The Game Preserve is a classic pinball and video arcade game place located inside of a strip shopping center in Webster. They are in the process of converting it into an arcade plus live performance and dance venue oriented to teens, which I really appreciate, as most of the live music venues on our side of town are primarily bars for 21 and up. Finally, there is a place for older teens to call their own! There’s a wall of videos, stage and a light up DJ booth, disco ball and a gymnasium full of pinball machines from the late 70s plus arcade games from the 80s. Snacks are available. I myself was sorry to see the indoor skate park which was there in that location go–seems that particular shopping center attracts novel but regrettably transient entertainment venues (Karaoke, pool hall, bouncy house, etc.).
Let me tell you the good, bad and ugly of the Game Preserve. The selection of pinball machines is impressive, and modern-day kids with even the shortest attention spans will certainly be entertained for at least 30 minutes, after which time they will want to be taken home to play on their Xboxes. Games are set to unlimited play so your admission will cover all the machines for as long as you want to pay them.
Now the bad: the lady who runs this place is a mean, insensitive expletive. In fact, I do not think I will ever return to the Game Preserve. She isn’t the owner, who is a man; but she is the one you will be dealing with since she’s been on guard at the front desk all four times I have been there. I don’t flame people lightly. I usually make excuses for the most egregious behaviors, in fact, but this was ridiculous and embarrassing.
What happened?
I planned a Special Needs meet-up event there after discussing it in person with the person who was the owner, who operates a location in the Woodlands. This meet-up was for all intellectually disabled teens in the Clear Lake area. Most of the participants in this group are on the more severe end of the spectrum, kids not mainstreamed who would benefit from some form of adaptive recreation/socialization. The flyer went home to lots of families. Before reproducing this flyer at Staples and sending the flyer out through a large distribution list, I went over the the Game Preserve and said, “What do you think? Does this look correct?” That bitchy lady was there and she couldn’t be bothered, although no one else was in there. She casually reassured me that the date and time and price and other details on the flyer were correct.
I then reproduced the flyer at Staples, some in full color, others printed on colored paper. I went back to the Game Preserve–this is five weeks before the event–saying here are some flyers you might want to leave at the desk, since this is open to all teens on the Autism spectrum. The lady said lackadaisically, “Lot’s of people come in here who have autism . . . .” (In other words, I don’t give a crap about your event or group.) “Well, OK, good, can you let them know about this event?” She said, just set the flyers down there. I left a small stack of flyers.
Two weeks before, I wanted a confirmation that they knew we were coming, so I filled out the online reservation form and heard nothing back. Meantime, the event was being blasted out to Special Olympics and School district’s distribution lists.
The night of the event arrives. It was scheduled for Tuesday from 6-8. Now to get to the entrance one has to walk down a very long and rather creepy hallway. I was nervous for normally you are reassured at least by the sound of the music that there is life at the end of the hallway. I got there just before 6, and said to the lady, can you please put on the music? (Why was it off?) The music was supposed to be playing which makes a difference in how one feels and when one arrives to a party. She very reluctantly turned on the music after muttering excuses about the owner makes up the mixes put on the music and music videos.
So parents start to arrive and she tells them $15. The deal I negotiated was $10. The flyer said $10. They had told me, well usually the rate is $15 per player unless one books as a group, and then it is $10, but since this is a meetup group, we will allow your group to come for $10. So arguments start to take place between the lady and the parents in line presenting my flyers, saying the price was $10 per child, and as the hostess, I was mortified. A few parents refused to come in.
Here’s the thing that really got me. This lady was so evil that when a parent went to assist their special needs child with the operation of the machines, she insisted the PARENT pay $15. That’s right. I ended up paying the extra $15 just to walk to the other side to assist my son with a game. It was wrong. Absolutely wrong. It was taking advantage of our children’s disabilities. I am not sure that the owner would have agreed with that women but I will never return to the Game Preserve, and I doubt these parents of special needs kids will either.