Geeks Night Out to bring fun and games, entrepreneurs, tech industry together in Tempe
Posted at 02/16/2012
Push up your glasses and pop in your retainer, it's about to get geeky up in here.
Geeks Night Out: The Science of Fun, a celebration of science, technology and the people who make it all happen, is coming to downtown Tempe on Thursday, February 16.
It may seem as if the geeks are taking over, but they've actually been dominating the scene for quite some time. In fact, 20 percent of the jobs in Tempe are tech-related.
Geeks Night Out is all about bringing local businesses together and inviting everyone to let their inner nerd run wild.
There are two sides to the event: the is the fun and light-hearted side, which includes a costume contest, live music, ghost tours and plenty of video games; and there is the business and networking side, which includes a job fair, success panel and rapid pitch.
A free event for the whole family, Geeks Night Out is as much an opportunity to network as it is a place to have a good time.
Tempe's Geeks Night Out is part of the Arizona SciTech Festival, which celebrates everything science and technology related just in time for the centennial celebrations.
Jeremy Babendure, director of the Arizona SciTech Festival, said it's a statewide celebration for our society and culture, with over 250 events happening until March 15.
The SciTech Festival, a seven week festival that takes place all across Arizona, ignited a fire in Tempe that made for a one of a kind event.
"The concept of Geeks Night Out was something that was championed by the City of Tempe," said Babendure.
Babendure reached out to Tempe, offering them a platform that they quickly filled out themselves.
"Science and technology is an industry that drives Tempe," said Babendure. "It's important for people to realize what is driving our economy."
Babendure said the idea behind the festival is not only to get our future generations interested in Arizona as a huge leader in science, but to change Arizona's identity in general.
"It helps to develop local awareness and, eventually, an international brand for our community as innovators in technology," he said. "[Maybe] people can start viewing us more as leaders in technology than what Governor Brewer does on the tarmac with President Obama."
Tempe Councilmember Onnie Shekerjian, who chairs the council committee for technology, said Tempe is a unique city because of the highly educated population coming out of ASU and surrounding universities.
"For people over 25 years old, about 40 percent of those people in Tempe have a bachelor's degree or above," said Shekerjian. "The national average [for that age group] is 24 percent."
Shekerjian said Tempe has a lot of tech companies starting there and relocating there, which adds to the personality of the city.
She also said Tempe is a location to have fun, which is why there is such a variety of different "geekness."
"Being a geek is not being uncool," she said. "Everyone has their area of geekness."
Looking at Tempe as a whole, Shekerjian said it is an eclectic city that is very rich in culture for being able to strike out beyond your own. Case in point, the small businesses involved in Geeks Night Out.
Local Businesses Shine
For a lighthearted (or perhaps intense) time, visitors can take part in a good old fashion trivia game. Pop Culture Paradise is hosting the competition, and the topic is the endless battle of Star Trek vs. Star Wars. Prizes will be awarded to the man or woman who knows their intergalactic facts.
If the individuals would rather wear their geeky passions for the public to admire, there is also a Phoenix Comicon costume contest where prizes and trophies will be awarded to the best Sci-Fi outfit.
Youngsters and game enthusiasts can also indulge their video gaming thirsts in giant mobile video game theater provided by GameTruck, another example of a Tempe-based business that has expanded all over the country.
GameTruck started in Tempe in 2006 and was founded by ASU alumni Scott Novis. Novis built a prototype in his garage after being inspired by his son's fourth birthday.
Now there are 55 GameTruck franchises across the country, hitting birthday parties, work events and schools.
Chief Operating Officer David Wachtel said seeing a GameTruck is all it takes to get hooked.
"With our business, you have to see and feel it to get it; you have to witness it yourself," Wachtel said.
"It's a different world from the one I grew up in, going to the arcades," Wachtel said. "It's pretty incredible."
Having their business in Tempe has also allowed them to connect with other small businesses such as Evil Controllers.
"Tempe offers a closer community feel," said Wachtel, who sees Geeks Night Out as a great opportunity for businesses to network.
GameTruck is teaming up with Evil Controllers to create a unique product line of controllers for both the mass market and individuals with disabilities.
Young Entrepreneurs
Adam Coe is the CEO of Evil Controllers, a Tempe based company that customizes gaming controllers and even allows gamers to build their own creations.
Evil controllers will be showcasing their products inside a theater at Madcap where visitors can test out a new way of asserting their dominance on Call of Duty or Gears of War.
