Gamers and tech geeks are expected to flock to the Electronics and Games Expo (EGE 2015) at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from tomorrow.
The expo is one of the biggest gaming and gadget conferences to take place in Cape Town, and gives local tech geeks and gamers an in-depth look into virtual worlds and a chance to meet industry leaders and interact with fellow gamers.
With a global market value of over $93 billion (R1.1 trillion) and South Africa having over 3.5 million casual gamers, the expo promises to provide a never-before-seen platform for the local gaming fraternity.
Many people regard gaming as a niche market and will be stunned to know that the video games industry is the largest entertainment industry in the world, and still growing, generating more annual revenue than the film industry.
Little surprise to the so-called “nerds” of course, with the only real question being why has it taken this long for an expo of this magnitude to reach our shores?
With the obvious comparisons already being drawn to Gauteng’s annual Rage Expo, undoubtedly the biggest expo of this type in Africa, there is an expectation that EGE 2015 will bring more of the same excitement to the Cape.
Ticket holders will be able to enjoy eSports LAN competitions, running across a number of titles and platforms (PlayStation 4, Xbox and PC).
Tomorrow will be a community day and will feature some competitions. It will double up as a practice day and an opportunity for gamers to meet and mingle, and for non-competitive gamers to rub shoulders with those who play regularly in the competitive space.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournaments will be held for fans of the shooter genre, while the ever-popular Fifa will also give its fans a chance to prove themselves the best player in Cape Town.
Some fantastic prizes will be up for grabs, including a PS4 for the winner of the Mortal Kombat X tournament.
Saturday is the main competitive day and there will be matches on the floor and stage, while Sunday is finals day for the competitive matches.
Matches will be streamed live on the internet for gamers who are unable to attend the event.
Anchored by industry leader Sony PlayStation, hardware and gaming-related accessories, board games, comics and figurines will also be exhibited.
And no gaming expo would be complete without some colourful cosplayers, so get ready to meet your favourite characters from anime and gaming in the flesh, as the local cosplay community will be pulling out all the stops to impress.
If you have an interest in the gaming or home entertainment sector, this expo is for you. The expo runs from 10am to 7pm tomorrow, and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Entrance is R70 through Computicket and R80 at the door. Special weekend pass packages at R150 for all three days will be available.