Calling all Geeks - Go Big in Japan in 2019!
Geeks are taking over! And they’re doing it Big in Japan style! That’s right, all things Geek are about to be unleashed on JHB and Pretoria with the 7th Annual GeekFest, brought to you by The Dark Carnival. Taking place for the first time at the awe-inspiring Sun Arena, Time Square in Pretoria, the event is set to be a complete invasion of all things Geek and all things gaming over one stellar weekend. Gaming Geeks and Fantasy Freaks can draw inspiration for this year’s GeekFest from the birthplace of Anime – Japan. But because we’re Geeks, we definitely don’t do understated and we definitely do over the top, so it’s a Godzilla-sized Big in Japan theme, and we are challenging all Geeks out there to bring on all thing’s anime, manga and Otaku (Japanese for geek).
The entire focus of the 3-day weekend will be on Japanese culture and gaming so Gēmusutāto! (Game on) The Cosplay arena is going to be one that is super-sized this year, with events across all levels, so you can either take a beginner’s bite-sized chunk or make a masterful meal of this imagination-busting sub-culture. There will be four competition categories, namely: • Junior – Open to all entrants who will be under the age of 15 at the time of GeekFest. In order to qualify, at least 50% of their costume must be hand crafted. • Beginner to Genin – Open to newbies who are interested in breaking into the cosplay universe. This includes first time entrants or those who have very little experience.
In order to qualify, at least 50% of their costume must be hand crafted. • Intermediate-Chuunin – Open to those slightly more experienced cosplayers who have taken part in these kinds of competitions before. In order to qualify, at least 75% of their costume must be hand crafted. • Masters-Kage – Open to the semi-professional and professional cosplayers – those who live and breathe the sub-culture and have placed at major competitions before. In order to qualify, at least 90% of their costume must be hand crafted. Each of the above categories will have a first, second and third place winner with fantastic sponsored prizes up for grabs. In addition to the category tournaments, there will also be a masquerade for those who don’t want to compete, but who want to simply strut their colourful stuff and be a part of the fun. To register visit http://www.geekfest.co.za/cosplay-registration/. In partnership with the Rush esports event there will also be a Vodacom 4U sponsored Fortnite- inspired category. This is the chance to dress to impress as you channel one of your favourite Fortnite characters.
The winner of the Vodacom 4U Fortnite cosplay will walk away with R10,000, so ramp up your creative juices and enter now! A whole range of other fantastic activities will send you into a spin, including Sumo Wrestling, a Dance Dance Revolution setup, Robowar competitions, a Gladiator Ring and a LARP tournament. Watch epic Japanese animated films Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, an animated science fantasy adventure film and Pop in Q, an animated dance film - BUT these won’t be any ordinary screening experience, you’ll get to watch these at the uber-cool Noodlebox Cinema! Kick back and relax with a box of noodles whilst watching your movie in silence with your very own headphones.
Die-hard fans of old school cool are in for a serious treat, because not one, but two iconic cars from two iconic teams from the 80’s will be on display at the event. The unforgettable king of talking technology - KITT - the real star of the KnightRider series, and the truly awesome Ghostbusters Wagon.
Who you gonna call? Your friends to join you of course… To say this a jam-packed entertainment lineup is an understatement. GeekFest 2019 has pulled out every single stop, and then some, to ensure maximum Geek immersion across the whole weekend. And when the hunger pangs strike, fear not intrepid soldiers, there is a host of food and drinks available to reboot yourself back to full power.
From merchandise exhibitors to a full-on Geek-inspired market; to gaming highlights and tabletop games; to Pokémon GO tournaments, Japanese martial arts and Anime movies and a Geek Quiz… There is something for every single member of your Geek family to do. You can even go and get your gaming on as GeekFest tickets include all access entry into Rush Esports too. For more information on GeekFest 2019 and the cosplay competitions visit https://www.geekfest.co.za/
EVENT DETAILS: When is GeekFest 2019? 28, 29, 30 June 2019
Times: Friday 10am – 8pm | Saturday 10am – 8pm | Sunday 10am – 5pm
Where is Geekfest 2019? Sun Arena, Time Square, Pretoria
How do I buy tickets to GeekFest 2019? Tickets to GeekFest on sale via Ticketpro and at the door
- Day Pass: R120 (valid for one day only on any of the three days)
- Weekend Pass: R300 (valid for all three days) GeekFest tickets include all access into Rush 2019
25th edition of SA’s ICON comic and games convention
Bigger and better than ever before, with growing international status, the 25th edition of the ICON Comic and Games Convention (ICON CGC), Home of the Super-Hero, returns to Johannesburg’s Gallagher Convention Centre from the 16th-18th June 2017 over the Youth Day Long Weekend.