Coe is also on the Geeks Night Out success panel. A young entrepreneur, Coe was just a freshman college student with a good idea. An avid gamer, as many students are, Coe went home for spring break and decided to relocate some buttons on his Xbox controller in order to up his Halo game.
Click here to read more.
GameTruck Reviewed
Posted at 01/12/2012
Truck full of games? Yeah, they’re real!
When I was a kid I had two consistent fantasies growing up. One was; acquire superpowers and perhaps becoming a less lame version of El Dorado. Two; living in a truck full of videogames. As time passed, it became painfully clear that was I not going to be a member of the Superfriends but, I still held out hope for my truck full of games.
Last week, Harold Goldberg (gaming journalism Jedi Master and author of All Your Bases Are Belong to Us) invited me to check out a GameTruck that was being sent to New York City to be evaluated by us. GameTruck is a franchise that essential sends you a mobile gaming center in the form of a 50 foot trailer that’s decked out with videogames and big screens. From what I’m told this is a big hit for children’s parties and occasionally the nerdy corporate gig. It just so happened that NYC was hit with tropical storm like rain and winds that could lift a cow, but that was not stopping me. I was determined to see this damn truck, I had to. I would fight through waves of knife-wielding banditos in order to see a dream come true. Sadly, the worst thing that happened to me was stepping in an ankle deep puddle and almost losing my hat to the wind.
I have to admit, I was skeptical at first. I was half-expecting a janky converted minivan with a couple of screens of Madden 12 being played; fortunately the monster that pulled up proved the contrary. An enormous trailer pulls up covered in crazy green decals after debating where to put the damn thing, the GameTruck gave us refuge from the storm.
Inside we were treated to a truly state of the art set-up. Neon green and red track lighting illuminated the inside of the surprising spacious trailer. I counted five HDTVs each hooked up with a Wii and Xbox 360. In one nook of the truck you had your Kinect station where you would be able to play motion games or wanted to get a session of Guitar Hero without hitting someone with plastic instrument or errant elbow. The coolest feature of the Game Truck is that the side panels can pop off and two TVs magically rise from behind the couch so games can be played from outside the truck. So far, I was impressed with a lot of design decisions mostly because that there is plenty of room for parties to walk around
Once we were able to soak everything in, we decided that some games needed to be played in order to properly evaluate the Game Truck. We walked over to the game wall and tried out NHL 12. We plopped down on the leather couch and had a couple of intense matches where I proved to be the victor. I was inside my dream, I could not be stopped.
My biggest concern is how the games would sound once you have a ton of kids screaming and hollering drown out the game noise. I guess, it’s a small sacrifice for the convenience of having a game party you don’t have to set up yourself.
You could easily cram about twenty or so screaming kids who are provided with plenty of options as far games are concerned. Since the GT is marketing as a kid friendly endeavor, parents can choose which games their younglings could be exposed to by simply going to the gamewall and removing the games they feel aren’t suitable for their party and the kids are none the wiser. Each GameTruck comes with a Game Coach to explain the basics to the non-gamers in the groups and takes care of all the set up pre and post game party. It was explained to us that Game Coaches pretty make sure that everyone gets to play and nothing craps out.
As I was playing, the Game Coach explained to us that the most popular games usually are Super Smash Brothers and pretty much any other fighting game. Each Game Truck comes with its own network setup so intense 8 on 8 Call of Duty or Halo LAN matches usual end up happening at some point during a party.
Normally, GameTrucks don’t make it out NYC but they are looking for a franchisee to take the risk. From what I heard from Kenneth, the owner of this particular truck, GameTrucks are huge in the suburbs and are a great end cap for a kid’s birthday party and build great word of mouth buzz. A NYC Game Truck would have a problem with just finding places to park. We had to set ours near a playground nearly blocking traffic. Prices vary depending on how many people are gaming, and how far the truck has to go but, completely reasonable for the most part.
All in all, my game truck experience was glowingly positive. It managed to match up with my ridiculous man-child fantasy and I think premise of a rolling LAN party is pretty ambitious. From a party goer stand point, you have a lot of game choices and unless you have like fifty people wanting to play at the same time, there’s something for everyone with little wait time. To be honest, I didn’t want to leave the truck once were settled in. Maybe it was the storm, but I really did not want to leave. I can only imagine a pack of kids feeling the same way once their time is up. That’s what they in the end, kids begging their parents for an extra hour. Cue the “CHA-CHING” sound! In case you’re wondering I did ask if I could live in the truck. Kenneth simply said no and I had to move on with my life. Fantasy ruined.
