LAN Centre/Internet Cafe

Log in to reply
D

DerryJohn

Free Member
Jul 10, 2012
32
0
  • #1
    Hi

    I'm in the very early stages of my business plan, the idea is primarily a LAN centre, I believe I have a few good ideas to make this a success or at least to pay for it self, I have managed to secure a excellent location if I want to go ahead with my plan i.e the footfall the area has and the ages I would like to target. Id love some advice or to hear peoples experiences in this field, good or bad. I've been saving for a while now and would love to take the next step with my plan. Any advise is greatly appreciated
    John
     
    Cobby

    Cobby

    Free Member
    Oct 28, 2009
    4,079
    857
  • #6
    DerryJohn said:
    yea don't think internet cafe will have a chance so I tend to base it on pure gaming but just offer internet access to bring in the little extra, I wouldn't be expecting to make a profit from the internet cafe side of things
    Click to expand...

    Don't worry about the above comments, some people don't understand the desire for or appeal of LAN gaming, but it *is* a niche and 'internet on the side' isn't something you should spend any significant time or resources on setting up.

    Good luck, you may need it.
     
    Upvote 0
    A

    AdamStevens

    Free Member
    Aug 5, 2012
    45
    7
    Southampton
  • #7
    Like many of us, I used to go to LAN parties, haul my rig over there and have a blast over a weekend. And yea, there's still a few places that will offer public LAN gaming, but really - I admire you saying don't listen to the naysayers etc, but this is just not gonna work in 2012 onwards.

    It's been done and was great.

    Perhaps in a developing country you'll be onto something, but for the UK, nah.
     
    Upvote 0
    D

    DerryJohn

    Free Member
    Jul 10, 2012
    32
    0
  • #8
    As I mentioned before for the internet cafe side of things I know wouldn't bring in much money maybe even none at all, but as someone stated its all about the location. This location is were the city's bus service and the country buses end route is, there's a library around the corner were all the kids hang around all day every day and theirs twice as much kids at the weekend, allot of schools are dropping bus loads of kids of on a daily basis, and instead of getting their connecting bus home etc, they spend the day in town with friends

    This day and age I know you cant be certain with this Niche market But along with the location and some of the great ideas I have, there may be a chance

    Thanks for your comments
     
    Upvote 0
    B

    bigeasy

    Free Member
    Feb 26, 2012
    65
    9
    Leamington Spa
  • #13
    I love the idea of a LAN gaming cafe and I wish you all the best if you do decide to go ahead with it, but I fear the days when it could be a success have gone.

    The reason gaming arcades disappeared was that home systems caught up with arcade hardware so there was no need to visit them anymore.

    Similarly with your idea, the people who you will be targeting as customers will be people who like to play these games already, so they will be running decent rigs at home. You are going to have to offer the best to entice them in. Not just the latest games but the latest hardware, and as I'm sure you're aware, good gaming hardware isn't cheap, I'd say around £1600 per rig and that's with only 1 680gtx, ideally you'd be looking at 2 in sli for serious gamers.

    You'll need to upgrade at least once every 18 months to keep up with the latest trends too, not whole new computers but a new graphics card and possibly cpu too.
     
    Upvote 0
    T

    Talay

    Free Member
    Mar 12, 2012
    4,170
    944
  • #14
    Home use hardware will never stand up to the punishment doled out by people who do not own it in a rental situation.

    Even going back as far as the 1980s when I started in gaming and such machinery, the most profitable game of the era, Hyper Olympics, was frequently out of action because it received massive punishment during the course of the game.

    Going back further, to the era of Williams and Defender and Robotron, the hardware was always the weakest link.
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    Suzuki

  • #15
    Can't see how something like this would work - would it not only have made sense when internet connections were so slow that you couldn't play properly online?

    It just sounds like a great way to lose a load of money - selling a product that people can get better at home, and having to constantly update your very expensive computing equipment to stay relevant.
     
    Upvote 0
    A

    AndyFM

    Free Member
    Mar 27, 2011
    4
    1
  • #16
    I'd had this idea going through my head a while back, and one of the only ways I could think to make it profitable was to run pay to enter tournaments and leagues with sponsors funding different prizes.

    Another thought for it was taking it mobile with consoles etc, and offering a 'Gamers Stag Party' service, finding out which city they wanted to be in for the Stag Do, then booking a meeting room or something in their hotel and setting everything up there. They'd have drinks and food available from the hotel, a whole host of multiplayer games to choose from etc.

