zamSpielen stands for social gaming. Enjoying coffee and cake while playing in local multiplayer. In an arcade café in Vienna, social interaction is encouraged.
Like in the past, sitting together on the carpet and gaming without the internet, enjoying a hot cup of coffee and eating a piece of cake.
In a small arcade café in Austria, this is possible. Here, classic couch-coop is played – together and right next to each other. The organization “zamSpielen” aims to promote social interaction through games.
zamSpielen – Everything revolves around social gaming
zamSpielen consists of developers from the indie studio “Broken Rules” and other members of the gaming scene. In an interview with Kotaku, co-founder Josef Wiesner revealed why the developers founded the arcade café.
zamSpielen is convinced that playing together has an extraordinary power to bring people closer. Being next to each other in the same place is the “most interesting and complete” form of togetherness.
Non-gamers welcome – Gaming is fun and the nerds don’t bite
zamSpielen primarily targets the developer and gaming community. However, the team is always particularly happy when “non-gamers” come to the arcade café.
One time, a couple walked past the café and discussed whether they should go in or not: “Please, come with me. I don’t want to go in alone. There are only nerds in there!”
After the couple decided to go into the café, they stayed for hours. They chatted and played with the other guests. For Wiesner, that was the perfect zamSpielen moment.
The arcade café offers mostly casual and simple games. Everyone – whether gamer or non-gamer – should be able to quickly understand and implement the games. A prime example is “Chalo Chalo” – a slow racing game.
zamSpielen enjoys mixing old and new games; classics like “Pong” are also represented. It’s important that the games are local, simple, and fun.
An online multiplayer has yet to make it into the arcade café.
What do you think of the idea of the arcade café? Would you visit it or would you rather just play online from home?
The title image of this post is from the Tumblr of zamspielen.
Another great way to play locally and without internet is, by the way, board games
