Sweden@SouthAfrica and A MAZE./Johannesburg

The second A MAZE. / Johannesburg is taking place from 10-13 September 2014 as part of the Fak’ugesi: Digital Africa Festival. This year, under the Sweden@SouthAfrica banner, Sweden is bringing their online gaming expertise to the table with a group of five leading game developers and entrepreneurs who will be presenting on the afternoon of Thursday the 11th of September.

Says Sara Aulin, Counsellor, Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of Sweden: ”The creative industries are becoming increasingly important as engines of growth. Online games, as an example, is one of Sweden’s fastest growing export sectors, with Swedish game developers proving to be successful on a global basis. Furthermore, the skills and mind-set of the creative industries tend to feed into more traditional sectors, contributing to a more innovative climate at large.”

A MAZE. is known as an evolving playground for African and European media artists and game developers. Says the founder of A MAZE. and festival director Thorsten S. Wiedemann: “We welcome artists, game developers, forward thinkers, entrepreneurs, nerds and geeks from all over Africa and Europe to share their knowledge and visions about games, art and technology. A MAZE. / Johannesburg is a public festival of creativity and progressive culture and I would like to invite all to join us and our partners in our playful evolution.”

A MAZE. and the afternoon with Swedish Game Developers are organized in partnership with the Digital Arts Department of the University of the Witwatersrand.

Says Prof Christo Doherty, Head of Digital Arts, University of the Witwatersrand: “A MAZE. provides an intensive program with lectures, panels, screenings, games, interactive installations, street games, workshops, concerts, performances and parties. We have incredible local talent so we welcome the international and African knowledge sharing that takes place through this platform.”

The talks feature the following speakers and will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A:

Petter Sydow

Petter Sydow is Senior Producer at Massive Entertainment in Malmö. A studio well renowned for its superb quality in games such as Ground Control, World in Conflict, Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed and now producing Tom Clancy’s The Division and Just Dance Now.

Ann-Sofie Sydow

Ann-Sofie Sydow is heading one of most prominent games education programmes in northern Europe, The Game Assembly. With around 300 students yearly it is one of the most professionally driven game schools, where most the students either find jobs within the games industry or start their own small independent studios.

Klaus Lyngeled

Klaus Lyngeled runs Zoink!, an small independent, art driven studio based in Sweden and creates games for both consoles and mobile.?Today Zoink! works on both their own games as well as creating games for others, such as Disney,Cartoon Network, Google, Coca-Cola and PlayStation. The latest game from Zoink! is the highly acclaimed “Stick It to The Man” a quirky game filled with the dark and burlesque humour characteristic of “Klaus” games.

Linus Feldt

Linus Feldt is CEO and founder of Filimundus, which creates high quality kids games. Maker of numerous games for children since 1998, he’s one of the most experienced children game designers there are. Through a strong collaboration with many of Sweden’s most appreciated authors Linus has created games with well-known characters such as Pippi Longstocking.

Sten Selander

One of the founding fathers of the Swedish Game Industry organisation and with more than 37 years experience in media, art and design production, marketing and management, Selander has been involved in the creation of Nordic Game, both the yearly conference running since 2004, and the international trade mission. Over the years Sten have been part of several start-ups, both as advisor and as co-founder and worked with companies such as Unity Technologies, Sony Mobile and Nokia.

Concludes the Deputy Head of Events at the Swedish Institute, Sergio Guimaraes: “Sweden@SouthAfrica is a collaboration between the Swedish Institute and the Embassy of Sweden and aims to create a platform for co-creation between South Africa and Sweden, through activities that address local and global challenges using innovative mind-sets, technological know-how and entrepreneurial networks. A MAZE. is one of our biggest collaborations in 2014 and we look forward to learning from, and imparting knowledge to, South Africans.”

Event details:

Date: Thursday, 11 September 2014

Commencing: 18:00

Venue: The iClub, Tshimologong Precinct, 41 Juta Street

Format: 20 minute presentations per speaker including Q&A’s, followed by a mixed panel discussion entitled: The challenge of developing online games in Africa – dialogues with the Swedish experience

Cost of entry: R200 (for a one-day ticket to A MAZE./Johannesburg. There are various ticketing options available for the entire festival, so please visit http://www.amiando.com/YRHWMFJ.html).

From 21:00 Sweden@SouthAfrica invites all A MAZE. participants to a relaxed hang- out and networking evening with beverages and finger food

Website: www.amaze-johannesburg.co.za

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/623307764410518/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/amaze.festival

Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/AMazefest

Twitter hash-tag: #AMaze2014

ENDS

EDITORS NOTES:

SWEDEN@SOUTHAFRICA

Sweden@SouthAfrica is made possible through the efforts of the Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish Institute. Sweden@SouthAfrica aims to create a collaborative platform between South Africa and Sweden through knowledge exchange and innovative ways of creating strong, long lasting networks.

The Swedish Institute seeks to establish cooperation and lasting relations with other countries through strategic communication and exchange in different fields. The overarching goal is to create mutual relationships with other countries around the world.

AMAZE.

A MAZE. is an international label in the field of independent games, playful media and games culture. Interdisciplinary, game-centred events and productions transcending media channels and cultures are the signature feature of A MAZE.

Their portfolio includes the production of festivals, exhibitions, conferences, workshops, music events, game showcases, game jams, newspapers and weird playful interaction.

www.amaze-johannesburg.co.za

Author: Nicole Capper from MANGO-OMC.
More Info link: https://www.amaze-johannesburg.co.za
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMazefest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/623307764410518/

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