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A discussion in the Moderators Forum on the intricacies of the GW business model got me thinking about how GW's attempt to use the UK sales model in the US is not a very good idea and that the studio seems fixated on the idea that most games occur in a gamer's house or garage if the wife denies him the use of the dining table.

Here in Brisbane Australia there are a couple of FLGS with a handful of tables.
Most GW stores are small and have 2 or 3 4x4 tables for general gaming.
There is a battle bunker with 15 or so (excellent) tables.
I have a couple of friends who have set ups at home.
Most of my gaming is done at tournaments and we are running close to 20 per year now for WHFB (Including Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast)
40K is in a similar situation in terms of numbers of tourneys.
There are a large number of clubs - 5 or 6 and a game can be had every friday night, every saturday, and every sunday amongst them all. I've been to one in the last 3 years thanks to work commitments.

I dream of the day that I will have a house big enough for a games room.
I've started buying the equipment to be able to run WHFB or 40K games at home... once upon a time before wife and child I had a table and boxes, and boxes of terrain.

The 'at home gamer' in my experience is a rare thing outside of families and most gaming is done at stores or tourneys, or clubs.

So how is it in your area/experience?

Most gaming is done at LGS's.

The majority of gamers either don't have the available space (a 6x4 table is pretty massive), don't have the table and/or terrain, don't want to invite strange people to their home... The list can go on and on, but I'm sure I've made my point.

I think it's more complex than that.

I used to play my games at a friend's house. Our group only played at a store when the friend with the table in his house wasn't able to participate which was only 2 or 3 times in the past year and a half. Now I've moved halfway across the country and I play all my games at a store.

I honestly spend about the same amount of time doing both. We have a big group that plays on mondays at the FLGS, and I go there to chat with all my buddies and meet the new gamers.

I then cherry pick the peeps I like best to come over for games and beer at my apartment, lol.

Also, I have just recently convinced a local bar to let me play games there, seeing as they have the table space. I just bring a box of terrain in and a battlemat, open a tab and we are good to go!

The catchment area where I live is 1.5 million or so. There are two small (2 tables, about 400 square feet of space) GW shops and one independent store that has ten tables and supports many platforms. Wife and kids make gaming at home difficult, although I do have the kit, and it's good to go to the shop once a week to hang out and play a game. I sometimes will host a game chez moi on the weekend after the kids are asleep.

GW here was mostly only good for a game if you got there before the kiddies got out of school. Now with the hours change I'm not even sure they're open at that time.

The main LGS is usually overrun by neckbeards playing Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon.

These circumstances have driven most of us to our basements and garages, and on occassion some of the other hobby shops that aren't really set up for much gaming, but do have some room.

I usually play at home in my basement. I've got a 6x4 table and plenty of terrain. I live in a smaller town, and the only hobby store in the area caters more to card games and really doesn't have the space.

There are about 4 of us guys that play Warhammer 40k in the town. Other than that, we have to travel about 100mi (either east or west) to get to the nearest game stores. Both of those stores support a larger group (about 12 players at each) and both have room for at least 6 tables. They run tournaments and leagues about once every two months, and there is open gaming available most nights provided the tables are available.

As for GW stores, I don't think one exists within 500 miles of where I live.

I get mos tof my games at tournies or at a gaming club as well. However, I am in the process of setting up a table at home, so I might fall into all the categories soon

LGS has open gaming on Saturdays. I'm in the process of just playing at home more often. Other than the LGS, the next closest is about an hour away. Then, there are some more about 90 minutes away.

However, the LGS always has a good number of players which make for some interesting games.

I just have one FLGS in my area, and i never played there. I think the gamers in this shop are around 10 years younger than me, and it is too loud for my ears
We play at my house or at the house of our NID-gamer. We have big basements and some tables for regular and apoc games.

I dont like it to carry my army in our FLGS because of the tiny little sticky hands of the kids


(Excuse my bad english )

Studio != Company.

The Studio has no input on the business model, that's Kirby's area and it was Kirby's idea to implement the UK Model in the US.

