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rAge Cape Town: a Joburger’s perspective

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joburger

The rAge expo as we know it has been going for over ten years, so it’s inevitable that the inaugural Cape Town rAge Expo be compared to its bigger brother. I’m a lifelong attendee of the Joburg rAge, alternatively as a retail slave, a media person, and just a general gaming member of the public. So it was with that ‘expertise’ that I set off to Cape Town last week to check it out.

Held pretty far away from the hub of Cape Town at the GrandWest Casino, rAge was split in two, with the LAN being held on one side of the casino’s food court, and the show floor itself hidden behind the arcade section on the opposite side. I’m used to everything being in the same place and not having to leave the Ticketpro Dome at all, so the split layout was disconcerting. The guys at the NAG LAN must have enjoyed it, their section was relatively quiet and calm, and there wasn’t a lot of space for the public to gawk at them.

But, once I was on the main show floor, it felt pretty much the same as any rAge, just a lot smaller. I forget how enormous the TicketPro Dome show floor actually is, so everything at GrandWest felt condensed and scaled down. It was definitely all still there though, from the same retailers we know and love in Joburg to the boardgames guys in the Unplug Yourself section, and even the same kind of WTF randomness, this time in the form of an O2 Bar (I didn’t really get it either).

Unfortunately thanks to the time of the year, there weren’t any major new releases to play test, besides for The Division, but the lines still formed for both PlayStation and Xbox stands. The Telkom DGL Masters CS:GO Tournament also kept everyone entertained on the show floor instead of being hidden away in a basement, and it was nice to have such a prominent tournament front and centre for everyone to see.

As far as vibe goes, Cape Town was very different to Joburg. I don’t know what they put in your water, but everyone was so chilled. I did miss the frantic, hyperactive energy of the Joburg show, but having a relaxed expo with space to walk around and air-con you could actually feel was nice for a change. Even though Saturday got very busy, I didn’t walk out of there completely exhausted.

You could see the Cape Town rAge was an expo in its infancy, and it’s probably going to go through the same teething problems that we saw 14 years ago when rAge first began. As a proof of concept though, it was definitely a success.

Pictures by Nicholas Reay.

Last Updated: March 22, 2016

112 Comments

  1. konfab

    March 22, 2016 at 12:33

    Header of the week right there ^__^

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in New York

      March 22, 2016 at 12:45

      xD

      Reply

    • Tracy Benson

      March 22, 2016 at 14:23

      I think that’s my new favourite photo of me!

      Reply

  2. Ryanza

    March 22, 2016 at 12:34

    joburg had Witcher 3 demo gameplay on display
    and cape town
    http://i2.wp.com/www.lazygamer.net/images/2016/03/DSCF0121.jpg?resize=768%2C1024

    Reply

    • Unavengedavo

      March 22, 2016 at 12:51

      There were better pictures than this O_o

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        March 22, 2016 at 12:53

        then show us.

        Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 12:53

        Lol. I didn’t choose them.

        Reply

        • Unavengedavo

          March 22, 2016 at 12:58

          Lol, I also had to explain this. She was ready to go burn down your house O_o

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 22, 2016 at 12:58

            Oh boy!

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 13:00

            That is a real, legit threat 0_O

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 22, 2016 at 13:13

            And you know she doesn’t care about the collateral damage either.

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 13:14

            I’d suggest you get in your car and head east man, do it NOW!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 22, 2016 at 13:18

            Why? She won’t hurt me – us girls stick together, you chauvinist man-pig.

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 13:18

            hahahahahaha

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 12:57

        here

        Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 13:15

        you!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          March 22, 2016 at 13:23

          Those aren’t authentic Vault Boy shoes. What a fake geek boy.

          Reply

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 13:24

            I know. He’s making the Cosplay of SA look bad…

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 22, 2016 at 13:26

            He’s the Robin to D’s Batman. So sad.

          • Unavengedavo

            March 22, 2016 at 13:34

            Low budget Cosplay for a low budget rAge O_o

  3. Gavin Mannion

    March 22, 2016 at 12:38

    I’m hearing this proof of concept excuse or first time jitters etc, but in reality rAge has been around for 15 years and as such the company behind it know exactly what needs to be done

    neither of those excuses work for me.. I’m just not sure that our industry really is large enough for 2 shows in South Africa

    Reply

    • Jim Hogan (Banana Hulk Hogan)

      March 22, 2016 at 12:40

      Listen to this man! He speaks the truth!

