What separates a good LAN center from a great one?

[Parker]

I've only been to one internet cafe and used it for internet browsing. But I did notice a couple people gaming. Does an actual LAN center install there own games? How do they make their money: computer usage or concessions/parts for sale? Would it be a business to actually make some money or is it a risky business?

[merlin704]

What separates a good LAN center from a great one?


Boobies..

[theDreamer]

I've only been to one internet cafe and used it for internet browsing. But I did notice a couple people gaming. Does an actual LAN center install there own games? How do they make their money: computer usage or concessions/parts for sale? Would it be a business to actually make some money or is it a risky business?

Two other friends of mine went about 90% of the way to starting our own LAN center in few years ago, only thing left was rental space and that is a long story. A great LAN center has to bring together everything, not just gaming but an environment that is inviting.

Are plans consisted of PC gaming, arcade gaming, console gaming, and internet browsing PCs. The setup would allow any person do what they needed at a rate which created a profit but be low enough to be reasonable (not 20 dollars an hour or something).

Each gaming PC would have individual games installed on it and the system would be setup with a login/password you get. While the internet PCs have no games, but instant messaging clients, different browsers, etc., also the PC gaming machines included these, but the internet browsing PCs would also be at a cheaper rate.

Overall the idea was to bring people in for fun, gaming, and enjoyment. Also at the same time give back, have over night LANs, gaming competitions, prizes (monthly stats, winning competitions, etc.)

There is more to it than what I just listed but those are a few points. The most crucial things you must also look at is a location. You need a place where you know you have gamers, they can afford your prices, and there is no other LAN center for a good distant. Two LAN centers near each other is never a good thing, and one will usually die.

[Parker]

Boobies..

...if you build it, they will come.

[Parker]

So the rent factor killed your friends idea?
As far as location, there are no others nearby. Being a college twin-city, there is always an influx of students every year. I'm actually surprised that there is not a LAN center but also curious as to the same reason why it's non-existance.

[theDreamer]

So the rent factor killed your friends idea?
As far as location, there are no others nearby. Being a college twin-city, there is always an influx of students every year. I'm actually surprised that there is not a LAN center but also curious as to the same reason why it's non-existance.

The problem we had which stopped us was the location we wanted was under contract for a "winter" rental. All the other locations were to small, and we could not get them to give us the contract even though we would sign a full year lease (or more).

Rent is not a huge deal, you pay for your location, but at the same time if people know your place you do not need to be on a street corner. We had picked out an up and coming mall, which is not very large and has a LAN center in it that does very well, but it was just built maybe a year or so ago.

[Parker]

So I take it the plan was dropped all together or are they still working on it?

[theDreamer]

So I take it the plan was dropped all together or are they still working on it?

We have not touched this idea in many years, after the winter contract was up we all got to busy and had to focus on school and other things. We had the idea, but just could not follow through on it.

[TheToE!]

Call me crazy but the Lan Center business never seemed that lucrative to me....Every one that I have seen, be it Lan Party or actual Center has died off one by one. With the decline of PC gaming, and the rise of services like XBLive, a LAN center just doesnt make much sense now a days. Dont get me wrong I would love if a huge LAN center opened up in my town and I would frequent it! I just cant see the profits out-weighing the capital it would take to open one.

[TopGun]

There used to be a "Lan Center" in my area, Like 2 or so years ago or more maybe.
The problem they had was that they often didn't charge people or let people do work
to play. It was fun while it lasted, I enjoyed voluntarilly working / gaming there. Nothing
like being a networking noob and trying to setup 20ish computers on a lan, Oh the fun of
5 routers, hubs and switches all linked together. I didn't know shit back then so I just plugged the ethernet cables into different ports until it worked. But hey I always had the network up even if it was kinda ghetto.

The main probs: Owner wasn't strict enough, Using residential internet and Pirated Windows.

I learned a lot, wish they were still around, Now there's kind of a lan center inside of the "Computer Shop" in my town, Gotta love how a computer shop that's suppose to know computers calls p4 1.5's 256mb ram and Geforce MX4000's extreme gaming systems.

[BladeVenom]

I'd say it's a very risky business. None of the ones that have opened near me have lasted very long.

[CJRP]

There is one that is and has been open in my town for probably close to 10 years now. Its called Digital Ops. I think they have a website, but they are a really small operation. Anyways, it was cool back in the day when I was younger and couldn't afford a nice gaming PC and fast internet.

I think a lot of the market for LAN centers has diminished now that people can purchase powerful PCs and play online over broadband. Its always more fun to have your friends in the room with you though, which is something that cheap computers and internet can't replace.

Another LAN center opened recently in Showcase Cinema movie theathers too. They have console games, and tournaments, and tons of big screen LCDs/Plasmas.