Is setting up a LAN cafe worthwhile?

[Freddie]

ello, im from aberdeen and we dont have a lan cafe here, im pretty sure it would go down well.....im aware that the pc's and there assoicated costs would be quite high. I was wondering is it more a labour of love or a good way to make lots of money AND frag all day?

answers on a postcard ppl
Cheers

Freddie

[Dead_One]

Well, once you take into consideration the 25-30k for pcs, the 20-30k for set up costs, the inet connection, the server licences, the licence fees for each game...
it can be quite expensive.

Quake 3 is approx 50k for a licence to use it commercially last time i checked

[Craig]

blooming eck, that's expensive

[Freddie]

ok that seams like a massive outlay if you planning on having at least 10 different games......how much do lans charge per hour?

[Dead_One]

depends on how close the nearest competitor is.
we charge 1.50 per hour when we decide to open
£5 for 4 hours, £10 for 8.
still not easy to make a profit.

of course if you don't licence everything then you can set up a cafe for about £400 a pc, and 3-400 a month for rent.
then it is just time

[no1_pc_doctor]

YOu have a lan Cafe .... Where? An why didint i know about it ? ;)

[Dead_One]

Mainly cos we only open when i feel like it
it is where the lanparties are

[no1_pc_doctor]

ah ok shows u how much i know o think ive been in ayr about 3 times in my whole life and i dont live that far away .... will needa get some direction to the cafe and also to the shop so i can come and have a look / chat

[eXistenZ]

Originally posted by Dead_One:
<STRONG>Well, once you take into consideration the 25-30k for pcs, the 20-30k for set up costs, the inet connection, the server licences, the licence fees for each game...
it can be quite expensive.

Quake 3 is approx 50k for a licence to use it commercially last time i checked</STRONG>

Seems a liitle OTT to me - £25-30k for PCS - seeing as u could build a high end machine for £1k..... thats a big lan cafe with 30 pcs!

Is Q3A really £50K for a commercial liscence?!? how can they charge that much money!! surely they should charge a small amount cos then people play it, think its good and buy it for at home.... so what do u get for your £50k?? just a bit ofpaper and 30 cds?? do you have to have one to use the game in a lan cafe or can u just buy however many copies of the game and install one on each machine??

[Dead_One]

The terms of the licence with the game forbid use for comercial purposes.
Therefore, if you don't get a licence from them, you are taking money using unlicenced software, which can get you big fines/ prison etc...

it isn't a big cafe with 30 pcs, imagine if you are running a cvafe with 8 pcs, charging £1.50 per hour each.
Even if you are full all the time, which won't happen, you make £12 per hour.
Take off you wages, say £5 per hour, rent, electricity, internet access cost, rates, downtime on pcs, etc.....
You ain't making any money
You need 25-30 pcs busy at least 1/2 the time to make it owrthwhile as a full time business.