Review by Sarah Lewall
Guest writer from the University of Alberta’s Creative Non-Fiction writing program
My roommate, Savannah, and I had never been to an internet café before, but we decided to spend an afternoon together at Overklocked Gaming to see if this is someplace we’d want to visit in the future. The comprehensive website which details pricing, a massive list of exciting video games, the expectation of tasty snacks, and fast PCs, left expectations high as we visited for the first time.
We went on a Monday at 12:40PM. We made note of signs on the door explaining no outside food is permitted and to keep volume at a low. Our first impression was that it had dark lighting perfect for gaming, with a large centre screen showing live esports, plenty of seating, and a big stack of sugary snacks. There were a wide variety of fairly priced snacks and beverages, which were mainly junk foods like chocolate, chips, and sugary drinks. We got a canned pop each ($1.50 per can), but opted out of other snacks for our short visit.
I noticed at the time we visited, there weren’t many people at the café, which made our experience feel private and quiet. Others have reported online that Overklocked has been loud and packed with rowdy teenagers. My experience differs, and it is likely because of the time and day we visited.
The staff made our visit very smooth. When Savannah and I came to the desk and asked how this works, they had an immediate and clear response. They set up free guest accounts for us, which allowed us to log into the PCs. These accounts remain usable for future visits. It was seamless, as all we needed to do was come up with usernames and the staff did the rest.
There was an option to play in the main room, or a smaller, more private room. We found an area in the main room where we could sit together. We settled into the comfy gaming chairs and we were pleased with the large monitors, intuitive keyboards, and sleek headphones.
The two of us were thoroughly impressed with the roster of video games available. Big name RPGs like Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3, as well as indie titles such as Outer Wilds and Celeste are offered, and the user interface is easy to navigate in order to find your perfect game and monitor time spent. We used the LAN feature to play Baldur’s Gate 3 and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI together, but solo play is also offered.
Guest Steam accounts are offered to play games, as well as the option to sign into your personal account. We opted to use the guest accounts, as we were unsure about using our personal accounts on public computers. It was unclear if using your personal account, you would be automatically logged out or not when time ran out. While the guest accounts were sufficient, if you opt to use one your game progress will not be saved unless you make note of the account number, and it is possible for other people to access this account or play on your saves. This was not a problem for me or Savannah.
One issue Savannah and I encountered during our session was that the PCs had surprisingly slow game startup and load times, and we weren’t sure why. This was particularly frustrating because you are paying for time spent, so a few minutes of playtime were wasted waiting for a game to finally open. We did not play on the consoles, but both of us found the PCs a tad slow, which was unexpected. Overklocked’s website states they are constantly upgrading their systems, so I hope to see this resolved in the future.
Once our games finally loaded in, the PCs supported high graphics and ran smoothly, even in our multiplayer lobbies. The PCs showed a non-intrusive timer, we appreciated this clarity. When we eventually did run out of time, the PCs automatically shut down, but we were forewarned.
The PCs, keyboards, mice, and headphones were very clean, which differs from what some have reported online. Overklocked Gaming has seen this criticism and since done their best to keep the space clean, and this reflects my experience. They claim to clean the PCs daily, as well as offer cleansing wipes to customers upon request. In order to get the cleanest experience, I think it would be best to beat the crowds and visit earlier in the day.
We found the pricing very reasonable for a hangout spot in Edmonton. There are a lot of different payment options to suit individual needs, including per hour and all day rates—$7/hour without membership (which offers discounted prices for $42/year): Savannah and I paid $15.50 each for two hours of playtime and soft drinks, which is standard compared to other video game cafés in Edmonton. When we discussed pricing at the front desk, the worker let us know that if we pay for a certain time, but we aren’t able to stay for it, the residue will remain on our accounts as credit to use on another visit. This was awesome to hear, and it gave us incentive to visit Overklocked again.
Overall, my experience at Overklocked Gaming was welcoming and fun. It was exciting to visit a place geared towards video gaming and community, with tons of options to customize the experience. Overklocked Gaming’s website has comprehensive information about the games, systems, and events offered. I felt my expectations were mostly met as a first time video game café experience, and that Overklocked Gaming has taken criticism in stride in order to continually improve the gaming café experience.
Overklocked Gaming
11618 119 St NW, Edmonton,
587-410-4105
website
Sun: 11AM-1AM
Mon-Thurs: 12PM-1AM
Fri: 12PM-3AM
Sat: 11AM-3AM
