The Geekiest Things You Can Do in Austria
Get your geek on at these nerdtastic events in Austria. From Comic Con, where you can dress to impress as your favourite character, to festivals totally dedicated to gaming culture and Europe’s first virtual reality café, there is something for everyone.
1. Go Comic Con crazy
Nerds, unite! Comic-con events are the highlight of the calendar for geeks the world over, and the event held in Austria is no exception. This is the country’s largest gathering of comic book fanatics, who come together to celebrate the iconic heroes and villains that devotees either love or love to hate. Last year’s event saw stars from science fiction blockbuster hits Star Wars, The Walking Dead, and War for the Planet of the Apes. Photo ops and signings are available, as well as a whole host of wonderfully geeky activities to sink your teeth into – and there are always plenty of impressive costumes to admire. The event is held in April at the Design Center in Linz, and various ticket packages are available.
Design Center, Europapl. 1, 4020 Linz, Austria
Costumes at the comic convention | © Nile/Pixabay
Join gamers at the Button Festival of Gaming Culture
Gaming is a geek’s favourite pastime. Taking place annually in the soap factory in the quaint city of Graz, the Button Festival of Gaming Culture brings together gaming fans from all over the country to exchange ideas and discuss the future of the ‘sport’. The organisers state that: ‘Gaming is creative, it’s social, it can be comfortable, but also highly competitive. It offers opportunities to dive into fascinating worlds that are only limited by the imagination of game developers’. Those interested should check out their website for details of dates.
2. Get into animation at Nyancon
This convention in the sleepy city of Linz may remind you of the strangely popular Japanese video of the Nyan Cat – a YouTube video turned internet meme which sees a cat with a Pop-Tart for a body happily cruising through space while a rainbow shoots from its back end! Taking place in Linz annually, Nyancon is all about preserving and celebrating animation, especially that of animals.
3. See all things Japanese at Made in Japan
Taking place annually in the summer in the Wiener Neustadt, the unusual Made In Japan event combines theatre, competitions and special guests, all dedicated to celebrating Japanese comic culture. You’re guaranteed to see some impressive costumes and meet some like-minded fans.
Dressed to impress | © 3dman_eu/Pixabay
Go to paradise city for gamers: Game City
Taking place inside Vienna’s city hall, Game City is a free event that promises to be a heaven for gaming fans. With over 100 exhibitors and thousands of attendees, it is one of the most successful gaming festivals in Vienna. Expect interesting workshops, fascinating lectures and insights into the future of gaming.
Learn about animation at Pixel Vienna
This event, held annually in Austria’s capital, is all about computer graphics and animation, bringing together fans and specialists in the field, who are there to present talks and workshops. There are also some after-show parties where you can get to know like-minded geeks and discuss the future of animation.
4. Visit the virtual reality café
Cafe
The first of its kind in Europe, the virtual reality cafe in Vienna, VREI, cites itself as ‘a great place to meet people, whether you’re alone or with friends’. It is an ideal place for people who haven’t yet tried the phenomenon, or for those who want to get to know other gamers over a drink.
VREI, Lindengasse 53, 1070 Wien, Austria, +43 677 6200 5888
A man tries a VR headset | ©StockSnap/Pixabay
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