TechPression

Tag: Game Camp

  • Tshimologong helps African youth create games and animations

    Tshimologong helps African youth create games and animations

    The gaming sector has grown into a lucrative, international industry with a broad and large audience.

    Gambling has risen in South Africa. This is due to better technology, rising game popularity, and a vibrant developer community.

    At Johannesburg’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, South African kids learn how to succeed in the gaming and animation sectors. The incubation centre is supported by IFAS and AFD.

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    African gaming’s Tshimologong

    Despite its small size, the African gaming business is growing rapidly and garnering global interest.

    Additionally, the African economy needs digitally competent creatives. Gaming startups received considerable funding as African mobile gamers increased from 77 million in 2015 to 186 million in 2022.

    Investor confidence in Africa’s gaming market is rising. Carry1st, a South African startup, is proactively prepared for the gaming industry’s expansion.

    Tshimologong’s incubation programmes are crucial in empowering young startups with essential resources, education, and assistance to thrive in the global market. Through enhancing the African creative industries ecosystem, Tshimologong aims to strengthen the continent’s global standing.

    Nicholas Nhundu, an investment officer at AFD, takes pride in the organization’s involvement in driving digital innovation in South Africa. AFD, present in 108 countries, seeks to aid partners in achieving Sustainable Development Goals for a fairer, more sustainable world.

    “Our commitment in South Africa should, especially during Youth Month, give youth access to the digital landscape and empower them to use their new skill sets to make a name for themselves, locally and internationally,” Nhundu said.

    Highlights of Tshimologong’s outstanding students

    Tshimologong shines a spotlight on exceptional students’ accomplishments during Youth Month, showcasing their inspiring success stories. Their success stories encompass the following names: Bokang Koatja, Xabiso Vilis, Lola Aikins, Anathi Hadebei, and Peter Mukucha.

    Tshimologong’s dedication to nurturing talent in the digital creative industry remains strong, motivating aspiring individuals to join its Innovation programme. African youth can seize an exceptional chance to enter the digital creative industry and leave a lasting impact worldwide.

  • Microsoft hosts Xbox Studios Game Camp in Africa

    Microsoft hosts Xbox Studios Game Camp in Africa

    Microsoft has announced, through its Africa Transformation Office (ATO), that it would be hosting a two-day conference called Xbox Game Studios Game Camp Africa.

    The purpose of the conference is to honour and celebrate all game designers from across more than 50 different countries and regions.

    The conference will take place on the 15th and 16th of July in 2023, and applications are being accepted as of right now.

    As more individuals on the African continent gain access to the internet, the gaming industry is poised to experience meteoric growth across the continent due to the growing interest of the continent’s youth. 

    303 million people, or about 28 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, are connected to the mobile internet, according to the 2021 GSMA mobile economy report. This number is expected to grow to 474 million by 2025, providing many more opportunities for gaming and local creators to grow and develop in the market.

    According to a survey that was commissioned by Newzoo, the number of gamers in Sub-Saharan Africa has more than doubled in the last five years, and it is estimated that this region will be the fastest-growing globally for both mobile gamers and individuals who pay for games. In addition, the number of people who pay for games is expected to rise at the quickest rate in this region.

    According to the report “The State of the African Games Industry 2022,” South Africa has the highest saturation of gamers, with 24 million people playing video games out of a total population of 59 million (40 percent). The percentage of the population that participates in gaming is highest in Ghana, at 27%, followed by Nigeria (23%), Kenya (22%), and Ethiopia (13%).

    Game Camp is a programme that brings together a number of different Xbox activities under a single roof. It is a place where talent is recognised and game developers are given the opportunity to pursue their ambitions.

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    Offers from Game Camp

    Game Camp will offer four in-person locations for campers during the two days in Cairo, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Nairobi. While the camp, including lectures, panels, and workshops, is available online for all enrolled campers, Game Camp will host four in-person locations for campers for the two days. These locations will host viewing parties, host on-site panel sessions, and provide opportunities to interact with representatives from Microsoft and Xbox. In addition, groups or individuals who have games they wish to pitch are strongly urged to do so.

    The Xbox Game Studios Game Camp initiative is currently in its second year and its fifth event. Its goal is to enable artists all over the world to realise their potential in the gaming industry by providing them with one-of-a-kind learning experiences from industry leaders.

    Individuals must be of legal age, reside in any country on the African continent, and be actively studying or working in the field of software development, visual arts, 3D, music and audio, web design, narrative design, or professional project management to be eligible for participation. Visit Xbox.com to get the whole list of requirements for participation.

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    Remarks from Xbox’s CEO

    “At Xbox, we’re on a mission to bring the joy and community of gaming to the world’s 3 billion gamers and we recognise that Africa is home to the largest population of youth in the world, many who love to play. In 2019, I attended the opening of our Africa Development Centre and met with tech leaders, educators, and developers from across the region to understand their vision for the future of game creation,” said Phil Spencer, CEO, Gaming at Microsoft.