My Uni dissertation needs you!

[dale_vplay]

Hello,
I don't mean to spam but I'm doing a study for uni that involves the gaming industry and the service that it offers (for fails to offer consumers) and I really need your help!

One area im interested in is the how the games are played and the experience you get.

If you wouldn't mind answering these quick questions I will be able to get a feel for what the consumer really wants.

If I may:

Suppose there was a gaming arena in your local city, like a larger full-service gaming cafe that offered console and computer gaming at it's heart. Imagine that this gaming arena had the fun, atmosphere and service you would expect to find in places like casinos and the hospitality of airline first class lounges, would this be:

a place you would want to go to play games alone or with friends (both offline and online)?

a place you would go with friends as an alternative to the cinema or just hanging out on the street?


If this place turned the industry on its head by charging a small membership fee (like half the price of a new game) per month for unlimited access to the best old and latest games and the start of the art technology required to play them in all their glory - in the fun community focused environment mentioned above. With no more per minute, per hour or per day fees - would you:

want to become a member? (and stop HAVING to buy games when you just want to PLAY them)

or would this sound like hard work and you would prefer to spend the extra on games to play them in the sanctuary of your own home?


If this arena also offered regular tournaments and events (with big name involvement) and prizes, would you:

Want to get involved? Helping to organise and run them?

Want to play or spectate at the tournaments and events?

Would you expect this to be offered as part of a membership for free or just get a really nice discount for your loyalty as a member and enter or spectate for a very small price?


And finally do you think the world would be ready for this kind of mainstream accessibility? or are us gamers doomed to stay alone in our bedrooms and lounges for all time?

If anyone would like to reply with their opinions and if you want to share what you like and hate about gaming cafe's and gaming centers that are already out there feel free.
If you prefer to be anonymous please feel free to email me at: dale_vplay@yahoo.co.uk or PM me.

Thanks a lot guys and gals!

Dale

[fanpages]

Hi Dale,

Welcome to 1upGamers.com.

I have seen you post this request on at least one other site, and you had a much better reaction there than you have here so far, so I'll get the replies off to a start (but maybe not the start you had hoped for).

I am not familiar with casinos & the hospitality of airline first class lounges, but I am not interested in visiting "gaming centres" (UK English spelling) or “cafés” (without an apostrophe) or similar establishments to play home video console-based titles. I will visit arcades (such as those attached to Bowling Alleys) to play on arcade machines, but I like buying my own video games & retaining them in a collection (that now stretches back 33 years). I also like playing these games when I choose to, not during the opening hours of a venue I need to travel to. I am also not keen to share my time with hoards of other people in close proximity with the pressure that there is always somebody who wants “a go” on what I am playing. For an experience such as this I would go to a video games convention or exhibition.

Some mature gamers (OK, those of more advanced years) do not "hang out" in the street or look for alternatives to the cinema because we have our own homes & prefer to stay there after spending all day at work. We may also value playing video games with our families at home. Those on a budget may find it too costly to transport a few kids & a couple of adults across town just to play the same game that can be played at home. Friends can be invited around anyway, if that is desired. Also, some of us spend our free time with our families engaged in other activities, & then have the video games console(s) to ourselves when they have retired for the evening.

I certainly wouldn't wish to organise an event that you described as I would sooner be playing games (or writing about them) than watching over a group of people battling against each other in a tournament or event. I can play in similar competitions online from the comfort of my own home, if I wish to.

If you are planning to take into account the entire spectrum of video games players I would advise looking again at your target audience for your questionnaire & possibly even changing the viewpoint of your dissertation to consider not just a teenage or young adult population.

Hopefully some of the points I have raised may influence the replies of some of our members here at 1upGamers.com.

BFN,

fp.

[dale_vplay]

Thank you for your post. It is a refreshing perspective.

Yes i've posted it on a few forums around the globe to try and get a wholesome gamer opinion lol

[pgoroncy]

I agree with fp, I much prefer my own gaming set up at home than I would any place I could go and have to pay to play. Also as far as having to buy a game to play it that is why I have a gamefly account.