As far as gaming, I play at my local GW shop. That's all there is. I could drive an hour to a HobbyTown that has a terrible community and terrible management. Or I could drive an hour in another direction to another GW store that has become the go to place for several unsavory elements that were herded out of the store I play at.

I get most of my games in at my LGS, it has 14 or so tables and runs tournaments at least 3 times a year for both WFB and 40K.

I'll probably make a gaming table for my house someday...when I actually have a house. My apartment is to small currently and i live about 10 minutes from my LGS I have no incentive to make one currently.

oni wrote:Most gaming is done at LGS's.

The majority of gamers either don't have the available space (a 6x4 table is pretty massive), don't have the table and/or terrain, don't want to invite strange people to their home... The list can go on and on, but I'm sure I've made my point.

Word. Distances are differnt as well. Its about 45 miles to the FLGS we go to. I am the outlier but our small group is coming form multiple directions.

I have only played at my FLGS, not at home or at GW.

They have a dozen tables or so for gaming, it's maybe 10 miles away? I use public transit so it can take a bit longer than driving myself.

If I had enough space I would probably get a good table with copious amounts of terrain variety and try to get people to play at my place, but I would still frequent my FLGS for games.

I know a couple of folks who do play at home, but I have yet to join them.

I've heard of folks chipping together to rent a space to play, and furnishing it with tables and everything. Now that would be awesome

Unfortunately, with rental costs around here being quite high, it's not feasible in my location...

RiTides wrote:I've heard of folks chipping together to rent a space to play, and furnishing it with tables and everything. Now that would be awesome

HQ the club does this in northern NJ. I checked them out a year+ ago and wish I had the time to be an active member. The few I met were a good group of talented guys. They rent their clubhouse with membership dues and have 4+ tables, a painting area, a storage area for members and most importantly, 2 bathrooms. It was the perfect gaming zone for me, unfortunately, life's a bit too busy and the drive a wee bit far, though they've got members who have a farther travel then I do.

Edit:

OT, I game, very rarely, at the FLGS because it's within a block of my house. I've never had the luxury of gaming at home, but hope to someday soon. I've been to several GW stores across 5 states and it's my experience the US GWs are all short on actual gaming space. I've never been to a Battle Bunker. They have enough room to introduce new people, but nothing of real value for continued gaming since the boards and space are pretty small compared to FLGSs. The effect is that I have no reason to go to a GW retail store.

There are no GW stores here anymore. To be quite honest, I'm not sure I would even shop or play there if there was. Forge World would be my only draw.

We're lucky to have a couple of great LGS's around here. I play every Wednesday at one, sporadically on weekends at the other, and I also have a table in my basement which I play games here after the kid (soon kids) are asleep.

We have a pretty sizable gaming community as well. On Wednesdays, there can be up to 60 people in the shop which makes things CRAZY!

I'm in eastern Suffolk, about 35-40mins outside of Ipswich in a large village. I know a few gamers in the area, but only activily game with one, plus my wife who also plays. The few others I know have been under sixteen, so not really going to ask them round to play.

In general all games have been at my home, only live in a two bed ground floor house, but due to wife gaming about 80% of the front room is set up with gaming in mind, so can set a 8x4' table if needbe, or smaller ones. My mate in the village got his own table a few months back, and we sometimes head his place as well.

Nearest store selling GW stuff is a toy shop in a Woodbridge 10mins or so away, but obviously no gaming space. GW Ipswich has down sized now, but I've never played in there anyways, too far to drag my stuff via bus.

Not driving, and working Sunday, also causes issues with getting to any local clubs, but these are probably where I'd more likely go if I had the chance.

So quite spare here, I also feel kinda guilty expecting folks to come all the way out to me from places like Ipswich due to lack of transport, so I don't scream and shout for new players, kinda a odd catch 22. Things may change when the boys get older and they game, but then, that would probably just lead to more gaming at home.

90% club and 10% home is the usual for me. I've played literally one game in a store since 2nd edition 40K was released.

