Start with the games and the number of seats
First the list of games and apps, and the number of seats. Everything else follows: graphics card, CPU, disk size, monitor refresh rate and internet bandwidth. Two or three zones — standard and high-end seats — help keep to the budget.
PCs and monitors
- Custom builds usually give more power for the money and are easier to repair and upgrade.
- Fast NVMe SSDs for the system and games.
- Proper cooling — the PCs run for hours without a break.
- High-refresh monitors for gaming seats.
- Identical parts on every seat — easier maintenance and spares.
Network: cables only
- Every gaming seat on a cable through a gigabit switch — no Wi-Fi.
- Internet with headroom plus a backup line (second provider or mobile).
- Guest Wi-Fi for phones on a separate network.
- Labelled cables and a written network map.
Protecting the system from guests
A system that resets to a clean state on every restart, separate guest and admin accounts, and locked system settings. One PC is set up as the master and copied to every seat; game and Windows updates run on a schedule outside opening hours.
Power
Short power cuts and surges do happen in Batumi. UPS units for network gear and the till, surge protectors for the PCs — they protect both hardware and data.
Software and licences
You need club management and time-tracking software, licensed Windows, and games with commercial-use rights — many games and apps have different terms for clubs than for homes.