For awhile I thought these were going away, but in Austin (for example) there's more than ever. I can list about 12 right off the bat, and I think we might even have a GW store. I know that on my drive home I go by no less than 5 and that's only in a 25mile ride.
Looking at this report it seems that all the games are booming. Even RPGs have had a jump in sales.
My personal sense is that the rising tide is lifting all boats, and the most casual gamers who aren't a part of the hardcore "hobby" all shop at a local FLGS.
Good for them. I don't hate all FLGS and wish them luck, I've just been in so many terrible ones.
Gary Sax wrote: Good for them. I don't hate all FLGS and wish them luck, I've just been in so many terrible ones.
I'd say overall the batting average is WAAAAY better than it used to be as far as good gaming stores vs crappy ones. . I remember pre Internet looking thru the fucking YELLOW PAGES for game/hobby/toy stores and driving there to see what I might find game wise . Just about all of them were hole in the wall places. So for the whiners who mail order everything and say " we don't need game stores" be thankful for what you have today. It wasn't always this easy .
Definitely. I went to one just recently in Spokane that I thought was very nice, but my experience was poor the last 3-4 times I went into a game store.
I'm very thankful for the internet because I don't miss going into game stores at all. However, back in the day I did meet some people that became good local friends that I gamed with for a long time. So I can't say they're entirely bad.
Msample wrote: I remember pre Internet looking thru the fucking YELLOW PAGES for game/hobby/toy stores and driving there to see what I might find game wise .
Heh, so true. I think I found some through Dragon magazine too. I remember begging my dad to drive me to BFE to hunt for games. Once, we found this place that had hobby AND arcade games. Bonus - the owner gave me a DRAGONSLAYER bumper sticker.
The local FLGS's have really stepped up their game, AFAICT. The one closest to the house used to be the epitome of a smelly game store filled with smelly gamers. I can't vouch for the gamers' hygiene now, but the store itself is cleaned up and well organized. A new one by my workplace is also really neat, with shockingly courteous employees.
For those who used to go to Myriad Games, there is a relatively new place, Relentless Dragon, about a couple miles away from Myriad's now defunct Amherst location. I think its the third or maybe fourth incarnation of the same owner. The first three were basically bare bones Magic dens. This place however started off relatively small but recently expanded once Myriad shut down, and it is pretty decent. Yeah its full retail, but a ton of play space and they are especially well stocked in accessories, sleeves, mats etc. I stop every few weeks and its always busy. 10 years ago the area had several hole in the wall places that have since shuttered. This place however I think will stick around. Its a place that doesn't skeeve you out when you go inside, its well lit and clean.
Its too bad about Myriad. Pre Game Salute, they were a very good store and I bought a fair bit of stuff there.
In Plano we have Madness Comics & Games, which is the game store by which all others will be judged for me. It occupies a store front that used to be a supermarket of some kind, so it's absolutely huge. Lots of game space too, and they do some killer holiday sales.
san il defanso wrote: In Plano we have Madness Comics & Games, which is the game store by which all others will be judged for me. It occupies a store front that used to be a supermarket of some kind, so it's absolutely huge. Lots of game space too, and they do some killer holiday sales.
I found a place like that recently near my office. Biggest gaming store space I've ever seen. Rent must be rock bottom; the parking lot is almost mandatory 4WD the potholes are so bad. Its in a shitty part of town. And the co tenants in the shopping center are a Dollar Store, a pawn shop, and a bodega.
Wow, with 3/5 of those top Hobby Games in the spring for Asmodee, their recent acquisition of F2Z gives them the other 2 (Dead of Winter and Pandemic). So they have all five!