How would you like to enjoy a few soothing ales – or even some curious blue cocktail – in a swank bar whilst playing the latest PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii games? You can do just that in Brisbane beginning in February.
That’s where and when the “Mana Bar” (ho ho ho) opens, the first dedicated video game bar in Australia.
The Mana Bar is the creation of Guy “Yug” Blomberg and Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw from Australian Gamer and Zero Punctuation, along with friends Pras Moorthy and Shay Leighton, pictured below.
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.
Kotaku will be heading up to Brisbane for the launch. Might see you there.
The Mana Bar [site]
Ben
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 1:14 PMSounds fun. Didn’t know Yahtzee was helping to run this joint – that just makes it even better!
Pity that I live in Perth, then.
Cerzel
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:56 PMYeah. Pft, Brisbane.
Though I lost all respect for Yahtzee after his Demon’s Souls review, where he basically said that he gave up after dying too much before even beating the second stage and said the game was too hard.
mambodog
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 7:31 AMI would have thought ‘too hard’ is a valid criticism?
Doddy
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 1:32 PMFar out this would be awesome..might have to make a trip to Brisbane just for this :P
Ashly Wicks
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 1:53 PMim feeling a coffs > brisbane road trip inc
Tom Hughes
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 1:56 PMI can’t wait for this place to open. I have a feeling that it will do very well in this town
Andrew
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:00 PMI’ll stop by next time i go up there
Jack Webster
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:03 PMTell me it’s not 18+ :(
Bill
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:15 PMyou serious? its serving alcohol.. its a bar.. that is the point..
Ema Nymton
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:17 PMIf you are under 18, as long as you are accompanied by a responsible adult (parent or guardian and NOT sibling or mates) and do not approach the bar itself or consume alcohol then all is OK.
Of course, it is a licenced premesis – they can refuse you entry altogether should they choose to make that the rules…
James
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 7:17 PMIn QLD (and most of the country), you aren’t allowed inside a licensed venue under the age of 18 that doesn’t have a restaurant service. It’s why you can have a pub meal with your family but not hang out with your older brother at a nightclub.
emanance
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:11 PMDoes this mean no more deck parties at Yug’s?!
Luke
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:11 PMHard to imagine Yahtzee voluntarily being around gamers but this looks like a really good idea. I hope it takes off for them.
Palstran
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:12 PMLooking forward to having a cool place to go in Brisbane where I might feel at home.
Dylan Sale
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:12 PMHah, I was just telling my wife she should open a bar in Adelaide like this, though I’m not sure the market is big enough here. I hope it goes well so we get more of them about :)
warcroft
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:27 PMFranchise!
Aaron Clement
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:33 PMI smell a Brissy Kotaku meetup!
Andrew Low
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 2:23 PMKotaku represent!
Final Atomic Buster
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:34 PMI would’ve called it Health Bar. Or Super Bar so it doesn’t sound like a gym.
HotDamn!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:41 PMCan you imagine the fistycuffs when intoxicated gamer nerds start fighting over who has the biggest epeen?
Fracture
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:48 PMcrazy idea, good luck to them …. ! are the controllers shrink-wrapped in plastic ?
Atomiswave
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2:53 PMMy goodness. you have to be kidding. It would be interesting to see how many females actually grace this joint. Don’t get me wrong, hats off to you lads, I just prefer the meat markets I normally grace my presence with to have less sausage. i.e. city rowers. bless the memories…
Good luck guys… not sure how many industry types would actually use this joint for launches or meetings…
xoxo Atomiswave!
Mannon
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:38 PMA lot more than you would think, I’d be willing to bet. Also; city rowers? Ew.
Darius
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:07 PMthis is so lame. as if you nerds will socialize
dzc12
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:20 PMReally man?
Jordaan
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 5:23 PMYeah! All YOU NERDS with your Kotaku accounts, commenting on posts! NERDS!
On the flip side, I remember Yug giving a talk to some QUT IT04 students earlier last year and discussing this. Congratulations to him, and good luck with the endeavour. Shame I don’t drink, this seems like it could be a swanky hangout, provided they put rules down about how frequently you have to shower to gain entry. Nothing worse than the smell of nerd sweat to ruin the illusion of decency.
dzc12
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:09 PMEFF YEAH!!! Gonna be a good time…
Ben Abraham
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:27 PMI wonder if they’ll serve some of those delicious Ubisoft themed cocktails that were at the ACII thing last year. Damn if they weren’t delicious.
Rook
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:29 PMNot sure why Yahtzee would continually be seen anywhere near the Australian “We-wish-we-were-PA” Gamer guys…
Mr. Croshaw you are leagues ahead of those guys.
Marathon
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:36 PMI really hope I have a business trip to Brisbane sometime soon. :P
Trent Gore
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:50 PMI’m curious to see how it all works… Like what stops people from spilling drinks on controllers?
Aaron Clement
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:46 PMYahtzee’s permanent scowl?
Gobbo
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 5:10 PMEeeew… I just cringed at the thought of mates doing that to my controllers at home…
lcb
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:05 PMoh that is SO awsome! new destination next time i hit up brisbane and the gold coast :D
Leigh
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:21 PM“Australia’s First Video Game Bar Opening Next Month.”
…
> Obligatory positive words of encouragement
> Obligatory negative words of disapproval
> Snide remark
> OMG YAHTZEE!!1111
…
…Obligatory positive words of encouragement…
…Seriously, good luck to all involved with this, it sounds very cool.
Jay
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:39 PMInteresting. Not something i would go to Brisbane for as one comment said. But i guess its something new and catering to a set of people.
But way cheaper to have a drunken night with mates thrashing the 360 or PS3. And you will get to play the games you want.
Carlos Varney
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 5:12 PMhaha ‘gamers’