The Business of Gaming Forum 2019 at Comic Con Africa unlocks the growth and impact of Gaming in South Africa
The digital video gaming sector is one of the biggest success stories in the South African entertainment and media industries. Yet, this sector is not fully understood and the investment opportunities are abundant. Exploring the growth and investment potential of this sector, RX Global and ReedPOP will once again be hosting The Business of Gaming Forum, and this year it levels up.
Taking place on the 23rd of September, alongside Comic Con Africa at Gallagher Convention Centre, the forum aims to connect businesses and brands within the burgeoning entertainment sector and bring the entire South African gaming sector together.
The Business of Gaming Forum 2019 informs and showcases a wide range of opportunities and business pillars within the gaming industry and will strongly focus on esports, branded gaming and game development.
With a predicted compound annual growth rate of 19.8% between 2017 and 2022 and esports at 20.2%, gaming has developed far beyond being a hobbyist activity, and is now a viable career choice of many students applying to sought after courses at institutions such as Wits and Vega.
“The 2019 Forum will set the tone for an engaging series of discussions and presentations by inspirational international and local keynote speakers, pioneering business leaders and gaming subject matter experts from across the globe, who are already changing the landscape of their industry.” Says Carol Weaving, Managing Director of RX Global, who own and organise the Forum. “It is for those serious about the various enterprises relevant to the gaming sector, and topics such as, The overview of the South African gaming landscape and Why South African game development is a great market for investment, will offer thorough insight into this ever growing industry.”
In 2017, for the first time, social/casual gaming revenue (R1.6 billion) overtook traditional revenue (R1.4 billion) and will continue to grow at a faster rate in South Africa, as indicated by the PWC Entertainment and Media: 2018 - 2022 report. Touching on subjects such as these amongst the international delegates on the panels, Sam Wright, aka “Tech Girl”, who has worked internationally commentating at various esports events and built various successful content creation channels in South Africa with a core focus on gaming and tech, will also take part in panel discussions.
Delegates will be engaged through panel discussions such as How to level-up - The secret to branded gaming and What the African gaming ecosystem needs to grow, which will host panellists from the local and international market.
International keynote speakers include representatives from the Forum’s international media partner; Esports Insider. Sam Cooke, Managing Director and Co-Founder Ollie Ring, Head of Business Development and Media at Esports Insider, will be discussing Future proofing your Esports and gaming brand and why the time to act is now.
From India, Akshat Rathee, an experienced serial-entrepreneur, who recently left NODWIN gaming to join Nazara Gaming, has a history of working in the start-up space, will be sharing his expertise in gaming, telecommunications and venture capital as part of a talk entitled The business of Esports and how the ecosystem makes money.
Other programme highlights include Ben Myers, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Nyamakop Games, “one of the most promising studios in African game development” as described by Polygon, presenting Squeezing into the Industry: The Lateral Development of Semblance, as well as topics such as The business of game development among others.
The Forum is directed at business investors, brand executives, brand agencies and managers as well as content creators, game developer and esports businesses who are encouraged to register for the full-day forum to be a part of the engaging discussions, networking opportunities as well as a tour of Comic Con Africa.
Seats are limited and booking in advance for The Business of Gaming Forum is advised.
For more information, as well as for delegate packages and prices for the conference on the 23rd of September 2019, please visit www.businessofgaming.co.za.
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About Business of Gaming Forum
To be hosted alongside Comic Con Africa at Gallagher Convention Centre on 23 September 2019, the Business of Gaming Forum informs and showcases a wide range of opportunities and business pillars within the gaming industry. Inspirational international and local keynotes from pioneering business leaders and gaming subject matter experts who are already changing the landscape of their industry. The Forum is for those serious about the various enterprises and pillars relevant to the gaming sector and looking to gain insight into the gaming industry and the massive potential it holds. It is targeted at not only industry heavy weights, but business investors, marketers and agency representatives. Connecting businesses and brands with the burgeoning entertainment sector and bringing together the entire gaming sector in Africa to learn, be inspired and exchange ideas.
About Comic Con Africa
RX Global Africa and ReedPOP, the world's largest producer of pop culture events, are the proud hosts of the annual Comic Con Africa. The inaugural 2018 event welcomed over 42 000 ABC audited visitors. Comic Con Africa focuses on all elements of pop culture, including cosplay, comic books, anime, manga, other creatives, film and series, games (including video and esports) and books and authors. The festival also features a large range of pop culture and entertainment elements in animation, toys, gadgets, clothing, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels and the ever-popular Artists' Alley. In 2019 KidsCon is joining Comic Con Africa, the most fun a kid can have in one hall and a perfect family day out with loads of activities to enjoy. A single Comic Con Africa ticket gets you access to both Cons at Gallagher Convention Centre on 21 – 24 September 2019. Comic Con Africa 2019 is the must-attend pop culture festival of the year. (www.comicconafrica.co.za)
About RX Global Africa
RX Global is Southern Africa’s top exhibition organiser and venue management company. With access to global trade and consumer event organising expertise serving 44 industry sectors, RX Global Africa provide the best platform to showcase all industry sectors. (www.reedexpoafrica.co.za)
About ReedPOP
ReedPOP is a boutique group within RX Global – the world’s leading events organizer. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPOP currently features events in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, India, Africa and Australia, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, South and Australia, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), MCM Comic Con, BookCon, Oz Comic Con, Eurogamer Expo (EGX), Comic Con India, Comic Con Paris, Comic Con Seoul, Comic Con Africa, Star Wars Celebration, and ComplexCon. In addition to organizing and managing events, ReedPOP also runs and operates the Gamer Network and its portfolio of leading gaming websites including Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun and GamesIndustry.Biz. The staff at ReedPOP are a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion. (www.reedpop.com)
