Could you introduce yourself to our readers please Deshan? Your full name and position would be great. Deshan Pillay aka TRXSTR

RVB is a new gaming venue in Auckland that has recently opened to the public. What made you decide to open a gaming lounge in Auckland? It actually all started around 5 years ago when my friends and I got tired of lugging our gear to each other’s houses so we could have a LAN. We thought “Why isn’t there a place we could go where everything was already setup for us?” From there the RVB concept has extended from a console gaming lounge into NZ’s premiere interactive retail gaming experience. RVB is much more than a place to come and play games, we also have an ‘expo style’ retail store where you can ‘try before you buy’ and a fully licensed bar coming soon in early 2008.

Do you think there is a strong market for gaming venues in New Zealand? Definitely, I feel NZ’s interactive gaming community is ready for a world class venue like RVB and what better place to kick it off than in K’Road - one of the country’s most vibrant roads. The response to date has been extremely positive and Auckland’s gamers have really taken to RVB and what we have to offer.

How do you see the venue growing? RVB’s main focus is to become the hub for NZ’s gaming community. To achieve this we have to listen to what NZ’s gamers want so come down and give us some ideas!!

What sort of events can we expect to see coming out of RVB in the near future? RVB will be regularly hosting gaming tournaments, competitions, live NZ music and much much more. Each week there will be something new happening so keep coming down to see what’s up.

Are you a gamer yourself or did you just want to support the gaming industry in New Zealand and try and make a living out of it at the same time? I am most definitely a gamer – not pro material but I do enjoy my games. I also felt there was a lack of entertainment options available in NZ and thought a gaming venue such as RVB would be a great addition, not just for gamers but for anyone looking for a bit of fun.

Do you think gamers need more support in New Zealand in the way of overseas competitions and funding? NZ gamers lack the support to allow them to take it to the next level. Hopefully RVB will be able to help them achieve this. I plan on forming a pro team and help sponsor them to compete internationally under the RVB brand.

Do you intend on holding national events at your venue for competitors in New Zealand? One of our plans here at RVB is to create a competitive gaming league with tournaments on a regular basis. It will take some time to develop but I would love to see RVB be host to national competitive gaming tournaments.

What games do you think will be popular on the gaming scene in the next year or so? I wouldn’t be able to narrow it down with so many great games coming out next year. 2008 is going to be an epic year in gaming!!

You recently held a Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 LAN at RVB. How did that go for you? Did you receive a lot of support from local gamers? We had an awesome day. It was great seeing the number of gamers that turned up. Especially since it was put together at the last minute.

Is your venue available for private LAN’s as well as public events? Yes, it sure is. We even have a VIP area which you get exclusive access to for private parties and events.

How can readers find out more about RVB? Check out www.rvb.co.nz or even better come down to 155 K’Road, Auckland City.

And lastly, what are your plans for RVB in the future? We have some exciting plans up our sleeves but you’re just going to have to wait and see :)