It is South Africa’s longest running and largest pop culture event - the destination for leading gaming and pop culture experts and anyone looking to celebrate their fantasy world while being immersed in a compelling and exciting storyline. This celebration of gaming, story-telling, role-playing and tech positions ICON CGC as the ideal introduction to gaming for people of all ages and interests. SA’s most important gathering of geeks, it is seen by industry insiders as being on a par with the best hobby gaming conventions in the world.
There is a geek in all of us. Geeks set the stage for incredible story-telling, and thanks to this, we’re witness to it in mainstream life. Countless big budget sci-fi and fantasy television series and mass market blockbuster movies we see today are based on comics and games, previously seen as the purview of ‘geekdom’ alone. Conventions such as #ICON2017 facilitate a rapidly growing audience being able to join and learn from the geeks who created such entertainment masterpieces. Entertainment that is based on incredible story-telling.
This year ICON raises its ‘game’ substantially, showcasing international guests, local thought leaders, over 40 speaker panels, expert player showdowns, a comedy event and innovative activations including multinational tech giants such as Canon Gigabyte and MakerBot, amongst others. Media Partners, Student Brands and Nickelodeon will ensure that the best moments of this 25th Edition live on beyond the boundaries of the convention.
Whether you’re into card or table-top gaming, LARPing, tech-gaming or Cosplaying, an aspiring author or even a regular console fanatic, the highly acclaimed Convention will help define the ‘how to’ of the increasingly mainstream and sophisticated gaming industry. Fantasists, mythologists, tech heads role players and more come into an immersive world such as ICON to be inspired, learn, experiment, observe and compete in a celebration of fantasy worlds and story-telling.
Les Allen, ICON’s director says, “What we’ve learnt from a quarter century convening ICON is that ‘Geeks’ are no longer on the fringe. Mainstream media exposure has made their expertise, enthusiasm and points of obsession with hobbies and intellectual pursuits accessible. Gaming and storytelling releases a part of everyone’s being, we just facilitate access to it in a myriad of ways.”
International Cosplay Guest of Honour for #ICON2017 is the sensational Linda Le, aka. “Vampy Bit Me”, rated as one of the ten most popular cosplayers in the world and an inspiration to all those who invest in building characters for fantasy world. Gaming industry insider James Stutter, a published author and the co-creator of the fantasy Pathfinder’ Roleplaying Game and Creative Director of the new space version Starfinder also joins the Convention. Both will participate in the convention for all three days.
Those looking forward to the much anticipated movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets can win double passes to the film’s first screening in South Africa on 21 July by attending either of two Valerian panels at ICON2017. The panel titled “Create an Alien” will see James designing an alien species from the ground up, based on a world from the Valerian cosmos. Partnering James is Sean Izaakse, current artist on Marvel's "Avengers" comic book - he'll be drawing the monster as James designs it.
Local thought leaders included in the line-up of panellists include tech analyst and commentator Arthur Goldstuck, and Nikki Bush, well know columnist and specialist in the field of ‘child play and development’ matters.
Visitors to the convention have an opportunity to be real super heroes by visiting the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) drive and donate to help save lives. One lucky donor stands the chance of winning a 3D printed replica of themselves as a superhero – sponsored by MakerBot, the global leader in the 3D printing industry.
As with previous years, Saturday (17th June) sees six of SA’s funniest comedians take to the stage at the ICON Comedy Evening. With limited seats and tickets only available to weekend ticket holders, or those attending ICON on the Saturday, this extremely popular evening will have those attending rolling in the aisles with laughter as the comedians make light of geek culture.
EVENT DETAILS:
Venue: Hall 2, Gallagher Convention Centre
Dates: Friday 16th June / Saturday 17th June / Sunday 18th June
Times: Friday, Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday, 9 am - 5 pm
TICKETING INFORMATION
Tickets are on sale now and start at R120 for a one day pass. Weekend passes and limited VIP tickets available.
Visit the ICON FB page http://www.facebook.com/ICONCGC or the www.iconcgc.co.za website to purchase tickets. Follow ICON on Twitter and Instagram.
