A PLAY N TRADE GAMING CRAZE
A Gaming Craze
By Debra Mayeux The Daily Times
Article Launched: 12/24/2006 04:37:01 PM MST
FARMINGTON, NM — A Farmington doctor spends his weekends at the video game store. Not because he is gamer, but because he owns the newly opened Play N Trade, 4917 E. Main St., Suite B, Farmington, NM.
Daniel Chang, who brings new gamers into the world as an obstetrician, was searching for an investment opportunity when he discovered Play N Trade, a game store franchise based in Newport Beach, Calif.
The company recently was "ranked #49 in the Top New Franchises of 2007'" by Entrepreneur Magazine, according to a press release from Play N Trade.
Trent Barber, a representative of the franchise, said it is one of the fastest growing franchises in the country with 120 rights sold as of Dec. 21. Chang made the investment and opened his doors just before the Christmas gaming craze began. He wanted to open in time for the November releases of Sony's Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. Both systems are considered hot gift items, making them extremely difficult to find.
"The video game industry is exploding," Chang said.
The gaming industry started in the 1980s, when computer game systems were introduced into arcades. They quickly took the place of pinball machines, as players enjoyed feeding quarters into a slot to battle space invaders, play ping-pong on screen and eat colorful dots while being chased by ghosts as Pac-Man.
In the late 80s Atari introduced the home-based gaming system, calling it a console. The system could be hooked up to a television and two players used joy sticks to battle their way through adventures. It took a little more than 20 years for the business of gaming to develop into a multi-billion dollar industry with faster, high-tech systems bordering on virtual reality.
And the stories got better as the technology increased.
"Video games are interactive storytelling. They are dependent on the actions of the player," said James Brittain, manager of Play N Trade.
Brittain moved from California to Farmington to manage the new store. He came with an art education and a background in gaming — something Chang knew was a must after researching the local video game store offerings.
Chang said he researched by going to "big box stores" and talking with the sales staff about their products. What he found were people who didn't understand the technology or didn't want to assist him. With this information, he decided to find employees with knowledge of the industry.
He brought on Brittain, a former video game designer and other employees, like Ari Davalos, who live for gaming.
"The only thing that would make me happier than working here is making games," Davalos said, adding he plays video games an average of eight hours a day when he is not working.
Davalos is quick to offer advice on systems and games that are age-appropriate for the buyer.
Chang said that is what Play N Trade is all about — offering a product and a knowledgeable sales staff. He also has a desire to market to women.
With a 9-year-old daughter, Chang said he knows that girls and women like video games.
"We'd like to be geared toward women too," he said, adding the store will eventually increase its product line to include "gamer gear" and action figures.
"Gamer gear" makes up items like storage cases for games, items to decorate game systems and t-shirts with video game icons. Action figures would include those characters made famous by video games.
"We have the flexibility to order what we want," Chang said, adding there also is flexibility with the amount of money or store credit offered to people trading in games or systems.
"If somebody brings in a stack of games, we might up (the credit) 10 percent," Brittain said, adding all of the used games sold at the store are guaranteed.
In addition to the store's offerings, Play N Trade offers an interactive Web site with video game news and message boards.
"It offers a gaming culture that people can be a part of," Barber said.
Play N Trade is open Monday through Sunday in its location next to Cold Stone Creamery. For more information, call (505) 217-2150 or go online to www.pntgame.com.
Debra Mayeux: dmayeux@daily-times.com
By Debra Mayeux The Daily Times
Article Launched: 12/24/2006 04:37:01 PM MST
FARMINGTON, NM — A Farmington doctor spends his weekends at the video game store. Not because he is gamer, but because he owns the newly opened Play N Trade, 4917 E. Main St., Suite B, Farmington, NM.
Daniel Chang, who brings new gamers into the world as an obstetrician, was searching for an investment opportunity when he discovered Play N Trade, a game store franchise based in Newport Beach, Calif.
The company recently was "ranked #49 in the Top New Franchises of 2007'" by Entrepreneur Magazine, according to a press release from Play N Trade.
Trent Barber, a representative of the franchise, said it is one of the fastest growing franchises in the country with 120 rights sold as of Dec. 21. Chang made the investment and opened his doors just before the Christmas gaming craze began. He wanted to open in time for the November releases of Sony's Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. Both systems are considered hot gift items, making them extremely difficult to find.
"The video game industry is exploding," Chang said.
The gaming industry started in the 1980s, when computer game systems were introduced into arcades. They quickly took the place of pinball machines, as players enjoyed feeding quarters into a slot to battle space invaders, play ping-pong on screen and eat colorful dots while being chased by ghosts as Pac-Man.
In the late 80s Atari introduced the home-based gaming system, calling it a console. The system could be hooked up to a television and two players used joy sticks to battle their way through adventures. It took a little more than 20 years for the business of gaming to develop into a multi-billion dollar industry with faster, high-tech systems bordering on virtual reality.
And the stories got better as the technology increased.
"Video games are interactive storytelling. They are dependent on the actions of the player," said James Brittain, manager of Play N Trade.
Brittain moved from California to Farmington to manage the new store. He came with an art education and a background in gaming — something Chang knew was a must after researching the local video game store offerings.
Chang said he researched by going to "big box stores" and talking with the sales staff about their products. What he found were people who didn't understand the technology or didn't want to assist him. With this information, he decided to find employees with knowledge of the industry.
He brought on Brittain, a former video game designer and other employees, like Ari Davalos, who live for gaming.
"The only thing that would make me happier than working here is making games," Davalos said, adding he plays video games an average of eight hours a day when he is not working.
Davalos is quick to offer advice on systems and games that are age-appropriate for the buyer.
Chang said that is what Play N Trade is all about — offering a product and a knowledgeable sales staff. He also has a desire to market to women.
With a 9-year-old daughter, Chang said he knows that girls and women like video games.
"We'd like to be geared toward women too," he said, adding the store will eventually increase its product line to include "gamer gear" and action figures.
"Gamer gear" makes up items like storage cases for games, items to decorate game systems and t-shirts with video game icons. Action figures would include those characters made famous by video games.
"We have the flexibility to order what we want," Chang said, adding there also is flexibility with the amount of money or store credit offered to people trading in games or systems.
"If somebody brings in a stack of games, we might up (the credit) 10 percent," Brittain said, adding all of the used games sold at the store are guaranteed.
In addition to the store's offerings, Play N Trade offers an interactive Web site with video game news and message boards.
"It offers a gaming culture that people can be a part of," Barber said.
Play N Trade is open Monday through Sunday in its location next to Cold Stone Creamery. For more information, call (505) 217-2150 or go online to www.pntgame.com.
Debra Mayeux: dmayeux@daily-times.com
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