Mana Bar!

Official Website

Australia’s first dedicated next gen console gaming bar

Opening in February 2010 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane - Australia, the Mana Bar is the first venue of it’s type.

Featuring the latest in next generation video game systems available to play 7 days a week with the latest, greatest, and most social games available. You’ll even be able to play games before they’re released!

It’s not just the games though, first and foremost the Mana Bar will be one of Brisbane’s most funky drinking venues, with a unique selection of drinks and custom cocktails on ofer.

Not sure if it has already been posted?

yeah i can see a huge female turnout every week for this place...

but points for them trying!

Awesome - drink beer and play Soul Calibur. Lose, and beat the s*** out of the other guy with a Wii remote too!

Haha ... better have DDR is all I'm saying! ... drunk DDR and I'm there!

This is the one run by Yahtzee and some other dudes, right?

Haha ... better have DDR is all I'm saying! ... drunk DDR and I'm there!

Oh noes, this isn't going to end well.

I doubt they would be investing $15,000-$20,000 on a machine thats kryptonite is people spilling liquids on it.

This could bring me out of nightclub retirement..

yeah i can see a huge female turnout every week for this place...

yer you'd fully go to a gaming bar with the intent to pick up... douche

drunken nerd parlour.... coooool!


no i lied. it's lame.

yer you'd fully go to a gaming bar with the intent to pick up... douche

Could pick up some guys girl friend and take her somewhere else cause she's bored :P

Konstie has a point. This wouldn't even work as a gay bar! Closest I could liken it to is Strike (the bowling bars). You just watch the media point to video game violence as soon as there's even the hint of a fight though :(

I've played arcade games in nightclubs when they had them.

Drunken tards breaking expensive consoles. Should be a winner.

Could pick up some guys girl friend and take her somewhere else cause she's bored :P

Reminds me of the original Basshunter DotA clip.


Also, I think the games bar could go either way. Depends on good management.

just b full of azns like fat louies prob

Is it me but do you notice asians dont really go out in the valley? Mainly the city

lol serious? have you ever been to that mystique place? its like little taiwan

Is it me but do you notice asians dont really go out in the valley? Mainly the city

Depends which clubs you go to in the valley, ive walked into clubs drunk and foolishly and realised several minutes aftering paying for cover that the place is full of asians.. blacks... lebs.. ect.

Effectively every breed has there place of drinking and woohing teh wimminz

If they hold street fighter 4 and tekken 6 comps then hell yes i still won't be going.

Has the dress code been expanded to address body odour?

d[o_0]b, original mystique was blacks/islanders..New owners new patrons..

Original mystique owners now own/rent the arena..

I'd go there. But I am a nerd ...

Depends which clubs you go to in the valley, ive walked into clubs drunk and foolishly and realised several minutes aftering paying for cover that the place is full of asians.. blacks... lebs.. ect.

True... i just dont go there...

I got a nightclub on my comput0r called Steam.

hehe

Depends which clubs you go to in the valley, ive walked into clubs drunk and foolishly and realised several minutes aftering paying for cover that the place is full of asians.. blacks... lebs.. ect.

Is this a serious post?

You leave clubs if you notice that non-white people are in attendence?

Holy s***.

sounds s*** already, imagine clubbing in 20 years for our kids
walk in and they virus scan your laptop to decide whether or not you're allowed in?

pinky = nerd

when i listen to basshunter, i listen to this tune

Spook winz with hotness!

You leave clubs if you notice that non-white people are in attendence?

Holy s***.

you'd be surprised how uncomfortable you feel in some RnB place seriously full of non-white people

not because they are looking at you in any particular way but they know that you know you're out of place

and it would probably be pretty easy to get in a fight/smashed

haha, i had an awesome nite out once with a kiwi mate at some darkie club

i was the only whitey there and i pwned the dancefloor with all the massive islander birds

fizz <3

you'd be surprised how uncomfortable you feel in some RnB place seriously full of non-white people

not because they are looking at you in any particular way but they know that you know you're out of place

and it would probably be pretty easy to get in a fight/smashed

Now imagine living like this ALL THE TIME

THATS THE PLIGHT OF THE INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN


WAKE UP PEOPLE

I don't see the point. Unless of course your missus loves dancing and going out and you can take her out and continue gaming.

gaming at home in your undies ftw

lol maxe.

oh s***.

http://mongie.com/ulimages/opt1263170007e.jpg
http://mongie.com/ulimages/jdv1263170015x.jpg

Those are some cool cats.

