The Mana Bar - Brisbane

[Layabout]

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.


Look at him there in his fancy hat.





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 and text mostly borrowed from this article http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/01/australias-first-video-game-bar-opening-next-month/

[WHAM]

Way cool! Now I really wanna go to Australia, for some reason... 

[Timosity]

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

[Nikolas]

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

[Andail]

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?

[Layabout]

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!"

[Jim Reed]

I think you'll find nowadays gamers are a lot more diverse.

I'll second that.

[markbilly]

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.

[Anian]

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.  

[ThreeOhFour]

(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.

[Helme]

I imagine Yahtzee complaining about drinks like he does with games in 'zero punctation' 

[Grundislav]

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

[Calin Leafshade]

All yahtzee needs now is a cape.

and a fucking bow-tie.

[DoorKnobHandle]

Damn, if it wasn't on the other side of the world...

[NsMn]

All yahtzee needs now is a cape.

and a fucking bow-tie.

And then he would be Tri.... Fantômas...?

[Dualnames]

I imagine people going to see Yahtzee and finally realize he's the hat guy...

"Now you gave me a reason to drink."

[poc301]

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

[ThreeOhFour]

It's kinda vaguely hinted at on the wiki page, and also explained (I guess) a bit more here.

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? 

[InCreator]

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.

[Ryan Timothy B]

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.