Do you still believe in the Concept?

[MatHat13]

This is a question that goes out to CEC and RAE fans.

Do you still believe in the Chuck E. Cheese Mission, or in an easier term, concept?

My answer is yes, I still believe in the concept of Chuck E. Cheese. I have been reading some very recent posts, more and more are about CEC has gone downhill and doesn't care. Maybe they've cut corners we don't like and take away things that mean alot to fans. And I don't blame them tearing the RAE apart either, sure they did try a change for better, but the way they have done was the biggest and stupidest mistake, and they totelly missed what they were destroying. It sucks, but stupid things like that happans alot and that was one of them, I feel for the die hard RAE fans.

I still believe CEC Entertainment is a great company for the way they want to treat guests, guests have always been the focus and well, you can see why the show is not mentioned much anymore, sure back in the days, they entertained alot of people and CEC believed it was a way that brought the family together in a unique way, with games at the same time to play and great food like pizza. Though I feel the way CEC treated guests lately feels as its only narrowing down to the little kids, I think the place is for families and people who want to enjoy a good time and food. Sure kids these days playing games and eating pizza are what is making CEC still sucessful, but I guess they should see in other guest's eyes, especially the teens and adults who grew up with CEC how much fun America's # 1 family entertainment center has done to keep them coming back.

Although I don't like the things I hear about the company cutting corners on such things, I still believe in the magic. I look at CEC as being a fun place to go where there is a variety of things to do, no just 'eat and play', to me its still got that good magic feeling. Though more seems to be taken away(extra walkarounds, the full band etc.) I still feel the magic is not all gone, in my point of view.

I love my job at CEC, I love playing CEC, its been my dream to be a costume character performer and to start my dream with Chuck E., since I support and am a longtime fan of the Concept, and the animatronic show. Though other people I work with there might not feel it and maybe behind my back they say how 'silly and odd' I act as CEC(well just an opinion, maybe I am generalyzing this), I still focus on Chuck. When I am Chuck, Chuck is REAL! He just doesn't make a 5 min apperance for a fake looking birthday dance than leave. I make Chuck make SURE he captures every guest's eyes. Well I am keeping that alive at my store, my managers love how I perform Chuck, though some mishalfs have been occuring at my store(I should not share what, personal manners), I try to keep high hopes to be the best Chuck E. Burlington, MA has ever Had! From my work as the Mouse, I have gotten tips, and even a drawing from a little girl(the other day), and such because my Chuck made sure he made his time to see EVERY Guest.

The way I am working at Chuck E. Cheese's, that's what I see in Chuck's eyes.

I still believe in making the concept magical.:)
Happy 30 Years Chuck.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

The above was obviously spoken by a current CEC Employee.......lol.......:p


I have always felt that the CEC Concept was fantastic, but since the mid-80's the Company could really be doing SO much more with it. Seems to me they are wasting some great opportunites to enhance and strenghten the concept, but instead are content to sit on their *** and do nothing.

That is the frustrating part: KNOWING how much MORE can be done with the concept and realizing that the people in charge ( even on a Store level!) in most cases do not give a damn.

|I

[ChuckEFranchize454]

WOW matt u def got it right on the money on that!!!! i agree i still belive in that concpet.



I love my job at CEC, I love playing CEC, its been my dream to be a costume character performer and to start my dream with Chuck E

mat i def feel you on that one...becoming a Costume charater was my dream well being a showroom host there!!! but ive been doin it for 3 years now!!! its truely the greatest feeling in the world!! knowing that kids belive in you.


Though other people I work with there might not feel it and maybe behind my back they say how 'silly and odd' I act as CEC

now everyone may see it odd that you love playing chuck...trust me my fellow matt!!! i kno that feeling cuz people think im crazy for loving playing chuck e and to this day i still love doing it!!!


Do you still believe in the Chuck E. Cheese Mission, or in an easier term, concept?

yes i do!!!!! no matter what anyone says i still belive in the concept no matter what happens. im in it for the long run. no matter how bad it get or how stressed i am!!


still feel the magic is not all gone

NO its not!!!! if you belive it is still there then it IS!!!!
i belive in the magic still idc what happens


we need to not be so down on CEC's future. there may still be hope. we have to be postive...we cant always be down on them and be so hard on CEC

[MatHat13]

Exactly, Positive. I'm the type of guy who wants to look at things positively all the time, but it seems throughout some of my life it doesn't work that way, same goes for everyone else in the world, maybe some people just lose hope, or don't care, or try. I don't give up on CEC just because it notches down or seems to care more about money, I don't go by the Corperate standards as that's not why I am a CEC fan in the first place. The only thanks they get from me is that I am employed at a CEC and that we still have a show and some elements to make magic. That's it.

