It’s no secret the pandemic has taken a huge toll on the theater industry, but some chains are getting clever to offset some of these losses. CGV the largest cinema company in South Korea, has been allowing gamers to rent its screens for two-hour chunks, costing $90 before 6PM, then going up to $135 later in the evening.
CVG employee Seung Woo Han came up with the idea to rent screens out for gaming after realizing that games and movies share a lot of similarities. "When thinking about how to make use of empty cinema spaces, I noticed that games nowadays boast excellent graphics and well-structured stories just like movies. Both have a storytelling aspect to them, so if someone can enjoy watching a film in the cinema, I thought they would also enjoy playing computer games in one."
Malco Theaters in United States are also letting gamers plug in to their screens. It’s another way to increase cash flow while business is down dramatically. Charging $100 for 2 hours, or $150 at 3 hours. The company, which has 36 locations through Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, allows up to 20 people to be in the theater at the same time. “No outside food or drinks of any type” are allowed. But you do need to bring your own console.
And that’s not a surprise. Because theater chains don’t have video game consoles lying around. They’re in the movie business. They’re just temporarily turning themselves into amazing arcades so they can stay in business period.
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