So in Brisbane, Australia's first 'video-game' bar is opening next month. The Mana Bar is the creation of Guy “Yug†Blomberg and Ben “Yahtzee†Croshaw, former big-shot AGS creator, along with friends Pras Moorthy and Shay Leighton.
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs131.snc3/17849_237385742918_166607547918_3414381_288114_n.jpg)
Look at him there in his fancy hat.
(http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs131.snc3/17849_237385757918_166607547918_3414383_2726005_n.jpg)
(http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs151.snc3/17849_237385767918_166607547918_3414385_5786485_n.jpg)
In addition to letting you play games while you drink, the venue will also cater for special events including game launch parties, games trivia nights hosted by Yahtzee, developer sessions and Q&As, as well as multiplayer gaming tournaments.
I will certainly be heading there once it opens, and you should check it out if you are ever in Brisbane. I've met Guy Blomberg before and he's a really down to earth and very cool guy. Be amazed by his card tricks!
Photos stolen from the Mana Bar facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/TheManaBar (http://www.facebook.com/TheManaBar) and text mostly borrowed from this article http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/01/australias-first-video-game-bar-opening-next-month/ (http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/01/australias-first-video-game-bar-opening-next-month/)
Way cool! Now I really wanna go to Australia, for some reason... ;D
Seems a strange idea for a bar, but it might work, I suppose a lot of gamers can drink a lot cause of the size of them from sitting around playing games, hahaha, is that too much of a stereotype these days? I thought people would want to get away from computers when they go out and interact with people in the flesh. I guess you can probably log into a dating site from within the bar, hahaha, what is this world coming to.
I couldn't see an address, just that it is in Fortitude Valley
Wondering if it's a good idea.
If you get the typical people who play computer games, you might get either busy geeks (who don't drink) or tenagers who should not drink, but definately don't have the money to spend a lot...
The market for this idea is very difficult and dangerous I reckon. :-\
Here's to hope though
My experience is that computer nerds are pretty stingy bastards. If the bar sells really cheap energy drinks, I guess there might be some sort of commerce taking place.
Also, has Yahtzee dressed up to look like some of his game characters, or is he always looking that geeky?
I think you'll find nowadays gamers are a lot more diverse. It amazes me sometimes to walk into a shop and see a hot girl buying Modern Warfare 2 with a chick friend, no guy in sight.
Timosity, it's on Brunswick St, not 100% sure on the exact location though.
A pub I worked at used to have a wii, it was quite normal for people to have a pint and play wii sports bowling. As for other games? Well, who knows. Although I do know they are primarily there to make money and they do that from drinks.
And yes! From what I can tell, Yathzee always dresses like that and runs around shouting "I am Trilby! Gentleman thief! La la la la la!"
Quote from: Layabout on Tue 12/01/2010 14:01:35
I think you'll find nowadays gamers are a lot more diverse.
I'll second that.
Quote from: Andail on Tue 12/01/2010 13:54:22
Also, has Yahtzee dressed up to look like some of his game characters, or is he always looking that geeky?
The whole cheap glasses, fluff beard and hat thing make him look like a grown man with a 16 year-old geek stereotype's head.
Just looking at him makes me a bit angry. But mainly embarrassed.
Not sure I see the market for this, either. I like to go to a pub/bar to talk to people, etc.
Yeah, game consoles in some bars would add so much, and especially football and wii games, not to mention the drinking and the snacks that could be sold.
Even if some gamers are underaged, Cola still costs as much as beer and you get less volume of liquid so that shouldn't be a problem. No, not everybody want to talk and play games all the time, but one night a week you might want to - and that should be enough. Plus tournaments and promotions. This bar should be successful, it's got lots of publicty and free advertising...well, even if the "gamers" don't pick up, there'll probably be other people to visit it, since it seems trendy...though I have no real idea what's the actual situation in Brisbane.
