Videogame Lounges Take LAN Centers Mainstream?

Thanks to the New York Times for its article (free reg. req.) discussing the rise of the videogame lounge as mass-market gaming centers. The article argues: "Offering a happy-hour substitute for 20- and even 30-somethings, video lounges might forever uncouple the terms 'hard core' and 'gamer.' They make video games accessible to adults who don't know the difference between 'Halo' and 'Mojo,' and are afraid to ask." Although similar (or interchangeable with?) the long-standing LAN gaming center, the piece argues: "Video games are sauntering further into the mainstream with Xbox and PlayStation lounges. They have sprung up in resorts like Telluride, Colo., and as adjuncts to dance clubs like Play in New York and Avalon in Hollywood, which last week installed a PlayStation 2 in its V.I.P. penthouse."

Comments

Riiiiiight.

[Rew190]

Weren't these gaming cafes etc supposed to be popular like 3 or 4 years ago? Still hasn't happened on a mainstream level...

Re:Riiiiiight.

[mobby_6kl]

Maybe not in the US, but when I visited Ukraine there were such cafes every hundred meters or so and they were completely packed, I had to wait about 10 minutes to check my mail. This was almost 2 years ago.

Of course they are

[buffer-overflowed]

Arcades were enormously popular once upon a time.

I'm actually surprised that most sports bars don't have an XBox and a PS2 set up by now for non-game nights.

Mainstream?

[Tuxinatorium]

I haven't seen one of these gaming cafes anywhere. Not one. By mainstream, does the article mean there's 3 or 4 in New York and 1 elsewhere in the States?

True Lounge

[Lord_Dweomer]

Of all the lan centers, and net cafes I've seen, none of them have had a true lounge atmosphere. I think if a place opened with some decent sized screens and some way of dealing with sound without having people need headphones, and some comfortable furiture (think leather couches), AND served drinks, it would be successful.

Granted, you'd need to make sure you got the right types of people in there in the beginning to set the pace (sorry, but this means beautiful models and their boy toys, not 30yrold geeks with shirts that are too small and stained), it could become a real hotspot now that society is easing up its views on videogames.

Re:True Lounge

[Duty]

There's a place near where I live called "Black Pearl". Its advertised business is as a specialty tea & smoothie bar, but the hit attraction seems to be nice couches, a big TV and speakers, and an X-Box with Halo. When I drop in, I regularily see a crowd of 5-10 teenagers of both genders watching each other play.

Admittantly, teenagers are a sight different from 20-30-somethings, but I'd see no problem calling that place a lounge. Maybe I'm biased, still being a member of the former group for a few months yet. :)

Re:its about money

[Romothecus]

Bullshit. I live 5 minute from a place with a dozen linked xboxs. People play on them all the time, as much as they play CS and WC3 on PC.

GTN

[bluethundr]

Is this the one you meant in Manhattan? Flat screen TVs, networked PS2s and Xboxen, Game Time Nation is on 12th between 3rd and 4th avenues. Walking distance to a couple of fine eateries sure to please the geek pallate, also very near to Forbidden PLanet, almost just across the avenue from some NYU dorms and several very nice movie theaters.

The place also comes with what are ostensibly regulars who hoot and holler each other on during marathon Halo sessions while a Hip-Hop soundtrack blares in the background and chow down on junkfood supplied by the establishment. An AWESEOME time passing establishment for any anorak!

Mainstream

[Sv-Manowar]

The reason the LAN gaming cafes never got as mainsteam as they could is because of the huge burst in console gaming, and the fact that people thought PC games were hard to control and expensive to keep up with the latest gaming requirements. The one where i live has almost a constant supply of teens in there playing Counter Strike 24/7 with their parents desperatly trying to drag them out

At My University

[LightForce3]

At the University I attend there is a games lounge in the student center with 2 or 3 PS2 consoles and 2 or 3 X-Box consoles, along with a few pool and foosball tables. You show your student ID to check out a game and controllers. Nothing commercial, but the idea is the same.