Sixteen 19-inch flat screen monitors. 1.5 Megs per second. A 92-inch large screen projection TV. And a dozen or more gamers engrossed in RTS MMORPGs and racking up XP. (That’s a bunch of computer game aficionados absorbed in playing Real-Time Strategy, Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games and racking up Experience Points.)

GrandLAN Gaming Center in the Keeler Building at 56 North Division opened its doors on September 1, 2006 after a friend of owner Erik Bauer came up with an idea for a party.

"Joshua Coons had an idea of a one-time computer gaming party," Bauer said. "We never had the party, but we found the space to do the party full time."

That space was a 4,000-square-foot former coffee shop and video café that stood vacant for nearly a decade. After traveling to Phoenix and Detroit to research how similar ventures did business, Bauer invested about $30,000 in computers and renovations and opened GrandLAN.

Thanks to the T1 microwave transmitter/receiver mounted on the roof, gamers can play opponents on the Internet at incredibly faster speeds than they can using a typical home-based connection. But the real fun happens when they play in-store opponents.

"It’s at least 100 times faster than going out on the Internet due to our Gigabit switch," Bauer said. "It’s Real Time internally; they don’t have any lag or any slowdown at all."

The store is equipped to handle 32 wired computers; 16 of those are already on-site. Customers can bring in their own laptops, plug in, and play. Even more gamers can be accommodated using the store’s Wi-Fi connection.

One observation Bauer had after visiting the other two LAN stores was that "after just an hour of sitting, my backside was sore." That's why he invested in comfortable chairs that tilt, roll, and are height adjustable.

For players who enjoy console games, the 92-inch projection screen ramps up the excitement of Nintendo Wii. Additionally, two pads for Dance Dance Revolution allow for one-on-one competition. And the store can be rented for parties and overnight lock-ins.

Customers buy time on an account—$20 a day or $4 an hour. They can use the time all in one visit or spread it over several visits.

A Super Smash Brothers Tournament is planned for February 10 and 11. Interested players can visit the web site for more information or to sign up.

Source: Erik Bauer, GrandLAN Gaming Center

www.grandlan.info