[PuroMax]

Since it's a company that revived from bankruptcy, it's very clear that such a thing is possible if things aren't tight. A company with a balance sheet as impressive as CECs always raises the envelope in an effort to outperform itself. They can never be satisfied. Look at the big stink that was caused in 05 because it was the first year in forever that wasn't better than the last financially.
If you ask me, the steam behind that costume character died with the inception of kid check. Essentially, it took the person that you'd have walking around interacting with the guests and made them stand at the front door... oftentimes with nothing to do. It takes a very unique person to be Chuck E. Cheese material. People who want a job to get a paycheck don't want to embarrass themselves by wearing the suit, and good character actors, people that want to perform, don't like having to do the obligatory job functions. There aren't enough real team players out there.

You can't make magic unless you want to be a magician. And you have to work if you want to get paid. To be CEC material, you need to be the total package.

[VegaNova]

I do think that the magic is still there... if you're under 6.

That's not to dog the Matts who posted because you're looking at this from a fans perspective working in the job you love - I'm talking more from a guest's perspective. I think much of what CEC does as a company is a diluted form of what once was.

It's not that they're doing terrible, but as Jenn stated, they could be doing more. And that can be very frustrating from a fan's perspective. All companies are like this though, and that bottom line ($$$) can be important. That cost cutting and chipping away at things isn't always black and white financial savings. Sure it looks good on paper, but there's definetely intrinsic value that's lost. CEC has a hard time seeing this I really do believe.

But, for the target crowd I think the magic is still there. Chuck E. will always be Chuck E. and bring a smile to a young kids face whether the show sucks, whether the employees are worthless, or whether you just blew half a week's paycheck on an overpriced birthday party. This is something I've always respected - even when my friends and I used to go screwing around town with a CEC suit on, we always had the rule of not removing any part of that costume in front of a child. No exceptions.

-VegaNova

[cec080]

I believe in the concept still. The only thing that i don't understand is the New card thing for the games. I've been to Dave and Busters, Gameworks and Lukys here in Michigan and they all have the card system yet i don't see a 3 yearold swiping it. Now a 10 yearold yes. My dad's location is going to be getting them next month. Whoops maybe i should'nt have spilled the beans. anyways thats the problem i see. The shows yes they need repair but If that's the way they feel about them.:( Yet the last time i went to my local cec's the shows looked really good. yet i wish all the locations that have mmbb in the area get dvd then you can actually watch the show on the weekend with out the CM'S forgetting to put the Vhs tape in. I can't wait to see what the card system is really like!

[bzier]

As long as CEC still has the band in some locations, continues to utilize a walkaround, and adds new games every year or two to their locations, than, yes, I still believe in the concept.
I am one of those guys who tried to be positive for so long, but the longer I wait and hope, the worse things seem to get. It saddens me, but as we've said earlier, it does take somebody special to work at CEC and make that magic. I would feel alone in my store, if it wasn't for my brothers and friend that work with me...in making magic. We're the only ones that really care.
The only reason we've made it this far is because I'm a manager. I make it PRIORITY to my cast members to try and go the extra mile, making magic for our guests. Most of them really don't care. If not for my brothers and friend, I'd be alone, and probably say 'to heck with it' too!

When you've seen how great things were, and know how much better they could (and SHOULD) be, it sickens you.

[captslappy]

No. I think it cheapened both the RAE brand and the CEC brand. Its the worst of both worlds. I am a Rock-afire fan and a Pizza Time Theatre fan. It's great to see the RAE is still going, but its just not the same with the show selector stuff. I like the full length themed shows they did. 84-86 was the golden age for the RAE and for PTT it was 77-83. I think things began to go downhill after that. The MMBB is a poor attempt to make the CEC characters more Rock-afire like. They do have some good shows and songs but I liked them better when they were the Pizza Time Players and it was more of a Vaudeville type show as opposed to them trying to be a band. This is why I do not go to CEC anymore.

[RAFE CEC Guy]

The MMBB is a poor attempt to make the CEC characters more Rock-afire like.

I Agree.

In Fact, In The Beginning of The New CEC, The MMBB Were The Old RAFE Mechs, Only With Different Cosmetics.

[pizzacam]

I do think that the magic is still there... if you're under 6.

Wow, then what was that when we all went at 5 & 6?? Hmm what's a way better word for magic? :lol

I like Allurement...

[MMBBfan327]

I am one of those guys who tried to be positive for so long, but the longer I wait and hope, the worse things seem to get.

