A mum-of-three irked by how much time her sons were spending in front of the screen decided to build an outdoor gaming centre for them,
Jacquie Rumble, 47, was annoyed by her sons Joe, 18, Danny, 16, and Max, nine, who spent all day playing shooting games.
So Jacquie from Oakham, Rutland, and her husband Billy, 50, sold their four-bedroom home to fund a woodland gaming centre.
Jacquie, a former executive assistant and marketing manager quit her job to work on the centre full-time which is also open to other players.
She said: ‘The more they played, the more negative changes I would notice.
‘They became grumpier. It was as though they were plugged into their games so much that when you unplugged them, they’d get withdrawal symptoms.
‘I’d try and limit their screen time to an hour or so, but it’s a fine balance because you don’t want them to resent you, or for them to just go and play at their friends’ houses instead, so it took a lot of compromising.’
While talking to Billy, who works in renewable energy, Jacquie came up with the idea of replicating video games outside, so children could play while enjoying the benefits of fresh air and exercise.
However, at first, her sons were not so sure.
‘I’m no gamer, and the boys were a bit worried that it wouldn’t be cool enough, or that we wouldn’t get it quite right,’ said Jacquie.
‘But I think they were reassured when we told them we’d listen to their input and they could help us to make it happen.’
The couple was so sure about their idea that they took the huge risk of putting their home on the market, in the hope that they could use money from the sale to fund the business.
In February 2019, the property sold for a substantial amount.
Next, the family moved into a four-bedroom rented property, using the leftover cash to start on the gaming centre and turn it into a business entitled Rumble Live Action Gaming.
They secured a commercial deal with Anglian Water, which allowed them to use eight acres of woodland around Grafham Water – England’s third-biggest reservoir – as their outdoor gaming centre.
The determined family decided to create three different ‘zones’ where gamers could play out their real-life battles.
And to bring everything to life, Jacquie enlisted the help of some American manufactures to deliver state of the art equipment.
No gaming expert, by her own admission, Jacquie often relied on her sons for feedback and advice.
A year later, Rumble Live Action Gaming was ready for a test run which turned out to be a success.
The company then officially launched the following month – and soon became a huge hit with children and adults alike.
Punters pay £15 per session and each game typically has 20 participants, split into two teams, who embark on different missions.
Each zone has a central Ranger’s cabin, kitted out with large TV screens, which display stats and explain who has won each round.
‘Some parents would turn up just to watch, but by the end, they’d be joining in with all the kids and having a brilliant time,’ Jacquie added.
‘That’s what’s so special about it – it’s for all generations.
‘But the most special part for me is watching grandparents play with their grandchildren.’
Sadly, in March 2020, Jacquie and Billy were forced to close their doors as the country went into lockdown.
Thankfully, they were able to reopen in July – marking out briefing areas to ensure two metre gaps all round and ensuring the equipment is sanitised between each session.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/21/mum-sells-home-to-build-massive-outdoor-gaming-centre-for-sons-then-turns-it-into-business-13301627/
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