http://www.ruagamer.net

New LAN center opening in early November @ Crossroads. Going to have tournaments, lock-ins, game release parties, etc. Good for people that don't want to drive to Durham for Gamefrog.

[Edited on October 16, 2009 at 5:03 PM. Reason : Yes I realize I forgot the "s" on "gamer(s)" fuck you]

10/16/2009 5:02:59 PM

what type of investor thinks this business model is profitable in this day and age.

10/16/2009 5:07:43 PM

The kind that thinks this is what I look like:

10/16/2009 5:15:02 PM

^^Srsly. Modern consoles have such good online connectivity now that LAN centers are almost entirely irrelevant, and end up catering to only a niche of console gamers who like to specifically LAN with friends sometimes. And within that niche, they won't be getting business from those people who just call up their friends and have a LAN for free at someone's apartment (most of them, I would imagine). And then there's the whole fact that these same LANners probably prefer to play within their own skill range, with friends who are likely mostly within that same skill range, instead of going to a LAN center and being surrounded by a bunch of people they don't know who are either a lot better or a lot worse.

I don't really know about potential business from PC gamers, but I imagine it would probably suck... unless they got a lot of business from PC gamers who can't actually afford gaming PCs. Many of the others would likely just rather use their own machine, even if it means doing so at home. And I don't normally make such generalizations, but the PC gaming population is increasingly being reduced to the more awkward social recluse types, unfortunately.


The only way I can see a LAN center ever being successful is if they also tried to include arcade machines for the whole retro throwback thing... even then they'd probably lose money, because 25 cents per continue or per play can be a lot just for the sake of nostalgia and many people simply wouldn't bother. They'd need to use a Dave-&-Busters-esque system, and even then that's a bit on the expensive side. Business-wise, arcade machines just aren't worth it, and a plain LAN center just doesn't work well when potential customers could do the exact same thing for free, with people they know, and will probably have a better time playing with/against.

Besides that, there's already a Play-N-Trade which has game tournaments sometimes, right next to Crossroads. And they sell used games and movies on the cheap, on top of it.


Basically I'm just being excessively long-winded in explaining why LAN centers are largely pointless and unprofitable.

[Edited on October 16, 2009 at 5:25 PM. Reason : .]

10/16/2009 5:25:11 PM

The smart kids will bring their Magic decks to bust out while they wait for a computer to open up

10/16/2009 5:36:55 PM

wasn't there a place like this a few years ago in cary towne center near the center of the cary town center near the food court?

10/16/2009 5:48:43 PM

wasnt there a place like this on hillsborough just a few years ago? right across from meredith? i give this place 9 months tops

10/16/2009 5:52:57 PM

Another amusingly bad picture from their website:

10/16/2009 5:53:38 PM

I'm actually going to the Gamefrog in Durham tomorrow with a friend to check it out. I remember when it was in Brightleaf Square, back when I was in high school, I thought they had gone out of business. Apparently they have Live accounts on all their Xboxes, so that'll be fun for a little while.

I imagine that I'm part of their target audience: people with no consoles or good access to consoles.

10/16/2009 5:55:11 PM

10/16/2009 5:55:36 PM

10/16/2009 5:58:45 PM

^How'd you find a pic of tromboner950?

10/16/2009 5:59:45 PM

myspace

10/16/2009 6:00:32 PM

^^I thought that was the script, but then, I 'd.

But I know you outside of TWW, so it's cool.

[Edited on October 16, 2009 at 6:01 PM. Reason : .]

10/16/2009 6:01:02 PM

Haha, just playin'.

10/16/2009 7:28:09 PM

haha

is this the new Exhilarama?

10/16/2009 8:53:00 PM

Quote :

"The only way I can see a LAN center ever being successful is if they also tried to include arcade machines for the whole retro throwback thing... even then they'd probably lose money, because 25 cents per continue or per play can be a lot just for the sake of nostalgia and many people simply wouldn't bother."

I agree, I once went to this lan center in south florida that was an arcade and it was actually pretty successful, especially with all the fighting games they had and thier DDR machines(if you like that bullshit), and 25cents? more like 50-1.00 per play, but it's still worth it if the game isn't released yet on console.

10/16/2009 11:41:07 PM

Quote :

"lock-ins"

haha "lock-in"

even high schoolers are too old for this hokey crap

10/16/2009 11:45:23 PM

Quote :

"Friday 12pm - ?? Saturday 12pm - ??"

LOLZ WE CAN GAME 'TILL WHO KNOWS!


[Edited on October 17, 2009 at 1:15 AM. Reason : So much fail with this it's not even funny.]

10/17/2009 1:14:22 AM

sadly its not a fail so epic it might just be a win

I'm AstralAdvent and i approved this message.

10/17/2009 1:30:22 AM

HAY GUISE LET'S PLAY VIDJAGAMES TILL QUESTIONMARKS

10/17/2009 2:05:46 AM

Quote :

"Couples can enjoy a unique night out, enjoying snacks and drinks while playing some of the hottest, fun games available, while serious hard-core gamers can share strategies and tips while competing for high scores."

Can't forget them high scores....

10/17/2009 8:03:32 AM

anyone remember the tek?


....yeah, me neither

10/17/2009 10:40:41 AM

haha the tek was atleast better than this, it served coffee and what not aswell.

10/17/2009 12:29:58 PM

Quote :

"what type of investor thinks this business model is profitable in this day and age."

10/17/2009 2:44:15 PM

there's no booze???

if anything could save this place, that would be it

10/17/2009 3:24:00 PM

Finally, a place where hardcore gamers can share tips and strategies!

10/17/2009 7:07:09 PM

Not sure what the deal is but it looks like the guy that was originally pictured above is making his rounds. They took the the picture down from the ruagamer site, but some of you might remember it. For those of you that don't remember, it was essentially the exact same picture as on this Nintendo DS box art but he was holding a PS3 controller.

12/3/2009 5:35:12 PM

too many haters...i miss the good ole days

i'd go...if it were free

fuck consoles

12/3/2009 6:05:32 PM

^^its probably just stock photos.

^haha...well there are a lot of things i'd go to if they were free.

12/3/2009 6:07:07 PM

LAN party, your place, we'll go play football when we get bored

christ, what games do people even play these days?

Starcraft?
CS: Source

actually fuck it, let's just play football

12/3/2009 6:11:24 PM

^I haven't had a LAN party since high school...i think that was the last time. They were fun as hell...we could play Civ IV multiplayer on epic

12/3/2009 6:24:25 PM

STARCRAFT!!!!!


see: http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=582176

12/3/2009 6:30:38 PM

Multiplayer gaming club on campus does this free 2x a semester normally

http://clubs.ncsu.edu/mgc

ncstate.ath.cx

12/3/2009 10:10:56 PM

I CAN'T ESCAPE HIM!

Homeboy is showing up in the banner ads on my Facebook now:

12/7/2009 12:46:36 PM