For more info on a GAMETRUCK, check out GAMETRUCKPARTY.COM and find a truck near you.
Thanks again to Kenneth Levey for letting us nerd out in his truck!
(For videos and to read the entire article, click here.)
GameTruck Des Moines Turns 2
Posted at 01/03/2012
GameTruck is a video game party on wheels. There are more than 50 GameTrucks in the country, but Brad Taylor of Des Moines has the only one in Iowa.
The GameTruck trailer is equipped with four 55-inch HD TV screens, 200 Wii, PS3 and Xbox games and leather-upholstered seating for 16 players who can play in small groups or together. The trailer, which pulls up and parks at the party site, also has its own generator, heating and cooling system.
“We’ve had every kind of party you can imagine: bar mitzvahs; bachelor, bachelorette parties; birthdays for 30-, 40-year-olds; corporate events, Super Bowl parties. We’ve been at large-scale events like fairs and festivals. But the heart of the business is boys’ birthday parties,” said Taylor, who is celebrating his second anniversary as a GameTruck owner.
The seating can also be removed to make way for dancing or cheerleading with videos, which is popular among younger girls, he said.
Taylor’s GameTruck has hosted more than 30 parties in each of the past three months, and Taylor said his truck has been consistently in the top 10 for number of parties per truck within the nationwide GameTruck organization.
His largest GameTruck party was thrown by a family for an entire junior high graduating class. Other activities were provided, and partiers took turns in the trailer.
Adults’ parties are a lot of fun, too, “but a lot of them aren’t as video-savvy as children, so they need a little bit of handling at times,” said Taylor, who has a roster of college-age “game coaches” who supervise and assist with videos.
GameTruck was founded in 2006 by engineer Scott Novis of Tempe, Ariz. He began franchising it in 2008 and his company, GameTruck Licensing LLC, is No. 385 on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2012 list of top franchises.
The total investment for a franchise is $119,500 to $304,000, according to the magazine. GameTruck Licensing does not charge a franchise fee, so the investment covers the purchase of the GameTruck.
Taylor was introduced to the GameTruck business during a visit to Arizona a few years ago and immediately saw its potential in central Iowa. As the father of two children with winter birthdays, Taylor knew the venue might be ideal for children’s birthday parties, especially for those who have outgrown play places geared for younger kids.
“I decided it was something I wanted to do, but I came back to Des Moines and thought about it awhile and tried to figure out how to do the financing,” said Taylor whose day job is as a computer consultant for Alliance Technologies.
He bought a Dodge Ram three-quarter ton pickup truck to pull a 35-foot-long, V-nose trailer with a 10- by 30-foot gaming area. The length from the tip of the trailer to the bumper of the truck is 50 feet.
An 8500-watt Cummins Onan diesel generator provides the power, heating and air conditioning.
“We’ve had parties in all weather conditions, some as cold as minus 18 and as hot as 110. It’s held its own,” Taylor said. “We even did a couple in a blizzard, which I wish we hadn’t done, but we were on our way when it hit, and how do you tell a 10-year-old boy the party is not going to happen?”
Julie Katich of West Des Moines hired the game vehicle for a pre-Christmas birthday party for her son Carson, who turned 11 on Dec. 20.
“It’s so hard to think of parties with a winter birthday,” said Katich, of West Des Moines. “Carson decided he wanted this. He’s been at other parties with it.”
“I like that it has all sorts of games to pick out,” Carson said. “It also has good seats and speakers.”
Parents usually like how easy the party is to host, Taylor said. “We can send electronic invitations. We show up and take control. Our game coaches are the supervisors,” he said.
The vehicle was parked in the Sacred Heart School lot for Carson’s party, but the majority of time it is parked in front of people’s homes, Taylor said.
He doesn’t allow food and beverages in the trailer, but some clients have had him park near pizza parlors where they eat.
The charge is $295 for two hours and $95 for each additional hour on weekends. During the week, rates run $275 for two hours and $85 for each additional hour. The charge may be higher for larger events because the game coach has to monitor the times per player and help people on and off the truck.
The busiest time is during the winter. “We don’t have to compete with parks, pools and backyards,” Taylor said.