AHAHAHA mongie. Classic

yahtzee is fail in everything except for zero punctuation

http://mongie.com/ulimages/opt1263170007e.jpg
http://mongie.com/ulimages/opt1263170007e.jpg
http://mongie.com/ulimages/opt1263170007e.jpg
http://mongie.com/ulimages/opt1263170007e.jpg
http://mongie.com/ulimages/opt1263170007e.jpg
http://mongie.com/ulimages/opt1263170007e.jpg
http://mongie.com/ulimages/opt1263170007e.jpg

that dude looks like nf

Who is Yahtzee?

lol maxe you boong

that dude looks like nf

yeah.. except not really at all

last edited by paveway at 11:48:30 11/Jan/10

ACA needs to do an investigation.

Head in late on a Saturday night and swab the controllers, will probably result in a cocktail of urine, herpes and cocaine.

Who is Yahtzee?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation

I like to keep my gaming and my drinking friends separate. This place is encouraging crossover which isn't a good thing!

will probably result in a cocktail of urine, herpes and cocaine.

id still lick them

yeah i can see a huge female turnout every week for this place...

yer you'd fully go to a gaming bar with the intent to pick up... douche

Ha! I lol'd.

some of you guys take things so seriouslyyy

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae178/maxe2/mana1.jpg

haha

Is this a serious post?

You leave clubs if you notice that non-white people are in attendence?

Holy s***.

I never said i leave...

Me and mongie accidently walked into some black rnb club in caxton street one night...
The bouncer was all in my face making sure i wanted to go in before we walked through the door. being drunk and dumb i ignored him and paid my cover.. about 2 seconds later me and mongie turn to each other having realised we are the only white people in there.. except for about 2 white chicks chasing some big black cock.
We hung around for about 45minutes before leaving... had some sick beats going on in there though.

Have had the same experience with scooby with some place in the valley full of asians... except we did do a runner that night... and headed over to a titty bar.

and /thread

haha maxe :)

I like to keep my gaming and my drinking friends separate. This place is encouraging crossover which isn't a good thing!

So do I...

haha maxe has made this thread.

These guys hang out at the bar too

http://i22.tinypic.com/2mesi0m.jpg

These guys hang out at the bar too

I hope the bar has a no shirt-no service policy.

It may end up a no shirt, no shoes, no steam account - no service.

maxe wins

Reminds me of the original Basshunter DotA clip.

What the hell is wrong with that dudes head? Reminds me a bit of that old Cher movie Mask or something.

maxe=winrar

The guys behind the mana bar have been working extremely hard for a long time on this project.
I've met everyone but Shay, from what I've heard though the guy knows his stuff and is well known in the bar industry.

These guys are friends of mine so I'll be flying up to Brisbane around the opening to show support. Im hoping all the best for them.

Yug also sent out a new video today - http://youtu.be/7344GRI1jXw?a

Just came to say I've danced at many a black place. Well at least 2. I am usually the only white guy or couple there, etc.. and the brothers be loving it - they all stand around and watch me.
Also in normal white clubs when I start to dance; the one black chick gravitates towards me.
There is like a black man inside me, I swear.

Not sure if it has already been posted?

Yes, yes it has.

http://qgl.ausforums.com/index.php/439207/?agn=thread&id=2710690

There is like a black man inside me

surely that is bait of the most epic proportions

I think the games bar could go either way.

o rly

I be hanging out at Mystique all the time cause a few of my mates work behind the bar.

This s*** is wacked!

I've always thought there was a black man inside you thermite

trying to find more info on it.. like will they have old school arcade machines as well or just consoles??

how much to play?? is it free etc?

Last two years at Gencon they had a booth to play NES & Super Nintendo, like tetris all day. Tetris & alcohol, albeit sounding like an emense blast of pure fun, may not hold the masses.

trying to find more info on it.. like will they have old school arcade machines as well or just consoles??

how much to play?? is it free etc?

Free to enter, free to play. Just the latest consoles - Wii, 360, PS3.

GuV i still have my orginal NES with Game Genie and everything :)

sounds good might get a good at game... then head down for pre drinks... loser buys the winner drink???

Free to enter, free to play. Just the latest consoles - Wii, 360, PS3

How do you make money?

Also, do you need a license to play games in public?

Yeah Yug, I'm interested in what kind of special licenses you'd need to play these games in public. Can you just go out and purchase a game as per normal & have it available to play in a public area?

They're not charging money to play them though, so I guess that would be removing some of the complications.

Wouldnt it be better for console company as its free advertising in away.

