PS3 programming from a PC station

[james_house]

Hi guys,
I would like to start a gaming center with PS3's. I was wondering if anybody could help me out with some technical issues. I would like to know if I can manage all of my 8 PS3 from a main PC station. Can I use some cables or wires to connect the PS3's to the PC? That way when a customer comes in, I don't have to get up and set up manually the station. I'd like to just click on my main PC station and the countdown starts and when the time is up, the screen monitor or the PS3 goes in the standby mode. Maybe a window will pop up on the screen to let customers their time is up. If that could be done, please let me know. Thanks.

[james_house]

Hi guys,
I would like to start a gaming center with PS3's. I was wondering if anybody could help me out with some technical issues. I would like to know if I can manage all of my 8 PS3 from a main PC station. Can I use some cables or wires to connect the PS3's to the PC? That way when a customer comes in, I don't have to get up and set up manually the station. I'd like to just click on my main PC station and the countdown starts and when the time is up, the screen monitor or the PS3 goes in the standby mode. Maybe a window will pop up on the screen to let customers their time is up. If that could be done, please let me know. Thanks.

[Alomax]

Yes, you can do something similar to what you describe.

All the major consoles can be placed in a central location and the video/audio (HDMI usually) cable run across the room to the TV.  HDMI travels 50ft before loss IIRC. And if you need to go further there are CAT6/HDMI converters that will extend it to 1000+ feet.  USB cables for controllers can also be run this way, or just use wireless ones.

To control the on/off, there are some power-switching modules that work with Smartlaunch that you can use to power the TVs on and off.

[RsteeleAUG]

Unfortunately most of the cafe management software I've seen is for the PC's. Timers on the plug ins or power supplies controlled by USB I have seen but I don't like that they automatically turn off the display or console.

I used digital timers for console customers and a dry erase marker to write their names on the timer. Place it by the system they are currently on, our systems are behind the front counter with long HDMI drops going to each screen. It's low tech and we only have 18 console stations. Most of our customers come in groups so 1 time might work for 5, 10, or 15 people. Everyone must know their user names in order to play here, save time, ect.

I enter their left over time into the smart launch program manually. Our PS3's have always preformed well, no problems out of the consoles themselves except for the nasty PSN outage that shut the network down for a few weeks. Barely noticed it as everyone that played on that side just played LAN or single player games.

I'm sure it can be done however the amount of money it would take would be a lot. The low tech way we've been doing it has worked well for us so far.

[james_house]

Thanks for your input RsteeleAUG. I think that's what I am going to do. I will use long HDMI cables and keep all of the consoles in a safe area so that people don't steal my discs. But how do you manage to not have your controllers stolen or exchanged? PS3 controllers are wireless so I guess people can steal them or bring in their broken controllers and exchanged them with yours. How do you deal with that?

[james_house]

Thanks Alomax. But how do you manage to avoid people stealing the wireless controllers? or if they bring in their broken controllers and exchanged them with yours without you knowing?

[james_house]

Also, where can I get Licenses for PS3 games and hardware? I know you guys talked about iGames but they only cover PC games and stuff. I would like to get PS3 licenses and their games. Where do I get that since I know Sony is always on the lookout to get people and sue them over copyrights?

[Deeds]

You paint your logo onto your controllers and a number.  If that controller doesn't come back you know who took it through keeping track of what system and what controller you give to what player.

-deeds

[james_house]

Thanks Deeds. You and Alomax are a great help. I am not a computer or video game savvy that's why I ask these questions that may sound "dumb" to you guys. Thanks again.

[RsteeleAUG]

All of our controllers are numbered. Customers also have to pass the front counter to get out the door. I don't allow any type of bags on the main floor We've been here 16 months I've had 1 controller get away. Before my no bags rule was applied.

Igames is the only place for now for licenses that I know of. We also state in our rules and terms that the consoles and games are provided free of charge customers purchase time on the TV's and in the seats. Everyone that plays here signs one. If you do go to any developers or console companies it's likely to draw more attention than it's actually worth. Ask anyone and they'll tell you to date no LAN center has been taken to court for any licensing infractions. We pay the igames fee though lately it's beginning to look less and less necessary to do so.

[RsteeleAUG]

There are no dumb questions. Don't be afraid to find what works for you too. There's nothing that says once you open and gauge the type of crowd you draw that you can't or won't have to change some of the things you do at your location that will be different than what everyone else does.

[james_house]

Ok, I will have a terms of use similar to yours RsteeleAUG. I think it will keep me out of trouble.

[Alomax]

Also, where can I get Licenses for PS3 games and hardware?

I say this a lot, but I think it's an important point, as it's usually the only reason people join iGames.  Nobody has ever been sued over "licensing" in a LAN Center. Ever. Anywhere.  The only reason that we talk about this topic is that for a very long time every piece of software came with a clause in the EULA that forbid "commercial exploitation".  What exactly that piece of legal text was origonally ment for, I'm not sure, but I don't think it was a LAN Center.  Recently Blizzard has modified their EULA for Starcraft2 that adds a specific exemption for LAN Centers.

If you call up some companies (Stardock for instance), they will tell you straight up they do not care if you use their games.  Others just make scary gestures. Valve for instance sent out a mass mailing of C&D letters when they very first started their Cafe program, but that was just a bit of a slap-in-the-face marketing to get people to subscribe.  And I have to say, their cafe system turned out pretty well.

TL;DR - Don't worry about licensing. Just don't pirate games, and nobody will care.