02.27.2007 CINEGAMES: MOVIE THEATERS FOR GAMING

Screw the Toshiba headsets, this setup involves entire modified movie theaters in Spain (video is not in English, but it's worth it to see what this looks like). Enrique Martinez worked with Yelmo Cineplex in spending more than $390,000 to bring this projector paradise to life. Charging just four dollars for a ticket, 50 gamers each get to sit down and play video games with the following extra entertainment:

"Fog, low smoke, black light, flashing green lasers, high-definition digital projectors, vibrating seats, game pads and dozens of 17 inch, or 43 centimeter, screens attached to individual chairs. And naturally, there's buttered popcorn."

Basically, LAN party + rave = $$$. And it's slowly spreading - theaters in Germany and Toronto tested the concept recently, and with the help of TimePlay's theater network system, there are even plans to bring it to USA and "allow moviegoers to play 15 to 20 minutes of interactive, ad-sponsored games before the start of movies." No more shitty movie previews! Suddenly eight dollar movie tickets sound totally reasonable and I actually want to get to the show before it starts.

They're approaching the idea wisely though, they've prepared for all age audiences. Not only are games like Battlefield 1942 working already (you can see it in action in the video), but they're also bringing basic games like Bingo to the silver screen. Yelmo is even working on using the setup for educational and senior citizen projects, so hopefully in a few years they'll be able to take the world by cinematic storm. I honestly don't care though - give me Pac-Man with a room full of real A.I. ghosts chasing me, and I'll be pumping out Hamiltons all day like I was at the world's most expensive arcade. Happy Feet? More like happy hands, I haven't even played this yet and I'm addicted.