So GW are completely removing in-store open gaming now?

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**progreen10**

So it seems that GW are actually stopping people playing:

GAMES WORKSHOP, KINGS LYNN wrote:
Within the next few months you will notice a few changes to your local Games Workshop. The first of these will be arriving in the next couple of weeks.

The most important of these changes is that we will be bringing to a close our open gaming. This is great news as it inevitably means that you local store will be hosting fantastic new activites and events designed to give you a whole host of new hobby challenges and our trained staff will be on hand to support you and make sure that you get the most out of this awesome new programme.

I am sure that many of you will have already noticed a huge surge of GCN clubs we have recently been helping promote and start. We have done this to ensure that all your current hobby activites are continued to be supported in appropriate locations available to all.

Finally I wish to allay any fears or rumours some of you may have or have heard. Namely that Games Workshop is "getting rid of its regulars". Please do not be concerned as this is not the case. GW intends to support ALL of their collectors be they new or old, and the coming changes are entirely geared towards us being able to do this for now until forever - YOU ARE CATEGORICALLY NOT BEING TOLD TO LEAVE.

I know that some of you may have questions after reading this, please do not post them below - instead please talk to a member of staff.

Hopefully you trusted me in Kings Lynn, and I ask you trust me now, this will be a great an wonderful journey for the store (there is going to be some seriously cool stuff coming) and as ever we have all your best interests at heart.

Thank You

My GW started to encourage people not to play, but now it seems that they may be saying "no-no" to it altogether now.... :( I wonder if this will spread across more/all stores?

source: https://www.facebook.com/GWKingsLynn/posts/523561084360816

**Steelmage99**

progreen10 wrote:
So it seems that GW are actually stopping people playing:

GAMES WORKSHOP, KINGS LYNN wrote:

The most important of these changes is that we will be bringing to a close our open gaming. This is great news as it inevitably means that you local store will be hosting fantastic new activites and events designed to give you a whole host of new hobby challenges and our trained staff will be on hand to support you and make sure that you get the most out of this awesome new programme.

I don't think I have ever seen a better example of "polishing a turd".....ever.
Who do they think they are kidding?!?

First it is; "Please, don't buy our rules" (see Skies of Fury).
Then it is; "Please, don't buy our models" (see NA Trade Agreement)
And finally we have; "Please, don't play our game"

Sigh

....

**Grot 6**

Yes. there is no gaming in the game store.

The new "model" is to get you out of the store as fast as possible with as little money in your wallet as they can in the space of five minutes.

No gaming, no hhhobby, no anything.

Ever feel like you've been cheated?

**darefsky (Flight Medic Paints)**

Seriously though, at this point do you really expect anything less from GW?

**Bossk_Hogg**

Buy from us at full MSRP, since we're dicking over other retailers. Loiter somewhere else.

They really try to make the "honesty tax" of buying from them over a recaster as unpalatable as possible dont they?

**angel of ecstasy**

darefsky wrote:
Seriously though, at this point do you really expect anything less from GW?

This. It's not like this is a new thing.

**Necroagogo**

Surely this email's a few days early?

**progreen10**

They practically just focus on getting new people into the hobby, taking all their money, then providing them with no support afterwards. My GW has 4 tables. 3 of them are for beginners. The last table has to be booked in advance and even when you do get a game there, they rush you, because apparently they don't want you "lingering". They always seem to have 'some sort of event' a short time after you book a table, and you "HAVE to be done by a certain time". Funnily enough, there is very rarely an event on, and even when there is, barely anyone turns up for it.

**PhantomViper**

GAMES WORKSHOP, KINGS LYNN wrote:
The most important of these changes is that we will be bringing to a close our open gaming. This is great news

AHAHAHAHAHAHAH

I'm sorry, but I can't be the only person to find this hilarious!

**progreen10**

our trained staff will be on hand to support you

I laughed so much when I read this bit, that I think a bit of me died inside.

**unmercifulconker**

If they actually did this in my local GW, I would laugh, then sit there, silently and then finally a dark hatred would envelope my soul. I would then sell all my models and just read books, maybe keep a few 'special' models and still hold the universe close to heart, but the relationship with GW would be exactly the same as Horus and the Emperor, except GW is Horus.

**robertsjf**

Grot 6 wrote:
Yes. there is no gaming in the game store.

