Some of you Australian based gamers may have heard the murmurings of The Mana Bar, a pet project of Zero Punctuation famed critic “Yahtzee” and AustralianGamer.com’s Yug.
Based in Brisbane, Australia, the hometown of yours truly, the bar promises to combine the two passions of the modern gamer – gaming and drinking – in a way that promises to suit every taste; from Retro (Vodka Martini) to Rock Band (JagerBomb).
The still-in-production website offers the opportunity to play unreleased titles, attend launch parties, multiplayer tournaments and other special game related events. It’s also pretty likely that most of Brisbane’s burgeoning gaming industry will make it their local, so prospective game developers may find themselves with an opportunity to smooze.
It’s planning to open next month, so if you’re a local, subscribe to @TheManaBar on twitter or hit up their facebook page for updates on upcoming events and specials.
From the site:
Opening in February 2010 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane – Australia, the Mana Bar is the first venue of it’s type.
Featuring the latest in next generation video game systems available to play 7 days a week with the latest, greatest, and most social games available. You’ll even be able to play games before they’re released!
It’s not just the games though, first and foremost the Mana Bar will be one of Brisbane’s most funky drinking venues, with a unique selection of drinks and custom cocktails on offer.
I expect it to be a nerd’s hangout spot, but I hope it isn’t. Keep the classy look.
This sounds like it is either going to be a really awesome place to meet well-adjusted people who just happen to be passionate about video games…or a place where you go to meet up with a bunch of sweaty geeks that want to feel like they’re doing something cool. Be sure to let us know which one it turns out to be, James!
A blue martini next to a 360 controller, very classy. While in theory this sounds really cool, I can only see this as one of those PC LAN houses that serve alcohol. Keep us updated about how this turns out.
We’re actually trying to stay ‘away’ from the LAN feel of things … there will be no PC’s at the Mana Bar.
I love the basic assumption that nerds, especially PC nerd, have no sense of class or social aesthetics or ettiquette. Sure, some don’t, but it is a little… exasperating to see the kind of responses articles like this get, because there are so many well dressed and clean nerds that can hold conversations about more than just video games and tabletop gaming.
Give the place a try, guys, don’t judge it because of the image of nerds you have in your head. Especially if ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ is the stereotype you label us with.
James, you and Simon have to scout this place out for us
Matty – Maybe this is the excuse you need to come up and see Brisbane
Rest assured a review of the bar will be forthcoming
Nothing scares me away from an add more than a blue martini. Why can’t the gaming community come up with something a little classier? As we gamers continue to age and take over the globe, I hope we can put together something other than internet cafes and blue martinis.
My only concern would be that people would constantly drunkenly spill drinks all over the controllers/consoles, and it would have to go out of business.
Otherwise, this is the first non-cover charge video game bar I’ve seen: everywhere in America charges you some sort of hourly fee. Good luck to them!
My only question is, will all their drink names be video game themed?
I’m throwing a tentative “meh” in Mana Bar’s general direction. I reckon this place will be a huge hit for the first couple of weeks, before people realize that they can stay home and play games, drinking booze that isn’t overpriced.
I’m keen to have a look at it, but I foresee drunken ragers and alcohol soaked controllers/consoles/TVs. Doesn’t exactly sound like the happiest circumstance, but we shall see.
So jealous. I think it’s a great way to bring a community together that may not otherwise commune in a large group. Time to move to Australia?
It would be fun to go to a bar and play the games with everyone on tv instead of just watching tv cause no one’s talking to you.