, Monterrey, Mexico

60 Tigres began in 2005, creating a musical hybrid of styles such as funk, rock, punk, Latin and psychedelic. With influences like The Talking Heads, The Clash, International Noise Conspiracy, The Who and Gang of Four, 60 Tigres has created their own style by mixing foreign influences with Spanish and English lyrics, always trying to reflect the social situation of the daily life in México. Band members include Roberto Polo, Chivo, Maicol Polo, Saverio Giandusa, and Efren Baron.

 Good Morning Maxfield (aka Fictionist), Provo, Utah

Delighting audiences of all ages and musical interests with a “satisfying merging of folk, rock and pop with a classical twist” (Daily Universe, 4/06), Good Morning Maxfield (recently changed to Fictionist) is on the forefront of a new generation of rock and roll. Based out of Utah, Good Morning Maxfield boasts a roster of six multi-instrumentalists and produces a song-driven, organic sound, combining elements of classic rock, indie folk, jam rock and more. Band members include Stuart Maxfield, Jeremy Bowen, Jacob Jones, Robbie Connolly, Brandon Kitterman and Aaron Anderson.

The Scotland Yard Sale, Austin, Texas

The Scotland Yard Sale has played with bands like Cruiserweight, Driver F and Meriwether, and has started to get tossed around local airwaves in Austin. Their new album “Cityscapes” was released on Posters on Walls Records on May 1 and is available in many Austin record stores. Band members include Carter Francis, Bobby Martinez, Josh Thompson, Ted McLean and Rob Slater.

The Steps,  Austin, Texas

Austin-based garage rockers, The Steps, invoke the spirits of 60’s Brit-rock gods The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Stooges to help break the modern rock mold. The resulting product is an energetic set of uplifting tunes that have wowed audiences from the UK to Japan and back. Band members include Will Thompson, Stephen Ross, Z Lynch and Sam Thompson.

T-Bird & the Breaks, Austin, Texas

Newcomers T-Bird & the Breaks are old souls bringing serious R&B heat. The 10-piece band indulges the requisite Wilson Pickett and Sly & the Family Stone covers but is at its best pounding out originals by dynamic front man Tim Crane, a slick-haired, gravel-voiced shouter in the mold of blue-eyed Texas soul sensation Roy Head. T-Bird and the Breaks was voted one of Austin’s best new bands at the Austin Music Awards during SXSW 2008. The debut album by band members Tim Crane, Stephanie Hunt, Sasha Ortiz, John Allison, Sam Patlove, Cody Furr, Damien Llanes, Matt Price, Stephen Beasley, Houston Rawls, and Will Ivey is due out this summer.

Quiet Company, Austin, Texas

This will be the second year in the Dell Lounge Sound & the Jury competition finals for Austin band Quiet Company. Band members include Taylor Muse, Tommy Blank, and Trevor Wiggins. Quiet Company has been praised for playing “tight short sets of passionate music that build and flourish and make you happy to be hearing living music.” - LAist.com. CreativeLoafing.com even goes so far as to say, “The Austin trio plays the kind of piano-driven rock that never goes out of style. Vocals float over big hooks that would make Paul McCartney proud.”

The grand finale of our contest - a live battle of the bands - takes place Sept. 24 at Antone’s in Austin.  Interested in attending? Here are the details:

Sound and the Jury Showcase

Where: Antone’s - 213 W. 5th Street - Austin, TX 78701

When: Sept. 24, 2008

Time: Doors at 6:30 p.m.

Cost: Free!

Antone’s will be jumping, so make sure you get there early! I’ll be in the house as well, tweeting live throughout the evening and providing updates until the winning band has been chosen.

If you would like to receive updates, make sure to follow me on Twitter @ChrisBatDell !

Ahoy, maties! As promised, what ye’re seein’ here be the wrap up blog fer the Austin Gamin’ Developer’s Conference. The final tide be a short one, but be excitin’ nonetheless.  

As soon as I made me way into the conference hall, I made me way t’ the amazin’ Icarus Studios booth to get the skinny on the’r upcomin’ MMO, Fallen Earth. Fer them unfamiliar with the take o’ this game on the MMO genre, check ou’ the trailer:

Youtube has a higher resolution version if ye want t’ be seein’ it, an’ other trailers be featured on the Fallen Earth Web site.

The game be obviously set in a post-apocalyptic world, an’ actually maps out miles o’ real Arizona desert fer gamers t’ explore. The game be a dark an’ forebodin’ semi-sandbox, an’ the craftin’ system e’en allows players t’ craft vehicles. The PvP in this game plays into the story, as players can choose t’ swashbuckle fer specific factions t’ unlock faction specific content, an’ specific areas o’ the game can actually be contested by these factions. Fer th’ PvEers, I be told that e’en in alpha, the game has more missions than WoW had at launch.

The interface be reminiscent o’ Guild Wars, tho more highly customizable. Sci-Fi be a difficult trick fer an MMO t’ pull off traditionally, but this game definitely looks promisin’. Tis currently in alpha, an’ the developers be tight-lipped about a possible release date. I, fer one, be really lookin’ fore t’ tryin’ this one ou’!

