NEWPORT — GameWorks, one of the anchor attractions at Newport on the Levee, will open March 15 with a mix of arcade games, food and a bar with performing bartenders.

        The GameWorks at Newport on the Levee is aimed squarely at the young adult, over-21 crowd, according to LeeAnne Stables, GameWorks vice president for marketing.

Dancer Elizabeth Eckhoff claps as streamers and confetti fly at a media preview of GameWorks, at Newport on the Levee. (Patrick Reddy photos) | ZOOM |

        “GameWorks is a place for someone who likes to go out for fun and be in a place where there's lots of activity and lots of noise,” she said. “We look at GameWorks as one big party.”

        GameWorks' arcade concept, originally developed by movie mogul Steven Spielberg, Universal Studios and Sega Corp. and now owned by Sega and Universal, offers some 120 games including innovations like the Dance Dance Revolution, where you follow a computer lead in what is described as karaoke for your feet.

        Other features include:

        • An Indy 500 simulator, in which up to eight people can race.

        • A Racing Zone with NASCAR-inspired games.

        • Jurassic Park — The Lost World, wan interactive mini-theater with roller coaster-type seating.

The sign outside GameWorks, scheduled to open March 15. | ZOOM |

        • Shock Drop, where players withstand increasing levels of “shocks” to their hands and feet as they push a “lightning bolt” to the top of the game.

        The Newport GameWorks will also offer classic games like air hockey, Skeeball, darts and pool.

        GameWorks CEO Ron Lam said the Newport GameWorks is the culmination of three years of refining the concept at other locations, including one at Easton Town Center in Columbus.

        “We are going for the 21-35 crowd, but we also want to attract the family,” Mr. Lam said during a media/VIP tour Thursday.

NEXT UP

Coming to Newport on the Levee:     • Feb. 26: Brio Tuscan Grill restaurant.     • March 5: Claddagh Irish Pub.     • March 15: GameWorks.

        “What you see is a lot of families and young people here during the day, and then the crowd changes to the young adults at night. We have to be careful because we sell alcohol, but we want everyone to have fun here.”

        With the opening of the 27,000-square-foot Newport facility, the Glenside, Calif.-based company has 13 domestic locations and venues in Guam, Rio de Janeiro and Vienna.

        The Newport GameWorks was completed in just four months, according to Ms. Stables, compared to up to 10 months at some sites. It has over 8 miles of cable to operate the games and attractions and enough continuous electric power to run 24 homes.

        There is no cover charge. Visitors can dine at the Jax Grill. Diners can watch their meals being prepared in the open exhibition kitchen.

        There are two bars:

        • The Arena Bar, which is in the center of the facility with 10 television screens for sports viewing and bartenders who break into song.

        • The Hopscotch Lounge.
       

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