Playing for a living

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Chad Cushner used to play computer games all night in his friends’ basements.
During his childhood, he even designed a game and owned a small computer-repair and sales business.
"Business and games and computers have always been my thing," he said.
Cushner, now 20, is a 2002 graduate of Northeast High School. The Bell’s Corner resident attended Bucks County Community College for three semesters. A computer science/business major, he had plans to transfer to Drexel University.
While attending college, he began working to develop what he hopes will be the most technologically advanced gaming center in the United States. He wanted a career in something he would enjoy.
Last summer, Cushner realized that, to accomplish his dream, he had to devote himself full time to the mission. So he did all the things a businessman needs to do.
Cushner researched and analyzed similar gaming centers in Asia and the western United States. He put his vision on paper, secured financing, signed a lease, purchased equipment, worked closely with an architect and negotiated with contractors. He also received a big assist in marketing and other areas from Temple University’s Small Business Development Center.
Last week, his dream took a big step forward. CyberZone opened at Neshaminy Mall. Cushner sees it as a "gaming heaven."
"We’re the next generation arcade," he said. "This is a social, competitive version of an arcade."
Cushner has two partners, Joel Dahan and Bill Weiss.
The business opened officially on Friday, following a sneak-peek weekend a week earlier.
Even in the days leading up to the grand opening, "gamers" couldn’t resist getting a head start.
Cushner welcomed teenagers Tim Geiszler, Chuck Hindermyer and Eric Anton, who heard about CyberZone from their teacher at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology. The students plan to return.
"We’re gamers. We’ll come," Hindermyer said.
"This is where the competition is," Anton said.
The teens squared off against two Bensalem youths, Bobby Dietz and Tyler Bahr. Dietz and Bahr enjoy the atmosphere because they get to play against others in the same venue.
"I like having all these people in here," said Dietz, 11.
CyberZone is equipped with 40 personal computers, a private theater room and console areas for Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube 64. Music will be pumped in to add to the atmosphere.
The equipment is the "Ferrari" of technology, according to Cushner, who promises fast Internet connections. In all, he spent more than $200,000 to open the place.
Cushner expects the bulk of his business to come from males ages 12 to 25.
His partner, Dahan, has a background in retail. The 45-year-old played video games as a kid, but it was nothing like today’s generation of computer entertainment.
"I grew up with Asteroids and Frogger," he said.
Today, the hot games are Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth and World of Warcraft.
Why would today’s young people pay at CyberZone when they can purchase games and play at home?
As Cushner explains, there’s something missing when a player sits alone in the library or in his bedroom or basement competing against the computer or a faceless "enemy" across the country. It’s all about bragging rights.
The entrepreneur thinks he has a wide audience to tap. The Interactive Digital Software Association found that 145 million Americans ages 6 and older play video games. About 35 percent of Americans rank playing video and computer games as their favorite form of entertainment.
"Gaming is so mainstream," Cushner said.
Young people can go to the movies, a bowling alley or arcade only so often, in his opinion.
"I think this area needs something new," he said. "This is a gamer’s dream."
Cushner sees interactive entertainment, like the kind offered at CyberZone, as the entertainment choice of the 21st century.
Asian countries already offer CyberZone-like entertainment.
"In Korea, it’s huge," Cushner said.
Word of CyberZone’s opening spread across the Internet and on the business’ online forum.
Serious gamers are excited about the place, as are those who don’t have enough money to buy the most popular games or don’t have a high-quality computer. Already, a half-dozen birthday parties have been booked.
The PC’s are clustered in four rows to allow for teams to coordinate strategy and talk trash. Cushner plans leagues and tournaments, and will keep statistics to see who are the top players. He’s working with sponsors to offer prizes and money.
An employee with a microphone will alert players of current games on the screen.
"It’s going to become a sport," Cushner said.
Cushner — whose mom, Donna Yadan, owns Jean’s Depot elsewhere in the Neshaminy Mall — is downright delighted to be located so close to the mall’s large movie theater. He calls it a potential "gold mine."
The businessman likes being so close to Philadelphia, New Jersey and heavily populated suburbs. He’s also heard from gamers in Delaware, New York and Virginia that they’ll make the trip to CyberZone.
"I think it’s definitely going to take off," he said. ••

The Cyber facts . . .

CyberZone is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Admission is $20 for five hours or $6 for 90 minutes.
The facility is also open for birthday parties.
For more information, visit www.czgaming.com
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com