Convergence Partners investee company SkillPod discusses growth and prospects of casual gaming industry in South Africa. Mark van Diggelen, CEO and founder of SA casual and social gaming company SkillPod, says that although game development in SA is not as big as it is internationally, local programmers are taking a keener interest in it as a career path.
AfricaCom, the Continent’s premier communications event, took place in Cape Town on 10 and 11 November. Chairman Andile Ngcaba was a featured speaker on day 1, highlighting the opportunities & challenges facing ICT investors in Africa, and the Convergence Partners Group was proud to unveil its new stand (see pictures attached) – the first time we have exhibited at the event. The rationale behind this was to showcase the many young and exciting companies in the Group and give them access to the burgeoning African communications market, as represented by over 5000 attendees over the two days.
The Convergence Partners stand was a hive of activity for the duration of the event (especially when our gorgeous ladies served up some great cocktails at the end of day 1). Companies in the Convergence Partners stand that were formally exhibiting at AfricaCom included Seacom, Convergence Wireless Networks (comprising WiA and Intra), Intelsat New Dawn Satellite Project, Plessey, Comsol, Integrat, Skillpod Media, Bloodhound, Inala, Convergence Border Management Solutions, as well as the Convergence Partners Foundation.
AfircaCom also coincided with the media launch of Convergence Partners’ latest project, FibreCo (see below blog).
SkillPod in conjunction with the eThekwini Municipality have developed a series of (mostly) indigenous games or variations thereon to encourage children and people who are unfamiliar with computers to engage with them in a fun and practical way. This is a proven learning tool and will lead to an increase in digital skills amongst those persons playing the games. In addition, the games are in isiZulu, to enable users to play/learn in their home language but also to encourage English speakers to become more comfortable with isiZulu.
Skillpod has launched its new mobile gaming platform, Gazuma. This drive onto the mobile phone is an extension of the highly successful online casual gaming platform developed.
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