Need suggestions, I'm taking over a business

Aztec · Post by **Aztec** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:32 pm

Hello HaloMods users! A rather strange topic is being presented to you today. For the past few months, an idea has turned into more and more of a reality, and now, my thought of owning an internet cafe / gaming center is coming into the forefront of reality. Who better to garner opinions from than my target customer base, avid gamers! I would like to have any suggestions you have to give about what I could offer you realistically.

If any of you have been to a local gaming center, what are some of your thoughts on the place?
How did they handle games, ie was it console based or PC based.
What did they charge for, or what were their rates like?

Basically, I would like to hear from any who have experience with a gaming center. Pro's, con's what really REALLY annoys you about one, "man I wish they had/did this..."

I will update with a little more info when I get a little more info.

Thanks guys!

Ketchup_Bomb · Post by **Ketchup_Bomb** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:40 pm

Fire and foremost, congratulations! Hope that takes you far.

Second, and probably my biggest 'iff' with these cafe type things, they seem to just open, and the next day they are closed.
Do your best to stay open, that's all I can say.

As for games, both console and PC's have been great. If you could, try to do both; bigger audience, more revenue.

Aztec · Post by **Aztec** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:48 pm

hehe thanks

I have known the current owner for about three years personally, and the shop has been around since 1999, and so it has a very well established customer base already present.

He (Merv, the owner,) is moving to Las Vegas to retire! hehe. He says he made off very well with the center, and has always wanted to live in Vegas.

Iron_Forge · Post by **Iron_Forge** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:58 pm

Find a niche...Exploit it...It helps that you have an established customer base...All the people I know who have attempted this lost their business...

Personally I'd go large projection/HD with consoles, get a strong backbone to handle the traffic...The problems I find with these places is that they used to do well when you could go there, and play with a PC better than yours, on a better connection, or have large LAN games...However, everyone has broadband now, and with the latest and greatest hardware being very expensive coupled with 3-6 month life spans...You'd be hardpressed to give people a PC gaming experience they couldn't exceed playing from home, without paying you...

With consoles the hardware has a much longer lifespan, and you could in theory give a good online experience (or even local) for multiple friends they couldn't have sitting around at one of their houses...

As for internet cafe, these are also dieing due to coffee shops offering wireless access...I'd offer a similar setup, wireless, they come in, pay for a given amount of time...Niche it by setting it up so that it's secure...

Just my thoughts...Best of luck...

Aztec · Post by **Aztec** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:08 pm

Iron_Forge wrote:Find a niche...Exploit it...It helps that you have an established customer base...All the people I know who have attempted this lost their business...

Personally I'd go large projection/HD with consoles, get a strong backbone to handle the traffic...The problems I find with these places is that they used to do well when you could go there, and play with a PC better than yours, on a better connection, or have large LAN games...However, everyone has broadband now, and with the latest and greatest hardware being very expensive coupled with 3-6 month life spans...You'd be hardpressed to give people a PC gaming experience they couldn't exceed playing from home, without paying you...

With consoles the hardware has a much longer lifespan, and you could in theory give a good online experience (or even local) for multiple friends they couldn't have sitting around at one of their houses...

As for internet cafe, these are also dieing due to coffee shops offering wireless access...I'd offer a similar setup, wireless, they come in, pay for a given amount of time...Niche it by setting it up so that it's secure...

Just my thoughts...Best of luck...

Thank you, your words are taken to heart. I stopped attending almost altogether when I upgraded my computer. But, I visited from time to time for the social atmosphere, the friendly employees, and the tournaments

I am definitely working on an overhaul of sorts to give a better experience that the average home user would not be privy to.

SHOUTrvb · Post by **SHOUTrvb** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:37 pm

'Talk to your customers well. Tell them everything they need to know that you can tell them. A Rhinos had just opened up where I live this time last year. I swear, I felt like I was talking to a rock when I was asking for help. I know this is general knowledge really, but you can seriously lose a customer (like they lost me) by not being proper at all times.

Congrats and Good Luck by the way.

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:12 pm

I cant say much as I dont like going in them myself because I find the smell to be horrid. Get super ventilation and air fresheners and you'd get people like me actually wanting to go in...

Good work with getting it and good luck with your success...

edit: Much like with what Iron_forge was saying, some projectors would be great for competitions for spectators...I know from my friend who goes to the things, he watches "pro" people play...although it doesnt earn you extra money unless you charge them for entering

but it can attract spectators to play themselves after witnessing what a "pro" in a comp can do. this applies to either console or pc gaming

Hikaru · Post by **Hikaru** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:56 am

I'll own anyone. Simple. =)

CLuis stole my son.

