Lan Party Store Poll

[gerrick]

Some friends and I are thinking about starting a Storefront for LAN gaming. It would be open Friday afternoon - Early Monday. We would provide server, internet, LAN and power. Users would just need to bring a rig. An admission fee would be mandatory. We are in the San Diego area. We would also sell refreshments. Questions below:

1. Does that idea sound appealing?

2. How much would you pay?

3. How often would you go?

4. Have you ever been to something like this before?

5a. have you ever heard of something like this before?

5b. If so where?


Thanks for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MaxDepth]

Let's see San Diego ($$$$)
business license ($$$$)
Internet conections ($$$$)

you got $15,000 to cover the first month of expenses? Later months are cheaper, but ya gotta pay up front for it...

 

[Lithium381]

i think it's a good idea if the fee istn't too steep, be alot easier than setting the whole thing up myself..oy! i'd probably go once a month or every other....probably pay $20 for the weekend, i've been to something sorta similar, they had a little shop, i forget where i was on vacation and was in CS withdrawls, so i went in and played, they had rigs there, only about 20 of 'em though, pretty small, but it was cool....i forget how much i paid.

 

[Spikesoldier]

1. Yes, but they must have the same games to play...
2. I would say $5 an hour each. Even $5 * 8 * 2 for a 2 hour party is a little much, not including food & drink.
3. Maybe once every few weeks if it is scheduled or organized.
4. No - not one that requires you to bring a rig.
5. Not this unique.

Sugg...

Have a game/software and hardware store. You might get some amazing sales.

Organize a "league" such as Friday night Counter Strike - that will really bring them in.

Have a big place of business.

Are you providing monitors?

 

[Ameesh]

i think you should have the computers there and a choice of mice and keyboards. nobody is gonna want haul their rig around.

 

[gerrick]

MAX: Not sure about the cost. San Diego is not that expensive. My firends and I have enough hardware to get it off the grround. Thanks for the Feedback.

Lith: Thanks! glad to know someone is doing it.

Spike: We would have tourney's. Not sure about monitors. I was not aware of the PC hauling aversion. I currently drag my crap around once in a while. this would give you lots of room, zero to little cleanup, and different players all the time. Thanks.

Ameesh: PC and input devices aren't cheap. for that we would need to be a 7 day a week operation. Thanks!

 

[milagro]

<< i think you should have the computers there and a choice of mice and keyboards. nobody is gonna want haul their rig around. >>



I agree...you could also lessen your liability issues by preventing people from catching all kind of crap from other unknown users if you had the entire setup....

This is a cool idea though. You could start out relatively small with about 3 or 4 game servers serving 20 users or so each....

Even better, have an adult section that serves alcohol

 

[gerrick]

Milagro: people spend way too much time and money on rigs to leave them home. I mean what is the use of neon if no one sees it?

 

[stev0]

I know in the minneapolis, minnesota area there is a place called The Stomping Grounds, although they have their own computers, I think they do fairly well, they have some snack food, drinks, and provide internet.

Yes, I would definatly go to a place like this if there was one in my hometown. Maybe you should go around to local schools and such and take poll's, or do some research to find out how popular this business would actually be.

 

[gerrick]

Stev0: I've heard of them. I thought they went under though. It appears we have a market for it in San Diego. Just not sure if it is worth it. really depends on the location. Thanks!

 

[MaxDepth]

I think someone owning a computer store already or game store where everybody frequents is the best way to go. Start small with someone else paying for floorspace and electricity. Talk it big on campus with posters and maybe hit the college radio with time&place for gaming. Once you get a few of these parties under your belt, you'd be surprised at how much the local TV stations are willing to feature you on the 11 o'clock news at one of your parties.

But the big thing is start as small as possible. If you're lucky these first few times you can break even and know if you can move it to larger venues without losing your shirt.

 

[milagro]

<< Milagro: people spend way too much time and money on rigs to leave them home. I mean what is the use of neon if no one sees it? >>



true dat...I guess it depends on what your long term objectives are. If this is more along the lines of a minimalist gamers/hobby shack for fun w/o serious business goals then that's the way to do it. But if you wanna grow this puppy into a largescale enterprise similiar to a restaraunt chain, then you'll want continuity w/ hardware/atmosphere/tech support etc...

like starbucks-yeah its a crappy machiatto, but you know its the same whichever you go to as they developed an internal standard..


'course wtf do i know


Oh--and you could make all your boxes pimpin w/ neon and customized windows w/ a company logo on them and fan guards etc.....sounds like fun actually..

 

[gerrick]

Max: Way too many PC stores out here. All of us are in the "industry". I like your Idea of starting small. how big is too big? I mean it has to be at the same place everytime. I like the college radio idea. Thanks!!!!!!!!

Milagro: Not sure how big. all of us would keep our 9-5 gigs. I guess we would have PC's for rent. Monitors are cheap also. It is supposed to be an ongoing business. if it doesd happern and work hardware and repair would come next. Thanks!!!!!!

 

[gerrick]

Bump for a new day...................

 

[StageLeft]

It sounds like a decent enough idea but I guarantee you that it's going to be very difficult to make this profitable so don't sink too much into it unless you know you'll be making money on this venture. I've seen half a dozen PC game stores open and close. You've also got issues of when people bring in their comp and you getting it onto the network. People won't want to pay by the hour while you're getting their PC lan-capable. Then you've got to make sure these people all share games unless you buy your own copies. Then you have installing it and stuff. I think just the logistics of people off the street doing this is tough.

THen you've got to make sure their computers are fast enough as well.

 

[gerrick]

skoorb: "I've seen half a dozen PC game stores open and close." What does that mean? It sounds like you think we will be selling retail boxed games. We will have a facility for people to have LAN parties or just join one. Pay a set fee, setup and play. no worries abou the mess or cables. Just gaming. The way it was intended.