Players find community at a new gaming lounge

TANNERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Online gaming and 'e-sports', also known as electronic sports, have taken the world by storm.

28/22 News has more on how players in the Poconos are joining in on the fun, thanks to a new gaming lounge in Monroe County. 

Video games have always been a hobby for Monroe County natives Nelson Pena and his brother Ricardo. 

"Gamers at heart. Growing up, we’re like, ‘wow this would be so cool if there was like a lounge that had everything,” said Nelson, owner, of Mudita Gaming Lounge.

The Pena brothers are taking that dream and making it a reality. They opened the 'Mudita Gaming Lounge' at the Pocono Premium Outlets in Tannersville. 

“It was a lot of hard work, a lot of painting, a lot of trying to figure out how the lighting would work, but we made it work,” stated Ricardo, co-owner, of Mudita Gaming Lounge.

The gaming lounge has all different types of consoles. Some nostalgic like Nintendo 64, to newer technology like virtual reality.

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Nelson tells 28/22 News aside from the physical advancements of the games, e-sports has now put a spotlight on the hobby, making it a dream career for players. 

“I like to describe it as sports for video games, it’s like the super bowl. You know people take it seriously, people practice every single day. They hone their craft and they have that discipline to get better to show off their skills and now they’re able to be compensated for it,” explained Nelson.

But visitors of Mudita Gaming Lounge don’t need to be playing just for competition. 

“I was never really a gamer growing up, I really didn’t get into it until I met my fiance, and it’s just how it brings people together,” said Bianca Rodriguez, volunteer, at Mudita Gaming Lounge

Honing in on community the lounge’s wall of wisdom shows inspiring notes written by gamers hoping to pass along motivation to others. 

"Our mission behind Mudita is that we want to see you go out and chase your dreams and conquer your daily challenges and we believe that one of the ways of inspiration is the words we speak," stated Nelson.

The gaming lounge hopes to work with local schools that offer 'esports' to promote how teamwork and preserving can translate to everyday life.