Kinda sliding off topic - I think I really like "themed" bars, as long as with some taste. Been to an Australian pub in Vienna, it was great fun, lot's of authentic food and drinks (except maybe vegemite, still want to try that), the barmen was australian (it helps when they at least talk english), there was rugbi and cricket on tv, crockodiles and sharks and neon signs on the walls - I know it's all stereotypical, but it's fun and atmospheric and seems to be created with some care. Oh, and Fosters is not that bad. ;D
Quote from: anian on Tue 12/01/2010 15:55:02(except maybe vegemite, still want to try that)
I hated it as a kid. Now I consider it
delicious.
Gaming bar sounds like a cool idea, it will be interesting to see how successful it is.
I imagine Yahtzee complaining about drinks like he does with games in 'zero punctation' ;D
I wonder if they'll have specialty drinks named after games.
For example: The Prince of Persia - Makes you run up the wall!
The Fallout 3 - You'll feel like a nuclear bomb fell on you tomorrow morning!
etc etc etc
All yahtzee needs now is a cape.
and a fucking bow-tie.
Damn, if it wasn't on the other side of the world...
Quote from: Calin Leafshade on Tue 12/01/2010 17:35:01
All yahtzee needs now is a cape.
and a fucking bow-tie.
And then he would be Tri.... Fantômas...?
I imagine people going to see Yahtzee and finally realize he's the hat guy...
"Now you gave me a reason to drink."
Ok, so maybe I am a bit out of it... But why do people dislike Yahtzee so much? His __ Days a ___ games were good, as was Trillby's Notes..
I have been a member of the AGS community since 2004, and have never really seen him post much of anything, or come off as being the jerk (or ass) as some people say.
Just curious.
-Bill
It's kinda vaguely hinted at on the wiki page (http://www.americangirlscouts.org/agswiki/Yahtzee), and also explained (I guess) a bit more here (http://www.americangirlscouts.org/agswiki/Yahtzee%27s_Apology).
Really, that's extremely old news now, I find it a bit doubtful that too many people hold any sort of grudge against him.
Edit: Meaning that maybe they have new reasons to hate him? :=
I like the name!
But a game bar? So, you go to a social place for unsocial activities, also, consume alcohol where concentration and reactions are needed?
I guess it's fun too wii bowl with mates or something, but if you already dragged your ass out - you might aswell enjoy the real deal and real bowling lane. Video games are indoors activity, after all. I wonder if there will be any female customers there: even if video games will be not fatal, quick reputation as nerd bar probably will.
Also, as little I know women, I'm quite sure that no woman will attend to a BAR where her presence is secondary issue and mankind is gathered/concentrated around electronic piece of some kind. Same reason why RC model/ audio technics enthusiast/ car faggotry/ etc bars would rather be private clubs than bars - place where genders mingle.
Still, the name is spot-on.
Either way, it's always great to be your own boss and to go out on a limb with an investment hoping to make money (except in this case there are multiple owners).
I hope they succeed and make lots of money.
I love that second photo - firstly for showing Yug attempting to control his hair style (which Matt Berger described as 'looking like the result of electroshock') and Yahtzee at the end in a pose looking like he's suffering from human contact overload.
For all the speculation about whether it's a good idea, I have to say that if a gaming bar is a good idea then Brisbane is the place for it - for whatever reason the place seems to be Australia's gaming capital. That and I think Queensland is the only state where alcohol consumption is compulsory.
(Lily-livered New South Welshman here, in case you were wondering..)
Quote from: InCreator on Tue 12/01/2010 23:44:07
I like the name!
But a game bar? So, you go to a social place for unsocial activities, also, consume alcohol where concentration and reactions are needed?
Are you honestly saying you're deadly sober when gaming? If this is the case then you're seriously missing out buddy!
Also i think the Mana Bar is a kick ass name, an in-joke for gamers everywhere!
Yeah, Yug's hair is like an entity on it's own. And it is totally true that Yahtzee haaaaattttees human contact more than he hates the AGS community. In my honest opinion, Melbourne would seem like a more likely place for this kind of thing, given that they have studios staying open instead of closing, but hopefully this might re-invigorate the Brisbane gaming scene.
