Leisure Time, the family entertainment universe which recently opened its cosmos for business, gives parents the chance to find out if their children like a video game before they buy it.

Many video games, like toys, have the potential to get lost in space and the prospect of buying several can be expensive -- renting allows parents to find out if their children are genuinely interested in a particular title, said Mrs. Norma Cross, an owner/manager.

"We are the first and only store to rent games, we thought the market was wide-open,'' she added.

The new business has game titles from Super Nintendo and Pacman 2 to Return of the Jedi and Lord of the Rings.

Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour is also one on the many games in the business' collection.

There are also various Sega Genesis games in stock, from Dune -- the Battle for Arrakis to Pro Golf Tour III. The latter gives those captivated by the on-screen tee to green experience the chance to play eight PGA Tournament Players Championship courses.

The business also has educational/informational items like the CD-ROM PharmAssist family guide to health and medicine and Chessmaster 4000 Turbo as well as a "talking book'' section.

And a "title'' -- any game or movie in the store -- can be tracked through the business's "live inventory system,'' she added.

A grand opening takes place today, she continued.

The philosophy of the business is centred around service to the customer with fast easy movement in and out of the renting or buying of a title -- we are here for the long term,'' she concluded.

"We feel the computerised system is important for the convenience of the customer,'' she added.

Mrs. Cross said they did market research on huge movie renter Blockbuster to determine how to design and deliver the their products.

And of the substantial investment in Leisure Time Ltd., Mrs. Cross could not project how long it would take to recoup the initial expense of opening the business.

The business, which opened Wednesday, November 16, is operated primarily by Mrs. Cross and Mrs. Jan Hollis. They and a handful of other people invested in the business.

There is no membership fee at Leisure Time but membership requires a credit card number for security. For those without a credit card there is a $35 fee.

In the first ten days of business, about 2,000 of the Island's residents acquired memberships from Leisure Time.

Another part of the Leisure Time family entertainment experience is that parents can restrict the categories of movies their children are permitted to rent.

Memberships are available to patrons 18 years of age and older.

Leisure Time also rents VCRs and is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

GRAND OPENING -- Leisure Time, a new video store, is hosting a grand opening at its Queen Street location today. The business, operated primarily by Mrs.

Norma Cross, left, and Mrs. Jan Hollis, rents and sells videos, video games and other computer items.