Madagascar: a video game tournament on cinema screens
On the occasion of World Video Game Day, the Malagasy capital, Antananarivo, is organizing a video game tournament on the screens of a movie theater.
A first in the country.
© Laetitia BEZAIN / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
In Madagascar, a video game tournament takes place on the big screen for two days.
Since this Saturday, November 21 and until Sunday evening (5:00 p.m.), the weekend video games will be held in the capital, Antananarivo, on the giant screens of one of the only cinemas in the country.
A first.
Publicity
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With our correspondent in Antananarivo,
Laetitia Bezain
It is a concept that attracts many confirmed players but also amateurs.
While in the Big Island, access to a personal game console is still rare for most households, associations and communities of gamers and e-sports are in full development.
On the giant screen, images of combat video games scroll: Dragon Ball Z, Street Fighter or Tekken.
A commentator and, at the controls, several dozen players seated comfortably in the seats of this cinema room.
Among the participants in this tournament, Christian Luc Rajaobarison, 26, member of the semi-professional Madagascan team of e-sports Agon.
“
Playing on a screen like that is like a dream come true.
It's incredible because we are experiencing a great evolution in e-sport in Madagascar.
What is still difficult here is to make people and those around us understand that playing video games can be a job, that you can be professional and that you can earn a living thanks to that
” .
A discipline with a future
A discipline that has potential in the Big Island and that needs support, explains Masy Andriantsoa, administrator of the Madagascar Fighting Games association which has 250 members.
“
Video games in Madagascar are evolving.
With our association, we have done a lot of international tournaments, in Egypt for example, and in other African countries.
We are 5th on Street Fighter in Africa.
We really encourage companies to support and create teams to create an emulsion in the world of esports because it has a future and it is still fairly virgin territory for the moment.
Access to the console is still difficult in Madagascar and therefore, there are mainly games rooms which are frequented by young people and which allow them to get out of the street.
You can let off steam through video games on an emotional level.
It is also and above all an intellectual sport
”.
A unique experience
Democratizing video games is also the vocation of this event.
Holy Razafindramanana is the manager of Cinépax, the cinema in which the tournament takes place
: “
We spoke with all the communities of video game disciplines and there was also a demand from our customers who came to the cinema.
It's a unique experience to be able to play on the big screen
”.
In another room, it's the famous Mario Kart license that captivates the youngest and occasional players like Kanto, 25, a music student.
“I left my house early this morning and arrived at 8:00 am.
I've been playing since I was little, but I don't have a console at home.
Here, the price is accessible.
I came alone but met some good friends here.
This is the first time I have played on such a large screen.
I am really very happy ”.
The organizers are already planning a second edition of this giant screen tournament.
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