By Madyline Swearing, Special to the Reporter
Dozens of families and young adults have crowded South Bay Center in recent weeks to take part in a new active gaming experience.
Activate Games, a Canadian company, marked the grand opening of its first New England location – it has 38 locations in the United States and more than 20 worldwide – three weeks ago with free admission for its first weekend in operation.
The Boston location may be just the beginning of a bigger expansion into the New England market, said Brett Wilkins, an Activate Games training specialist from Lexington, Kentucky.
“It’s been packed,” he said. “We’ve consistently had over 70 people in the building at any time.”
Activate Games isn’t a typical arcade. Instead of air hockey and claw machines, players dodge giant laser grids, navigate glowing floor tiles, and test their puzzle-solving and teamwork skills. The center is open daily until 10 or 11 p.m. most nights. Weekday admissions range from $25 to $30, weekends are $35 to $40, and a party room is available for birthdays and corporate events.
Wilkins said the “replayability” aspect of the center may be its most appealing feature. There are 11 “micro-arenas,” each of which has 3 to 10 games, with each game having about 10 levels. Games are fast-paced and last about two minutes.
The most popular arenas are the “Mega Grid” and “Mega Laser,” he said.
Stylisha Johnson, a special education teacher from Dorchester, went to the center to book a party and was offered a walk-through of the building. With a group of 6- to 15-year-old gamers to cater to, Johnson said she thought all ages could enjoy the games.
“There is tons of space, so you’re not bumping into anyone,” she said. “There are signs everywhere and instructions for each room, so you’re not confused.”
Sherina McKinley, an entrepreneurship manager from Dorchester, said anyone can enjoy the experience, and prices are fair for a family outing or even date night. “We already booked to come back,” she said.
Roommates Sophia Westfall, Marlyn Desire, and Nathania Brachanow came from Somerville to take advantage of the opening weekend’s free admission.
“We all just moved in together, so this was great for team bonding,” said Brachnow, a medical student.
Desire, a non-profit recruiter, said the experience is a great way for young people to get out of the house and be active. While the experience was free this time, she said she would come back and pay for it in the future, comparing the experience to a night out at the movies.
Westfall, a veterinarian, said the “Mega Grid” was her favorite room. “There were a lot of moments of us just laughing out loud,” she said. “It’s easy enough for anyone to comprehend.”
This story is part of a partnership between the Dorchester Reporter and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
