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

We had something like this in my town....

[Q-Mont]

There were a couple of places in my town like this. There was one that had a lot of high-end PCs for playing games with your friends or with whoever happens to be there. The other place was a video game store that also had twelve or so 32" televisions that had just as many PS2s and Xboxes networked together. So you could rent out the place for a few hours, get your friends together and play some games.

While it sounds like a great place for people to get together after school or work, both of these places that i've mentioned have since closed down. I think that a lot of the people that participate in these activities already have the means to do it themselves. They already have the computer or the Xbox for a game of Halo. I just don't think that there are enough people that like to play occasionally but don't have the games or the system and are willing to go out frequently enough to help support the business. It won't have the popularity that arcades had because back then, unless you were rich, you couldn't have a whole bunch of arcade machines at your house. Now you can LAN at home, you can network your Xboxes at home, etc. It's an option we didn't have back in the day.