What to expect from Playtopia MGA Games Fest 2019
The Playtopia MGA alternative games festival will be held at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town from 5 to 7 December 2019.
Playtopia MGA aims to celebrate the country's diverse game development and immersive arts community, to inspire the next generation of creators, gamers and enthusiasts.
Playtopia and Make Games Africa (MGA) have joined forces to make one three-day event where attendees can revel in local and international indie games, eye-melting interactive and digital art and a killer music lineup.
Conferences
There will be two conferencing streams available to delegates this year, the MGA Business-to-Business Conference and the Playtopia Talks aimed at delegates interested in the creative side of game development. Playtopia delegates are invited to attend talks, panels and workshops hosted by both international and local industry experts in the field of indie game development and the MGA talks are aimed at business development of gaming within the African context.
Gamers, developers and event-goers will have a plethora of games, music, food and experiential art to enjoy. Exhibitions by some of South Africa’s top interactive artists, 30+ alternative, art and party games, a Super Friendship Arcade room with games played on custom controllers, VR rooms and music entertainment.
This event is strictly 18+ as some of the games are not suitable for children.
Playtopia main exhibition
The main Playtopia exhibition is a hand-picked collection of games, playful experiences and interactive narratives. The exhibition representing some of the most inventive, vibrant and moving games of recent years.
A selection of both South African, and international titles, the exhibition includes critically acclaimed indie releases, as well as under-recognised gems, celebrating the future of digital storytelling and playful art.
Super Friendship Arcade "punk game party" exhibition
Super Friendship Arcade is an ever-growing collective of friends using games to hack The Planet. Creating pop-up arcades in unexpected spaces, SFA breaks down the typical "gamer" stereotype, celebrating games that are welcoming, easy to pick up, and most importantly, shared experiences that bring people together.
SFA's message is that games are for everyone! Not just for everyone to play; games are for everyone to make too! Through jams and workshops, the SFA gang share their passion and experience with newcomers, aiming to grow an ever more diverse and vibrant community of DIY game developers.
SFA's "Punk Game Party" exhibition collects the best of the communities five-year output. Expect irreverent party games, and joyful multiplayer experiences played with unique, hand-made controllers and digital toys.
Music
Music artists for the event include Thor Rixon, Tommy Gun, Markus Wormstorm, Julia Robert, Sassquatch and more.
Playtopia speakers:
Playtopia speakers include the likes of Mitu Khandaker (USA), Kamina Vincent (Australia), Johan Gjestland (Norway), Nicole He (USA), Evan Greenwood (creative director Free Lives), Robin Baumgarten (Germany), Ingrid Kopp (Electric South), Hanna Fogelberg (Sweden) and more.
For the full lineup on Playtopia and MGA Speakers, visit www.playtopia.co.za.
Installation artists
2019’s installation artists include Inka Kendzia, Tulips & Chimneys (Eden Labs 'The Lost Botanist’), Emma Jean Wrigley, Tim Smith, Noël Labridy and more.
For the full lineup on installation artists, visit www.playtopia.co.za.
Tickets are available on Quicket.
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