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Over 300 videogame enthusiasts descended on RUaGamer, the Triangle’s premier interactive social gaming destination, during a grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 7 from 2-11 pm. The facility is fully functional and now open Sunday-Thursday, 12 pm – 12 am, with late night hours on Friday and Saturdays.
Kids, teens, and adults helping to kick the tires of RUaGamer’s 4,000-square-foot LAN gaming center got to try out the latest Xbox 360, Wii, and PC-based games such as HALO 3 ODST, AION, Borderlands, and Dragon Age for free during the event. The state-of-the-art facility is the largest of its kind in the area, boasting over 55 gaming stations; high-resolution 26” and 42” LCD displays; a performance area with 120” screen, stage trussing, and spotlights; and a large Wii area to fit small groups.
“There are about 400 LAN centers around the U.S., and they’re growing in size and popularity,” Jeff Torello, RUaGamer president, said. According to Torello, there are a handful of smaller-sized gaming centers scattered throughout the Triangle with an average of six-to-eight computers, “but they don’t have as many gaming stations or game choices, the multimedia gaming chairs, the room for MMORPG groups or the space to interact between games that we have.”
Torello said LAN gaming centers began to pop-up around the country about three or four years ago in the form of cafés with access to high-speed Internet connections and top-shelf hardware used for computer gaming. “People were playing videogames at home alone with and against other players, but wanted the social interaction of being in the same room with each other,” he said, adding, “It’s that in-person social element that the gaming industry is seeing now that is driving the development of places like RUaGamer, kind-of like how mall arcades were popular when I was a kid.”
Located off Buck Jones Road across from South Hills in the Crossroads area of Cary, RUaGamer has plenty of parking outside its front door next to Kabuki, with a capacity for over 200 people inside. The facility has a Wi-Fi enabled break room/lounge area for parents or friends of gamers who need to stay connected to the outside world; comfortable chairs and mini-lounges throughout; and popular energy and soft drinks for sale in addition to snacks.
“We’ve got room to expand the center beyond its current capacity based on demand,” Torello added.
At the grand opening event, visitors were treated to plenty of giveaways from Steelseries and Dell.
Pricing to experience RUaGamer’s range from $6-$8/hour, with price breaks for three-hour and all-day passes. Online buzz about RUaGamer is driving the organization of on-site tournaments and all-night LAN parties, information about which will be posted on RUaGamer.net in the coming weeks.
Fully insured and located in a highly visible location, the RUaGamer facility provides a safe, supervised social environment for children and adults. Visitors under the age of 14 are welcome with a parent or guardian who, if not playing, is admitted free. All visitors to RUaGamer must check in at the front desk, which is manned by an adult facility manager.
For more information, visit the website or call 919-238-9714.
About RUaGamer
Cary-based RUaGamer (ruagamer.net) is the premier interactive social destination for gamers of all ages. Operating the only state-of-the-art, high-end videogaming facility in the Triangle, RUaGamer gives friends, families, and serious gamers a fun and exciting place to meet and play the hottest Wii, Xbox 360, and PC games together in a welcoming social atmosphere with soft drinks, snacks, and other amenities.
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