FLGS are dead already -- they died back in 2006

Endless Flight · May 27, 2014, 08:18:46 PM

Comic book stores hit their peak in 1993. Why that year? That was the end of the embossed-foil-saran-wrapped-reboot era. People flooded into comic book stores to buy things like Todd McFarlane's Spider-Man and the "Death of Superman" issue looking to hit the jackpot. The only problem was, those comics were printed in the millions. They were worthless as soon as they hit the stands. Those same people went back to the stores asking what their $2.00 cover-priced comic was worth now. $100? $500? More?? Try 50 cents. That's all she wrote for that era. I think right around 3,000 shops closed within two to three years.

gonster · May 27, 2014, 08:22:46 PM

Quote from: Piestrio;753217I'm fairly positive nearly every FLGS in Colorado (with a couple exceptions) carry more than just D&D and PF.

Oh I'm sorry I forgot Edge of the Empire, 40K rpgs, or FATE Core or FAE -- if they still carry them. One of the secrets of later RPG distribution (discovered by Mongoose and barely talked about) is magazine style publishing for RPG lines.

Which means produce a fantastic looking book, charge as much as the market will bare for it, now exactly how many will be ordered and print about 20 more than that number.

gonster · May 27, 2014, 08:26:17 PM

Quote from: Endless Flight;753220Comic book stores hit their peak in 1993. Why that year? That was the end of the embossed-foil-saran-wrapped-reboot era. People flooded into comic book stores to buy things like Todd McFarlane's Spider-Man and the "Death of Superman" issue looking to hit the jackpot. The only problem was, those comics were printed in the millions. They were worthless as soon as they hit the stands. Those same people went back to the stores asking what their $2.00 cover-priced comic was worth now. $100? $500? More?? Try 50 cents. That's all she wrote for that era. I think right around 3,000 shops closed within two to three years.

Sure that was the end of comic book stores. They are a few out there, but there hayday is long gone.

I'm not saying the FLGS are all gone. I am sure someone will come up with an example to prove me wrong. And in a way that is good. This is just me exploring an idea I have had and using you guys as a sounding board.

jadrax · May 27, 2014, 08:27:14 PM

Quote from: Warthur;753215Truefacts: aside from the demo tables in Games Workshop, I don't know of a single hobby games store here in the UK I've ever frequented that has had space for physical gaming to actually take place in the store.

There was one in Scarbrough, although I have no idea if it is still there.

There is a massive store just the other end of my street, but from what I have seen walking past it is all Magic the Gathering rather than wargames/rpgs.

Kaiu Keiichi · May 27, 2014, 08:28:37 PM

I run V20 over Skype every other week with a crew of entirely new fans, so I am doing my part for the war effort. I plan on running D&D next when it is released for new gamers.

Piestrio · May 27, 2014, 08:33:08 PM

Quote from: gonster;753221Oh I'm sorry I forgot Edge of the Empire, 40K rpgs, or FATE Core or FAE -- if they still carry them.
.

Yup they carry those and the last couple I've been to (in addition to my local shop) all carry more to boot.

How many games do they have to carry to be 'alive'?

First it was any, then it was more than two, now it's more than 5...

Marleycat · May 27, 2014, 08:38:07 PM

Don't know about you but I know of 4 large FLGS's plus several small ones doing fine here in KCMO.

Piestrio · May 27, 2014, 08:43:14 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;753227Don't know about you but I know of 4 large FLGS's plus several small ones doing fine here in KCMO.

Yeah it was rocky for a while and I won't pretend that it's all great and happy now but there has definitely been some rebound in the last couple years.

Bobloblah · May 27, 2014, 08:43:38 PM

Quote from: Piestrio;753226Yup they carry those and the last couple I've been to (in addition to my local shop) all carry more to boot.

How many games do they have to carry to be 'alive'?

First it was any, then it was more than two, now it's more than 5...

The goalposts have redshift.
There's definitely something to the proposition that the FLGS is going away - they've been in decline for a while - but there are still a great many of them around, and I can't remember the last time I went in one that didn't have more than two (or five) RPGs. Of course, no FLGS is surviving on RPGs. Then again, I can't remember a time when any did; it's always been about lots of different products.

Marleycat · May 27, 2014, 08:55:59 PM

And every FLGS I frequent will order what you want if it's not stocked which is unlikely given even Burning Wheel is stocked. And you can easily get your store in the network that allows for POD companies like ACKS or Onyx Path.

crkrueger · May 27, 2014, 08:56:05 PM

The main one here has Witch Hunter: The Invisible World, Esteren, GURPS, HERO, RQ6, a ton of SW (the Newtons are locals), christ even a copy of friggin' Hillfolk. The used section has honest to god Sovereign Stone.

Saplatt · May 27, 2014, 09:01:39 PM

Quote from: Piestrio;753228Yeah it was rocky for a while and I won't pretend that it's all great and happy now but there has definitely been some rebound in the last couple years.

Holy Cow, looks like there's a new one in Broomfield that's actually hosting Encounters. Not that close to me, but at least within thinkable distance.

Piestrio · May 27, 2014, 09:18:32 PM

Quote from: Saplatt;753235Holy Cow, looks like there's a new one in Broomfield that's actually hosting Encounters. Not that close to me, but at least within thinkable distance.

If you're looking at total escape games they are pretty nice.

Bobloblah · May 27, 2014, 09:21:00 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;753233And you can easily get your store in the network that allows for POD companies like ACKS or Onyx Path.

As an aside, ACKS isn't POD, it's offset printing all the way.

TheShadow · May 27, 2014, 10:35:02 PM

There will always be low-rent spaces in cheap malls where sullen, weird people hunch over their cards, miniatures and other paraphernalia and look up suspiciously when an outsider darkens their doorway. At least that's my experience of FLGS. Then there are a few, well-run destination stores, perhaps one or two of which can be supported in a city of several million.

Of course the OP may be making the point that game stores are not simply not hugely relevant to health of the hobby or the strategy of the industry. It's certainly a moot point, but organised play seems still to continue, powered by the existence of local stores.