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 12:47

        Rubbish. Gavin hates the Cape Town rAge purely because it took place in CT.

        Reply

        • Jim Hogan (Banana Hulk Hogan)

          March 22, 2016 at 14:07

          LIES! Gavin is my friend, and he would never say anything bad about the Republic of Cape Town….

          Right Gavin… Right? #tearsInEyes

          Reply

          • Gavin Mannion

            March 22, 2016 at 14:56

            Cape Town sucks… or at least I say that when the ginger is around to annoy him

    • Raptor Rants

      March 22, 2016 at 12:40

      I agree with the experience thing and that the company behind it should know. But I do think there is space for 2 shows. I think it just needs time to grow in popularity in CPT itself

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        March 22, 2016 at 12:46

        it’s not like rAge doesn’t have a national name, they also advertised in a lot of places and apparnely a lot of people went.. the problem was more that the distributors had nothing to show.

        Reply

        • Raptor Rants

          March 22, 2016 at 12:56

          Ah I see. Yeah it would be nice to have a little more on show.

          The two probably should be run far closer together if it’s to work.

          Reply

    • Admiral Chief in New York

      March 22, 2016 at 12:42

      You said it man

      Reply

    • DragonSpirit009

      March 22, 2016 at 12:47

      I think it’s more of a testing the waters kinda thing. People in CPT and JHB are all on a different level. Not a lot of people have been to a rAge in JHB which in my eyes have a whole set of different needs. I think this first one in CPT was just to see what people might like and work from there.

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 12:47

        Agreed. Looking at the success of the EGE Gavin’s point is mute 😛

        Reply

        • Gavin Mannion

          March 22, 2016 at 12:49

          *moot…

          I had a few points though, EGE wasn’t a massive success either. You need publisher buy in to be really successful and neither EGE or rAge got that in a big way

          Reply

          • DragonSpirit009

            March 22, 2016 at 12:56

            Just in fairness… I don’t think a lot of people knew about EGE!
            I mean I only found out a month later about it. If there was a bit more advertising there might have been more people.

          • Ottokie

            March 22, 2016 at 12:57

            True, I accidentally drove past the venue to the Waterfront and saw the posters.

          • DragonSpirit009

            March 22, 2016 at 12:59

            I live to damn far away too notice any of these events

          • Ottokie

            March 22, 2016 at 13:02

            Same, I live just as far as you in the opposite direction. Only go to Cape Town when I am forced or something like rAge is there. Which is like 3 times max per year in CPT itself xD

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 12:57

            EGE can be considered a success because it is not a brand name like rAge and it was only announced a month before it took place. Yet it still pulled in over 10,000 people.

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 22, 2016 at 12:57

      2 shows in CT or 2 shows in the country?

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        March 22, 2016 at 12:58

        2 full shows in the country, our industry is shrinking far too quickly thanks to the economy. There just isn’t enough money left to support two shows from the side of the distributors, retailers and publishers

        Reply

    • CypherGate

      March 22, 2016 at 13:45

      You make a good point. Although I do believe it can happen in both provinces.

      Reply

    • Sageville

      March 22, 2016 at 13:51

      I think timing is a big factor, no new titles to demo, they should schedule both rages around pending game/tech releases…

      Give it a few years and possibly a bigger venue.

      Reply

    • Tracy Benson

      March 22, 2016 at 14:14

      rAge Joburg’s been around for years, rAge Cape Town is brand new. I can sort-of forgive people for not going all in on what was essentially a brand-new con.

      Do I think there should have been more? Yes. Do I think it should have been bigger? Yes. Do I think it should have been better? Definitely yes. But at the end of the day doing things like this is risky, they played it safe and as far as I know it still paid off. Hopefully next year they do better and they get through the teething problems much faster.

      As disappointed as I was, things like these expos are something we should support, not tear down.

