The evolution of the Internet has brought a double-edged sword down upon the gaming masses. Our ability to purchase hardware and software at reduced prices via Newegg or Amazon has negated any reason to venture "out," and the humble household console has brought the arcades in. Yes - we have downloadable games at our fingertips, but here's the problem: what happens when you want to, you know, get out of the house? That creaky chair needs a break at some point! Websites have abolished any purpose to visit storefronts, arcades were brutally murdered by accessibility and convenience, and movies keep us occupied at a fifth the cost of a brand new game for a tenth of the duration. Enter Strafe Gaming, a new gaming 'lounge' fully equipped with couches, 40+ inch televisions, expensive projectors, and all the recent consoles.
Where did the arcades go, anyway?
Shortly after the apocalyptic Y2K, arcades began to fade and a new, adventurous form of gaming entertainment entered the field. LAN Centers made high-end machines available for anyone with the time and a couple of bucks, and they specialized in tournaments and efficiency. It wasn't cool to pump quarters into machines anymore, and these new storefronts offered the best graphics for the best prices. Sadly, it wasn't long after when gaming rigs and consoles became easily affordable (as seen in our $498 gaming rig), quickly eradicating the majority of LAN centers. As Jessica Galvanek of Strafe Gaming tells us, "People wondered why they would go sit in a chair at a LAN center when they could do the same at home... and in their PJ's." I asked what made her upstart 'lounge' different from the tried-and-died LAN gaming stores, "We focus on entertainment. There are couches for parents and their kids during the day, we have tournaments planned for the more serious people, and we have BYOB 'after hours' for the mature gamers." She emphasized an environment that, unlike most hardcore gaming operations, is meant to be "sociable." Instead of dozens of computers crammed between just as many sweaty gamers, Strafe has implemented spacious sections for each console. The store is organized with all gamers in mind (save for PC gamers, but more on that in a moment), and the relaxed atmosphere is intended to let parents feel invited to play games with their kids. At the same time, Strafe expects most of the little noobs to be out by later in the day, which is when the high schoolers and teens utilize the lounge as a hangout. Paxton Galvanek, one of the owners, tells me that "a lot of these places fail because you can just play all the games at home, but we're offering a more open environment. It's supposed to be social."
Strafe Gaming took a strong step forward by inviting cosplayers (above) and local rock station personality, Demetri the Greek (below), to their launch party. Rock 'n' roll and cosplay all but epitomize gaming culture. In our time at the event, we heard at least two or three cars of screaming, adoring fans drive by the game characters. The only way to make this even better would be if Mario and Sonic battled it out!
OK, great - but what about 'real' gamers?
Everything I've said up until now is 100% off-putting to the 'true gamers' out there. You know who you are: you play competitively, climbing leagues and ladders in every game you play, and you attempt to find the biggest, most useful exploits in recent shooters. Why would you - an elite killing machine, the only person that ever runs out of targets - play games with parents and their pint-sized FPS-fodder? Tournaments. Yes, all that practice online could potentially pay off. If you're in-between going pro and just being good, local tournaments offer the best shot at showcasing your abilities: people won't be flying out from Korea to decimate you in StarCraft at the local gaming lounge, and depending on your city, the selection of equally-skilled gamers could be minimal. Most local gaming lounges offer prizes that are based on the amount of players present. A standard entrance fee is anywhere from $5 to $10, which is then split up among winners. To use our local gaming lounge as an example, if six teams entered a 2v2 Halo: Reach tourney at Strafe (at $20 per team), then first place would receive $60, two 40" Reach posters, and some free game time; second place gets $40. The amount scales as more teams join.
A place to hangout and recruit clanmates!
Look around for your local gaming lounges and see if they are your type. You might be able to find a new clanmate, a 2v2 partner to train for tournaments (training in the same room is a huge bonus), or just hangout. If MLG taught us anything this year, it's that gaming around the physical embodiment of all those renowned avatars re-vitalizes gaming as a social experience.
What do you think of local gaming centers and lounges? Have any succeeded near you? Is the business model flawed?
Strafe Gaming is located in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina. View their website for more information.
~Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke and Patrick Stone