Playtopia 2024

A Blissful Weekend of Gaming in Capetown

Playtopia 2024- A Blissful Weekend of Gaming in Cape Town This past weekend, gamers from around the globe gathered at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town for Playtopia 2024, a two-day festival celebrating Indie Games and Immersive Arts. The event shone a spotlight on African gaming creativity while showcasing global creations from different studios and gamers.

The festival featured a great lineup of games, including Khamani: The Lion of Summer, Metavoidal, Shrooms and Glooms, Metrics and an exciting skateboarding game. Upon entering the venue, attendees could participate in a unique raffle by filling out a cardboard entry for a chance to win a PS5—an exciting prospect for many like Homolang Marule. The venue’s purple lighting theme set the stage for a vibrant, ambitious, and dynamic experience. Attendees immersed themselves in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) experiences while also networking with developers to learn about the intricacies of game development. “It was a new experience for me that had alot of trippy stuff”, said Jayson Eckersley.

The intimate setting fostered easy interaction and meaningful connections among attendees. Many participants praised the festival’s creativity and innovation, with Luthando Nyuswa, commenting, “My mind was ignited by the ideas that were put together.” He also appreciated the opportunity to try out new games and provide feedback to developers.

From a developer’s perspective, Khumo Moerane described Playtopia as a remarkable event that brought together a diverse range of games and creators. “It was great for me to see people play Khamani and get their feedback,” he said, emphasizing the valuable insights the event provided into the gaming community’s preferences. Attendees particularly loved the African hero and storytelling themes woven into Khamani.

One of the standout features of the festival was the beanbag-filled auditorium, described by attendees Homolang Marule, Ipeleng Kelebonye, Nico Kekane, and Khanyisile Gama as a “magical space” that captivated them and even induced moments of relaxation. The venue also showcased captivating art installations, adding an extra layer of fun and creativity to the overall atmosphere.

Playtopia 2024 successfully blended innovation, cultural celebration, and community engagement, leaving attendees inspired and eager for future editions of the festival, which brings in “game hopping”.

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