Amid the slew of channles that cable offers, a new kid has turned up on the block that is sure to please video game aficionados.

The Sega Channel, that allows subscribers to play games sent via satellite, began airing Jan. 1 and is being offered locally by TCI of Pennsylvania.

"If I had the Sega Channel, I would probably never leave my room," said Marcus Spinner (junior-business management) as he played video games in Waring Commons. Although the campus cable service does not offer it, Spinner added that he would get the channel if he could.

For those who live off campus, $12.95 a month will allow a subscriber to play up to 50 games, including newly released ones. A subscriber needs a Sega Genesis unit and an adapter -- a device resembling a game cartridge that connects the unit to the cable. The adapter is provided by the cable company.

The 50 games are sent via satellite and the player can choose new or old games from different categories.

"The channel was partly developed as a launching pad for new games, people can test drive games before they buy them," said Jennifer Moffie, corporate communications manager.

Because the channel only allows subscribers to play the first three levels of each game, Moffie said sales should not be negatively affected. Sales for some of the games with prices ranging from $50 to $80 may actually increase because subscribers may be enticed to buy the games they have played.

"I think people appreciate the advantage of seeing the games before they buy them, rather than buying a game that wouldn't be played," said Jeff Fisher, TCI general manager.

TCI has only 127 subscribers to the channel at this time, but Fisher said demand for the channel has been steadily increasing with increased advertising -- mostly in the form of promotions on other channels.

Gene Speele, manager of Playland, 350 E. College Ave, said the arcade has not experienced a loss of customers due to the channel's introduction.

"So far there hasn't been any major change, but there will probably be a drop once enough people know about it," Speele said.

Starting next month TCI will begin to direct its advertisements to specific age groups, the most important being 10- to 25-year-olds. The channel features several categories of games including the violence-free and parent-approved "Family Land" and "Test Drive," which will offer newly released games.

As he put in yet another quarter to play another game of "Primal Rage," Spinner said $12.95 a month is a small price to pay for 50 games. Spinner has a Sega Genesis in his room but said he gets bored playing the same games over and over again, so he goes to arcades.

"I could probably spend $12 a day on video games," Spinner said.