Glad to see more Aussies on here anyway, we are always in short supply.
Quote from: InCreator on Tue 12/01/2010 23:44:07
But a game bar? So, you go to a social place for unsocial activities, also, consume alcohol where concentration and reactions are needed?
You never drink anything while playing? ;)
Also, I don't understand what's so new about a gaming bar and where the difference between that and e.g. an adventure expo, a Star-Wars con or a place with billard/table tennis lies.
I've been to a bar some weeks ago where you could play some console games, but it's always just an
option to use, of course you could just sit down with friends to drink and chat - that's what we did.
If people like to play games but also like to go some place and probably meet other gamers - then why not go to a bar like this? That wouldn't be a place for me but I guess quite a few people will like it.
Quote from: Mr Matti on Wed 13/01/2010 11:52:17
You never drink anything while playing? ;)
Not really. Being tipsy yet trying to concentrate is annoying as hell for me. And if I drink enough to kill that feeling, well, I also cross line of safe electronics usage. Computer hungover is worst type - trying to figure out next morning why there's random stuff installed, why does keyboard smell of red wine and keys don't work, how did music get erased and why there's porn for wallpaper... :P
Then again, I - most of the time - multiplay Modern Warfare 2, that ultimate test in reaction and orientation. So drinking first ruins the game, and second - gets me double upset over this since alcohol boosts emotions. And that's how playing video game should not work on mood.
I see no point in drinking unless with many people, and I almost never drink alone. But that's offtopic.
Thinking about this, I wonder how often do they have to replace broken gaming devices at mana bar... :P "Here's your beer....oops--!"
So this is how it ends, eh? Full-blown AGS game-making for a couple of years, then something breaks and you become just another poor, creative-less sod making a living running gaming bars and casinos. ;)
I don't think any level of sobriety will give your character any more peripheral vision in MW2. I swear, the field of view in that game is like wearing horse blinders.
looks like they made the local rag:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/fun-loving-clubbers-get-ready-to-play-at-first-australian-video-game-bar/story-e6frfro0-1225821522666
Quote from: InCreator on Tue 12/01/2010 23:44:07Also, as little I know women, I'm quite sure that no woman will attend to a BAR where her presence is secondary issue and mankind is gathered/concentrated around electronic piece of some kind.
Because women would NEVER join mankind in gathering around said electronic piece! ;)
I don't know how well a video game bar would work though, much as the idea appeals to me. Is it like an internet cafe, except that everyone is huddled in front of a console? With tequilas next to them instead of lattes?
*reads article* Oh, right. So it's only Wii and Rock Band-type games. In other words, stuff even my non-gamer friends play.
*dreams of geeky video-game in-jokes and cosplayers shattered* Oh well, back to the video game conventions then.
Good luck to them. It's wonderful to follow your bliss and try and live your dreams. Doesn't always work, but it's better than doing nothing and sitting in the peanut gallery. So more power to them.
And if it's around when next I lob up in Q-land, I will definitely plonk myself down in the place and catch up on news. I will particularly make sure to click on everyone twice to see if the dialogue changes.
Quote"We don't want people coming in and grabbing a controller with 16 buttons and sitting down to read a manual. We just want people to come in, pick up a controller and have a play. It's not a LAN cafe or a cyber lounge. It won't have PCs or World of Warcraft. We're trying to make something for everyone."
console faggots! >:(
I'm more excited about the opportunity to tell Yahtzee, while extremely intoxicated, that he is a massive cock. On behalf of ags of course. :p
Talked to Yahtzee, and he said that setting up a freak hangout place which claims to be a bar-video game centre hybrid was his lifetime ambition, and that he would always do such things over creating point-and-clicks which actually made him famous.
I really want to go there, and I plan on going there real soon. Sounds whacky, sounds fun.
