The only reason I ever wanted to go to LAN centers was to play higher-end games that my computer couldn't with friends. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks like this. You're probably going to want to invest in good computers from the start.
That being said Tourny's are a great way to bring people to the center. If ten people entered with a $10 entry fee then that's 100 bucks they could win right there. That'd get peoples' attention.
[QUOTE=Slacker101;17227022]I was thinking of starting a internet~gaming cafe in my area. There is no other ones around my area; I was thinking if I started with around 10 computers and maybe a 360 and PS3, each with there own HD projectors, then using steams cafe gaming system and down loading the clients for WoW and other popular MMO's. Then offer free WiFi to bring in customers, host local tournaments with prizes to bring in customers. I would only charge around $10 a day for the 360 and PS3, then with $5 intial and $2 an hour for a pc. I don't know if they would be hand built or bought high-end computers. So would this work, any suggestions?[/QUOTE]
10$ a day for Xbox and PS3? Way too cheap. Theres a poolhall hear my house that charges 10 bucks for 2 hours on the Xbox.
Your prices are way to cheap.
"I would only charge around $10 a day for the 360 and PS3."
Try 10 dollars an hour. Why? Well, one, if you do 10 bucks a day, no one would want to get off, and then you'd have a huge line of people waiting for their turn.
10 bucks an hour adds up slowly, discouraging an individual to play more than probably 2 to three hours any given day. You can also have a quarter acceptor to add on another minute per quarter if they are close to the save point, but their time is almost up.
thanks for the idea. im going to steal it and become rich now
The last few posters above me are insane. No one would pay 10 bucks to play a game for an hour. NO ONE.
shutup cock weasel
no u
I'm going to be doing Work Experience at my local gaming café :D
Well, the good one, there's a really good on where I live and a really bad one.
[QUOTE=JustExtreme;17227357]$10 for an entire day for 360's and PS3's? You'll need to charge a bit more than that else you won't get profit.[/QUOTE]
For 10$ he will be done paying for those consoles within the week.
Also, you could Sell/buy/trade used games and stuff like that.
Theres exactly like that place in my area same prices same everything except the number of pc's 24 that is , its full all the damn time!
Do it
A tip. Employ laid back people, seriously. Employ people who would be willing to help out others, and get to know the person you're employing.
Gaming Cafés can have amazing PC's and have loads of consoles and be cheap, but they'll be completely shit if the staff aren't friendly.
You'll need to go for a brothel while you game kinda thing if you want any profits
One showed up in the town where I live. It actually went bust by the time I figured out where it was. Sad times, I like the idea of paying a few quid and playing games with other people!
[QUOTE=Death0nWings;17228744]no u[/QUOTE]
YOU WIN THIS TIME *shakes fist*
Fantastic idea, but remember that were you open it is important. There's no point having something like it in the middle of a small village. I know that me and my friends would probably use it, sort of like an arcade but with full games...
So OP, will you be selling drinks, snacks or food?
If you are, get somebody to make some for ya. And if you are making a drink for the customers, don't make some shitty coffee. Make something nice like adding whipcream to coffee, add tapioca balls into the drink. Make something orginal.
[editline]01:17AM[/editline]
Also, fix chairs that are broken or at least those that has serious problems. I hate LAN shops with more than half of the chairs being broken.
[editline]01:18AM[/editline]
Also, make some brochures and give them out. It helps.
[editline]01:19AM[/editline]
And you may also want to get new games that are hyped, for example L4D2. And don't always go for
L4D, CS, DOTA, try other games as well.
[editline]01:21AM[/editline]
A clean place is also important. And make sure that the LAN shop isn't too bright or too dark.
And if possible get some headsets for computers, or consoles
Make sure that for fuck's sake you don't fucking try to do this without a financial backstop.
I've wanted to do this since the one by me went bust, I don't think there's any internet cafe-esque places anymore aside from the library, otherwise I'd apply there.
I always thought it would be nice to have some actual arcade machines in a corner like those shooters that have the guns attached, DDR, etc. Have a pool table, because everybody likes pool, a few gaming rigs, and a few lower end computers near the front for email etc.
Problem is, that would all cost a shitload, and the electricity bill would be crazy.
The one local gaming cafe near me shut. If your going to do it at least think of the coffee machines aswell ect.
If you won the lottery, you can easily do it.
But 10 PS3's, 10 Xbox360's, all currently released games on both consoles, 20 HDTV's and you're good to go. You will still have lots and lots of money in your pocket to pay bills and get a place for gaming cafe.
If you didn't won the lottery, forget it.
Too people worrying about where the location is. I live in a town that is almost a city and A few friends said they would gladly work for me. Also I was thinking of getting another buisness, something local but if that doesn't work maybe a frachise, to open inside the place and then pay ME to sell food in my property. Also the prices arn't final at all it was just something i picked out. Also I never though of arcade machines I'll have to look into that.
There was a game cafe near me that got shut down. I was too young to go there while it was up so I missed out. You should see if there's any demand for an internet cafe near you. If there is and you have the money, go ahead. Good luck.
Any ideas on how to find out how many people would want one in my area.
Do a survey in your city. (If you can)
And btw, please, beware that this is a big responsibility. It's not easy to manage that kind of stuff. You will probably need bodyguards, if there will be a fight(It's possible), you will need an accountant, you will have lots and lots of responsibility and less free time.
If you think that you will hang out with your friends there for free and stuff like that, you're wrong. You will have a job and you can easily fail, if you take this too easy.
So you need to check everything that you need. Every single thing, before making something like this. You will be the boss, you will have to run things, not play games. Remember that.
Good luck.
It has probably been said, but OnLive is just around the corner.
I don't know about OnLive quite yet. I think I would use steam cafe instead. Any ideas on how much steam cyber cafe costs roughly?
[QUOTE=Handcrafted;17231413]It has probably been said, but OnLive is just around the corner.[/QUOTE]
Too bad that OnLive's going to be a crock of hyped shit.
Allow smoking and bring in a waterpipe. :smug:
Smoking will have to be done out back along with the pipe, and if they get caught I'm not taking the blame.
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