There are five GameStop locations in Bakersfield all containing the same product and atmosphere.

That is a major reason why Otto Cargill decided to start his own store dedicated to games.

Otto’s Video Games & More! is Cargill’s idea of the optimum gaming store.

“Really, it’s about … being able to do things [GameStop] can’t … by also offering vintage and retro games, carrying the things that people collect or the older systems that people still want to play,” Cargill said.

“For examples, the original Nintendo, Super Nintendo, the Genesis – the older-style systems that nobody else carries,” Cargill said. “By supporting them here we give people who still use that stuff a chance to see it and pick it up.”

There are many things that make Otto’s different from a GameStop, and it surely isn’t limited to the type of games that each store sells.

Cargill, who worked at GameStop for 10 years, takes pride in his store being a more personal experience compared to GameStop.

“Our target costumer is, literally, if they play a game, we take care of them,” Cargill said. “On top of that, basically the mantra has been: neat, clean and mom-friendly.”

Cargill has taken it upon himself and his employees to not only make their store a more personal and warming atmosphere, but also to help educate people about the gaming world.

Cargill talks about a “soccer mom” interested in knowing about some sort of “Grand Theft Auto” game that her kid wants. Cargill explains that his first reaction isn’t to sell the game; it’s to help that person understand the purchase that they are considering.

“By being able to sit here and talk with people and educate them instead of being driven by upper management that doesn’t know what’s going on in the stores, we’re able to provide [a more personal experience] for the parents as well.”

The store isn’t just about sales.

The space also consists of tabletops for games like Dungeons and Dragons, as well as a gaming room for customers to try out games that they are thinking of spending up to $59.99 on.

The gaming room, fully themed in “Bioshock” decorations, is stock full of flat screens and seating that Cargill calls the best gaming seat you’ll ever use: theater seating.

Being able to decorate and theme his store the way he wants is another one of the advantages that Cargill employs over GameStop.

The space compared to a GameStop, which average just 1,500 square feet, allows Cargill and his employees to dress up the store as well as have a more relaxed and open atmosphere.

“One of the advantages of having all this space to play around with, as opposed to having a cramped little mall store with no square footage where people are just going to be crammed there in a line all day, we give people the opportunity to explore the store; give them space to be here,” Cargill said.

“For the parents who bring their kids in … they have the opportunity to kind of kick back and not be crammed in against a wall while a thousand screaming kids run around them in a very tight space.”

Otto’s is located at 7701 White Lane, next to the Firehouse.