Getting into the groove of game centers

Susanna Tjokro, Contributor, Jakarta

Beware! Counterstrikers hit Jakarta!

No, we're not talking about Lara Croft or a gang of armed men wearing head coverings. They are only virtual figures that will disappear as soon as you disconnect the computer. Like it or not, the game center has become a phenomenal success in Jakarta, as it has in other countries.

Just look around, and you are likely to find at least one LAN (local area network) shop, a.k.a game center, somewhere near you. In the upmarket Pondok Indah area in South Jakarta alone, there are at least eight LAN shops.

You can find at least one game center in most big shopping centers in Jakarta. One of the biggest LAN shops is Next Game, snuggled inside Plaza Senayan. It has 76 computers to cater to the needs of gamers.

Most gamers know about Cyber Athlete Professional League (CPL) that hosts professional computer game tournaments with cash prizes of up to US$150,000 per game. Launched in the U.S. in 1997, CPL has held multiplayer tournaments at home, in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Australia and Brazil.

While some believe that visiting a game center is a waste of time, die-hard fans cannot be swayed from their passion. In numerous residential areas, parents seem to welcome this fad. They like the idea that they can easily find their kids in a nearby game center at any time. No need to buzz around the streets. No drugs, either. All they are doing is letting off steam with virtual rivals.

Some parents say that it's a positive way to spend pocket money. At least, if a child goes to LAN shops to have some fun, he won't think about drugs. The kid will spend his energy -- not to mention money -- and focus on the training to beat his cyber foes. Whether the child has any energy left to do his homework, well, that's another story.

Your kids -- or even you yourself -- may join the clans. A clan binds each member together. To create a clan, you need to gather at least five people. Strangers can build a clan, if they feel "connected" to each other somehow, regardless of their races, religion or wealth. Age is not an issue either -- as long as you're on the same level of achievement in the game with the rest of your team.

Andrew Leo, the youngest member of DJ clan, is just 15 years old, while the other members are college students. He joined a clan for the prestige and friendship.

Andrew spends no less than Rp 200,000 per month to indulge himself in the game centers and another Rp 100,000 to satisfy his thirst and hunger there. Though he uses up his pocket money at the LAN shops, he said he is happy.

"Every time I win, the satisfaction is overwhelming," he said.

Most people prefer multi-players to the single-player style. Thanks to the Internet, you can play against anyone around the world, from your home. You can even chat with them while you play.

So, if you can terminate your competitors from the comfort of home, why bother going to the LAN shops? The answer is simple: Because game players are humans too. They like meeting and getting to know each other in the real world. Interaction is the key word.

Indonesian game lovers have their own society. Just go to http://www.indogamer.com, click on forum, and then you can see various things that they discuss. Clan wars, the latest games and even gays are among the matters up for discussion.

The players have an invisible tie that binds them together. They understand the excitement, the thrill and the joy of playing games. They meet, talk and exchange secrets, tips and tricks. Then, gradually, they build up ties of familiarity, friendship -- and some people end up in a romantic relationship.

Even if the gamers stop playing regularly at the LAN shops, they will continue meeting other players or visiting the game centers occasionally, just to see how the game is developing and also to chat with the crowds.

Some of the grown-up players continue their passion for the games by creating game centers themselves. Most LAN shops' owners are game aficionados also. Usually, they understand the needs of the players. However, each person has her or his own taste in finding a fave place.

Some prefer "No Smoking places", some enjoy blasting music in the background, some like big screens, some enjoy the darkness (no light please) and so on. To cater to individual needs, each game center tries to offer something different.

It may be the 19-inch screen, separate nonsmoking and smoking areas, comic books (to kill the time while you're on the waiting list), attractive and friendly staff or completing its facilities with some pool tables! At Menara Club in Supermal Karawaci, Tangerang, if you get sore eyes from staring too long at the computers, you can enjoy its 39 pool tables. Hungry? Just walk to its food court.

Many girls are as good as boys, but nine out of 10 gamers are males. All-gal clans are rare. There aren't many female players and sometimes they mix with males, creating a unisex clan. Nana (she's the commander), Rui, Tashi, Dira, Iis, Teeya, Antie, Hilda and Shanti are nine cool members of G.F|L@dy. It is the female division of Guardian Force (GF) Clan.

Nana and her gang visit the game centers individually, on a daily basis. However, they gather together at least twice a week, to discuss lots of things regarding games and to practice their skills at the LAN shops. These young women would rather spend their money at game centers than buying funky clothes. And none of them can answer the question of when they will quit.

Some people are motivated to win a tournament for the prizes offered. According to players, the prize money usually starts at Rp 1 million, but Rp 40 million was the total amount being offered by Next Game and its sponsors in a competition held last Saturday. Two Australian clans were set to join the tourney.

Though the prize amounts are not nearly as high, small game centers still attract players. It's all about fighting for honor and recognition of their clan.