Manhattan’s Indie Game Fest Plays in East Village

East Village gamed last night with Manhattan’s Indie Game Fest, leveling NYC’s spring at a 2nd Avenue bar. Dev Tariq Evans showcased *Pixel Grit* as 200 played, a $15 ticket bash of joysticks. It’s borough bytes—pure EV vibe, screens hot. A kid mashed buttons; a pro scored high. ‘Manhattan games—this is it,’ Evans says, tweaking code. The room turned arcade.

The fest’s fresh—March 19’s start, it tripled since RSVPs, packing tables by 6 p.m. Evans, a LES coder; last night’s crowd hit max—pixels flashed. A latecomer nabbed a controller; cheers rang—NYC grit glowed. Runs one night—indies ruled. #EVGameFest trended; Brooklyn’s jealous.

Some griped—’Too loud,’ sniped a grump, dodging beeps. Power flickered—fixed quick; play held. A rival’s pitching a Chelsea bash, splitting sticks. Still, 300 stayed—scores reigned. East Village’s never played so bold.

Evans hints at a monthly run, maybe a tourney if spring bites. ‘NYC’s fun—this builds it,’ he says, packing drives. The fest’s a Manhattan win—grit meets grid. It’s a game rush; catch the next. Bring a pad—pixels call.