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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Gaming Center Set To Open in Edgewood

By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
      Video games aren't just for the social recluse anymore.
       That's according to Diana Ma, who co-owns a computer gaming center called The Duck of Doom with her husband, Quan Ma. The gaming center is opening Friday in Edgewood.
       She said when she first went to Ninja Monkey, a similar gaming center in Albuquerque, she realized why people go out to play games they could play at home.
       “It actually brings back a more social atmosphere,” she said, adding that the atmosphere also adds another dynamic when competing against other players. “You hear shouts of pain across the room. It's so much fun.”
       Diana grew up in the Stanley area, where her family raised goats, sheep and had horses on 20 acres, she said, and was involved in 4-H.
       She said she always played games, but she actually met her husband during sparring practice at her martial arts studio, Martial Artistry. Quan and Diana, who have been married for seven years, both continue to practice martial arts.
       “We're about as hard-core gamers as you can get and still have a life,” Diana said.
       Although she stays busy now, she said when she was young there weren't many activities that appealed to her.
       “I remember growing up there just wasn't anything to do,” she said.
       It's something that was brought home to her recently, when a 6-year-old came by with his parent to see the new store.
       “The kid was just devastated (The Duck of Doom) wasn't open yet,” Diana said.
       The store got its name from a gaming pseudonym used by a friend of Diana and Quan.
       When the store opens at noon on Friday there will be a martial arts demonstration and Chinese lion dancers, along with free food, drinks and free use of the computers, Play Station, Wii and XBox consoles.
       “We want families to come in and play,” Diana said.
       She said some of the games are popular with families, such as “Rock Band,” in which four people use instrument-like controllers — guitars, drums and a microphone — to sing and play along with rock songs.
       Even if they don't stick around, Quan said parents will still have some control over what their child plays.
       Most games have one of six age-related ratings, assigned by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. They ranging from “EC” (early childhood), or games suitable for age 3 and over, to “AO” (adults only), or games suitable for ages 18 and over. Parents can chose which games are acceptable for their children.
       Quan also said the gaming center may even help give kids an outlet for any destructive urges.
       “Hopefully they'll be here rather than smashing mailboxes or painting graffiti,” he said.
       The Duck of Doom is located at #4 George Court, off Old Route 66. Starting Friday it will be open from noon to midnight Friday through Sunday and from 3 p.m. to midnight Monday and Thursday.
       Prices are $6 an hour for non-members, $5 an hour for members and $4 an hour for members who bring in a The Duck of Doom T-shirt. Call 286-9447 for more information.
   

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