Veegie[Temp] · Post by **Veegie[Temp]** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:22 am

Have Mountain Dew for 10 cents cheaper than normal, and I gaurentee you'll have customers for life...

95% of teens are MD addicts.

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:34 am

Hmm never had Mountain Dew...Maybe I should try it...

Aequitas · Post by **Aequitas** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:55 am

The only times I've gone to those places have been for tournaments.. So have lots of Halo and SSBM tournaments :p

Ketchup_Bomb · Post by **Ketchup_Bomb** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:23 am

Aequitas wrote:So have lots of Halo and SSBM tournaments :p

SSB > SSBM

But yes, I agree with Aequitas; tournaments = good.

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:06 am

my "iff" is when i go to Gamestop or some other game store and they dun have the Halo figures i wanna get...make sure you have collectors stuff....we dont just play games

.

INSANEdrive · Post by **INSANEdrive** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:56 am

The World of Busy-Ness...

Right off the bat, I Can Say you have an advantage with a Very well established customer base already present.

Since you now (or Will) Own it...see if you can find something to Improve

(Under New Ownership can be a Good thing or a Bad thing... And it would be best to start with a Good Impression)

...I have more to say... But I shall say it later when I can...

Is there anything else you can say about it... Size, How Many Riggs it has, Size Of Screen(s)... (Think of it Like Free Advertising, but Instead the Information you give, we can use to help more

)

Hawaiian Modder · Post by **Hawaiian Modder** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:20 am

First of all I would like say good job on getting the Internet/Gaming Cafe. Second I would like to say where is it located, cause if its close I wouldn't mind getting my game on.

Now for some advice. Your cafe should first have a good gaming environment, meaning good lighting, some good music (Not to loud, but not soft). Also it should have a lot of games, but not just that, people should be able to come in and use there own games. Also have a section of Modded Consoles, Unmodified consoles, and then PCs. I recommend that you get at-least 4 modded consoles and 6 Unmodified consoles. At-least 2 Xbox 360's and 5 computers. Also get at-least 3 controllers per console. Get a fast internet connection.

Here's some advice for the food. In the cafe sell food that Inst to fattening. Maybe sell soda's, coffee, lattes, muffins, cookies, and some food bars like granola bars.

And finally some advice for the people allowed. Don't allow drunks, people that will stay there for hours and not spend a dime or let other people play. Don't let ignorant people in. And especially don't be racial, let all races in there. Or else your cafe could get shut down.

DWells55 · Post by **DWells55** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:31 am

A lot of people like myself attend LAN centers in hopes of finding a sponsor. So see if you can incorporate that. Be sure to do tournaments, MLG rules doesn't hurt either.

saddamsdevil · Post by **saddamsdevil** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:45 am

contests, lots of them. People like to compete. Once you get people to join the first competitions, they will become addicted and you can continue your evil plans of braiwashing them >_>. seriously, competition.

btw, congrats dude.

Aztec · Post by **Aztec** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:37 pm

Alright, some excellent stuff, thanks guys.

Now, for more info:

I should have asked Merv how many square feet the shop had, dammit. I don't want to make an estimate based on memory.
24 computers and thirty 21" monitors, each have the possibility of connecting to RGA cables.
28 Executive Black Leather chairs
not sure on mice, not sure on keyboards, not sure on speakers... ehehe..
He has a snack bar setup inside a glass display case, and a standup glass door cooler for Bawls, Mountain Dew, Rootbeer, etc.
There's one main server, and again, Sorry I don't have exact specs on hand, I will have them most likely after this Friday.
A 42" flatscreen TV

It is located at
1259 S. Main St.
Lombard, IL 60148

I totally understand about the smell of some centers, especially the ones that allow smoking. This will be a smoke-free stink-free environment

I'm not too sure what to do about consoles ATM, as there isn't much space to add another major TV, and unless I purchase the empty space nextdoor and tear down the wall, big expansion will be next to impossible. Merv has connected some of the monitors in the past to consoles for tourneys, but regular play has been dedicated to the big screen.

Let me know of any other ideas you guys have.

Sarb · Post by **Sarb** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:39 pm

Pics

Aztec · Post by **Aztec** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:43 pm

sarbjit wrote:Pics

You got it!