We're not charging entry or to play the games, takes out alot of the 'grey area' that could be considered a form of fraud.

Not only that, but I've met and talked to EVERY publisher in Australia, and they all support the venue. We'll make money off the bar, by selling games, and also by sponsored events.

No licence required to play games in public ........ yet. Fact is there is no real precident for this sort of thing.

Will there be venue security? Man what a cruisy place to work all the patrons would be nerds :)

Will there be venue security? Man what a cruisy place to work all the patrons would be nerds :)

maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but gamers are a bunch of crazy violent psychos that re-enact everything they see in video games because they can't understand the line between fantasy and reality

you should man the door fpot, armed only with your celebrity status and a packet of BBQ Samboys

i think that's using the word "celebrity" a little too loosely.

you have the QGL wiki linked in your sig bro

"if you don't leave the premises immediately I'll slug you"

once someone gets mentioned in a random wiki they are a celebrity now? haha ok

3rd one down negro

edit: but yeah that doesn't really make me a celeb either but it's what maxe was getting at.

thats really not something to be proud of fpot

Being the huge geek that I am, I'd totally go to this if it was in Melbourne, sounds like fun.

Anyway, hope it does well so maybe one opens up down here!

haha how much do you wanna bet those two 'cool cats' will tell every chick they know that they are a nightclub owner

well aren't they?

it would be rather foolish to open a night time entertainment venue and not tell anyone about it, don't you think?

I meant for sex not for profits, it's less funny in my head now, thanks

Bloody lonely nerds trying to pick up chicks while gaming. What about all those years ago when bars were male only and women were FORBIDDEN!? Guys still went to get drunk, talk with mates and escape their wives. I see no difference in this joint (except women aren't actually forbidden) and expect guys will go to get pissed and get into fights over who gets to be mario.

If you were single and you owned a nightclub you'd be f***ing crazy gay not to use it to pick up.

I think this will go alright, good luck to them

crazy gay even

Being the huge geek that I am, I'd totally go to this if it was in Melbourne, sounds like fun.

wut? Khel's in melbourne and not in brisbane :(?

no0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0!

so you got 4 directors for this club?? Sounds a bit much, good luck though hope it all works out!!

Will pop in sometimes and check it out.

There is like a black man inside me



surely that is bait of the most epic proportions

When you say it like that "deeper"...

Damn you phooks...
I was at work an couldn't post

last edited by HERMITech at 19:35:43 11/Jan/10

I met Pras and Yug through Pandemic when I worked there, they are actually really laid back cool guys.

Yahtzee I saw around the studio but never really spoke to, Yug Iv met two or three times and I think he was hungover each time but he threw a kickass party for Supernova when I was working on the Pandemic stand.

I honestly think it will do well, specially when you have 200odd people just up the road at chrome and over in robertson street, another 100odd people from THQ.

QGL meetup sometime???

Until the reply is so which club then it's..... oh that club

I met Pras and Yug through Pandemic when I worked there, they are actually really laid back cool guys.

oh there's no question they're cool, one of them is like a bollywood hugh heffner, the other is like ethan hawke playing dick tracy, it's the coolness equivalent of Cordon Bleu.

fpot, in regards to security, there will be a bouncer on the door at all times that it's open.



Plus ... and I'm serious here, the bouncer is keen to dress up as RYU from Street Fighter :)

haha YUG. I remember you from the pilot you did with yahtzee, you seemed nothing more than his bitch. Giggling away whenever he told a joke, that was such a bad pilot.

Good luck with this venture though. Get some strippers and it's going to be a hit.

careful what you say greazy, or you won't be invited to the opening night! :O :O

Everytime I read "Yug" I think of:

http://weheartbooks.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/grug0011-283x300.jpg

Yug is just Guy backwards - duh.

could be fun, i'd give it a go :)

Plus ... and I'm serious here, the bouncer is keen to dress up as RYU from Street Fighter :)

As funny as that would be, I can see that going horribly wrong

Hadoukening is the new glassing

As funny as that would be, I can see that going horribly wrong

Nah, they must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance.

Lol greazy, pilots are pilots because they are rough, I suggest you take a look at the new Game Damage trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8C1ZhWUWRU

Lol greazy, pilots are pilots because they are rough, I suggest you take a look at the new Game Damage trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8C1ZhWUWRU

Whilst i think its lame, id probably watch it... but like a fat chick i wouldn't tell my friends, unless i got drunk and slipped out... at which point they would give me s*** for it.. for the rest of my life.... http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=greyden

Plus ... and I'm serious here, the bouncer is keen to dress up as RYU from Street Fighter :)

And you are going to have Cammy or Priness Peach Bar Tenders???

