New LAN centre in central London

[DaGaffer]

Don't know how many of you care about this kind of thing any more but I was in London earlier today and I noticed the HMV in Piccadilly (the one in the Trocadero) now has a shiny new games centre/LAN attached, called Gamerbase. Since there hasn't been one of these in central London for years (since the Playing Fields I think), I thought you might be interested. I looked quite good actually, lot of seats, good range of games and decent kit (although those Dell XPS 730s are fucking HUGE!). Anyway, err, that is all.

 

[Deebs]

Ah The Playing Fields, brings back many fond memories. RIP.

About time London got another similar sort of venue. Let's hope it does well and grows beyond one store.

 

[Mabs]

whatever happened to the Playing Fields ?

 

[Ch3tan]

It closed down. I remember going there for a beer session with the HAI peeps, they stayed open just for us. Nice people.

 

[DaGaffer]

whatever happened to the Playing Fields ?

I nearly bought it when I worked at GAME. Books sucked though (not surprisingly).

 

[Mey]

I looked quite good actually,

Vain bastard

 

[Chilly]

I played there once with the WHO clan - of QW and CS beta fame. Loved that dingey cave - was quality. Real shame it shut down. I suppose a combination of easily affordable LPB connections and good gfx cards put it out of business.

 

[DaGaffer]

I played there once with the WHO clan - of QW and CS beta fame. Loved that dingey cave - was quality. Real shame it shut down. I suppose a combination of easily affordable LPB connections and good gfx cards put it out of business.

Actually the LAN part of it (and the bar) made money; they went bust because they tried to get into a whole bunch of other areas like web development. I think there's still a business in LANs because people do actually like playing together now and then (plus there's all the corporate side as well, game launches, PR etc.). Biggest problem doing it in the UK is property prices; the idea only really works if you're in a busy area, but they tend to attract really high property prices; catch-22.

 

[Jimmy]

gamerbase should do well it is run by 2 people i know, Dom mulroy and sujoy roy im sure one of those names rings a bell. its also part of the IGUK which runs national tornaments for lan centres like gamerbase and my self.

 

[Ono]

Playing Fields was great. Went several times with my brothers - but doubt I would go to LAN jobbies now for reasons mentioned above.

 

[Deebs]

Sujoy is the name that rings a bell jimmy. Him and Cenobite were the kings of QW, Sujoy went on to do more.

 

[Jimmy]

aye deebs sujoy went on to open up a couple of centers with dom and also runs the iguk website there is also a super centre in burm that was set up by him last year.

on the lan centre front there is a lot to get from them iv worked in this one for 3 years its great fun the atmosphere in there on a night time is brill 10-15 people all playing one game on lan is great fun.

we also get used by bussiness for faxing printing and anything else email the lot.

anything you want to know about lan centres feel free to ask its the one topic i can talk hours about

 

[gremlin]

Another TPF fan here. Fab place to nip into after work and chill with your BOGOF beer during happy hour