Oh, how COVID threw the world a curveball this year. This is particularly true for big events organisers who capitalise on bringing large groups of people together. Same goes for South Africa’s own rAge Expo, which has been cancelled this year for the first time in 18 years.
Our very own (and the first in SA) video game and geek culture convention has announced that it will need to cancel the physical even this year, following the global pandemic (that we all know about by now, hopefully). “But sadly, for the first time in 18 years, the legendary home of the NAG LAN is being cancelled due to COVID-19,” a press release reads.
Instead, the organisers are planning an all-digital event, similar to what Comic-Con South Africa announced early this week. We don’t know more details on the logistics of such an event, but the gaming industry has always been one to innovate.
“We’re a resilient bunch. So, we’re working on an online version of rAge, in the spirit of the technology and inventiveness that drives the expo. rAge has always been much bigger than the building that contains it. So, bringing South Africa’s fabled gaming and pop culture icon to the online world makes sense,” says Michael James, founder and project manager of rAge.
We’re saddened that the industry is taking a massive hit due to COVID-19, but this is true across the world, and many are struggling to get by. We know the organisers have their work cut out for them, but the show will definitely go on.