Creativity and good maintenance have already ensured a steady flow of customers to these computer-based entertainment centres.

"The sheer thrill of playing something new draws us to gaming," said Barish Khandaker, one of the winners of this year's Bass Bi-Annual Gaming Tournament.

Bass Gaming Zone, the organisers of the tournament use the concept of multi-player gaming by connecting 18 or more personal computers through local area network (LAN). Bass was launched in 2002 and quickly gained popularity for being the only facility of its kind at that time. It organised the first gaming tournament in the following year.

"We did not receive an enthusiastic response from the city's gamers at the beginning," said Mainul Ahmed, vice-president of Bass Gaming Zone. When the second gaming tournament was held, number of participants was still not encouraging.

But this year the third tournament saw a huge number of gamers from different corners of the city willing to compete.

"Over 45 gamers were playing in different categories of the tournament," informed Khandaker.

Bass gave away over Taka 25,000 in prize money to the champions, runner-ups and other award winners and also distributed various gifts.

Two other gaming facilities have started their venture in the city this year and are also using the multi-player concept. However the two -- Blizzard Gaming Zone in Dhanmondi and Games.net in Uttara, were yet launch any official tournaments.

"If we can establish a working relationship with the two other gaming zones, we might organise a bigger and better multi-player tournament in the future," said Mainul Ahmed.

The only other popular gaming joint is Games World with its state of the art facilities.

It started in a humble way in Kalabagan during 2001 but has an ever-increasing membership list. It has opened a new branch in Bashundhara City recently.

Games World is affiliated with Games Center of the UK and follows tournament rules and procedures of their UK counterparts. Tournaments are held regularly on weekly, monthly, and annual basis at its two branches in Dhaka.

"With over 1600 members, we have to organise many tournaments in order to keep our members satisfied and motivated," said an employee of Games World. The store gives away gaming consoles, popular brand game in prizes.

From this year, Games World plan to initiate multi-player system in gaming consoles through cables.

Gamers of the city are now demanding online tournaments but owners of the gaming centres cited inefficient internet infrastructure as a major obstacle.

"We are still awaiting the arrival of optic fiber after which we can start organising such tournaments," said another employee of Games World.

These games are much developed versions of the video game arcades, which popped up in street corners and localities in the late 80's and early 90's and were flocked by school children and teenagers. Parents had a guarded opinion about these arcades because of their addictive nature.

Even though it has now become a healthy form of entertainment thanks to the quality of the gaming facilities, the addictive aspect remains.

"Games are based on theories of movement on the screen which excites the mind," said Professor A. H. Mohammad Feroz, a psychiatrist. "Movements of such type will affect the mind and will possibly make the player hostile," he cautioned.

"There will be side-effects to everything but at least we are getting some indoor entertainment in a city where it is rare to even find an open field to play cricket or football nowadays," reasoned Barish Khandaker.