Yeah, like after Phase IV hit West Allis, I literally freaked out and am willing to no longer even step foot in that store. And my family is glad to hear that as they always hated that store. :b Anywho, I'm gonna have to say that as long as the company releases new, reasonable ideas that are a success in my eyes, I will always follow. See, knocking down walls and making the store brighter than a car's bright-lights will just not do. Sure, maybe necesary in some cases, but they took it just way to far. And I must admit that things went down right around 1998 with Studio C. Things were magnificent before that. With Studio C, it's not even a show, and with it being so dull and pointless, kids went for the games. One reason for going was for Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza (no pun intended, but an excellent point to prove that pizza and shows once were the target). CEC used to be the place to have a nice Saturday Night dinner with the family, enjoy the great shows, and maybe play a few games. I actually still go to CEC just like this and I get starred at awkwardly. With the show dying and becoming just a late night show for toddlers, the excitment just got murdered. Seriously, what kid watches late night talk shows??? Kids figure this, then say that's what Studio C is. No attention getter at all. But like I said, if CEC brings out newer cooler ideas, I'll pay attention. I got yo back, CEC! ;) :lol :o

[sungun12]

do i still believe?? of course. like ive always said, its about each store caring. are there stores out there that dont have a good thing going? of course, unfortunately. its up to each store and mgr to actually give a crap and 'make magic' - or, (and excuse the cliche) we are only just another pizza place. take this example i got off of one of my other gms...i came in the store to realize chuck hadnt been out all day. so i grabbed my mgr (not literally) and dragged her outside and asked her what the sign on the front of the building said. of course she looked at me like i was a retard but i made her say what the sign said. chuck e cheese. oh really? well if you dont have chuck e out, it might as well just say pizza hut. were not here to take orders and serve pizza. thats what they do.

as you see, i have a very animated way of getting points across, but you know what? i dont have that issue anymore.

[CEC3066]

I beleive in thee concept to an extent. I'm saddened to see CEC shrink to so many lows. I am Happy Studio C curtains are being brought back and would LOVE too see the rest reinstated although I know that's asking alot. What I would REALLY like to see is walkarounds of the other characters. Chuck & Helen arn't enough! What About Jasper What About Munch???? Pasqually eh stick to drumming & making pizzas.
Studio C IMHO would look way better if it were MORE then just 1 bot w/ anywhere from 16-32 functions. and what's the latest w/ the Smalltown stores are they still booming?

[captslappy]

Let me sum it up like this to you. 2 of my friends who now have 2 children of their own did not really experience Showbiz or PTT. They don't really understand what I get out of it and they don't really know who the characters are. I think they said they went once or twice when they were little and it was nothing special. In an attempt to understand it, they went to a CEC last year with their daughter who was 2 at teh time. They came back and said they didn't see what I got out of it. Then I had to go through the whole history and explain how what is now called CEC is the worst of both worlds and is no longer the place I knew as a kid. I explained about the golden years of the concept to them and just said if you weren't there you can't understand. That's not elitiest or anything. It's just the truth. If you missed the glory days of both PTT and Showbiz, it's hard for someone to understand. I think those of you that came along later that are in love with what is called CEC would have a differetn outlook if you were my age and had seen both Showbiz and Pizza Time Theatre at their height when they were 2 seperate competing businesses.

[MMBBfan327]

Pasqually eh stick to drumming & making pizzas.

Ouch :o ...:lol


I think those of you that came along later that are in love with what is called CEC would have a differetn outlook if you were my age and had seen both Showbiz and Pizza Time Theatre at their height when they were 2 seperate competing businesses.

Well, I still got to see excellent days of CEC, but after PTT and SPP bit the dust. So like early 90s up to around 97. Those days were fantastic. What's ironic is that it seems Elmbrook still caried most of its PTT atmosphere until they closed in '97, and then when they closed the new one got Studio C and that's when everybody started disliking CEC, with the new stage, new voices, new look, etc. Probably why I dread the closing of Elmbrook more than needed.

[bzier]

I was one of the lucky ones who got to experience Pizza Time Theatre back in the early 80's, and boy was it awesome! I never had the priviledge of visiting Showbiz...I didn't even know if there were any in my area.
I really loved visiting Elmbrook Plaza and West Allis's locations growing up. I'll never forget when I walked into West Allis's store after the conversion to the Munch Band. I was shocked, and the changes took a while to grow on me, but after awhile it seemed pretty good.

Upon the closure of Elmbrook, I soon found out about the 'new' CEC being built in it's place in Brookfield. When I went there I was in for a shock, and I too was saddened by the loss of 'old school' CEC. This location has somewhat grown on me now, but it still lacks the magic of Elmbrook.

Like I said earlier, CEC still has 'magic' but it better be careful where it goes from here.

[sungun12]

well, i guess i grew up with the concept and it was always changing and i never experienced a shocker. obviously, ive said before the bridgeville store was a block down from my preschool and my gram was fine taking me there 2x a week while she sat there and smoked cigarettes and i just ran around. i had my 4, 5 6 & 7 bday parties there. i was there a good bit, not so much between the ages of 11-15 because, i was just way too cool for cec. but when it came time for a job, thats the only place i wanted to work. so, i was pretty much there as it went from ptt to cec as a franchise, then as corporate so...it was good for me.

[MMBBfan327]

Hey bzier can u email me off the board? RyaMdwd@AOL.com

[Rockafirefan]

I say yes. I still believe in the Concept. But here is what I think should happen, All Studo C Beta's should be converted into a inproved MMBB or Rocker Stage.

[MMBBfan327]

Yeah, good thought but would never happen.

[Rockafirefan]

If I was in charge of CEC, it would.