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What is the community's take on the ideal Gaming Center? I've seen plenty of stores come and go for a variety of reasons. I'd like to hear everyone's input on this. What would make an ideal store? And, why there has yet to be a successful store chain of our beloved hobby to go to the national level. We have our "Cons" and tournaments, etc., but I think it would be awesome to see a brand name store go to the national level that will focus on the hobby and not just a singular game.

Well I have been put off Wargaming stores for these reasons:

Lack of space
Lack of terrain
Loud Death Metal/Wannabe rebel music blasting in the store
Lack of parking or easy access.
Salesmen

Those are around my area anyways. Better off in a nice quite hall with everything above not included and plenty more benefits.

Thanks for the response. What comes to mind in terms of organized play? What would you like to see or participate in? Also, as a customer and fan of the game, what have you seen work best in terms of prizes, leagues, tournaments?

Hmmm, well in terms of organized play (I help run a club) its better to have it consistent and planned well in advance. But more importantly there should be gaps. Organized events and play is awesome and all, but a lot of people will want to do their own thing for the most part.

Since its a multiple branded hobby store, I think the events gheld should be based on getting people to branch out. There is nothing worse than having players who play one game and one game only. So events should be (as an example) Flames of war open day where you have a few starter sets on special and try get as many Flames of War players doing show games and tutorials. As an example.

Prizes should be themed and more importantly be worth it. Nothing amazing but it sucks when the prize is some demons, and only 1 or 2 people collect them. So in my opinion vouchers are the way to go. Something that wont be just sold off as its of no use. That way when someone asks about someones army, they can point to a unit and say "I won this at this store" or something.

Unsure on tournaments though.

Awesome feedback, thanks!

Are you planning on a store are you?

and no problem

A game store isn't that much different than any other retail store. There are a few basics that need to be taken into consideration.

1. It needs to be clean! Clean bathrooms, carpets, tables, counter. Grunge is bad when it comes to earning a soccer mom's money.
2. It should be well lit. Seriously its not someones basement. Lighting helps highlight products and makes gaming easier.
3. Organization is key. Keep your stock organized and in a coherent order. Put things that grab peoples attention at the front of the store. Put the things that everyone buys towards the back.
4. Keep the counter clear of clutter. This is not your paint station/ place to eat a big mac. This is where the transactions happen.
5. Ventilation is your friend!

Keep a demo table near the counter this will let you keep an eye on demo games.

Get to know your regulars. There will be quite a few that will do anything to help the store stay open. These are usually the ones that will love to give demo games and help new people.

Create hobby times, Get folks in the store painting. Have veterans help newbs. Same thing with model building.

As to what I like to call the "fun zone" aka where the tables are
Keep it clean and well lit.
If you have the space try to keep enough distance between tables for people to walk and hang out (which means they watch games and maybe you pick up a few new players this way).

Oh and did I mention ventilation?

Step One: Buy a Dave & Busters

Step 2: Take out all the crappy arcade ticket games like basketball and coin drop and put in tables and Arcade Fighting Games.

Step 3: Profit.

The GW store in wellington is actually pretty good when it comes to presentation.

Its bright, organised, clean (the glass is even clean), lots of GOOD displays and very professional in that regard. Most non GW hobby stores I have entered are a mess. (especially the Australian ones I have been in, shudder).

Plus being near a food place is good too.

What would your opinions be as to why a brand name store as yet to take place? We have GW, but that is strictly for GW games. They dont let you play other games there. I think it would be awesome for a store focused on the hobby that allows players to compete, rise in ranks, become regional champions etc. What are your thoughts?

Lots of space.
Lots of tables.
Lots of game systems on offer.
Lots of terrain for said systems.
Somewhere to buy drinks (and maybe snacks).
A strong community, that means lots of talk on facebook or the like, having regular game nights and lots of events.

Now as for events, tourneys are good but not the only thing you want. As mentioned above days to try and draw people to new games are great, especially when combined with slow grow leagues for beginners. As well campaigns if you can set them up and the often overlooked hobby events.

Things like painting competitions or conversion comps, stuff that interests those hobbyists who otherwise don't play much and are in it for the painting.
Something the battle bunker near me used to do was a monthly painting comp where you simply bought something from the store to enter and the prize was picking the theme of the next one. No effort involved but it nabbed a few extra sales a month and kept people interested.

