Blast Off at Gamerz Wanted in Lakewood

represents Lakewood's top spot for video and card game entertainment. Arcades are a thing of the past, as this Internet zone features the most popular video games on the market in an exciting and fun atmosphere.

Party like a rock star with friends in Guitar Rock Band, or sit down in an awesome game chair and play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Halo 3 or any of the other competitive first-person shooting games.

It's the most entertainment-filled gaming establishment in the city. The 2,700-square-foot gaming center features 20 Xbox 360 consoles and four PCs, all equipped with 32-inch high-definition TVs. The game chairs have three speakers built in.

And that's just one room.

The party room next door features a 108-inch TV with Dolby HD surround with disco for the full visual experience. Allan Broda, 54, opened the business in March in the Lakewood Colonial Center. He said Gamerz Wanted is meant to be a place to come and have a good time.

"It gets loud but it's fun," Broda said.

If the Xbox 360 doesn't suit your gaming style, there are weekly face-to-face card game tournaments.

Brandon Troxell and John Williams sat down at a table Tuesday to play a friendly game of Magic the Gathering, a one-on-one game used with a deck of printed cards. Other popular fantasy-like card games played at Gamerz Wanted are Dungeons & Dragons, Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon.

"I love coming here," said Troxell, 23. "This place is pretty versatile for being an Internet cafe."

Broda said he wanted a place for the community where kids could play games and stay out of trouble. It's a local hangout for many Lakewood teenagers but also attracts soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

It's free to walk into Gamerz Wanted. As an incentive, any high school kid can earn a free day of games if they bring in a report card with a 3.5 grade point average or higher.

"We want it to be considered an award," Broda said.

Who: Gamerz Wanted

What: Lakewood's premier gaming destination

Where: 9533 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W., Lakewood

Contact: (253) 212-1818

Web site: www.gamerzwanted.com

Prices: Standard is $6 an hour and includes all systems. There are no refunds of partially used one-hour time blocks. $30 per person for the gamerz package that includes all systems from noon-10 p.m.

Special rates: High school students and members of the military pay $5 an hour, and if you've been recently deployed or if you have an Associated Student Body card it's $4 an hour.