Australias first dedicated video game bar is opening in Brisbane next month.
Located in the heart of Brisbane’s entertainment district – Fortitude Valley – the Mana Bar will have a cocktail lounge style and fit out, to make it friendly, and not threatening, for non-gamers. The owners of the bar, involved in the gaming and hospitality industries themselves, wanted to create a place where patrons could enjoy a drink while playing the latest video games. Entry will be free, and there will be no charge for playing the games. The focus on weekends will be on cool drinks and the hottest social video games available – like the popular Wii title Resort Sports. The walls of the bar will have multiple LCD screens with console video games ready to play, with the consoles held behind the bar and operated by trained staff. The concept of a video game and bar has already proved a sell-out success in Germany, with Berlin’s PLAY nightclub booked out. The Mana Bar’s owners also want it to be active in helping to support the Brisbane and Queensland game development community, hosting industry and student special events, and providing a meeting place for artists, designers and programmers.