Bigger and better than ever before, with growing international status, the 25th edition of the ICON Comic and Games Convention (ICON CGC), Home of the Super-Hero, returns to Johannesburg’s Gallagher Convention Centre from the 16th-18th June 2017 over the Youth Day Long Weekend..
It is South Africa’s longest running and largest pop culture event - the destination for leading gaming and pop culture experts and anyone looking to celebrate their fantasy world while being immersed in a compelling and exciting storyline. This celebration of gaming, story-telling, role-playing and tech positions ICON CGC as the ideal introduction to gaming for people of all ages and interests. SA’s most important gathering of geeks, it is seen by industry insiders as being on a par with the best hobby gaming conventions in the world.
There is a geek in all of us. Geeks set the stage for incredible story-telling, and thanks to this, we’re witness to it in mainstream life. Countless big budget sci-fi and fantasy television series and mass market blockbuster movies we see today are based on comics and games, previously seen as the purview of ‘geekdom’ alone. Conventions such as #ICON2017 facilitate a rapidly growing audience being able to join and learn from the geeks who created such entertainment masterpieces. Entertainment that is based on incredible story-telling.
This year ICON raises its ‘game’ substantially, showcasing international guests, local thought leaders, over 40 speaker panels, expert player showdowns, a comedy event and innovative activations including multinational tech giants such as Canon Gigabyte and MakerBot, amongst others. Media Partners, Student Brands and Nickelodeon will ensure that the best moments of this 25th Edition live on beyond the boundaries of the convention.
Whether you’re into card or table-top gaming, LARPing, tech-gaming or Cosplaying, an aspiring author or even a regular console fanatic, the highly acclaimed Convention will help define the ‘how to’ of the increasingly mainstream and sophisticated gaming industry. Fantasists, mythologists, tech heads role players and more come into an immersive world such as ICON to be inspired, learn, experiment, observe and compete in a celebration of fantasy worlds and story-telling.
Les Allen, ICON’s director says, “What we’ve learnt from a quarter century convening ICON is that ‘Geeks’ are no longer on the fringe. Mainstream media exposure has made their expertise, enthusiasm and points of obsession with hobbies and intellectual pursuits accessible. Gaming and storytelling releases a part of everyone’s being, we just facilitate access to it in a myriad of ways.”
International Cosplay Guest of Honour for #ICON2017 is the sensational Linda Le, aka. “Vampy Bit Me”, rated as one of the ten most popular cosplayers in the world and an inspiration to all those who invest in building characters for fantasy world. Gaming industry insider James Stutter, a published author and the co-creator of the fantasy Pathfinder’ Roleplaying Game and Creative Director of the new space version Starfinder also joins the Convention. Both will participate in the convention for all three days.
Those looking forward to the much anticipated movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets can win double passes to the film’s first screening in South Africa on 21 July by attending either of two Valerian panels at ICON2017. The panel titled “Create an Alien” will see James designing an alien species from the ground up, based on a world from the Valerian cosmos. Partnering James is Sean Izaakse, current artist on Marvel's "Avengers" comic book - he'll be drawing the monster as James designs it.
Local thought leaders included in the line-up of panellists include tech analyst and commentator Arthur Goldstuck, and Nikki Bush, well know columnist and specialist in the field of ‘child play and development’ matters.
Visitors to the convention have an opportunity to be real super heroes by visiting the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) drive and donate to help save lives. One lucky donor stands the chance of winning a 3D printed replica of themselves as a superhero – sponsored by MakerBot, the global leader in the 3D printing industry.
As with previous years, Saturday (17th June) sees six of SA’s funniest comedians take to the stage at the ICON Comedy Evening. With limited seats and tickets only available to weekend ticket holders, or those attending ICON on the Saturday, this extremely popular evening will have those attending rolling in the aisles with laughter as the comedians make light of geek culture.
EVENT DETAILS:
Venue: Hall 2, Gallagher Convention Centre
Dates: Friday 16th June / Saturday 17th June / Sunday 18th June
Times: Friday, Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday, 9 am - 5 pm
TICKETING INFORMATION
Tickets are on sale now and start at R120 for a one day pass. Weekend passes and limited VIP tickets available.
Visit the ICON FB page http://www.facebook.com/ICONCGC or the www.iconcgc.co.za website to purchase tickets. Follow ICON on Twitter and Instagram.
