Gaming, Animation Fans Gear Up For RTX Austin 2019

AUSTIN, TX — Gaming and animation fans are gearing up for this year's version of RTX Austin — a gathering described as "SXSW meets Comic Con drawing tens of thousands of attendees — scheduled next weekend at the Austin Convention Center.

The event created by Rooster Teeth scheduled from July 5-7 is self-described as a celebration of the convergence of gaming and Internet culture. Established in 2011 in Austin, the gathering has grown from 600 attendees at its launch to more than 63,000 in 2017. In describing its massive scale, Tech Crunch in 2016 described the gathering as "SXSW meets Comic Con."

The event features panels related to gaming and Internet topics, exhibitor booths from independent and major game developers and meet-and-greet sessions with game developers and Internet personalities.

It's now a global event, with international events in Sydney and London. Major brands that include Pizza Hut, 343 Industries and Nintendo last year set up booths on the RTX show floor to engage with a prized demographic comprising fans of gaming, anime, and internet culture.

Animation fans last year were thrilled to see Jessica Nigri, cosplay artist and voice of Cinder in Rooster Teeth's worldwide anime phenomenon, RWBY, who appeared at RTX Austin. Attendees watched or participated in what was billed as "the coolest cosplay on the planet" that served as a contest. RTX also is notable for being one of the first places consumers can play major video game releases such as Halo 4 and most recently, Rainbow Six: Siege.

Related story: RTX 2018 Austin Gathering Showcased Robust Gaming-Internet Link

Also last year, Drawfee teamed up with Rooster Teeth to bring "Drawfee Live!" to RTX Austin, an interactive comedy drawing series where favorite nerd culture franchises and childhood memories were transformed into bizarre works of art. The panel featured Rooster Teeth's Yssa Badiola, RWBY voice actresses Arryn Zech and Kara Eberle, and Drawfee's Julia Lepetit, Jacobs Andrews and Nathan Yaffe.

For more information and to buy a badge, visit the RTX Austin website.