Chad Svendson of QSP Fundraising has used the GameTruck this year and last year as an incentive for school fundraising through magazine subscription sales. Students who meet a quota are treated to time — usually about 30 minutes — playing videos in the GameTruck.
Svendson said the first year, when the incentive was new to the students, they sold $22,000 worth of magazine subscriptions. This year, when the students were familiar with it and eager to play the videos, they sold $40,000 worth.
“We make sure that when the GameTruck is at schools, only school-appropriate games are allowed to be played,” said Svendson, a former teacher, coach and associate principal. “We stay away from games where any type of weapon is used and make sure the games are in line with school-appropriate activities.”
Taylor said he intended the GameTruck to be a side business, but it’s become a second, full-time job.
“I’m glad I did it,” he said. “I’m having a ton of fun with it, and after all, when you’re around parties and fun events, everyone is in a good mood.”
Franchise 500® Ranks GameTruck #1 in the Mobile Video Game Theater Category
Posted at 12/20/2011
GameTruck Licensing, LLC is excited to be ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine's 33rd annual Franchise 500®, as well as being ranked #1 in the mobile video game theater category as the 2012 Top New Franchise Opportunities.
To view the full ranking and any of these related stories, pick up a copy of the January 2012 issue of Entrepreneur on newsstands December 20th, or visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500.
GameTruck Ranking History
Franchise 500®: #385 (2012)
Fastest-Growing: #87 (2012)
Top New: #37 (2012)
GameTruck Rolls into Cary
Posted at 11/14/2011
GameTruck Licensing, LLC has been awarded a patent by The United States Patent and Trademark for its Method of Entertaining Using A Mobile Entertainment Environment. The patent identifies GameTruck’s unique process of entertaining people in its Mobile Video Game Theater™, and illustrates in detail the features and original concepts created by GameTruck.
Cary Connection
North Carolina currently has one franchise, operating since May, 2011, located in the Triangle area and owned by Cary, NC residents Eric and Lizette Watko. GameTruck’s second North Carolina franchise will begin operations in Charlotte later this month.
Outfitted with big screen TVs, the latest video game consoles and newest titles, GameTruck brings a plush 16-player video arcade direct to the customer’s door. Their state-of-the-art rigs are formatted as both dual-axle trailers and all-in-one RVs, and are available for private parties, educational and fundraising events, or corporate and public events.
The Evolution of GameTruck
A successful video game developer, GameTruck’s CEO and founder Scott Novis created GameTruck with the goal of bringing video gamers a place to play together. He sees this validation as part of a journey.
“Since I first had the idea at my son’s birthday party, to the day we built the first rig, we’ve all worked so hard to innovate every day, execute new ideas, and bring people together. It’s an honor to be recognized and protected by the US Patent & Trademark office for a concept we truly believe has unlimited potential”, said Novis.
The company has grown steadily since inception, with franchisees operating in over fifty major domestic markets. Recent international expansion has introduced GameTruck to Lagos Nigeria, and further plans involve operators in Canada and Trinidad.
“With any great idea like this, eventually there are always copycats and competitors that pop up here and there,” says GameTruck’s SVP of Franchise Licensing, Mike Watorski. “But we keep getting calls from potential franchisees wanting to join up with GameTruck. It’s a tough economy right now, and if people are going to jump into a new business they want to be absolutely sure it’s got a solid backbone”.
GameTruck seamlessly combines its customer website and call center with a one-of-a-kind franchisee backend operating system, maintaining a simple, streamlined process for both customers and franchise owners.
GameTruck’s COO, Dave Wachtel, continues, “Through originality, reliability, value, consistency and togetherness, we’ve created events like no other. Laughs and smiles. Camaraderie and teamwork. Prices that don’t break pocketbooks. Moms, families, kids, businesses and schools all see the value in an innovative, positive video gaming environment. We believe the US Patent now puts us on even firmer ground, so we may not only defend our ideas, but also look to the future.”
Another reason that Cary is known as the Technology Town.
Source: http://carycitizen.com/2011/11/10/business-gametruck-rolls-into-cary/
GameTruck Licensing, LLC Awarded Exclusive United States Patent
Posted at 11/02/2011
November 1, 2011 (Tempe, Arizona)– Game Truck Licensing, LLC has been awarded a patent by The United States Patent and Trademark for its Method Of Entertaining Using A Mobile Entertainment Environment. The patent identifies GameTruck’s unique process of entertaining people in its Mobile Video Game Theater™, and illustrates in detail the features and original concepts created by GameTruck.
