Designing A Corporate Game Room?

douglawson writes "We're designing a virtual PC team game room for the corporation I spend my days at. The idea here is to create an internal space for team gaming, both for recreational and executive team-building events. If you could dream, what would be in your ideal space? What games, what seating, what sound system, what else?"

Comments

What Do You Mean?

[wzm]

What's meant by "Team Gaming"? I'd focus on turn based strategy games, and maybe puzzle games, even if you can just find single player ones (get a couple people to play them at once). Think about also buying board games, war games, etc., just sitting around playing Quake and other FPS (team based or otherwise) doesn't seem like it would build camaraderie to me.

As an aside do places like your work really still exist? I thought that sort of thing had gone out of style with the dot-coms.

An even better idea: Don't do it at all

[Anonymous Coward]

The company I used to work for got it into its head that it should provide this kind of "game room" for its employees, and I can tell you what happened as a result: Productivity dropped faster than Howard Dean's approval ratings. Folks, I realize that this might be a shocker, but (get ready for it) you are at work to perform work, not play games. If you believe that employees will limit themselves to "15 minute" game breaks, you're being totally naive. It was not unusual for people to spend an entire afternoon in the game room (charging it all to the company, of course.)

After a month, we realized that the game room was a rediculous failure and dismantled it.

The bottom line is this: We live in a capitalistic society, and the creation of wealth is the cornerstone that keeps this country on top of the world. Paying employees somebody else's money so they can sit around and play video games is not capitalism. In fact, it is very close to capitalism's opposite, whose name I dare not say (might trip the corporate Internet filter and invite some unwanted attention.) Keep the games for before 7:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. The work day should be spent (gasp!) working and being a productive member of our society.

Re:An even better idea: Don't do it at all

[Mike Hawk]

Sorry boss. Here in California we are required to take something called "lunch" and are also entitled to little things called "breaks". We found that it actually was more productive to have leisure activities available on our campus. The employees were less likely to go elsewhere during this time, and were thus more likely to be back from break on time. Its really win/win. Happier people who are at work more.

Better idea...

[JMZero]

A pinball table. Pinball lends itself to short gaming sessions and friendly competition. It'll also appeal to a wider cross-section of staff.

Instead of the "late$t and greate$t"...

[Tempermental]

Let the employees build it from older (perhaps donated) machines. No no no not Commodore 64s (though I recall some fun games from back then) but early PIIIs at best.

There are some great team-building games AND competitive games from that time. Some games were cross-overs (could be either).

Think about games that have become classics. They were meant to run on the older machines. Titles such as Star Craft, or even better Command and Conquer: Red Alert provide either head to head, team vs. team, or team vs. computer play styles. Did you get eliminated? Well, breaks over - back to work.

Or the earlier combat flight simulator games like F-15 / F-16. Those will play head-to-head also.

And one benefit to older FPS games like Duke Nukem was the ability to EASILY custom build maps - for example, a copy of your office... or the whole building... or even go older, to DOOM, and craft a bad guy to look like your boss...

Then again - your office, and the community in general, would probably be better off (Karma-wise anyway) if you used your older machines as donations to area schools (particularly underprivileged areas) and instead left work early twice a week to go mentor some kids.

consoles yes, PCs no

[truffle]

I would recommend going with consoles over PCs. They are more personable. The games are easier, and more suited to short gaming breaks. They're also more personable, everyone can see what you're playing. As a bonus, it is unlikely anyone will surf for porn on your 36" TVs.

Make sure you have at least one big-ass TV. After that you can put in somewhat smaller TVs.

For chairs - go with couches and lounge chairs. Think comfee. At the same time make it clear this is not a junk room.

For game management, buy a few CD binders, have a physical sign out list. This will stop the games from walking.

Set an initial game purchasing budget of how many dollars, then have a monthly budget for continual purchasing of new games. Allow interested employees to submit requests to whomever is in charge of game purchasing.

Online play is certainly possible but I don't see any need for it, this is for your employees playing together and having fun. I'm pretty sure you can netowork X-boxes and have massive Halo tournements without going online.

In terms of what platform, I would recommend you choose either PS2 or X-Box. There isn't really a need for multiple platforms. This isn't supposed to be the room where people get to play specific titles for specific platforms, this is the games room. The X-Box for example has lots of great games, it should be fine if you go with all X-boxes. Because of Halo, I think this may be the best choice.