The Secret Lives of Games 154: Gathering Community with Ben Rausch and Anja Venter (Playtopia)
Mar 18, 2026
Anja Venter (Playtopia program director and researcher from Cape Town) and Ben Rausch (Playtopia program director and indie dev) share festival origins and the DIY, community-first approach. They talk about creating tactile arcade spaces, volunteer docents, Cape Town’s creative culture, funding choices, mentorship, and keeping a festival intimate while scaling. Short, lively conversations about building and sustaining local game scenes.
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Bring International Devs To Accelerate Local Growth
- Prioritize bringing international guests and role models early to accelerate local creators' learning and network growth.
- Ben said Amaze did this well and exposure to admired designers rapidly up-leveled South African makers' skills and careers.
The Venue Felt Like A Handcrafted Game Installation
- Attendees described Playtopia's venue as a layered maze with handcrafted decor, themed rooms, and multiple vertical levels that felt like an installation.
- Patrick and Rob recounted tunnels, lily-pad ceilings, netting, candles, octopad rooms, and secret quiet spaces discovered across floors.
Design For Informal Conversation Not Staged Panels
- Playtopia blends talks and exhibition to encourage informal, organic conversations rather than staged Q&A.
- Organizers avoid formal separation between speakers and attendees so visitors can approach creators directly after sessions.