Games2U was interviewed by CBS's Charlotte affiliate, WBTV. In the interview, Games2U's David and Stuart Pikoff show off the exclusive Games2U U:bot, outdoor laser tag, and talk about Games2U's unique franchise opportunities available across America. They even do the weather from inside a Giant Hamster Ball!

If there's anything a kid likes more than a giant robot, it's a chance to be the robot. Local children will soon have that chance, thanks to Four Points-based Games2U.

Each year countless entrepreneurs contemplate launching new franchise opportunities that they hope will become the next hot business. But how many are really new? More importantly, how many have the potential to become the next big thing? Read on to find out how Games2U has become one of the hottest franchise opportunities in North America.

Robots are not attacking the city, but they completely won over the crowd at Games2U Entertainment’s official unveiling Wednesday of the 6-foot, 8-inch motorized U:Bot.

When co-creators Stuart and David Pikoff lifted the curtain to reveal U:Bot, children could hardly contain themselves as they lined up to step inside and control the towering green machine at the 2-year-old company’s corporate headquarters on Hudson Bend Road.

From inside an almost 7-foot-tall, motorized green robot, 11-year-old Katie Gillespey tests out the latest toy from Games2U Entertainment as she zips across the company's headquarters, shooting laser lights and fog as she moves.

"I definitely want to drive around and scare my friends," Gillespey said.

Happy 11th birthday, little Trevor. Like to invite your friends over for some musical chairs or pin the tail on the donkey?

Chances are little Trevor won't answer since all his attention is focused on his Xbox 360 and his brand-new "Need for Speed: Shift" video game.

The video generation's idea of fun isn't a parlor game. They want action, they want graphics — and Jim and Denise Sheehan want to fill that niche.

Game Boys

Two entrepreneurs score big with a fleet of mobile arcades.

David and Stuart Pikoff want to see your kids spending more time outdoors... playing Halo, Guitar Hero 3 and laser tag. The brothers' two-year-old Austin company, Games2U, brings truck-mounted video game theaters and laser tag gear to birthday parties. Last year Games2U started selling franchises; the Pikoffs project revenues of $15 million to $20 million this year.

When invited to a Hawaiian birthday party, there's no surprise what the afternoon will hold - beach park with picnic tables and barbecue pits, an inflatable castle, Costco balloons and Auntie serving up her best malasadas. One Hilo woman has a different vision for the future of Big Island birthday parties, and it looks a little like Laser Tag competitions and Guitar Hero face-offs.

"Kids are tired of going to a bowling alley or roller skating for their birthdays. We are offering everyone the chance to have a rock star birthday party at an affordable price," said Paula Thorne the owner of Games2U on the Big Island.

Nintendo Power

McALLEN — When school lets out, Rey Puente drives his black van around the parking lot looking for children.

Puente has a teaching degree but he doesn’t offer candy, a ride, the toys he has inside or even say hello. He hopes that someone will notice and tell their parents about the oversized Mercedes Benz with Super Mario painted on the side.

The school parking lot outings are guerrilla marketing for the franchise the 23-year-old Puente launched in June, Games2U. Puente doesn’t have a store; he has the van, which is a veritable party on wheels that can be rented for birthdays and even corporate outings.

“I can always go back into teaching,” Puente said. “I’m going to try and gamble and make some money young.”

When parked, panels along the side open to reveal flat screen televisions and video game systems. Inside the van, there are more televisions, more games, a comfortable couch and a built-in sound system.

The van is also packed with laser tag guns and vests and now a man-sized hamster ball to roll around in.
“Kids get in, roll around. Put them on a hill. Throw them off,” he joked.

Launched in Austin in October 2006, Games2U began franchising in March 2008. The company has since added 79 franchises and likely would have added more if not for the recession, said David Pikoff, who founded the company with his brother.

About one out of three people interested in opening a franchise was able to qualify for a loan, he said.
“We would be much bigger, much quicker if we didn’t have the challenge,” he said. “The franchises are all doing well.”

The common wisdom is with rising joblessness and tightened credit, parents would be spending less on entertainment for their children. And at $200 an hour and $99 for every hour after that, it could be a pocket book dent.

Pikoff said, at least for his company that simply isn’t true.

“When you’re talking about children’s birthday parties, it’s one of the coveted things,” he said. “You’re not going to cheat your kids out of a memory for a couple of hundred dollars. That is what we’ve clung to.”

To keep things fresh, the company plans to roll out new entertainment options every six to nine months.

Puente started with company working with an Austin franchise while he attended St. Edward’s University. He moved to McAllen earlier this year to launch his own after reading how the area was something of a haven from the recession.

“I could have gotten a franchise anywhere,” said Puente, who grew up in Port Isabel. “I like the Valley and I figured I’d bring something new, something exciting down here.”

Still, he’s had to alter his plans because of the credit crunch. His parents provided some of the capital to buy the franchise. He had originally planned to buy a larger trailer and hitch it to a truck, but ultimately opted against it because the bigger trailer is better suited for larger cities.

In his first few months, he’s done better than he expected. Now that’s school starting, he expects business to increase.

“I’m going to schools pretending like I’m dropping off my own kids,” he said. “All they have to do is say, ‘Hey there’s the game van.’ And mom goes home and wonders, ‘What’s the game van?’”

Central Texas parents tired of kids spending indoor time to play video games now can get them out of the house — to play video games.

A mobile entertainment service called Games2U packs a specially designed extended van with Xbox and Wii video game consoles, up to 20 controllers, five high-definition screens, laser tag gear and even a 10-foot “hamster ball.”

The Austin-based company recently opened a Central Texas franchise, operated by cousins Kevin and Ed Tolbert, and aims to send its Games2U van to homes and venues in need of some gaming.

Alissa Murrey, 14, tries her hand at "Guitar Hero" during a recent Games2U stop at Waco's Best Buy. (Duane A. Laverty photo)

Kevin Tolbert, an Austin chief financial officer, and Ed Tolbert, a Waco engineer, handle Waco, Temple and Killeen areas for Games2U, and plan to make their Games2U van a familiar sight at local football games, festivals like Westfest, college parties and community events.

Games2U’s mobile units most frequently provide the entertainment for birthday parties — “Guys 5 to 18 are our sweet spot,” Kevin said — but they also have been used for school fundraisers, community functions, companies’ team building exercises, even wedding receptions. “They entertain the kids,” he explained about the latter. Dates are booked through the corporate Web site, www.g2u.com.

The Games2U vans have three indoor HDTV screens and two outside ones; inside air conditioning; a fog machine and laser light show capabilities; movable bunkers and gear for outdoor rounds of laser tag; a photo booth to snap take-home pictures of party-goers; and a giant hamster ball powered by a person inside.

Those renting Games2U’s services — the basic rate starts at $200 for a 90-minute session — pick from a list of games that includes “Halo 3,” “Guitar Hero,” “Madden NFL 2010” and “Tiger Woods PGA Tour ‘09.” Kevin noted they even offer parent-friendly versions of action games like Halo, with reduced bloodshed and less graphic violence.

Those wishing to play laser tag need to provide a space at least 20 yards by 15 yards, but the franchisee said some renters stage games at nearby neighborhood parks.

Though setting up a new business venture during a recession might seem like a gamble, Kevin said he has two factors working in their favor. “Everybody loves video games . . . and people spend money on their children regardless of the recession,” he said.