A Technological Reality: Public LAN Centers Offer Gaming Ventures

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Jake Dalhman in Clutch Gaming Arena LAN Center.

The countless worlds of imagination and fantasy are turning from just a dream, into a reality.

The influence of video games has continued to grow in popularity, surpassing the revenue of the music and movie industries by two-fold. Since the very first game was created and released, there has been a ready audience to delve in and enjoy the endless possibilities they have to offer.

This extends much further than just those who are playing, it includes the developers, business owners, and more. Although public areas for gaming, called LAN (Local Area Network) Centers, similar to sports bars, are still trying to take root in the social and economic system of today, there are few that have been able to find their way in.

The average LAN center will end up closing within the first year of opening. But that is not the fate of Clutch Gaming Arena.

For Jake Dahlman, one of four owners of Clutch Gaming Arena, running a LAN wasn’t just a business venture, for Jake it was something that he loved, something he previously devoted a significant ammount of time to.

Jake had gone, as he describes it, “semi-pro”, in Counter Strike 1.6. Most of his time was spent at local LAN centers, “I enjoyed them, I didn’t care if they were the dirtiest thing on the planet, I would go anyway”.

It was the start of Cable internet and LAN centers were the place that everyone could go.

“If I were to say why I did this, I would say to give everybody the opportunity and experience to enjoy that”, says Jake.

The good times and memories that playing video games together can create is just as memorable as any other activity. It is another world where players can do unimaginable things and push their characters beyond the limits of any human.

Clutch Gaming Arena is nowhere near the end of its lifespan either. The owners are planning to open and move into a new, much larger store in Downtown Denver. Equipped with food, bars, entertainment, rooming, and extreme affordability, customers will never want to leave.

Learn more about Clutch Gaming Arena here.

The Personal Level:

Although all games released attract attention from audiences, few games are able to grasp the hearts of gamers and create a notable foundation for themselves. Starcraft, DOTA 2, and League of Legends all have. They’ve taken root and are able to offer large tournaments with massive prize pools

DOTA 2 International tournament offered $10 million to the winning team. With a prize pool like this, gaming has become a profession.

For League of Legends, with a smaller but still significant prize pool of 2$ million, the players devote their lives to the game. Again this extends beyond just the players. Teams must hire coaches and analysts if they are looking to compete with the best in the world.

Although playing video games as a profession may seem like the perfect job, it takes a mental strain on the players.

Playing for 10 hours a day straight takes a toll, and with the constant worry that if they do not perform they could be kicked off the team in an instant, it isn’t all fun and games. Not only must these players live with the threat of being fired, but they must live with the constant berating of the Internet. Dealing with death threats and harassment makes i hard to stay focused.

For those looking for just a good time, video games has been a part of their entire lives.

Regis Jesuit High School senior, Evan Akhaven says “I have been playing video games since I was five, so my entire life I guess”.

They are something that we all have grown up with and will continue to play for the rest of our lives. Unlike most sports there is no age limit nor restriction on video games. All you need is the desire to play them.

For Regis Jesuit High School senior, Owen Honeycutt, video games are a way to connect with people and create friendships.

“One of the best experiences I’ve had was just being able to play video games with friends. We couldn’t stop laughing, we all had to take a break so we could calm down. We are able to have this type of connection without having to be face to face, it’s amazing”.

Video games are a way to get away from reality and experience something amazing and new.

When asked where he saw video games going in the future, Jake Dahlman replied “… Hopefully crazy technology […] I think that it’ll just be inspiration for everybody”.

 

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Audience for 2013 League of Legends World Championships.