Outfitted with big screen TVs, the latest video game consoles and newest titles, GameTruck brings a plush 16-player video arcade direct to the customer’s door. Their state-of-the-art rigs are formatted as both dual-axle trailers and all-in-one RVs, and are available for private parties, educational and fundraising events, or corporate and public events.
A successful video game developer, GameTruck’s CEO and founder Scott Novis created GameTruck with the goal of bringing video gamers a place to play together. He sees this validation as part of a journey. “Since I first had the idea at my son’s birthday party, to the day we built the first rig, we’ve all worked so hard to innovate every day, execute new ideas, and bring people together. It’s an honor to be recognized and protected by the US Patent & Trademark office for a concept we truly believe has unlimited potential”, said Novis.
The company has grown steadily since inception, with franchisees operating in over fifty major domestic markets. Recent international expansion has introduced GameTruck to Lagos Nigeria, and further plans involve operators in Canada and Trinidad.
“With any great idea like this, eventually there are always copycats and competitors that pop up here and there,” says GameTruck’s SVP of Franchise Licensing, Mike Watorski. “But we keep getting calls from potential franchisees wanting to join up with GameTruck. It’s a tough economy right now, and if people are going to jump into a new business they want to be absolutely sure it’s got a solid backbone”.
GameTruck seamlessly combines its customer website and call center with a one-of-a-kind franchisee backend operating system, maintaining a simple, streamlined process for both customers and franchise owners.
GameTruck’s COO, Dave Wachtel, continues, “Through originality, reliability, value, consistency and togetherness, we’ve created events like no other. Laughs and smiles. Camaraderie and teamwork. Prices that don’t break pocketbooks. Moms, families, kids, businesses and schools all see the value in an innovative, positive video gaming environment. We believe the US Patent now puts us on even firmer ground, so we may not only defend our ideas, but also look to the future.”
Coolest Franchise Award Goes to GameTruck!
Posted at 10/19/2011
FC’s Coolest Franchise Award Goes to GameTruck! Exclusive Interview with Scott Novis, President and Founder of this Videogame Party Franchise
(Ambrosio’s note: I’ve been doing some research on “under the radar” franchise concepts in the hope of discovering some hidden gems worth featuring on the blog. One of the franchises that really made on impression on me was GameTruck. This is the coolest franchise concept I’ve come across in a long time — and I’m not even a gamer! It just seems like a really fun business to own. It’s my pleasure to share with you this exclusive interview with Scott Novis, President and Founder of GameTruck Franchise Licensing, LLC. In the spirit of fun, I’m naming GameTruck as the recepient of Franchise Chatter’s Coolest Franchise Award for 2011!)
Scott Novis is no stranger to video games nor innovation. His two engineering degrees, 10 issued patents, and nearly a decade of video game development experience give him unique insight and passion in creating innovative business solutions and concepts.
After receiving degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Arizona State University, Scott spent several years working abroad to gain insight and exposure to the global economy. He then spent half a decade working in Motorola’s research labs where he helped develop graphics and display technologies that ultimately resulted in the issuing of his patents.
Attracted by the exciting pace of technology and innovation in the video game space, Scott joined Rainbow Studios as its VP of Development. The studio was responsible for some of the most successful games of the PS2 era, including the birth of the ATV Offroad Fury Franchise. In all, Scott received credit on the development of 13 video games with sales in excess of 20 million units and revenues of $500 million dollars.
Franchise Chatter (FC): Can you tell us the story behind the creation of GameTruck?
Scott Novis (SN): It started when I was at my son’s 4th birthday party. I was at a pizza arcade, one of those places I once heard a comedian describe as “casinos for kids”. The part that really jumped out at me, besides what a miserable experience it was, was the video games. They were so old. I knew the games we made at Rainbow Studios crushed anything you could play in an arcade. So the next day, I dived into trying to figure out how to recreate the experience I remember from being a kid. I wanted to recapture the excitement of playing the best games with your best friends. The result was GameTruck.
FC: How does a GameTruck party actually work?
SN: By appointment, the patented GameTruck Mobile Video Game Theater parks at your event and provides multi-player video gaming entertainment. Serving up to 20 individuals, GameTruck offers 2+ hours of video game fun hosted by our expert GameCoach and conveniently parked just outside your home, office or off-site venue.
