A child waits anxiously with a group of friends at the end of a driveway. Seconds tick by at an agonizingly slow pace, but the children are soon rewarded as a van turns onto their street. Their faces light up with excitement as Terri Jackson pulls the Games2U van in front of their house. The concept of Games2U is basically a Mobile Video Game Theater that is climate controlled and self-powered. The van is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics and has many inside and outside flat-screen HDTVs. Upon seeing the van for the first time, Brody, age 15 says, "I would so sell my house for this!"

The Baton Rouge area saw its first Games2U party earlier this year when Terri Jackson stumbled across the opportunity while searching the Internet for birthday party businesses. She had been at another child’s birthday party, and everyone was pondering what type of party to do next. Everyone was tired of the same old themes. "The Games2U website was easy to find, and easy to get information on buying a franchise." Jackson’s van is equipped with two Wii game systems and three X-Box 360 game systems. Twenty people can play at the same time on games such as Guitar Hero, Halo 3, Rock Band, Madden 09 and animated movies such as Indiana Jones and Bolt.

Games2U also offers laser tag, The Human Gyroscope, Hamster balls and the Candy Cannon. The gyroscope ride is similar to something you would find in an amusement park. Two people are seated and strapped in with a harness while spinning upside down and sideways. The Candy Cannon is usually a fantastic way to wrap up the party. A large air cannon is filled with treat bags that are blasted into the air several times, giving everyone the opportunity to leave with some candy. Parent Sherry Boudreaux comments, "This is by far the best party my son has had in years. We had children there from five to sixteen years old, and every one of them was constantly entertained."

While birthday parties are their first priority, Games2U is also available for a multitude of other occasions. They can do corporate events, family reunions, summer camps and any other family friendly occasion. As the van is equipped with satellite TV, Jackson hopes to schedule LSU tailgating parties in the fall.

Jackson finds that the most rewarding aspect of this new enterprise is the joy on the children’s faces.

"The kids love it when they get to rock out with Mom on Rock Band, or cheer for Dad when he takes a spin on the gyroscope."

For more information, call (225) 266-6161 or visit www.G2U.com

Games2U Franchisee, Paige Graves, was interviewed by the South Florida Business Report which aired Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 on the local CBS station in Palm Beach, Fla. Paige did a great job on the interview talking about Games2U and explaining the concept to the audience!

When John Genest started his business last month, he banked on something he expected to hold true even in tough economic times: Kids’ birthday parties never get cut out of the family budget.

“When it comes to kids, basically, parents don’t skimp on it,” says Genest, the owner of the Capital Region’s Games2U franchise. He’ll roll up to a children’s party, day camp or family reunion with a minibus known as a “game theater” that houses five 50-inch, high-definition television screens and Wii and X-Box 360 game systems. “Your child only turns 8, 9, 10, 11 one time.”

TEQUESTA — For Steve Graves and his wife, Paige, traditional arcade theaters are way too stationary. So they've created a way to bring the arcade straight to you.

It's done through their Tequesta-based franchise of Games2U, a mobile arcade van that has three flat-screen plasma TVs inside hooked up to Xbox 360s, two flat screens outside the van for Nintendo Wii, and full equipment for games of laser tag. The van fits about 12 people inside, always arrives with a game coach and can be rented by the hour to go to wherever the party happens to be.

The couple's business started in September.

While Games2U is most popular with parents looking to give their kids a unique birthday party, businesses have rented the van for corporate gatherings and adults rent the laser tag for surprise parties, Steve Graves said.

'It's one of those things everyone likes,' he said. 'Anybody who doesn't like it probably doesn't like much of anything. It's that fun.'

AUSTIN - An Austin business brings the life of the party to peoples' homes all over the country. Games2U equips vans/trailers with video games inside and out and drops them off right at your doorstep. FOX 7's Nik Ciccone takes us to see all the fun you can have when you rent one of the gamer vehicles.

The bus rolls up, the canopy slides open and out come two flat screen televisions. Cue the fog machine and laser lights, open the doors and let the fun begin. So goes a typical birthday party for a not-so-typical company, Games 2U of West Springfield, and its owner, Graham Perry.

Perry, a Springfield resident, bought a Games 2U franchise three months ago and is already generating positive feedback from an ever-expanding clientele. Perry bought into the mobile video game theater company based in Austin, Texas, after seeing a family friend’s success and soon after was seeing the same results.

WHITEHOUSE, TX (KLTV) - No tokens...no problem! More and more East Texas kids are heading to the arcade and they don't even have to leave their front yard.

Laser lights, surround sound and fog machines, all just beyond the garage door.

"We can pretty much pull up into any driveway or cul-de-sac [in] a mobile entertainment vehicle," said Jonah Fults, with Games-2-U. "We can bring the party straight to the parent."

It's the block party of all block parties when Fults shows up. His 20 foot long Games-2-U van is virtually a game-room-on-the-go.

"Church group or school or whatever," said Fults. "Kids are just having a blast and smiling the whole time. It's just an awesome experience."

Inside I found three 42 inch flat screens and X-Box 360 games galore. Outside I found two flat screens for Nintendo Wii.

"We'll get with the mother, father, other parents, and we'll make sure the games are okay," said Fults. "From 6 to 60...they can actually have us out and have some fun."

And, because kids don't play enough video games, these days there's also laser tag for virtually any sized lot.

"[It's] original and neat," said Kyle Webb, 12. "There's not much stuff where you can go outside and play a Wii or X-Box or play laser tag in your front yard."

For some parents it's a convenience dream come true.

"There's no clean-up," said Lisa Humphrey, a mom. "They just come out and take care of everything for you...and they have a good time. The kids absolutely love it."

For the kids it's enough to make any yard the yard to beat this summer.

Games-2-U says they also have satellite TV available in the van, which comes in handy for tail-gating parties too.

"It's more fun than waterslides," said gamer Waylen Makua Kane Andrada. 

San Antonio Living interviews Michael Moody who demonstrates the party van, laser tag, human hamsterball, and the Games2U air cannon.