Opening of the hub at the Goethe Institut.

By TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (Gauteng Guardian) – JOHANNESBURG has a new space for
gamers, creative professionals and book lovers.The Library-Gamebox-Hub has been launched at the Goethe-Institut, the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Gamebox allows visitors to try out the latest from the world of video games. Currently available are seven computer games that won a gaming prize in Germany, as well as a variety of gaming consoles, an ultra-high definition screen and Virtual Reality equipment.
The selection is set to be expanded and include regular curated showcases of South African, Sub-Saharan African and German digital games.
Independent game developers and gaming startups can apply to make use of the Gamebox to present their ideas and products.
Special events for Johannesburg’s gaming community, such as workshops and competitions, are also set to take place in the new space, for example through collaborations with the Digital Arts Department of WITS University and Fak’ugesi Festival.
In partnership with the Johannesburg AMAZE Festival, a gaming breakfast with international guests will take place in September.
Until August 31, interested individuals and collectives can apply to move into the hub for a defined period of six months. Additional benefits for successful applicants are organized networking events, tailored mentoring to help with their business, as well as opportunities to present their projects to the public.
The fully refurbished library space comes with an extended offer of books,magazines, films, music and children’s literature in different languages,as well as a brand new interior with lots of space for study or research.
The Goethe-Institut promotes knowledge of the German language abroad and foster international cultural cooperation.
–Guardian