Brisbane will be the host to Australia’s first licensed video game bar, with the imminent grand opening set to go off with a blast in just over two weeks.

After months of hard work, the Mana Bar team are proud to finally open the doors on 420 Brunswick Street to the gaming public on Saturday the 20th of March. From 12 noon onwards, gamers keen to be the first patrons of the pioneering new venue are invited to sample a selection of gamer-themed drinks whilst having the chance to play a game or two.

Smack-bang in the heart of Fortitude Valley - Brisbane’s best nightlife district - the Mana Bar promises gamers a friendly and accessible locale to enjoy a drink together whilst playing the latest video games. The bar will play host to plenty of upcoming game launch nights and industry events - catering to both the average Joe gamer, as well as the healthy population of games developers based in the Valley area.

The ‘Mana Bar’ concept was put together by a team of four Brisbanites passionate about gaming and Brisbane’s nightlife. Director Guy ‘Yug’ Blomberg, a well known games writer and co-creator of AustralianGamer.com is working alongside co-owners Ben ‘Yahtzee’ Croshaw of Zero Punctuation fame, Pras Moorthy - a senior games developer at SEGA’s Creative Assembly studio in Brisbane, and experienced bar operator Shay Leighton, a veteran of organising events both in Australia and abroad. Given the talent behind the bar, the venue looks certain to provide a unique bar-going experience for punters, filling the niche for gamers who want a place to share their love of the hobby.

The Mana Bar is likely to prove popular, with its ‘open to everyone’ atmosphere and selection of social games like Wii Sports Resort. Cover charges will be a foreign notion at the bar- a great encouragement for gamers to put down their plastic guitars and crawl out of their basements.

The bar has a capacity of 50 people, so given the feverish anticipation built up around the new venue, you may be lucky to get in on the night of the opening.

Source: Mana Bar