Image: Devina Haripersad
rAge – South Africa’s biggest video gaming, technology, esports, and geek culture expo – kicked off at the Gallagher Conference Centre last week, drawing in a large crowd at this year’s event, post the covid retractions.
The turnout was a massive achievement for the organisers, who were also pleased to note that the Gauteng Tourism Authority had come on board as an official destination partner for the 2022 event.
The Gauteng Tourism Authority said that by joining in partnership with rAge, it was recognising the event’s contribution to spotlighting the area amongst the international gaming community, many of whom previously may not have considered SA an entertainment holiday destination.
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Project Director for rAge, Michael James, said:
“With a strong partner like the Gauteng Tourism Authority, we stand on the brink of expanding the scope and size of rAge into new markets and making an even bigger impression on all young people interested in technology, IOT, gaming, and geek culture.”
The expo was also recognised as a business incubator with both Home_Coded and Artist Alley showcasing new and developing South African countries.
One of the biggest exhibitors and major sponsors of the event, Intel, hosted the Intel Africa Masters CS:GO tournament finals at the event this year.
This was said to be the largest CG:GO cross-continent competition in Africa to date, with a $30 000 prize pool on offer.
Since 2006, Intel has sponsored the Intel Extreme Masters, a global gaming tournament which sees the best of the best CS:GO teams battle it out around the world.
Intel also launched the inaugural Intel Africa Masters, a gaming tournament designed by Africans for Africans.
Intel said that it had identified the need to invest in the African gaming community to provide African gamers with a platform to showcase their talent.
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Meanwhile, RGB Gaming hosted a series of competitions aimed at bringing together teams from a variety of schools.
GM for RGB Gaming Jaco Sauer, said: “We at RGB Gaming believe integrating these programs in learning institutions through a sustainable and stable environment not only helps children to build their future in a technologically inclined world but also promotes the understanding of parents and teachers that this is building viable 21st-century skillsets.”
The annual rAge GES Cosplay Competition was also back this year as cosplayers brought their a-game to the event.
After two years of being isolated, the organisers of rAge said that the event was encouraging everyone no matter their age, or level of skill to join in the fun.
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During 2020, Capetonian cosplayer Ludus Cosplay took Best in Show for his take on Puss in Boots at the rAge Expo Digital Edition.
This year, Gammablast Cosplay as Korg from Thor: Love and Thunder won in the Best in Show category.
Axiom SFX as Eugeo from Sword Art Online Alicization won in the Masters Winners category. Chibi Mandee Cosplay as Menat from Street Fighter V won in the Festive Winner category.
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