Sweden@SouthAfrica and A MAZE./Johannesburg
Sara Aulin, counsellor, economic and commercial affairs of the Embassy of Sweden, said: "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 mindset 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. The founder of A Maze., and festival director, Thorsten S Wiedemann, said: "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.
Professor Christo Doherty, head of digital arts, University of the Witwatersrand, said: "A Maze. provides an intensive programme 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."
Panel discussion and Q&A
The talks feature the following speakers and will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A:
- Petter Sydow: Petter Sydow is senior producer of Massive Entertainment in Malmö. A studio well renowned for its 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 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, Feldt has created games with well-known characters such as Pippi Longstocking; and
- 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, Selander has 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.
Sergio Guimaraes, the deputy head of events of the Swedish Institute, concluded: "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 mindsets, 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
Thursday, 11 September commencing at 6pm at The iClub, Tshimologong Precinct, 41 Juta Street, Joburg.
Format: Twenty-minute presentations per speaker including Q&As, followed by a mixed panel discussion entitled: The challenge of developing online games in Africa - dialogues with the Swedish experience.
Cost of entry is R200 (for a one-day ticket to A Maze./Johannesburg. There are various ticketing options available for the entire festival, so go to www.amiando.com/YRHWMFJ.html
From 9pm, Sweden@SouthAfrica invites all A Maze. participants to a relaxed hang- out and networking evening with beverages and finger food.