Local GW has only 4x4 tables, only plays on thursday, local club meets the far side of town in a hard to access location for me (who is sans car)

Kinda lucky in this area. We have a pretty good sized FLGS that has about 15 4x6 tables AND has a dedicated wednesday night league every week (40K), with an RTT every month (fantasy one month, 40K the next).
Then we have another decent sized store that is just getting a 40K crowd dedicated on Sunday nights...about 12-16 rgular players showing up for that one. No RTTs yet, but this is just starting and if it grows and stays active we should be able to get that going too.
Another store up in the north county that has a pretty OK scene. A 4th store in the Old Towne section, but their kinda meh with only a single table, no parking and oddball hours (since they are in the middle of tourism central).

No major Tournys despite having upwards of 50 dedicated players between all the local stores (not to mention the LA folks who would come down), however we are close enough to LA to be able to attend the events up north and San Fran, Sac-Town, Vegas, and AZ are a decent road trip away.

There is also a pretty OK home scene, but again we are dealing with the difference between going to a FLGS where your free to come and go as you please, quit a game if your feeling ill, going to the local taco shop for lunch, and being able to talk smack vs being a good host in your home, having sufficient (and the right type) of Beer/soda/food/pizza and having to be careful with the language around the 4 and 6 year old.

My group plays at each other's homes. There are LGS's available, but we prefer the privacy of our homes.

There is a LGS about 10 minutes from my house that is always busy with 40k games and magic tournaments. (Predator Games) Good for them, actually. However, I don't like playing with strangers.

There is also a games store near Riice Village that is pretty good (Asguard Games). They have 3 or 4 tables for warhammer and several tables for card games. they are usually packed with card players when I've been there.

Most of my casual gaming is done at my house or a friend's house. I head out to the local bunker for tournaments fairly regularly as well.

We have a GW with some tables in a nearby (15-20 min drive) mall, but, unfortunately, the competition there leaves something to be desired, as does the age of most of the players. And it's in a mall, and us old farts like to have beer with our dice.

Although a lot of veteran gamers play in tournaments and go to their LGS for games, this isn't often as much of an option for a 12 year old with half an unpainted army, no transport, no money, and parents who want to know where he is.

And the 12 year olds are the target market.

Over the 20+ years I've played this game, I've only played a hand-full in any store, and most of those have been in the last 2 years since moving to Madison (WI) where there is a great FLGS with a lot of tables, boards, terrain, tournaments, gaming nights and a vital gaming community. That being said... most of my games are still played at home with my kids or friends and I own the best terrain I've ever played on.

Never set foot in any official GW store... and at least at the moment I don't see why I'd ever have to. I guess my experience is why I must admit to being very confused over all the drama associated with the GW gaming stores. You can buy anything you want on line.. and you can play on a picnic table, bed, dining room table, 2 card tables or floor (I've done all those things). So I am somewhat mystified as to why people subject themselves to lousy service or poor gaming conditions when any 4x6' flat surface, a bed sheet and some packing foam makes a great gaming table. Many were the college games that started on a Friday night, ended about 2 am, then re-started again the next morning (back in the day when games took forever). Lots of pizza and adult beverages were consumed and all had a great time. Can't do that at a gaming store...

There are 3 FLGS and one GW store in my area, but I play at my Home at least once a month.

I play only at my FLGS, which is within a 10 minute (5 with all green lights) drive of my apartment. I would love to be able to support pick up games at my place, but it is way too small for 40k.

Thankfully, my FLGS has a room dedicated to wargaming and one that is normally used for the card games. Along with monthly tourneys, so I'm quite happy with it!

All my gaming was done in a circuit of people's houses. Unfortunately, that's no longer viable, as most of us have moved away, so now those of us that are more distant play over the internet.

If I could get out to the LGS in my area, I'd go, but I don't really have the means. Also, the number of players I've been able to find in my community (outside of the LGS) is basically zero.

Gaming in SA sucks now. The only good store (Central Command) closed. Outside of my circuit of friends virtually no one is competitive. I question if some of these people even know how to play the game...(Aun'va c'mon?).

Mostly at home. Local GW has 3 tables and a paint station, and either no one or kids to play against 95% of the time. FLGS has 3 tables too, which are usually covered in product due to lack of space. Only alternatives are join a group (I don't have a car, and the only groups I know of are miles from my house) or play in the garage. The benefit is, not having a car, there's always space for games in the garage.