If you intend to have a cooler life than John Larson, then you've got a lot to live up to. Photos by Albert Stichka.

By Jaymie Baxley

Photos by Albert Stichka

In 1972 a team of mullet sporting introverts courageously rose from the cavernous depths of their mothers basements and introduced America to the world’s very first commercially successful video game. Those introverts called themselves “Atari” and the game was a paddle ball simulator named “Pong.” “Pong” was originally designed to be played by two people so, in a sense, the medium was always intended to be experienced by groups.

Unfortunately, people didn’t have friends in the 70s  …

Today video games are a relevant and highly profitable form of entertainment and the population has ballooned in such a way that every person is capable of having not just one, but multiple friends (except this guy). While traveling in California, Elite Zone owner John Larson discovered a packed Lan gaming center and had this epiphany: as much as young men enjoy playing with themselves, they would much prefer to play with others.

“My generation has grown up with video games and the industry has evolved so much,” Larson said. “I think of Elite Zone as a modern arcade. The reason we’re an 18 and older establishment is because I didn’t feel that there was a sufficient outlet for adult gamers to gather in Fayetteville. I definitely think video games have become a very valid form of entertainment for adults.”

Elite Zone, located at 5439 Yadkin Road, opened its tinted doors last March.

“We got off to a slow start, it took people a while to come around to see what we’re doing here but once they did, we really took off ,” said Larson, who goes on to assert that gamers are a highly sociable people and since opening his store has gained a loyal base of regular customers.

Try not to let your drool fry the merch'. Photos by Albert Stichka.

“This is mutual place where you can hang out and meet with people who like the games that you like,” said Elite Zone regular, Clarence Faison Jr. “It’s very affordable, in this economy that’s important.”

$3 will secure you an hour of playtime and $10 will allow you to play from midnight until noon on Friday and Saturday nights. All new customers get a complimentary trial.

In addition to reasonable prices, EliteZone offers several unique amenities for providing a fun and imersive experience for guests. The store features eight top of the line gaming PCs and 28 Xbox 360 consoles connected to high definition televisions that range in size from “Big” to “Optimus Prime.”

High-end headsets are plugged into each system and a vast assortment of games are sit at the ready, including new titles.

“We listen to what games our customers are asking for and we like to talk to them about what new games are coming out.” said Larson. At Elite Zone, a group of friends can collaborate on the same title through multiple screens, an individual can compete with someone across the continent over the Internet without being saddled with a monthly service fee or a loner can spark up a friendship with a stranger at the opposite end of the room. If you work up an appetite murdering pixels Elite Zone has a snack bar, which is the only place in town you’ll encounter Bawls Energy Drink and Gamer Grub.

“Some friends out in California told us about Bawls energy drink, so we took it upon ourselves to find a distributor in North Carolina but the closest one was in South Carolina. We contacted Bawls and bought a couple of pallets of the drink,” said Larson. “Gamer Grub is a brand new product. It’s a snack food that’s geared towards gamers that’s not greasy and it has vitamins and nutrients that allegedly help you play better.”

Larson plans to add more machines in the near future.

“This is like a second home for me.” said Dustin Hunt, another Elite Zone patron. “You can come in a meet new friends.”

Elite Zone (5439 Yadkin Road ) is open from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. from Mon. - Thur. and 24 hours through the weekend. They will be hosting a special Madden Tournament on Sunday, January 31st. For more general information, visit Elite Zone’s Myspace: www.myspace.com/elite_zone or call (910) 826-3661.

Special thanks to Thomas Stanley for his assistance with this story.