After talkin’ wi’ the lads an’ lasses at the Icarus booth, I be able t’ attend a talk about community captainship, an’ then had jus’ enough time t’ go aft to the expo hall an’ scramble fer booty an’ shake a wee last minute hands before the expo closed. A special thanks t’ the guys from CCP, e’en if ye wouldn’t give me the inside scoop on yer latest project. 

Happy “Talk Like A Pirate Day,” everyone!

There seems to be a universal involuntary Pavlovian response to hearing the word “pirate” - talking like one (or at least trying). The same is true for writing a blog post about today — “Talk Like a Pirate Day” — but I will strive mightily to avoid dropping into faux pirate-speak.

In honor of TLPD’s strong technorati following, we’re joining the chorus of growled tidings of the season.

Rather than regurgitate the well-documented history of the “parodic holiday,” I’ll just call out some of the global festivities highlighted by founders John Baur (Ol’ Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap’n Slappy) on the official Talk Like a Pirate Day site.

• Armogedan and the Sand Pirates, a pirate-themed WebTV show that runs live every Saturday night, plans a special Talk Like A Pirate Weekend edition Sept. 19 and 20.
• Sunflower Learning, a UK educational software company, is releasing a special version of its software with 10 pirate phrases hidden in it.
• HowToDoThings, features tutorials on How to Be a Pirate, How To Be a Pirate Wench and (important!) How to Teach Your Parrot To Talk,

To that list I will add Dell’s own modest contribution to the festivities, our first Talk Like a Pirate Day sale (U.S. only).

However you plan to observe the holiday, go easy on the rum, and anchors aweigh! (I resisted as long as I could).

Day two of the Austin Gaming Developer’s Conference, and I’ve barely had time to catch my breath. I walked into the convention center with about 80 pounds of gear on my back, only to discover that filming inside was against the rules. Blast conventions and their rules! At least it meant I didn’t have to carry all of that equipment around all day, though the downside is that I couldn’t get any photos.

After stashing my gear, one of the first booths I visited showcased the top five entrants so far in Epic’s Make Something Unreal Contest sponsored by Intel. The mods were fantastic, and I had to literally peel myself away from the demos. I left the booth with the mods on CD, but you can download them yourself at the link above. I was told that the mods require Unreal Tournament II or later. Download them. Play with them. Love them.

I then ventured to the Intel booth, where they were also featuring winners of the 2008 Intel Game Demo Contest winners. I was “tricked” into playing “Goo,” which was HIGHLY addicting. It was easy to see why this game took first place in the threaded game category. The game was elegant and brilliantly executed, and I highly recommend the download. Also showcased at the booth was Winnie Wong’s Judge’s Choice Award, “Army of Earth.” The skill represented in the contest finalists was simply breathtaking. Like Winnie, I rate this game “highly addicting.” 

Before heading off to workshops, I swung by the Icarus Studios booth to quickly check out their demos of Fallen Earth. Since I was in a rush, I didn’t really get the chance to learn much about this beautiful game. It was stunning, however, and I promise to get details about this upcoming title for my next blog post.

I had the pleasure of attending three workshops. The first was a look at online communities and their culture by Ron Meiners from MyHollywood.com. Formerly developer relations director of Multiverse, Ron compared online community culture and their values with the experiences he had while attending Burning Man in Nevada. The parallel between the methods employed by the festival to create a subculture and the cultures created by online communities was enlightening. Most attendees of this talk certainly walked out of the room thinking of online culture in a new way. 

Ron Meiners, MyHollywood.com

The second was a panel discussion on the differences between the subscription billing model for MMOs and the “free to play” model found more prevalently in Asia. The discussion was lively, though I remained unconvinced of the free to play model’s viability in the west.

The talk I attended was also a panel discussion between different players in the Myst Online drama. For those of you who aren’t aware, a tight-knit community of fans formed around the franchise despite repeated failures of Cyan Worlds to support the franchise. The talk highlighted the community’s participation in the creation of the game’s mythology, and was a wonderful example of how important community is to a franchise’s success, even if it is a failure from a business perspective. I have no doubt after hearing that discussion that a new incarnation of Myst is just around the corner.

Odd coincidence: at every talk I attended, there was a group of CCP employees sitting directly in front of me. Hmmm… I wonder. I got a chance to talk to a couple of them, one of whom claimed to be the man who “puts rocks into space” for EVE-Online. I made sure to thank him for giving me so many miners to “explode.” Hilarity ensued.

That’s all I’ve got for now. I’ll talk about the final day as soon as I can catch my breath!

The first day of the Austin Gaming Developer’s Conference, and I’ve barely stepped in the door to smell the carpet. Instead, I’ve been accompanying Bryan and Claudina from Alienware on our quest to interview several members of the gaming publisher species for future features on the Alienware Network. Luckily for us, this elusive creature’s natural habitat appears to be the Austin Metro. We were able to corner representatives from three different gaming publishers to capture on film, and the experience was more rewarding and educational than I could have hoped. I was given a brief glimpse of three very different approaches to publishing games.

