Influx

LAN parties are getting overwhelmingly popular among male high school and college students. At these events, groups of computer gamers all bring their PCs to one person’s house or to a rented facility, network them together and compete against each other, usually through the night. Highly caffeinated drinks, pizza and junk food are staples. Often, groups of friends form a team and compete against other teams online. These new-age gangs each have their own code languages, hierarchies and websites. Each member has an alter-ego online identity.
A bizarre peek deep into the culture of LAN parties: a listing of LAN party character-types.

A company called Esports Arena has started buying out troubled movie theaters and installing computers and game consoles so visitors can compete on sections of the big screen. The first gaming arena in San Diego seems to satisfy the local LAN party appetite, which is essentially a desire for events that legitimize the gamers’ sense of mastery of these games by providing a physical playing field and social center that make teammates, opponents and their social interactions real and tangible.
The Esports arena company plans to open new sites in Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Atlanta and Chicago by the end of the year.
USA Today article
http://www.esportsarena.com/

Videogame industry companies have leapt on arena sponsorship opportunities and are holding elaborate game release events very reminiscent of movie releases.
PR newswire article