LAN Gaming centers

Today I answered a question I've had for awhile. Why are LAN Gaming centers successful? When you look at it, a place with consoles and nice PCs for people to "rent" for a few hours to play their favorite games, it seems like an ok idea- but people make money doing this.

I think the core of gaming centers is the community. Are you a gamer? If you are, I bet you've either heard of or are actively a part of a gaming community. Even though some of the people who come to gaming centers have nice computers, they still come to the center week after week. It's the environment they seek, the comeraderie they receive with fellow gamers. They can join a team with someone sitting next to them.

While teamspeak, and ventrillo somewhat stifle the need for gamers to be in actual proximity to each other, there's just something to be said for reaching over and pounding the guy next to you for no-scoping you when you're about to get the last CAP.