Bustin' out deals at Dave and Buster's

A place for food, fun, and the whole family. No, this isn't Disneyland, but it's as close as you might get to it in this summer of high travel costs. That's right - it's Dave and Buster's, Addison's gift to gamers and gorgers.

Inside those four large walls is a sea of activities to make an average man bow. But while whole books are written about how to tackle Disneyland efficiently, no one's written down the tricks of navigating Dave and Buster's.

Until now.

Games

It's important to know what games are worth going to because you don't want to have two minutes of your life ripped away. In the case of the Daytona USA race simulator, it's more like 20 minutes. For those who like the cheap thrill of being rocked side-to-side while staring at a computer screen, this game would be perfect. Long lines always form around the bigger games, but bigger is not always better. The controls are shacky, the graphics terrible, and the seven-year-old next to you is annoying. For less points and more thrills, try any number of arcade-style games such as Time Crisis or House of the Dead to satisfy the need for a great interactive experience.

Times to go

Timing is crucial to going to any activity center larger than a football field. Going too early in the day could lead to a lack of enthusiasm and general feeling of dread. While going too late at night could lead to boredom due to overcrowding. A good time to go is sometime in the late afternoon before dinner. Play the games around four or five and then make a reservation. If the wait is long for dinner, then you still have some time to play games before the hunger really sets in. Make sure not to get caught up in a sea of people while still maintaining the idea of a comfortably-sized crowd.

After Dark Power Hour

Every Sunday through Thursday, unlimited gameplay at the After Dark Power Hour is the way to go. Starting at 9 p.m., the price of unlimited gameplay is ten dollars per hour until closing. This offer does not count for the prize games such as skeeball, but a few tickets need to be sacrificed for the chance to have non-stop fun.

Eat and Play Combo

About as subtle as a kick to the head, the Eat and Play Combo allows you to have access to the games as well as the food for a low price. Nine entrees are available with this deal in which a meal and a ten dollar game card (no tokens or coins) are given for just $15.99. To double the fun, an entree and a twenty dollar game card cost only $23.99. For those looking for the whole Dave and Buster's experience, the Eat and Play Combo is a great way to start.

Whether it's activities or nourishment, Dave and Buster's with its great deals is sure to spice up any ordinary night of the week.