    Another option in the actuals location would be to advertise game trials for the launch day of the game. So they can basically try before they buy (rather than the vertical slice they usually give in the demo). (kinda like the HMV Gamerbase in some cities)

    My final thought was to make sure you're open when any of the game stores (if any are left open) were doing midnight launches. Then you can get people from those to come in and get playing the game. Can also deck out the place with stuff to get atmosphere of the game too.

    Never got to the actually planning/actioning stages, but these were the things I'd thought about. Could be of use if you do make a go of it.
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    Suzuki

  • #17
    AndyFM said:
    Another thought for it was taking it mobile with consoles etc, and offering a 'Gamers Stag Party' service, finding out which city they wanted to be in for the Stag Do, then booking a meeting room or something in their hotel and setting everything up there. They'd have drinks and food available from the hotel, a whole host of multiplayer games to choose from etc.
    Click to expand...

    Maybe its just me, but if I ever had the misfortune to get married I wouldn't want to spend my stag party in a hotel room with a bunch of other blokes, playing video games!
     
    Upvote 0
    A

    AndyFM

    Free Member
    Mar 27, 2011
    4
    1
  • #18
    Suzuki said:
    Maybe its just me, but if I ever had the misfortune to get married I wouldn't want to spend my stag party in a hotel room with a bunch of other blokes, playing video games!
    Click to expand...

    I completely understand, but I'm sure that there are enough people around nowadays that are really into video games and would think it was fun. It wouldn't be the entire stag do, just an activity to do as part of it, ones I've been to we did paint-balling or karting, this would be like doing that and then going out for the night of debauchery! :)

    Anyway, hope someone can get this back on topic!
     
    Upvote 0
    D

    DerryJohn

    Free Member
    Jul 10, 2012
    32
    0
  • #20
    AndyFM said:
    I'd had this idea going through my head a while back, and one of the only ways I could think to make it profitable was to run pay to enter tournaments and leagues with sponsors funding different prizes.

    Another thought for it was taking it mobile with consoles etc, and offering a 'Gamers Stag Party' service, finding out which city they wanted to be in for the Stag Do, then booking a meeting room or something in their hotel and setting everything up there. They'd have drinks and food available from the hotel, a whole host of multiplayer games to choose from etc.

    Another option in the actuals location would be to advertise game trials for the launch day of the game. So they can basically try before they buy (rather than the vertical slice they usually give in the demo). (kinda like the HMV Gamerbase in some cities)

    My final thought was to make sure you're open when any of the game stores (if any are left open) were doing midnight launches. Then you can get people from those to come in and get playing the game. Can also deck out the place with stuff to get atmosphere of the game too.

    Never got to the actually planning/actioning stages, but these were the things I'd thought about. Could be of use if you do make a go of it.
    Click to expand...


    Thanks for all the suggestions its much appreciated, most of your ideas were apart of my plan already, except the stag party :D
    Got someone in the local GAME store trying to pull a few strings, if it was to be successful it would all come down to how well live tournaments with buy ins are run, would need to be a few a week/membership fees/lock in fees etc... I play live poker in my local Casino quite allot, they have just recently opened a new kitchen and the standard of the food is great and not having to move from your chair to get feed and watered is the reason of its been a success, If I was going ahead with opening the LAN centre I new I would be having a kitchen of some sort but from seeing the success first hand it would be great for the lazy slobs id hope to having glued to the gaming docs a few hours of the day
     
    Upvote 0
    JElder

    JElder

    Free Member
    Jul 2, 2008
    1,142
    192
    Southampton, Hampshire
  • #22
    There is one near us, but it has specialised to be a bit more niche.

    http://www.theracecentre.co.uk/

    The run racing simulators. The games are pretty much standard PC gaming fare with the local LAN allowing 10 player head to head.

    The big sell is massive projector screens plus a full racing seat, decent wheel and pedals - it's actually pretty realistic. They do quite well with regular tournaments, kids birthday parties and stag parties - you can see from the prices on site it's much more expensive than a internet cafe, so more in competition with karting, paintballing or bowling in terms of being a more occasional special trip.

    (Just noticed they are looking for franchisees - if your venue is suitable you could call them!)
     
    Upvote 0
    Log in to reply

    Latest Articles

    Top Bottom
    Community
    Articles
    Menu