      Reply

  4. Admiral Chief in New York

    March 22, 2016 at 12:43

    “Pictures by Nicholas Reay”
    I thought the angle was different

    Reply

  5. RinceThis

    March 22, 2016 at 12:46

    Oh how that header has meaning… Funnily enough I got food poisoning from the frigging Wimpy at rAge. So damn you burger, DAMN YOU!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in New York

      March 22, 2016 at 12:47

      Top or bottom?

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 12:48

        Top 🙁

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in New York

          March 22, 2016 at 12:50

          Then it was really off. It didn’t even get to the processing part.

          FOR SHAME WIMPY, FOR SHAAAAAME!

          [looks like the bribe I paid them was worth it]

          Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 22, 2016 at 12:47

      A likely story. Wimpy got gingered, and now you’re trying to blame them.

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 12:48

        The fucking bun had mold on it!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          March 22, 2016 at 12:48

          Like your face!

          Reply

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 12:48

            That was ONE time!

        • HvR

          March 22, 2016 at 12:49

          and you still ate it…

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            March 22, 2016 at 12:51

            His face?

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 12:52

            No. Sent it back but assuming that some stock was off for the replacement

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            March 22, 2016 at 12:52

            You probably had sweaty cook armpit as salty seasoning

        • Sageville

          March 22, 2016 at 13:58

          …and you still ate it…

          #JustSaying

          Reply

    • HvR

      March 22, 2016 at 12:49

      Dammit you still here, going to get my bribe back from that incompetent Wimpy waitress…

      Reply

    • DragonSpirit009

      March 22, 2016 at 12:50

      Wimpy was awful! Had cold food and they never even brought my friend’s muffin she wanted. Luckily they didn’t bill us for that!

      Reply

      • HvR

        March 22, 2016 at 12:51

        We actually got decent food and service on Saturday, but thought ahead and got there before the big lunch rush. If I knew Spur was hidden just around the corner would have rather gone there though.

        Reply

        • DragonSpirit009

          March 22, 2016 at 12:52

          We went before the lunch rush as well. And they weren’t that busy. But still got bad food and service. I was disappointed in Wimpy.

          Reply

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 12:53

            Tracy also didn’t feel very well after eating there. Poor show if you ask me.

          • Ottokie

            March 22, 2016 at 12:53

            Went right past wimpy to burger king after talking to Rince xD

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            March 22, 2016 at 12:54

            Windows had a ‘py’?

          • Ottokie

            March 22, 2016 at 12:58

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            March 22, 2016 at 12:59

            Cat.exe froze

          • HvR

            March 22, 2016 at 12:54

            The queues at Burger King was just longer than those at rAge itself….

          • Ottokie

            March 22, 2016 at 13:04

            Got there at 9 so all was nice and quite.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 22, 2016 at 13:05

            Quite what? This comment is so most.

          • HvR

            March 22, 2016 at 13:09

            Just quite and keep it most

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 22, 2016 at 13:10

            I nearly.

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            March 22, 2016 at 13:21

            xD!!!!!!

          • DragonSpirit009

            March 22, 2016 at 12:54

            My friends didn’t want Burger King <_< I lost 1 to 3 in the voting again

          • HvR

            March 22, 2016 at 12:55

            You need new friends

          • DragonSpirit009

            March 22, 2016 at 12:57

            I know T.T

          • Ottokie

            March 22, 2016 at 13:03

            You are getting over ruled a lot this weekend 😛

          • DragonSpirit009

            March 22, 2016 at 14:08

            I get over ruled 90% of the time. I sometimes get over ruled by myself at times.

    • Umar

      March 22, 2016 at 12:50

      Good photos though dude.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in New York

        March 22, 2016 at 12:51

        They are mostly good

        Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 12:52

        Missed you man!

        Reply

        • Umar

          March 22, 2016 at 12:54

          🙁 Same, well, see you at the better expo later this year 😛

          Reply

          • Unavengedavo

            March 22, 2016 at 12:56

            Fancon or ege? 😛

          • Umar

            March 22, 2016 at 12:58

            Where is Fancon? Been hearing this name pop up a lot.

          • Unavengedavo

            March 22, 2016 at 12:59

          • DragonSpirit009

            March 22, 2016 at 12:59

            At the CCITC or something like that!

