A group of young gamers play their favorite video games at Creswell’s Elite Game Spot. Photo provided
It’s been a fun, rewarding first year in business, said Jeanet and Daniel Campbell, owners of Elite Game Spot, 287 S Front St., Creswell.
Since opening on July 14, 2018, the Campbells have built a clientele of gamers eager to engage in friendly competition or challenge themselves while playing both current and classic video games.
”A lot of times we have siblings or groups of friends who get dropped off or bike here,” said Jeanet, who usually staffs the store while her husband of 17 years works as a solar consultant.
The couple’s been in the gaming business for 3.5 years. With her degree in business management, Jeanet handles Elite’s behind-the-scenes/social media aspects. Daniel built and maintains the store’s website, designed its window graphic and revamped the interior.
”We both have different roles that combine to create the business (customers) see,” Jeanet said.
Gaming systems are fully up to date: The 12 55-inch TVs, five PlayStation 4s, four Xbox One S, Xbox One X, two Nintendo Switches, Wii U and old-school classics such as NES, Super NES and Sega are sure to entice any gaming enthusiast.
And players know they’re in serious gaming territory when they see small screens scattered among the big: ”The hardcore gamers prefer the small screens because of their faster refresh rate,” Jeanet noted.
Current game favorites include Fortnite (online multiplayer); Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (multiplayer first-person shooter); Roblox (massively multiplayer online and game-creation); and Job Simulator (virtual reality simulation).
Other faves include Rainbow Six Siege (online tactical shooter); Minecraft (block-based, sandbox-style); Hello Neighbor (horror stealth); Super Smash Bros. (crossover fighting); and Beat Saber (virtual reality rhythm).
”’Favorite’ or ‘top’ games depends on who you ask; there are different niches and they’re completely different games,” Jeanet said. ”Kids are good at different things and like different things.”
And it isn’t just kids: ”We have a grandfather who’s been coming in and playing Black Ops 4, trying to get better than his grandson,” Jeanet said. ”Gamers really are all ages.”
Elite hosts Fortnite Tournament Tuesday, among other weekly events. Weather permitting, their inflatable Fortnite Battle Bus is out front for the occasion: ”It definitely gets attention,” Jeanet said.
The party room is equipped with tables, gaming chairs, couches and (upon request) a 90-inch projector, and is used for birthday parties and other events. ”We recently had a church group of about 40 kids in there doing karaoke; that was one of my favorite groups,” Jeanet said.
Three-year residents of Creswell, the entire Campbell family – including Asher, 14, Diaae, 11 and Gracen, 5 – are gamers. Asher favors Fortnite, Diaae likes Roblox, and on Super Smash Bros., Gracen ”can compete with older kids and beat a lot of them,” Jeanet said.
Providing a safe space where their own and other local kids can meet friends, have fun and share their love of gaming is perhaps what’s most rewarding about the business, Jeanet said.
”There are just some really neat kids in this community, and getting to know them has been great,” Jeanet said. ”I love knowing that we’re part of their childhood – that this is something they’ll look back on with happy memories.”
