Spinners: The Game is an ambitious video game spinoff of the acclaimed South African French TV series Spinners, co-produced by Federation MEAC, Showmax and CANAL+. The project is produced by Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, affiliated with Wits University, as part of its broader mission to empower Black digital creatives through its Gaming and Digital Content Hubs. Key funding and production support has been secured from La Maison des Mondes Africains (Paris) and South Africa’s Job Funds, enabling the development of the game and its market readiness.
Tshimologong partnered with Federation MEAC, Joachim Landau to support Vetkoek Studios, winner of a Spinners-themed Game Jam and beneficiary of the Gaming Hub, providing funding, mentorship, and access to international networks. The game’s animated trailer is being developed by the Mollo Animation Academy, further showcasing Tshimologong’s commitment to nurturing African animation talent and aesthetics. This project also aligns with AfriGames, a national initiative co-launched by Tshimologong in 2024 to strengthen South Africa’s video game industry.
As the first video game ever set in Cape Town’s Cape Flats and centered on the township “spinning” car culture, Spinners: The Game expands the series’ fan base into the global gaming community. Available across all major devices, it taps into the growing demand for culturally rich, locally rooted, and globally appealing content. The project represents a unique market opportunity to extend an award-winning narrative universe into a playable format, engaging new audiences while spotlighting South African urban youth culture.
Spinners: The Game will be unveiled at the Forum Creation Africa in Lagos from 16–19 October 2025
Speakers
- Eric GARDINER, Creative director – Vertkoek (SA)
- Sithembiso MPHELE, Animation producer – Tshimologong/Mollo Animation Studio (SA)
- Avuzwa NTSHONGWANA, Project manager – Tshimologong (SA)
- Ben Meyer, Senior Producer – Nyamakop (SA)
- Mamelo RABOROKO – Vertkoek (SA)
- Marthinus VAN ROOYEN, Animation Director – Tshimologong/Mollo Animation Studio (SA)
- Joachim Landau, Producer – Federation MEA (FR)
Moderator : Marie LORA-MUNGAI
CASE STUDIES
Each of the four Case Studies offers an in-depth exploration of a completed project, providing a comprehensive narrative that goes beyond the final outcome. These presentations delve into the full spectrum of the project’s lifecycle, highlighting not only the successes but also the failures, challenges, and unexpected obstacles encountered along the way. They also reveal the critical role of collaboration, detailing how creative teams, producers, investors, and other stakeholders worked together to navigate complexities and implement necessary adjustments. This panel will gather key figures behind each project: creators, producers, investors and other major contributors, to engage in an open dialogue. By sharing their diverse perspectives and recounting their individual experiences, the panelists will illuminate the decision-making process, strategic pivots and lessons learnes. This collaborative exchange aims to foster a deeper understanding of what drives projects success and how to effectively respond to setbacks.
Crédit photo de couverture et de bannière : spinners©DR
Capacity: 200