 Kratos99 wrote:
What would your opinions be as to why a brand name store as yet to take place? We have GW, but that is strictly for GW games. They dont let you play other games there. I think it would be awesome for a store focused on the hobby that allows players to compete, rise in ranks, become regional champions etc. What are your thoughts?

In the US the closest we've ever had to what you are asking about were the Wizards of the Coast stores. I don't know how many they had at the high point. I think it is zero now. I do know they had stores across the country, and I know they closed them (not sure if it was all). I have no clue as to why.

The few I went to in person were exactly what people are talking about above. Clean, brightly lit, had all kinds of games. Game tables, and even had game products what were not owned by WotC. Tons of board games, card games, miniature games, D&D, you name it they had it. I thought they were great stores.

Again I've no clue why they closed.

Edited for grammer

There weren't that many WotC stores, a mere handful IIRC it was somewhere between 5 or 10. They shut down just after Hasbro bought WotC.

The WotC stores even sold GW products! < gasp!> and had league camps in the summer for kids to have something to do.

GW's own stores are well lit and clean, they have to be in order to give the correct appeal to the moneyba-- er parents of child-- er customers sensibilities.

Really that should be the goal of any retail establishment in that it should be a clean and inviting place.

There have been some good points already addressed I will add some.

Retail section

1) good flow through. if you have a gaming section have gamers move easily through the store BUT able to see product. If I see a box of something marked down clearly as I go to the gaming room may buy it. Also, you want new customers to be able to walk the full store and check out the gaming space.

2) gamer friendly hours. opening 9-5 during the week is a recipe for disaster. Noon to 8pm may be better. you get the older gamers with day jobs rolling in and younger gamers after or between classes. If they want to buy you better be open or they will go somewhere else.

3) Set gaming days. If you keep later open hours set days for specific games to encourage new players. " Warhammer Wednesday" could help new players come down and learn, or vets know people will roll in looking for pick up games.

4) Organize and show off the product. Have games/miniatures on display. in the 40k section have the contents of a starter set, built and painted in a cabinet, as well as some larger units. Entice people into the games.

5) Food/drink. Gamers are lazy but they are also cheap. price match the closest store or undercut them if you can. keep the money in the store. Even if this is a vending machine.

6) Be involved with the community. Set up a web page, message board, facebook group. help your gamers connect so they can play. While you cant organize every event or know every game, foster a relationship with the responsible gamers to help set up demo days, leagues or tournaments


GAMING SPACE

1) Terrain - have lots. make/buy sets that are multi genre or multi scale. again, work with the gamers if you have a guy that does terrain barter product for terrain or deep discounts for his labor.

2) Climate control. the last thing you want is sweaty or uncomfortable gamers. make sure you can heat /cool the gaming space when it it at capacity.

3) One large gaming room isnt always a great idea, if you can divide it in some way it helps reduce noise. I hate going to my local store on saturdays because you have to yell across the table due to about 50 MTG players in the same game space.

My ideal gaming venue:

NOT in a store.
Open to games of every kind (not just a 40k club).
Lots of terrain and table boards.
MUST have beer available.


Fortunately, my two clubs are both of these. So I don't need to look for an idealised idea - I have them.

My ideal "gaming center" has
-A fridge with free food and drink
-lots of good minis and terrain available for use
-People I really enjoy
-No Kids, WAAC players or smelly folk

Which is why I game mostly at my house and my gaming club-mates' houses.

That said, when it comes to gaming at a FLGS, I look for
1) Lots of gaming space
2) Reasonably good terrain (it doesn't have to be great, just good and enough for everyone)
3) A vending machine and pop machine
4) A store with alot of good product lines
5) Some days for which some (but not all) tables are set aside for certain games.

That's why when I do game at a FLGS, I go here:
http://www.games-plus.com/
Ticks all the boxes and they carry more product lines that anywhere I've ever been the surrounding states.

Something like a pool hall, with drinks and snacks available. Side tables for people to play card games, or just socialise.
Tables with good terrain and lighting, maybe the ability to record games to dvd.
So I put my money in the table, my dvd purchased onsite, and the light comes on, play begins.
Meanwhile my family can order drinks ETC, and socialise with other people.
You could have a vending machine in the corner selling cards and blister packs.