Setting the scene
Many gamers out there, slogging away at traditional jobs, often find themselves daydreaming: What if I could turn my love for gaming into a career?
The thought usually goes something like this: “I like games, so imagine how much fun it’d be to earn while playing!” Then reality hits. Beyond a lucky few—professional esports players and influencers—it’s tough to make money simply by playing games. But that doesn’t stop gamers from fantasizing about working in the industry, being surrounded by like-minded people, and building a life around their passion.
And why not? The gaming industry is massive—far bigger than film and music combined. Jobs aren’t exactly scarce, but for many gamers, nothing beats the idea of running a gaming hub: a space filled with top-tier rigs, LED lights glowing like a scene out of a sci-fi movie, the buzz of mechanical keyboards, the laughter and shouts from a killer play, and maybe a slice of pizza or a cold beer on the side.
At Play New Meta, we hear it all the time: “Why did you start a gaming hub?” or “Is it worth it?” And, of course, the classic: “Don’t you just sit and play games all day?” This is the first blog in a series where we’ll pull back the curtain and share an honest take on what it’s like to launch and run a gaming venue. Expect a mix of personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and a few missteps along the way—because, let’s be honest, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing.
The (Not So) Grand Opening
Play New Meta opened its doors on August 26, 2022. It’s a date burned into memory, partly because of how much effort went into hyping it up. With a whopping 700 Instagram followers and dreams of a packed house, five staff members were ready to handle what was surely going to be a massive crowd.
And… it wasn’t. On day one, there were more staff than customers.
To say it was devastating would be an understatement. Months of hard work, late nights, and financial investment had led up to this day. So, where was everyone? Was the location wrong? Did people not know about us? Ads had been run, exclusive membership cards sent out, discounts offered—what more could have been done?
Oh, and here’s the kicker: the grand opening happened on a weekday during the summer holidays, when students (and pretty much everyone else) were away or soaking up the sun somewhere.
Looking back, it seems obvious. For a new business without an established name, the first days are almost always going to be slow. But when you’re in the thick of it, with bills to pay and a dream on the line, it’s easy to spiral into self-doubt.
That said, even those early weeks had their wins. One standout memory is of a customer—shoutout to TK—who came every single day for two weeks straight, staying from open to close. Moments like that kept the team going.
Finding Our Footing
As slow as the start was, things did eventually pick up. Word of mouth began to spread, and the team got into a rhythm, learning what worked and what didn’t. A lot of effort went into experimenting: running ads, handing out flyers, organizing events, and blasting social media posts. Not all of it worked (flyers, for example, weren’t exactly game-changing), but some strategies did. We’ll dive into those specifics in a future post.
One of the most valuable lessons early on was the importance of listening to customers. Running a physical venue means talking to people face-to-face every day. At first, the conversations were just polite exchanges, but soon they became a goldmine of insights. Who were our regulars? What games were they excited about? What did they love—and what wasn’t clicking?
Even though this might sound like Marketing 101, it’s not always second nature when you’re just trying to keep your business afloat. Learning to tune in and adapt based on feedback became a game-changer for us.
What We Learned (So Far)
The early days of running Play New Meta taught some hard lessons:
- Expect a Slow Start: Unless you’re launching with a huge brand name, it’s going to take time to build momentum. And that’s okay.
- Timing Matters: Hosting a grand opening on a weekday in the middle of summer holidays? Let’s just call that a rookie mistake.
- Customer Feedback Is Gold: Your customers are your best source of insight. Talk to them, listen to them, and use what you learn to make things better.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Whether it’s a loyal customer like TK or a bump in social media engagement, every step forward is worth recognizing.
Looking Ahead
This blog is just the beginning. Over the next few posts, we’ll dive deeper into what it was like to launch and run Play New Meta hub. From the growing pains of the first year to the strategies that worked (and the ones that flopped), it’ll be a no-holds-barred look at the journey so far.
For anyone out there dreaming of starting their own gaming venue, there’s a lot to share—both the good and the not-so-good. Hopefully, our experiences will offer some inspiration, practical advice, or at least a few laughs along the way.
And if you’re serious about becoming a gaming entrepreneur, we’d love to work with you. Check out our franchise page to learn how we can team up.
