Do you plan to open a gaming lounge for you and your fellow gamers? A safe space where all gamers can relax, connect, and just game out? In that case, you might want to add gaming neon signs to give it an epic, electrifying atmosphere!
If you need guidance on incorporating LED neon signs for building your little gaming empire, look no further.
What should aspiring gaming cafe owners consider while planning? Let's learn how gamer signs and other essential equipment can level up your gaming cafe!
Back to the Basics: The Origins of Cybercafes and Game Hubs
Before getting too excited about building your gaming lounge, it’s crucial to understand what it is and lay out the essential facts. When and where did these cyber-themed cafes even start, and what activities occurred?
Gaming cafes originated from internet cafes.
Gaming cafes did not start as they are today. It all began with the concept of internet cafes, which was formed in London by Ivan Pope as early as 1994 when the Internet rose to international fame. The first internet cafe was called Cyberia.
He proposed and arranged an over-the-weekend event where attendees could use the Internet while sitting in a cafe, enjoying food and drinks. Albeit short and seemingly insignificant at the time, this event is often called the birth of cybercafes.
Pope unknowingly sparked inspiration and interest in other entrepreneurs with his idea, allowing dozens of them to pop up over time.
These cafes eventually evolved to include gaming as a significant focus, and you can see them operate in various countries like Japan, South Korea, China, and India today. They now involve a gaming lounge or game hub, a large room accommodating several gamers simultaneously. These cafes also serve their patrons food and beverages while playing.
💡 The rise of smartphones also caused thousands of established cybercafes to shut down. Fortunately, the remaining internet cafe businesses adapted to these changes.
Instead of a space where people use computers and the internet for general activities, cybercafe owners began remodeling their establishments with a specific focus on online gaming.
Perks of Running a Gaming Cafe
Now that you clearly understand gaming cafes, you might wonder about their long-term benefits. After all, handling any business is not a simple walk in the park. What good does opening a gaming lounge do?
Revenue Generation
Of course, one of the perks of running a gaming lounge is that it’s a highly profitable business venture. With over 3 billion gamers around the globe, you won’t find it difficult to get customers wherever you may be.
Besides having customers who will pay for using computer and gaming equipment, you can also explore other sources of revenue such as serving food and drinks, selling official merchandise, organizing events, or offering equipment rentals.
Gamer Socialization
What makes an authentic gaming experience? Is it the number of hours you’ve played or the number of bosses you’ve slain? The answer may vary from one gamer to another, but one thing remains constant among all answers: the presence of a solid community.
The gaming world is nothing without its communities. How else can you play a battle without an opponent? Even if you’re not into competitive PvP games like Tekken, Fortnite, or Overwatch, how can you possibly conquer levels without watching and learning from another player’s walkthroughs and tips?
While game hubs or cybercafes are primarily businesses, this aspect doesn’t necessarily take away the fact that they serve as fantastic avenues for connecting and bringing the gaming community together, physically and virtually.
Promotion of a Culture
A game lounge is a perfect place to promote gaming culture. By opening your doors to gamers of any kind, you encourage them to play together and embrace their shared passion for the activity.
You can celebrate diverse aspects of the gaming culture in a gaming cafe. You can host events like panel discussions and workshops to allow your customers to learn and explore the diverse facets of the gaming world.
Building the Ultimate Gaming Empire
Learning about the perks may have pumped your gears and pushed you to learn more about launching your own gaming cafe with a bang. Well, we won’t leave you hanging! Here are some must-haves your gaming cafe must possess to become the ultimate gaming haven for any enthusiast.
Top-Quality Gaming Equipment
First and foremost, your lounge must have high-quality gaming equipment with impressive specs. Like you, your customers won't appreciate losing a game due to constant computer crashes.
When shopping for gaming equipment, ensure you buy computers with the following specifications:
Higher RAM (8GB is enough, but computers with 16GB+ specs perform with games better)
A high-quality gaming or video card
SSD or solid-state drive rather than HDD or hard disk drive (SSD performs faster)
A CPU or system cooling fan
Reliable Internet Access
Another factor you must never overlook is your cafe’s internet connection. After all, you can’t have your customers rage quitting because of the laggy internet. Experts recommend getting an internet service provider with 20 MBPS or higher connections. Besides higher bandwidths and faster loading speeds, choose a stable internet connection.
Bomb AF Menu
As mentioned, gaming lounges can also serve food and drinks to their patrons. Most gaming cafes serve typical feel-good comfort food like burgers, sodas, and even takoyaki. If you want a more unique approach, consider creating a menu based on your cafe’s theme.
Here are some suggestions to start with:
Cheese fries
Nachos, tacos, or burritos
Flavored chicken wings
Frappes
Milktea
Iced Coffee
Comfy Gamer Setup
Besides good food and stable internet for gaming, a gaming cafe’s setup must feel cozy and inviting. Your customer’s comfort level will affect their gaming experience and how well they play. Ensure you provide comfy gaming chairs or sofas to keep them nice and comfortable while enjoying their game.
Vibrant Gaming Neon Lights
Most importantly, you must ensure your gaming lounge gets enough lighting. Everyone needs to see what they're doing. But why stop at basic lighting if you can enhance your cafe with mood lighting? Enter LED neon signs!
A game room neon sign can effortlessly set the ideal atmosphere for your lounge. Consider hanging or mounting a gamer neon sign featuring known video game titles, characters, and even logos that can suit your cafe nicely.
Level Up With a Gaming Neon Sign & Other Neon Lights from Neonize!
Starting a gaming lounge can be challenging, but it's going to be a rewarding business venture! You'll meet a vast number of passionate and diverse gamers, and serving them will be one heck of a worthwhile experience. Hopefully, we've provided good advice on creating your very own gaming cafe. Good luck, and game on!
Are you looking for a durable, luxurious-looking, yet affordable neon light to brighten your cafe? Try Neonize!
Explore our collection of neon signs and lights with diverse designs, perfect for any setting: gaming lounges, room or house decor, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, business interiors, and more! You can also opt for personalized game room signs. Send in your preferred design, and we can neonize it for you. Turn your dream designs into vibrant neon signs today!
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