The GameTruck Mobile Video Game Theater is completely self-contained and all weather. No rain cancellations! It’s always 75 degrees and dry inside on our comfy 20 ft. long custom couch. We offer a venue for 16 players simultaneously.
We carry all the latest titles for multi-player fun across a broad spectrum of genres (Sports, Music, Adventure and Traditional) for any of the 3 game consoles (Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3). The majority of our 50+ titles are rated Everybody and Teen, but we have it all. For older girls and boys, we link all 4 of our HD 240-HZ screens for 16-player Halo Battle or 8-player Black Ops!
FC: In the spring of this year, you appointed Mary Lynn Kelly, the creator of Arizona’s Challenger Learning Center, as your Education Division Director. What are your plans for this education division?
Believe it or not, we are still very focused on video gaming. I break video games into two segments. Sports games and education games. A well designed video game has more in common with education than movies, books, or music. Why? Because the gamer must participate.
A game — like a learning system — holds the player in a regiment of competency. It’s a complex pattern that stimulates the brain the way the brain likes to learn.
Sports games, on the other hand (and I don’t mean basketball or football), are about eliminating the regiment of competency so we can focus on the one pattern we are genetically predisposed to be endlessly fascinated with — people. Sports lock down all the rules so we can focus on the participants.
If you look at video games this way, you see that games like Halo and Call of Duty are nothing but basketball with guns. GameTruck created a sports video game industry. If we can take one tiny sliver of the video game market and turn it into a successful birthday party business, why can’t we take the core of what games are and revolutionize education?
It’s simple, really — our interactive events leverage kids’ passion for video games to learn in new and exciting ways that save schools money, make teachers’ lives easier, and most of all create a lasting impression on the student.
FC: Can you describe the target market for GameTruck and how big is the market potential for your business?
I realized after starting the business that the core of a GameTruck event is not only about playing the best games with your best friends. There is a
value for the parents as well. In short, what is it worth for a Mom to have her son at home, with all of his friends, having the time of his life, safe, and most important of all, not in her house?
We think there is tremendous opportunity in this country for kids to come together and play together with our patented system. I believe we can serve anyone who has outgrown a bounce house, all the way up to adults who still want to game together.
Franchise Chatter (FC): Who do you consider to be your competitors in this space and what are some of your advantages over them?
Scott Novis (SN): We’ve had a lot of companies jump on the bandwagon, and claim they do exactly what we do, but I still believe our biggest competitor is the pizza arcade. We also need to do a better job of appealing to girls. Video games have always struggled with this, but there have never been more games that appeal to all ages and genders than now.
FC: Can you describe the ideal franchisee for a GameTruck business?
SN: There really is no “certain type” of ideal franchisee. One must have the desire and drive to promote and execute parties and events. We are still very new and we aren’t a household name just yet. We are national however, occupying over 25 states. We also operate in Lagos, Nigeria.
So our franchisees must be committed to explore opportunities that will help them gain exposure as quickly and consistently as possible. Word of mouth will propel this excitement, so the franchisee must be driven.
Comfort with B2B is a good attribute to promote large format events. You don’t have to be a “gamer”, but you will need to hire a GameCoach that possesses those skills. Most of all, the ideal candidate needs to be ready to have some fun! GameTruck is a really fun business model.
FC: What specific steps do your most successful franchisees take in order to build and grow their respective GameTruck businesses?
SN: Our top franchisees do three things. First, they work in and on their businesses every day. GameTruck is really amazing in how quickly people have come in and ramped up. It can lull you to sleep in a way. The best owners are relentless in their focus on their business.
Secondly, they are just as passionate about their company’s reputation as their own. They really focus on building word of mouth, throwing a great party and making sure people have a great experience to talk about afterwards.
Finally, they promote their business. They make sure everyone knows who they are and what they do. There’s a saying that all marketing is local. Making sure everyone knows who you are and what you do is one of the keys we have seen to success.
FC: Can you tell us a bit about the initial investment and continuing expenses to operate a GameTruck business? What is the profit potential?
SN: Profit potential is established by many factors including debt and operating expenses. GameTruck will help you organize the operations of your business to be as effective as possible.
GameTruck LLC offers franchise licenses with a term of 10 years. License renewal is available upon completion of the 10 year term. GameTruck charges a onetime licensing fee of $7,500. In addition, a franchisee selects the Primary Area of Responsibility (PAR) with a minimum size of 150K people. GameTruck has a formula to calculate the cost of that exclusive territory. You can design a territory as large as you see fit.