I just came up with an awesome Idea, a nerd strip club with the chicks dressed up like game/comic characters.

I would attend that strip club

As would I, provided there were some discipline with the costumes. I don't want to see some brunette trying to dress up as Cammy, for example.

Haha Viper i was thinking the same thing!

Any word on the actual opening date in Feb?

I'm up the 2nd weekned of feb and would love to check this place out.

Both my missus and I would fly to Brisbane specifically to go to that strip joint. Let me know when it's running please.

isn't the concept of strippers being clothed a little contradictory?

They always start out clothed. They're aren't a stripper if they walk out naked.

Well you have to be clothed to strip.

Otherwise you might as well call them naked clubs.

So instead of wearing slutty outfits for 60 seconds before they get naked they wear comic character outfits, and every stripper would do this and this would be the exclusive theme of the club? Sounds boring. I think it would go broke in 2 maybe 3 weeks.

Sounds boring. I think it would go broke in 2 maybe 3 weeks.

It's still a strip club, it wouldn't go broke..

Both my missus and I would fly to Brisbane specifically to go to that strip joint. Let me know when it's running please.

If the club opens before the 13th of feb we could take our women there for valentines.

If the club opens before the 13th of feb we could take our women there for valentines.

Great Valentines venue!

ps its the 14th.

Which reminds me...

i'm taking my misses here for valentines day

what a snag

i'm taking my misses here for valentines day

where is that?

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

these guys are featured on the front page of http://www.news.com.au

Mr Blomberg says the bar itself will feature five LCD TVs

5?

seriously, five?

lcds?

seriously, lcds?

(ok so the LCD thing was just a jab at spook et al, but srsly 5 tv isnt enough)

I would attend that strip club

Ok, I'll go, but only if Teq pays the cover...

pretty sure hermi has more than that

didn't you try and stiff me out of $100 at nudgeelan once already mantra?
for a zip drive?

and then I ran into you at GGF years later and you paid up

(ok so the LCD thing was just a jab at spook et al, but srsly 5 tv isnt enough)

It's a small bar, they wouldn't be able to fit much more than that.

has this bar closed yet?

has this bar closed yet?

Heh, it hasn't opened yet..1 month to go!

I wish these guys would get some damn photos up that wernt hosted on headbook or whatever... it's all blocked @ work. /sigh

http://www.manabar.com.au/forum/index.php?app=gallery
BOOM!

pretty sure hermi has more than that

sniffs troll bait, removes said bait and reloads.

BAM!

Stupid idea.
Stupid thread.

f*** it off.

What a load of s***.

Asif it wasnt bad enough when geeky pricks were stabbing each other because they lost at cs.

Asif this won't make it worse.

GG

Yeah I can really see some serious violence erupting after a game of Rock Band or Mario Kart..

I would attend a denverbar

But how many denverbars is trog?

sounds pretty awesome - one of my friends had a setup down here in Hawthorn Melb although it wasn't a bar.. just a massive space with networks of computers and almost everyone playing world of warcraft.. and yes it was primarily an Asian hangout..

sounds pretty awesome - one of my friends had a setup down here in Hawthorn Melb although it wasn't a bar.. just a massive space with networks of computers and almost everyone playing world of warcraft.. and yes it was primarily an Asian hangout..

..in other words, nothing like what the Mana Bar is/will be - ie. a normal bar where people happen to be playing console games between drinks.

It's not going to be a LAN with booze.

Stupid idea.
Stupid thread.

f*** it off.

rage much?

Hi Yug.

My friend Victoria says that you guys are good friends.

I just thought that was interesting.

Good luck with the bar.

chortle.

If you could hire private booths out with your friends it'd be ok maybe. Like Cyber City 2002 in the valley with the kareoke rooms.

there would be a cum stained couch

didn't you try and stiff me out of $100 at nudgeelan once already mantra?
for a zip drive?

and then I ran into you at GGF years later and you paid up

I think you've got me confused with someone else. I've never owned a zip drive?

If I'd know it was that easy though, I probably would have a zip drive ;)

I think I went to GGF maybe twice?

Yug: I just watched your extremely long trailer and the overall feel and look of the show is a lot more inviting and seems enjoyable. But I suspect that you might get an Elaine Benes added to your crew.

it's just talking heads *yawn*

This opens Saturday night btw, but i think im gonna go along next tuesday night, cos the guy from zero punctuation is going to be hosting trivia, gaming style.

