Tilt Studios is one of the three main arcade centers available to Monroe residents and serves as the closest to the ULM campus. It gives students a place to destress and have fun after classes. The colorful atmosphere, numerous activities and prizes create an entertainment center for all ages, including college students.
The main aspect of Tilt is undeniably the arcade games. The large building is almost entirely filled with arcade cabinets, with enough space between them to avoid overcrowding. The center also appears to prioritize maintenance for its games. While a few games were out-of-order, most of the games were running smoothly. The types of games avaliable, however, might disappoint some visitors. On a walkthrough of the center, visitors will find claw machines, shooter games and driving games. Although there are different types of games sprinkled throughout, if you are not a fan of the three aforementioned categories, Tilt may not be as satisfying of an experience.
“Honestly, I think it’s pretty overhyped,” freshman art major Alissa Dobbins said. “It’s good for small kids, but to me, it’s just a waste of money.”
The next major aspect of the center is its activities. At Tilt, visitors can play black-light laser tag and mini golf, bumper cars, mini bowling and Laser Frenzy, a maze of lasers players must avoid touching to win. Aside from the black-light features, these attractions are standard as to what you would expect from a typical entertainment center. What is not as expected, however, is the wait time. There appeared to be only one or two employees in the large building, contributing to a longer wait time for assistance. This was not only apparent with the attractions, but also with the prize counter.
Unlike the typical two or three employees behind the prize counter at other arcades, Tilt had only one. This means visitors must wait for those ahead of them to make their selections. There are also two sides to the prize counter, meaning customers must walk around the large counter, sometimes making multiple laps, section, potentially making multiple laps, until they have spent their desired tickets and received their items.
As frustrating as this may be, the variety of prizes helps make up for it. Typical arcades have many children’s toys, such as Nerf guns and dolls. Tilt has these items as well, but what sets it apart from its competitors are its prizes for adults. The center’s prize section includes coffee machines and an Amazon Echo Dot that may be more appealing for adults, including ULM students. These larger options do require a larger sum of tickets, but Tilt’s relative affordability Tilt’s relative affordability makes those prizes more attainable.
In the center of the building are four kiosks at which customers purchase or reload their Tilt Studios cards. $20 will purchase 100 points, and each game requires 6 on average. This allows visitors to play between 10 and 20 games. The attractions require more points, ranging from 16 to nearly 40 per person.
Walking around the large interior, playing games and participating in the activities might leave visitors hungry. Tilt’s accessibility into the Pecanland Mall grants easy access for customers to purchase a meal from the food court, but the center also has a concession area of its own with a small, seated dining area. There, people get to choose from soft pretzels, fresh pizza, and a variety of drinks that will give you energy for more games and activities.
If you would like to experience Tilt for yourself, they are open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays.