Normal operating costs combined with a monthly royalty fee will comprise your expenses. No brick and mortar leases!
FC: What are your goals for GameTruck in the next few years and how do you plan to grow the brand?
SN: We are very excited about our growth potential. Now that we have sold over 100 territories and have a national fleet on the road, we are seeing tremendous interest in using our network to help promote new video games and other services. Couple that with our work in schools and we are building a powerful distribution network for new products, concepts and experiences that companies are already finding value in. As our equipment, process and systems continue to improve, we are excited about our potential to help people start their own great GameTruck businesses.
FC: Is there anything else you wish to share about GameTruck?
SN: We are very excited about the recent awarding of our patent. Many people can talk about innovation, but when you are recognized by the U.S. Patent Office, that’s pretty special and it talks volumes about not only our hard work and innovation but also our integrity. We didn’t just slap something together, we are in this for the long haul. And this award is the first of what we hope will be many more to come.
Play Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure Before the Game is Released by Hosting a GameTruck Party
Posted at 10/06/2011
TEMPE, Ariz.-- Activision and GameTruck are excited to announce the exclusive first-to-play opportunity available inside every one of GameTruck’s mobile video game theaters. This opportunity comes prior to the public release of Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure, which is set for October 16, 2011.
Activision is working with GameTruck to bring public access to Activision’s cross-platform game play experience through Skylanders before it is available to purchase in stores. All GameTruck locations are currently showcasing the game and six of the Skylanders figures, bringing even more excitement to the GameTruck experience.
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure lets kids take on the role of a powerful Portal Master who can control over 30 different characters, including the beloved purple dragon Spyro. Each of these heroes is a protector of Skylands, an amazing mysterious world which has been taken over by a sinister Portal Master known as Kaos, a powerful enemy that has frozen the Skylanders as toys and banished them to Earth. Only the players of Skylanders Spyro's Adventure can help return these heroes back to their world by embarking on an adventurous journey where they will explore mythical lands, battle menacing, outlandish creatures, collect treasures, and solve challenging puzzles as a part of a quest to save Skylands.
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure is rated E10+ by the ESRB. For more information, visit www.skylandersgame.com
Call 888-602-4263 or visit gametruckparty.com to book your private party and preview Skylanders for yourself.
About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.
About GameTruck Licensing, LLC.
Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, GameTruck Licensing, LLC sells and supports GameTruck franchises operating the only patented mobile video game theater. Since 2006 GameTruck has been operating mobile video game theaters, bringing the excitement of interactive entertainment to households across the United States.
GameTruck Participates in Local News Segment
Posted at 09/20/2011Rick Battles NASCAR Driver on Racing Simulator: MyFoxPHOENIX.com
Brad Keselowski, the NASCAR driver of the Miller Lite car, talks about the up-coming NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway the weekend of November 11th while racing a virtual NASCAR inside GameTruck's mobile video game theater.Five Tips from GameTruck
Posted at 08/31/2011
Make a Plan for Their Play:
Five Tips From GameTruck
http://www.activealex.com/GameTruck.aspx
Make “game time” a productive activity for your kids by putting a household “electronic strategy” in play for the new school year. GameTruck, a leading advocate for positive gaming practices, offers these five tips and resources for regulating screen time in your family.
1. Get Kids Moving and Socializing Arrange a cyber play date with friends or capitalize on the games that require movement while they are playing like Wii Sports.
2. Use Extra Playing Time As a Reward With younger or older kids, reward them with a little extra playing time for clean rooms, good manners, good grades, etc.
3. Develop a Process For Turning Games Off With video games that are sequential, if you do not finish a level, you cannot save your work in progress. To avoid conflict, give kids advance warning that you are going to need them to power down.
4. Set Rules and Sign a Contract How much time a day is allowed for activities that involve screen time? What are the family rules around content and ratings? GameTruck’s website (www.gametruckparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/BeyourownGameCoach.pdf) offers ideas and a downloadable contract you can personalize to make sure that everyone is clear on the “house rules” and the consequences for not following them.
5. Let Game Coaches Help If you throw a GameTruck party, their game coaches can work with your kids to make healthy gaming habits a theme of the party. For more information or to schedule a GameTruck party, go to www.gametruckparty.com or call 888-602-4263.