          • Unavengedavo

            March 22, 2016 at 13:03

            It’s at the V&A Waterfront by the looks of it. Found a better link: http://www.fancon.co.za/

          • HvR

            March 22, 2016 at 13:08

            See EGE (last weekend July) is at CTICC, R80/day if you buy ticket now

          • DragonSpirit009

            March 22, 2016 at 14:36

            I can never put those letters in the right order! XD
            But I know I’ll be going… Luckily I’m not driving this time!

          • RinceThis

            March 22, 2016 at 13:13

            Who are these other two?

          • Sageville

            March 22, 2016 at 13:59

            Photography Level: MSSA

    • Pariah

      March 22, 2016 at 14:17

      Your first mistake was eating at Wimpy.

      Reply

  6. Umar

    March 22, 2016 at 12:50

    They come as a burger, but leave as a gatsby.

    Reply

  7. HvR

    March 22, 2016 at 12:58

    There was dude in Assassins Creed cosplay; insanely impressive leather work and cool springloaded assassin blades.

    One thing I was extremely disappointed about, was paying R100 and not seeing even one Deadpool.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 22, 2016 at 13:06

      But it’s CT, and Deadpool is so mainstream. *run*

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 13:08

        oi!

        Reply

        • Ottokie

          March 22, 2016 at 13:09

          It’s true unfortunately xD

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 22, 2016 at 13:11

            He can’t handle the truth!

      • HvR

        March 22, 2016 at 13:10

        *tries to trip Trevor with O2 pipes

        Reply

  8. HvR

    March 22, 2016 at 13:05

    See EGE just posted 20% off tickets till end of March.

    R80 for expo using TWO halls at CTICC = pure winning.
    http://online.computicket.com/web/event/ege_electronic_gaming_expo/1016771107

    Reply

  9. RinceThis

    March 22, 2016 at 13:17

    And some more of the crew.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 22, 2016 at 13:21

      They look so happy. What happened when they realised you were there?

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 22, 2016 at 13:25

        THEY DIDN’T

        Reply

        • Unavengedavo

          March 22, 2016 at 13:33

          Wait, you were there? O_o

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 22, 2016 at 13:40

            Don’t worry, he probably photoshopped himself into the pic – we all know he doesn’t show up on film or in mirrors.

          • Unavengedavo

            March 22, 2016 at 13:42

            Now that you mention it, the lighting does seem a bit off around him O_o

  10. CypherGate

    March 22, 2016 at 13:37

    I was there on sunday and wasnt expecting much since it was the first one to be held in CPT, but some stuff were quite interesting like the tournament. It was so interesting to see how many people actually sat down to watch it. From what I could see there werent many gamers watching, but more casual people which was awesome cause it kind of gives me this idea that watching esports isnt just for gamers! Anyway my wife was like… wow… Id kill myself if I was dressed like these cosplayers (It was her first time seeing it and a lot of them didnt look that great to be honest), but then I showed her some of the ones at previous rage in jhb and explained to her its the first one here and jhb has a much larger venue and crowd and overall its just a lot better there. Im sure CPT will work out its teething problems, but one thing about it disappointed me majorly. NO PROPER VR demo. The whole samsung VR with the phone and cardboard ones just didnt do it for me. Overall it was a good experience and ill be looking forward to a much better ones in the future. By the way… the one Reptile Cosplayer freaked me out…. Oh one more thing… If anyone saw the photos of RAGE on the myBB website…omg…. someone needs to get a MUCH better photographer for the event. It was sooooo bad. Super shakey and blurry.

    Reply

    • Unavengedavo

      March 22, 2016 at 13:42

      One thing I did notice about the VR stuff that was there. A lot of people that have never heard of VR seemed to be really amazed with it even though it was low tech.

      Reply

      • CypherGate

        March 22, 2016 at 13:44

        Really? that was quite a shocker. I only went on sunday though so it wasnt as busy as Saturday (Heard it was a lot busier)

        Reply

  11. Sageville

    March 22, 2016 at 13:54

    I hope it grows….

    At least it wasn’t another “Comic Con” held in a restaurant….

    Reply

    • Jim Hogan (Banana Hulk Hogan)

      March 22, 2016 at 14:08

      Hehehe Hipster Con

      Reply

  12. Tracy Benson

    March 22, 2016 at 14:09

    <3 that header image so much 😀

    Reply

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