According to manager Jeff Walker, Gameworks at the Pike is more of an adult playground and bar than a kid zone, but I found a good mix of business people, families with kids and teens on dates out for fun on a Thursday evening. Matt Landers was adding the professional touch to the Watson Land Company team bowling in a necktie, while in the next lane Michael Sr. was bowling with his sons Michael, 11, and Denzel, 9.
Employees and friends from the Hyatt hotel were having a farewell gathering 
for one of their own. The party was scattered across the bowling lanes, Bowling Bar and other games. Hyatt employee Scott Cheatwood and his wife Allison come to Gameworks often to cheer on the Hyatt bowling team, which Scott hopes to join. Their friend Michael Stakelum, a student at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, moved to Southern California in September from New Orleans. He agreed that Gameworks is a fun place to get out of the rain. “I was under the impression that it wasn’t going to rain here, but I found out the hard way,” he said. “It rained more here than I was used to in Louisiana.”
Around the corner Sixteen-year-olds Edwin Delamora and Mayra Cabello were playing their favorite game, the Indy 500. Mayra’s sister works at Gameworks, so she’s a regular after school. Jaynay Daniels from Wilson High also comes in every day after school and is a pro at the Dance Dance Revolution Extreme.
With over 200 high tech video, virtual reality and old fashioned skill games, 
there is something for everyone. You can play standing, sitting, driving, riding a motorcycle, flying a helicopter, or dancing. Games of skill…games of speed… games of chance. Or, if you don’t want to play, you can sit and watch your favorite sports games on the ring of multi-sized TV screens surrounding the Arena Sports Bar.
Play Cards that work like ATM cards are available at the counter inside the 
entrance. You have the option of buying points or time. If you buy points, a certain number of points is deducted from your card for each game you play. The point value varies by game. If you choose to buy time, you can play as many games as you can fit in during that amount of time. Your card stops working when the time runs out. Some games you play for the thrill, or the satisfaction of improving your score. Others win tickets/points that can be redeemed at the Prize counter for prizes from Sponge Bob to a stereo music system.
At 8:45 p.m. it’s last call for teens and families with kids. After 9:00 p.m. the venue is over 21 only. Before 9:00 p.m., teens under the age of 18 without parents are allowed into the venue if they buy a game card at the door and behave themselves.
Food is available at the Sports Bar or Bowling Bar. Gameworks also has a full service restaurant, Jax Grill, that opens directly off the game hall and extends to an outdoor patio.
Hours: M - Th : 11am -12am Friday: 11am - 2am Saturday 10am - 2am Sunday 10am -12pm
For more information call (562) 308-7529 or visit www.Gameworks.com