Twirl those thumbsticks

Bengaluru: Tucked into the little cross road that connects Residency Road to MG Road sits The Living Room gaming lounge — a 1,600 square foot space that is divided into eight separate 'living rooms', complete with couch, coffee table, and a large TV hooked up to the latest gaming consoles. The idea of starting such a space occurred to Mohan Mahadeviah, who left a career in finance in New York to return to Bengaluru, when he realised that there was not much for youngsters in the city to do besides go pub hopping or hang out at malls. In 2008, he started The Living Room as an alternative to the many PC gaming lounges in the city, with the aim of creating a comfortable hangout that did not have the grungy, basement vibe traditionally attached to establishments dedicated to gaming.

In the decade since, thanks to a combination of its inviting atmosphere and central location, Mahadeviah has seen steady footfall. "We get all kinds of people of all ages coming in, and most of them are not the hardcore gamer kind. There are kids who come with parents and working professionals who drop in after work to play and unwind.," he says.

The goal, according to him, has been to keep things simple and flexible. While most of the people who visit The Living Room already own consoles at home, many come by for the social aspect; to play with or against each other. The lounge houses hard drives where players indulging in long, campaign-based games can create profiles and save them to resume later.

Mahadeviah recalls how they sometimes get fathers bringing sons on a weekend to bond over a video game, or parents out on shopping trips to nearby MG Road and Brigade Road dropping off children to keep them entertained while they are away. "Sometimes we are glorified babysitters," Mahadeviah chuckles, "They give us money to buy the kids a pizza and then come pick them up later after they are done with their errands."

While The Living Room does not serve food, there are no restrictions on bringing food and soft drinks from outside or ordering food, for which paper plates are provided.

According to Mahadeviah, the place also sees a lot of couples drop in for a casual date. He points out that with more people buying game consoles at home, there is a generation of girls who also grow up playing video games, bucking the stereotype that gaming is male-dominated space. The lounge-like nature of the establishment, which encourages casual play, conversation, and food, also allows for a diverse crowd to make it a meeting place and hang out.

While The Living Room does host the occasional Fifa tournament, the lack of sponsors for video game tournaments in the console space means visitors are more likely to find a birthday party happening.

The Living Room is located on Residency Cross Road, between Corner House and Chung Wah, and is open from 10.30 am to 10.30 pm seven days a week.