GameWorks/Operations
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Operations
GameWorks venues are best described as what are now known to the amusement industry as urban entertainment centers, combining arcade games, a small number of mid-size attractions, and full-service food & drink outlets in an urban/inner-city setting. Though many are of a size significantly larger than common amusement arcades, the centers are usually not comparable to the indoor theme parks that Sega created in other countries around the same time - most have not charged admission fees for entrants, or housed large attractions developed by the company, and instead have attempted to cater more to a North American market, where chains like Dave & Busters are popular.
Venues are divided into a series of different environments, each with its own distinct mood defined by the design, lighting, color and sound. The Entertainment Zones comprised the main sections of the arcade, housing both video arcade games and traditional games like air hockey. The Loading Dock is an area dedicated to newer arcade titles as if they were just "unloaded from the delivery truck". The Arena features signature games designed exclusively for GameWorks. Finally, the The Grill & Bar areas feature sit-down restaurants where guests can enjoy food and drink, generally themed to cater to a more nightlife-oriented market.
Arcade
Because of their former association with Sega, GameWorks centers were (and still are) home to many of their products and games, as well as examples manufactured by other companies. Games housed in the venues have ranged from older classics to newer simulators, and have included a select number of Mid-size attractions developed by the company, including The Lost World: Jurassic Park Special. Some locations have also have been used as location test sites for Sega, something likely reflected in Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge in particular by the inclusion of a large GameWorks logo in one of its racetracks.
Alongside more specialised attractions, larger locations would often contain elaborate media and gaming-themed décor, as well as dedicated areas for specific subsets of machines; these were made known to visitors by the inclusion of further theming, including full-size model cars for racing games. Recent years have seen bigger focuses on prize redemption in an attempt to adapt to its popularity in the amusement market, as well as newer revisions of its former Play Card payment system, utilising pre-paid rewriteable cards for game credits.
Bars/merchandising
A central part of GameWorks operations that differentiate them from other amusement spaces created by Sega is the inclusion of bars and restaurants, such to the extent that one location, the former Tuscon, Arizona venue, later reopened under Sega as World Sports Grille, placing significant emphasis on its hospitality aspect. Restaurants trading within the centers serve family-friendly food; bars are typically sports bars, with licences to serve alcohol and broadcast sporting events.
In addition, most venues have contained gift shop retail outlets, selling exclusive GameWorks-branded and originally Sega apparel. Like Sega's other indoor amusement venues, Sonic the Hedgehog was the mascot of GameWorks until the 2011 sale of the venues, and was featured on the chain's merchandise, redemption prizes, children's menus, party decorations, and as a costumed character.