VENUE OVERVIEW: An eSports venue is a concept not often found in North America but downtown San Jose’s AFK Gamer Lounge responded to the demand and even elevates the concept to a new level. There is a first floor complete with a sprawling outdoor patio, a basement LAN center available to members only, multiple bars serving game-themed cocktails, and even a full service restaurant. At AFK, bands and DJs perform while guests eat, drink and play. It is perfectly suited for hosting events for expert and casual gamers alike. AFK also serves as an official broadcast location for the San Jose Sabercats and San Jose Sharks networks.
THEIR NEEDS: As you might expect from an eSports venue, the staff already knew their way around video distribution and networking but a distributed audio system was something they did not have the necessary experience to integrate themselves. CAVS was contracted to deliver the feature rich solution required to complete the business model. The timeline was tight, just 2 weeks from initial contact to grand opening, but CAVS delivered on time and on budget.
WHAT WE DID: After discussing intended usage for the sound system related to the venue, CAVS recognized that ultimate flexibility and usability would be essential to AFK’s success. CAVS decided to split the venue into 9 independent audio zones but give operators the ability to combine rooms and treat as one when the day’s activity called for the same audio throughout. Multiple microphone and audio inputs were located throughout for both local or global use. With this flexibility, any area of AFK could be used for a private event – utilize it’s own audio source and microphone – while the remaining areas remained open to the public. The sound system integrates with broadcast equipment for webcasting and video production. Mix-minus sources can be routed to the broadcast desk when filming within the space and conversely, webcasts can be fed into the sound effectively creating a large scale conference room.
To avoid clashing with the decor, CAVS used only black speakers, mounts and wiring. CAVS installed ten weatherized speakers on the outdoor patio, meticulously placed to maximize coverage while preventing sound from spilling out and upsetting surrounding neighbors and businesses. This venue offers a stellar gaming experience and now, a stellar audio experience to match.
