Fortress , the self-described "home for gamers", opens in Melbourne today.





What should one expect in a home for gamers? Their website offers a solid overview of their facilities and offerings.

The ultimate venue for gaming enthusiasts and esports fanatics, spread across two gigantic floors in the middle of the CBD.

Fortress has a purpose-built esports arena, 160 top of the range esports-ready gaming PCs, a dedicated LAN lounge and a high-performance esports Bootcamp room. 10+ screens across both floors broadcasting live tournaments and international playoffs year-round. Everything primed for the ultimate esports experience!

If you’re not into esports, fear not! The huge basement hosts a gamer-friendly tavern, casual console gaming suites, fireside hearth and designated RPG.

Like many Melbourne-based gamers, I've been closely following the project since its initial public announcement.





Rather than targeting esports (the competitive video game scene) exclusively, a strategy that was ultimately unsuccessful in Australia for cinema operator Hoyts , Fortress are hoping to appeal to a broader audience by providing a number of ways to play and get involved.

With Consoles, PCs, dedicated Board Game areas, as well as (licensed) Food & Beverage options, there's something for everyone on offer here. For the aspiring esports pros, there are also additional 'High Performance Zones' designed to take competitive performance to the next level.





Fortress will be open 7 days from 10am-3am (though it is hard to imagine how busy it will be at 2:30 on a random Wednesday). The venue is free to enter, the commercial model may evolve but is likely to revolve around a mix of membership fees and/or per-hour charges. It would be interesting to see whether in time they explore a subscription-based 'all you can game' model to secure recurring revenue.





As a long-term gaming enthusiast and self-proclaimed 'ideas guy', when I saw Fortress was targeting the 'average' gamer, I sent them a concept pitch deck for an Event Series I think would make perfect sense.





I present to you:





The Battle Of The Bucks.

What are your thoughts? Would you entertain this as an option with your mates? Are you like me and considering boycotting the next Bucks party that involves Paintball?





Update: I checked it out with a colleague over lunch and there was a nice buzz and vibe around the space. Some photos below!

























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