Nice, the website is blocked at work.

www.manabar.com.au <-- Bad! Games!
brisbane.elephantandwheelbarrow.com.au <-- Ok! Beer!
qgl.ausforums.com <-- Ok! Completely inappropriate content, swearing, NSFW, soft porn, radical ideas!
www.qgl.org <-- Bad! Games!
trog.qgl.org <-- Ok! Random crap!
mantra.qgl.org <-- Bad! Games!

wtf? Internet filters are awesome!

same results here mantra, except mantra.qgl.org works here

Hrmm, I thought that first link said www.manbar.com.au at first glance.

Hrmm, I thought that first link said www.manbar.com.au at first glance.

This doesn't surprise me in the least... and no, I won't do that for $50.

If it's games like Guitar Hero and Wii Sports then you can expect to see a large turnout.

It will be popular "social" games so this is to be expected.

I am still trying to figure out why this wasn't done in Sydney or Melbourne

or San Fransisco..

barcade http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/

http://www.manabar.com.au/forum/uploads/1263651036/med_gallery_3_75556.jpg

hope thats not supposed to be some promo photo? looks like its take with a compact.

5 LCD's is pretty tame ....

We have 3+ a projector and that's basically just for me. s***, I have 3 monitors just for my desktop. If they want to do it right and impress they'll need to fork a bit out for gadgets and pixels.

IMO, to do something like this properly, you need soundproofed rooms dedicated by console that groups can hire and go nuts at whatever volume they want for X timed hourly rate (bookable). Theme the rooms based on colour representing how many consoles and types of consoles are in that booked room etc

Eg, Green room 2 = PS3 on 55" 200Hz LED w/ Surround sound for $15 p/hour. Hourly rate covers busty waitress to deliver drinks.

Platinum room 1 = PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, guitar hero/rock band etc on 300" HD projector with surround, recliners and some sort of conveyor belt system for your drinks and food. Waitress becomes "hostess" and sets up console changeovers etc. Price could be $30 p/ hour.

Each of these rooms would be wired with cameras and mic's which route back to displays within the bar. When people are playing pool etc they can see who's playing what in which room. Main display will be large projector screen with split screens on each room with rotating sound.

Key to business would be repeat customers, group bookings and competitions. No, I've never thought about doing anything like this before...

Each of these rooms would be wired with cameras and mic's which route back to displays within the bar. When people are playing pool etc they can see who's playing what in which room. Main display will be large projector screen with split screens on each room with rotating sound.

Maybe pitch it to channel 10 and call it something like "Big Brother" and you might have something.
In a crowded bar can be hard enough to hear your own conversation without having some other punter's conversation piped in from the other room.

yeah cause outlaying massive amounts of capital on a risky business venture like a themed night club before you know it's actually going to make any money is a super good idea.

^

"do it once, do it properly"

IMO, to do something like this properly, you need soundproofed rooms dedicated by console that groups can hire and go nuts at whatever volume they want for X timed hourly rate (bookable). Theme the rooms based on colour representing how many consoles and types of consoles are in that booked room etc

Instead, they've gone with easy-to-access, free gaming in close proximity to the bar. I think I like the way they did it better.

I had a conversation with a fellow who was going to set up one of these near a big college in the US, the idea was to market it to bored students. Wonder how he went with it?

Anyways, it's certainly an idea that's being explored in other locations.

any shots/videos of this place in action?

I like the idea, interested to see how it pans out. Wont be going there myself obviously, but if it goes well and expands down here, it'd be something I'd go to I reckon.

"do it once, do it properly"

Many (most?) successful ventures are built upon modest beginnings. Even large projects will be built upon a small-scale pilot.

Most colossal failures are from over-investment in unproven concepts.

any shots/videos of this place in action?

Not really, because they're still making final touches. There's plenty of pictures on their Facebook page with the owners and friends putting the place together.

Where is it exactly? I'm guessing it's near that awesome cocktail bar Glass in the Judith Wright centre on Brunswick St across from Hotel Bravo?

It's on the far end of the Judith Wright Centre - so halfway between Berwick and Robertson Sts - across the road from Sushi Station.

Many (most?) successful ventures are built upon modest beginnings. Even large projects will be built upon a small-scale pilot.

Most colossal failures are from over-investment in unproven concepts.

this, this and this again.

pfft whatever.
I'm fairly sure teq knows what he's talking about. He would never give an unqualified opinion.

People can be pretty unhygienic especially while drinking.
Do you clean the controllers often ?
Are they covered with plastic or something ?