VIDEO, PHOTOS: New games arcade opens next to cinemas

THE family-owned Gladstone Cinemas is expanding, with the opening of the arcade centre Game On next-door.

Father and daughter owners Chris Struik and Mel Noe have invested more than $500,000 on the games and laser tag centre to make it the only games arcade in Gladstone.

It's filled with traditional games like pinball, basketball and wack-a-mole, and also boasts a laser tag centre.

They have owned the building, which was previously used by Hatch Engineering, since September.

Ms Noe said their laser tag centre was the most popular feature.

They drew inspiration from game arcades in Melbourne, and Fun Zone in Rockhampton.

It took Ms Noe and her mum two full days of painting to finish the laser tag maze.

"I think people will be impressed with what we've done."

The space will be used to compliment the cinemas.

Tickets to films are sold at the arcade, which Ms Noe and Mr Struik hope will lessen the waiting times at the cinemas.

"As with any venture you weight it up and we've done the numbers ... we're confident that this will be very popular," Ms Noe said.

"When we opened on Saturday it felt like it was meant to be."

For three years the family has eyed off the building space to open the arcade.

"This just adds an extra element to what we already had."

The family has owned the Gladstone Cinemas since 2001.