Game Pazzo

Walls of terra cotta and sage burn with the glow from a pantheon of computer screens displaying intensely pixilated battles. Adjacent to pool tables and bags setups, slate tiles and dim sconce lighting frame gaming stations, which comfortably cradle players in leather seating with built-in speakers. The terminals eschew traditional arcade games such as Galaga and Pac-Man for the 3D stylings of modern consoles that include Wii, Xbox, and PS3, supplemented by a fully stocked shop where gamers can buy, trade, or rent new and used titles. Game Pazzo's vast number of screens ensures that no more than two players ever need to share one, and the venue's LAN provides an arena for friends to bond before trying on bridesmaid dresses. In the corner stands a stage for karaoke and Rock Band battles, with genuine converted guitars to make musical games as authentic as playing Donkey Kong with real barrels and an actual gorilla.

The in-house bar and café offers libations and grub for kids as well as grown gamers. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights feature Rock Band and karaoke, Wednesday nights offer trivia matchups, and scheduled tournaments give gamers a chance to earn bragging rights and prizes after showing off prowess at games such as Call of Duty and StarCraft. Thursday nights also offer patrons a chance to qualify for the Karaoke World Championships, which can lead to a trip to Finland. Birthday parties and corporate-event packages are also available.