Our first stop on our journey brought us to the Austin offices of NCSoft, publishers of such blockbuster titles as Lineage II, Guild Wars, City of Heroes, and Tabula Rasa. The atmosphere of the building could best be summed up by describing the first thing I saw as I walked in the door: I was greeted by a 9-foot tall replica of a charr from Guild Wars. The office was an adult electronic playground. As I exited the elevator on the second floor, I was greeted by old arcade machines from the early 80s. We entered the main corridor and I was stunned to see more arcade cabinets, as well as old computer equipment from the same era, and walls covered with gaming memorabilia. I was in geek heaven. It was evident that even though this was a place of business, these people LOVED gaming.

Though the content of the interviews taken there will be showcased on Alienware Network at a later date, I must say that the NCSoft representatives were friendly and obviously knowledgeable, and I understood from my brief time with them why they’re one of the pillars of the industry. People that love games can’t help but produce games people will love. No, I didn’t get to meet Richard Garriott, a.k.a.  “Lord British,” though I hope to soon. I have to thank him for his role in making me the gaming terror I am today. (Yes, Richard. It’s partially your fault. Remind me to send you some of the “fan” mail I’ve received over the years.)

Our second stop brought us to the offices of indie game publisher Gamecock, publishers of the up-and-coming game Legendary, among others. Their studio was nestled in an old white brick house in downtown Austin. I quickly noted that it subtly reminded me of everything I thought a record publisher’s office should look like. The walls were adorned with paintings, there was a Penthouse Magazine plaque on the far wall, and the room where our interviews were to take place was covered with Gamecock graffiti. The atmosphere was paradoxically energized yet relaxed, and the representatives we spoke with had personalities that bounced off each other like billiard balls. As I noted with NCSoft, the Gamecock guys’ love of gaming was more than obvious. We also had the opportunity to speak with several developers who worked under the Gamecock umbrella and, without exception, told of Gamecock’s commitment to gaming above everything else.

Our third stop was the offices of Aspyr, known mainly for porting PC titles to the Mac and console games to PC, most notably Guitar Hero III. Their offices are located in a beautiful building in south Austin, and looked to be a stunning place to work. I walked down a curved marble staircase to arrive at the office door, and upon entering, noted that a large flat panel behind the receptionist showcasing the company’s projects screamed high-tech. Along one wall of the main work area were nothing but windows overlooking the wooded south Austin landscape, and all the cubicles seemed to be situated so that every person could readily see the view from their desks.

The representatives we talked to, just like at the other two companies, displayed an obvious passion for gaming, and readily answered any questions we had with an authority that could only come with a deep knowledge of the industry. I was lucky enough to see their play-testing room as well, and was stunned by the beautiful hum of wall-to-wall gaming boxes relentlessly running their latest projects. Sorry, folks. I can’t give any spoilers.  I left Aspyr thoroughly impressed by their professionalism and their obvious commitment to gaming. They are certainly a class-act.

When the day was through, I was struck by the common vein that ran through these three very different companies. Though their methods and products may be very different, it was obvious that the people, and their commitment to gaming and the gaming culture was the necessary ingredient for success in the industry. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the future of the industry is in the hands of people who are as passionate as I am about gaming as a whole.

It’s been a long and hot summer, but the action continues to heat up this weekend as the Dell Lounge and Dell Dome hit the Monolith Music Festival at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in beautiful Morrison, Colo.

From the Monolith Web Site:

September 13th and 14th of 2008, Red Rocks Amphitheatre will once again transform into the center of the live music universe for a weekend with “MONOLITH,” the largest music festival to grace the grounds of the “Best Live Music Venue in North America” (Pollstar). The 2008 MONOLITH Festival will feature over 50 performing artists and five stages!

When the Monolith Festival Presented by Esurance was conceptualized, the goal was to create an interesting, memorable, and most importantly — an environmentally responsible green music event.

Adding to the sensory experience of the weekend, the Dell Dome offers a combination of technology, art and music for visitors to show off their individual style.  Festival goers can meet urban artist Mike Ming, personalize their own digital mix tape, get hooked up with a rock ‘n’ roll hairstyle or get a superstar airbrush tattoo.

For those looking for an added chance to see your favorite artists up front and personal, please stop by the Dell Dome during the times listed below and listen in as feature bands provide candid interviews for festival goers.

SATURDAY

The Muslims – 4 p.m.

The Morning Benders – 4:30 p.m.

Devotchka – 5 p.m.

Del Tha Funky Homosapien – 5:30 p.m.

Port O’Brien – 6 p.m.

SUNDAY

Dressy Bessy – 1:30 p.m.

Akron/Family – 2 p.m.

Rob Drabkin – 2:30 p.m.

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – 3 p.m.

The Photo Atlas – 3:30 p.m.

Stop by and say hello. We all look forward to seeing you.  =)