Only thing is that I miss Yahtzee's insane creations. They're insane, but they're still so good and addictive. 5 cups.
Quote from: Layabout on Sat 23/01/2010 05:37:52
I'm more excited about the opportunity to tell Yahtzee, while extremely intoxicated, that he is a massive cock. On behalf of ags of course. :p
Almost to the end of this topic I was getting disappointed that no one had posted this yet, thanks.
So I guess no one accepted his apology then. It was how many years ago, to be fair I know the real reason why he moved to Australia in the first place... hehe.. He told me one stormy afternoon about 7 years ago on an ancient program that went uh oh everytime a message came up.. lol
Wasnt it to follow his girlfriend? and then she left him for a surfer?
Correct :)
Isn't that the reason everyone does everything?
This bar sounds like a fun idea, but I think the expense of having a back room exclusively for three pirate chiefs might be a bit much.
Ali: Can't say I've had the urge to travel overseas for the opposite sex.. lol
Quote from: Xenogia on Fri 29/01/2010 00:31:08
So I guess no one accepted his apology then.
Well didn't he just blame everything that was wrong with him on his brother?
I remember when I read it, I didn't really feel sorry for him at all :-\
Yes he did. It was all his brother's fault. Apparently.
Another of his ex-girlfriends teaches writing at my college. She eats lots of cake and is obsessed with lolcats.
I swung past on the way to work a few days ago. Oh my it is pretty small. It should be good once fully fitted out though. Only licensed for 50 patrons. It'll be interesting.
You have a name, you open a bar that matches your image: happy fun times for all! I think it will work just fine, the old "gamer" stereotype is really outdated by now. You still sitting in your dungeon, hacking the day away? Anachronism, shame on you!
Man, some you people talk about this dude yahtzee like he punched you in the face or like you know him at all. I am actually extremely surprised people still have emotions towards some random dude they don't know.
All he did was open a bar with some friends. What an asshole, amiright?
What an asshole indeed!
QuoteThis bar sounds like a fun idea, but I think the expense of having a back room exclusively for three pirate chiefs might be a bit much.
In my half-awake state I actually read this as 'three pirate
chefs' and thought that would be pretty awesome! Authentic (whatever that is) pirate cuisine!
Quote from: MrColossal on Fri 29/01/2010 17:22:33
Man, some you people talk about this dude yahtzee like he punched you in the face or like you know him at all. I am actually extremely surprised people still have emotions towards some random dude they don't know.
All he did was open a bar with some friends. What an asshole, amiright?
You can travel back in time, we can do shitty and trash talk! And yes, we don't know Yahtzee. THANK F%^&& GOD FOR THAT!!
P.S: It's magick!!
Quote from: ProgZmax on Fri 29/01/2010 17:30:21
What an asshole indeed!
QuoteThis bar sounds like a fun idea, but I think the expense of having a back room exclusively for three pirate chiefs might be a bit much.
In my half-awake state I actually read this as 'three pirate chefs' and thought that would be pretty awesome! Authentic (whatever that is) pirate cuisine!
Weird, in my half-awake state I nearly
typed three pirate chefs.
This seems like something me and my girlfriends would love to go to for friday/saturday night outings.
I wonder if they'd have any tourny fighters? I'm a beast with Tekken.
Okay, but how is this different from yet another Cyber Cafe?
(ok, most cyber cafes don't have Yahtzee; but other than that?)
Quote from: JabberwockyAi on Sun 31/01/2010 09:59:07
This seems like something me and my girlfriends would love to go to for friday/saturday night outings.
That sounded a little boastful, until I realised you too were a girl.
Quote from: Radiant on Sun 31/01/2010 20:36:24Okay, but how is this different from yet another Cyber Cafe?
I've only been to a couple of Cyber Cafes - and must of them were more of LAN gaming rooms - but I think the idea is that there are only consoles.
Getting people to mingle through playing video-games sounds like a good idea to me.