The new "model" is to get you out of the store as fast as possible with as little money in your wallet as they can in the space of five minutes.

No gaming, no hhhobby, no anything.

Ever feel like you've been cheated?

Why can't GW be honest about it and evolve into a fully fledged crime syndicate where the employees just mug me and take all my cash? It'll be a more pleasant experience.

**usedboltershell**

Wondering why i bothered coming back to this hobby after a few years away after reading that statment. when i first started i loved being in the Local GW (manchester before the bomb) they actually encouraged you to play.

**ProtoClone**

Sounds like this is an effort to control the amount of hobby/community exposure there is to beginners.

The less people buying in to the game are exposed to others already in the game the more likely GW will be able to make a sale. Once those new hobbyist are out in the world and starts finding stuff online, they run in to the community and will find the dirt that GW has created.

Maybe not true, but this is what it is sounding like to me.

**spaceelf**

I can't believe that you are all being so cynical. I am very exited to see their upcoming activities and events, such as who can buy the most Space Marines, and how many flyers can you take home on the tube.

**Alfndrate**

Unless of course the local store they're referring to is an FLGS and not a GW store...

**Ketara**

progreen10 wrote:
So it seems that GW are actually stopping people playing:

GAMES WORKSHOP, KINGS LYNN wrote:
The most important of these changes is that we will be bringing to a close our open gaming. This is great news

I admit, I actually burst out laughing at this.

**Sigvatr**

progreen10 wrote:

The most important of these changes is that we will be bringing to a close our open gaming. This is great news

HAHAHHA OH DEAR GOD!

OP, you gotta be trolling us

**kronk**

The game store near me is moving into a building with 3x times the space and similar rent (or so they say).

Play at your FLGS.

**ace101**

Hasn't happened in my closest GW store, we still have gaming sometimes, its one of the features that I like about this store: friendly managers, gaming.

**Lovepug13**

unmercifulconker wrote:
If they actually did this in my local GW, I would laugh, then sit there, silently and then finally a dark hatred would envelope my soul. I would then sell all my models and just read books, maybe keep a few 'special' models and still hold the universe close to heart, but the relationship with GW would be exactly the same as Horus and the Emperor, except GW is Horus.

Maybe you should get out more...

**Herzlos**

spaceelf wrote:
I can't believe that you are all being so cynical. I am very exited to see their upcoming activities and events, such as who can buy the most Space Marines, and how many flyers can you take home on the tube.

It's not as far out there as you think. My local store had a gaming olympics type event last summer, where points were awarded for feats such as buying kits and introducing friends. I'm not sure there was even a prize.

**Mr. Burning**

This is nothing new so I don't understand the anguish. GW has been doing this with its shops for the last number of years

Move to a gaming club, set your own up or go play somewhere else.

GW are not going to change their current course any time soon. Hhhhobbyists can either lament the change whilst changing their habits or just lament them and wallow in what ifs and days gone by.

**jonolikespie**

So no more gaming in stores other than events run by GW...

Anyone else feel like GW have been shooting themselves in the feet recently and this policy is them moving up to kneecaps?

**PhantomViper**

kronk wrote:
The game store near me is moving into a building with 3x times the space and similar rent (or so they say).

Play at your FLGS.

Not that simple when you are talking about the UK, due to the dissemination of GW stores, there aren't that many FLGS AFAIK.

And wait a second, this isn't a new company wide policy right? This is just this single misguided store manager? Right?

**Kilkrazy**

Play at a club.

**Grimtuff**

PhantomViper wrote:
kronk wrote:
The game store near me is moving into a building with 3x times the space and similar rent (or so they say).

Play at your FLGS.

Not that simple when you are talking about the UK, due to the dissemination of GW stores, there aren't that many FLGS AFAIK.

This.

One of the only ones with major gaming space was Maelstrom. And we know what happened there...

**Fenrir Kitsune**

Going to a local club is probably the best thing a player can do - it'll provide a wider range of games and different systems as well as getting them away from the idea of the "GW HOBBY" being all there is.

**Azreal13**

We have a great club running in North Devon, plenty of players, loads of space and terrain, loads of different systems played.

Come join us, even if you have to move!

**Kanluwen**

I can understand why they're removing "open gaming".

It's not the greatest thing when you have people who arrange games and then one person never shows or they both do show up and end up just hogging the tables until they decide to leave.