A red glow appears from the doorway. Walking in, the business is
decorated like a war room with camouflage climbing the walls and
nets of it draping from the ceiling. On closer inspection, there
are two lines of 20 players, strategizing and battling against
others in the same room.
The players are competing in games on the computer, on the
Internet. They are part of Matrix Hollister, a network gaming
center that opened in July.
A red glow appears from the doorway. Walking in, the business is decorated like a war room with camouflage climbing the walls and nets of it draping from the ceiling. On closer inspection, there are two lines of 20 players, strategizing and battling against others in the same room.
The players are competing in games on the computer, on the Internet. They are part of Matrix Hollister, a network gaming center that opened in July.
“The appeal is playing on a LAN – Local Area Network. Playing the games is fun and competitive,” said Greg Lombardo, co-owner of Matrix with Greg Saunders. “Playing against human opponents is better and they’re playing against humans that are in the same room.”
Playing computer games on networks is popular on college campuses and in college houses. The popularity has spread to older and younger audiences, but many people in Hollister cannot get high-speed Internet access at home that allows them to compete with others over the Internet. Matrix offers two lines that, combined, are four times the speed of a T1 line – what most businesses use to receive fast Internet service.
“They just don’t have this at home,” Saunders said.
Along with the decorations are red lights replacing fluorescent lights to minimize glare on the monitors. The 20 computers were custom made for computer gaming. Five clocks near the entrance display time in Baghdad, Berlin, Stalingrad, Wake Island in the North Pacific and Hollister.
Bryan Estrada, a San Benito High School sophomore, plays at Matrix almost everyday. He likes the competition because there isn’t much for teen-agers to do in Hollister.
“You can get bored. This is one of the places to go,” Estrada said. “It gets kids out of trouble.”
Saunders and Lombardo grew up together in San Jose and both dreamed of owning their own business. Lombardo observed how popular network gaming centers operated in San Jose and both saw a need in Hollister.
“We saw a better opportunity in Hollister and we live here. There’s not a lot of things for kids to do here,” Saunders said. “This is a safe place for them to go and play.”
Matrix’s core clientele is composed of middle school-aged children, but also includes adults. One 50-year-old customer works 14 hours a day and said playing is his only release, Lombardo said. There are also a lot of father-son combinations.
Matrix offers “Battlefield 1942,” “Medal of Honor,” “Army Ops,” “Counter-Strike,” “UT 2003,” “Warcraft,” “Starcraft” and “Age of Mythology.”
Weekends are the busiest times for Matrix. It’s not uncommon for players to be on a waiting list on Saturday or Sunday.
The most popular is “Counter-Strike,” where players are on opposing teams. The game is team-based featuring one team playing terrorists and the other counter-terrorists. Each side has access to different guns and equipment, as well as different abilities. Maps have different goals, including assassination, hostage rescue, terrorist escape and bomb defusion.
“Counter-Strike” is Estrada’s favorite game. Matrix’s appeal for Estrada and his friends is in spending time together while playing the game.
“I like the fast Internet, the fast everything,” Estrada said. “I like being able to talk to my friends and strategize in the same room. It allows you to get more into the game.”
Cost is $5 for an hour of play time for non-members and $3 for members. Players can become members for an annual $20 fee. Members get a free Matrix T-shirt and $2 placed into their account.
Saunders estimated that 95 percent of Matrix’s customers are members. Players set up an account with a screen name, such as James Bond and Superman.
While some experts argue that computer games are violent and encourage little exercise in kids, Saunders and Lombardo dispute them. Many kids ride their bikes to get to Matrix and Saunders and Lombardo keep track of which games are played by whom.
If a game is rated for mature players by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, players must get a permission slip signed by parents if they are under 17. Of the 10 games offered, two are rated M for mature.
“One way we’re different than San Jose – they let you do anything as long as you’re paying,” Lombardo said.
Also, one customer was given a bike for Christmas, but hadn’t ridden it until he wanted to get to Matrix, Lombardo said.
Matrix is starting up LAN parties beginning Wednesday and Sept. 24, and offers birthday parties.
Matrix Hollister’s hours are Monday through Thursday 2 to 9 p.m., Friday 2 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 630-9050 or visit www.matrixhollister.com. Matrix Hollister is located at 341 Tres Pinos Road in the Pinnacle Building.