Quote from: Layabout on Fri 29/01/2010 08:50:17
Only licensed for 50 patrons.
Speaking as someone who amongst other things has interests in clubs... That right there is a big BIIIGGG problem for a licensed venue. Seriously. However, depends if they seriously want to make any money or not. If not, then it's fine.
Chances are that if it works they'll upgrade a little.
Trouble with that is two fold though, firstly the licensing laws in most parts of Australia are quite deliberately Catch-22 ish so if you start off licensed for 50, thus shall you remain year in year out... And with such a small venue the odds are not good that it will trade well enough to break even let alone profit. But like I said, it might not be a for-profit thing one way or another. Could be inexperience or it could be part of a cunning plan, or a tax writeoff or who knows what.
But they're chasing their dreams so I wish them sincerely all the success the universe can give them. :)
Quote from: Layabout on Sat 23/01/2010 05:37:52
I'm more excited about the opportunity to tell Yahtzee, while extremely intoxicated, that he is a massive cock. On behalf of ags of course. :p
Do you really hate the guy that much? coz whenever Yahtzee crops up you always come out of the woodwork to slag him off? I can't tell if you're being tongue in cheek or have a seriously unhealthy grudge against the man.
I...get the feeling he was joking. hence the :p.
For some reason, the only people who have anything against him (or pretend to?) are the ones who came to AGS much after he left :D
Quote from: Babar on Wed 03/02/2010 11:28:27
I...get the feeling he was joking. hence the :p.
For some reason, the only people who have anything against him (or pretend to?) are the ones who came to AGS much after he left :D
I just hate the guy for no reason! People hate people that they've never met, or they don't even exist! (like those that hate Allah or God)
When DID Yahtzee frequent this board? Wasn't it like a decade ago now? Sure, you can argue he was an ass at the time, but y'know, people can change over a DECADE, if you met him recently and he was still an ass then sure, you can hate him.
He does at least still seem to have a negative out put on life, but he may not be a total ass still.
Quote from: Babar on Wed 03/02/2010 11:28:27
I...get the feeling he was joking. hence the :p.
For some reason, the only people who have anything against him (or pretend to?) are the ones who came to AGS much after he left :D
I've been here since 2000ish. Before Yahtzee left.
Quote from: Goldfish on Tue 02/02/2010 15:03:23
Trouble with that is two fold though, firstly the licensing laws in most parts of Australia are quite deliberately Catch-22 ish so if you start off licensed for 50, thus shall you remain year in year out... And with such a small venue the odds are not good that it will trade well enough to break even let alone profit. But like I said, it might not be a for-profit thing one way or another. Could be inexperience or it could be part of a cunning plan, or a tax writeoff or who knows what.
But they're chasing their dreams so I wish them sincerely all the success the universe can give them. :)
I think it's kindof a trial for something bigger. Start small you don't lose too much money if it doesn't work.
Interesting idea! It's certainly easier to play a point and click whilst drinking than it is Modern Warfare 2. Well, so long as they got a Wii or two, it could be quite fun :) But yeah, geeks and alcohol? Two negative polarities trying to get close to one another... Good luck to them though!
The only difference I can see between a cyber cafe and Yahtzee's is that Yahtzee's is still open for business ;)
All the geeks I know make wicked homebrew, and aren't too stingy on drinking it...
Might as well bring this back up now that it has opened. So far (first week in) the bar looks to be quite successful. I went there on Sunday night and it's TINY! But the atmosphere is generally quite nice. It was kinda fun to watch randoms playing street fighter and guitar hero together, everyone has been polite and not hogging machines. Prices are pretty average for Brisbane (bout $7 for a beer). The bouncer is dressed as Ryu from Street Fighter, and so far have had zero incidents (which is unheard of in Fortitude Valley).
The venue has had lines (they only have a capacity of 50) every night, with people not minding the wait to get in.
Give it a few weeks and see if the concept can keep these figures. It is an ideal place to start an evening with friends (that is, if you can get in)