The Mana Bar - Brisbane

[Jared]

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..)

[Chicky]

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!

[Layabout]

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.

[Matti]

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.

[InCreator]

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...  

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... "Here's your beer....oops--!"

[Igor Hardy]

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.

[ddq]

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.

[cosmicr]

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

[auriond]

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.

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.

[Goldfish]

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.

[InCreator]

"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!

[Layabout]

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

[Timo.]

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.

[Galen]

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.

[xenogia]

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

[Calin Leafshade]

Wasnt it to follow his girlfriend? and then she left him for a surfer?

[xenogia]

Correct

[Ali]

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.

[xenogia]

Ali: Can't say I've had the urge to travel overseas for the opposite sex.. lol

[Scarab]

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