Hi faithful readers. Been some changes around Titan Games this past month, and that is the current reason my column is late (always something, I 'spose). Earlier this month, I was sitting around and feeling all woeful about my new status as a single guy (yup, got divorce papers earlier this week - a bit shocked by it all). Life has a way of throwing you a curve ball every now and then.

So, sitting at my desk and pondering the complexities of life, I remembered a time when I was in the US Army back in 1986, in Alaska, and having a company commander I could just not stand - and how I decided I could out wait him (and did).

Then, oddly enough, I got to thinking about how retail has changed in the past few years. I also started my store in 1986, and it was a tremendous challenge. I knew nothing, knew nobody to ask anything of, and had to struggle along for a couple years trying to figure things out. Very challenging. My distributor rep didn't want to tell me about things like the GAMA TRADE SHOW 'cause, heck, I might meet other distributors there, and spread my orders around. There was no internet, certainly no Google, and we just had to struggle along as best we could for as long as we could stand to do it.

It took me 4 years to realize a good profit, and soon after, I sold the store and moved back to Michigan.

Being a retailer has changed a lot. Today, the GAMA TRADE SHOW (in Las Vegas, Nevada, in April 2007, see gama.org for details) has seminars on over 30 topics vital for retailers to understand - and 3 whole days of over 200 publishers displaying their wares, their new stuff, their cool stuff, demo's and free stuff - all aimed at helping the retailer to survive in the retail world.

Plus, there are distributor open houses at both Alliance and ACD.

The game industry network (GIN) on delphi forums, and a sister site called the Game Store Resource Forum, offer insight, information and help on just about any topic to any retailer, or aspiring retailer.

Heck, google can be a wealth of information on things like game conventions, retailer information, just about anything a retailer could need to know, google can help!

Yeah, retailers have a lot more advantages informationally-speaking than we did "back in the day".

But, thinking back about the big publishers of those days when I started, few remain. WotC didn't exist then (or, if they did, I didn't know of them). SPI and AVALON HILL were big back then, both since gobbled up by TSR, who was in turn gobbled up by Wizards of the Coast, who was gobbled up by Hasbro! Game Designers Workshop had 3 of the top 4 RPG lines we sold, now long gone. Many, many others have come and gone over the years. Some big, some huge, and very few still standing. Games Workshop is still around, and looks to be relatively healthy.

Somehow, the changing nature of retailism has make me feel small at times, but at the moment I was pondering all this, it made me feel good. 'Cause, if things can change, then maybe I would move on, and rebuild. There was hope. Yea!

This past week it was my extreme privilege to attend the GAMA board meetings. Gama is the Game Manufacturers Association. I am the vice president, and so I attended both the GRD (GAMA Retail Division) board meeting, and some of their planning meetings and such. Then, I attended the main board meetings.

GAMA offers a lot of benefits for members, both retailers and publishers, and is working on improving their outreach, exposure and utility to all members, large and small. It is kind of awesome to be associated with so many dedicated, professional volunteers. Makes me feel a bit humble, and small by comparison.

During the week we had a lot of fun. Got a lot done, and I got to go out with friends, and hang out a bit and relax.

Back to the offices now, and things are quieting down in my personal life, and picking up for the company. Our eBay sales (titan-games and tonyas-games) have been kicking butt for us. Our main site (www.titangames.com) has been doing gangbusters since my new sales person Allan Dawson took over (you can see a picture of the Allan on our website - but I warn ya, he ain't pretty). And, our new site 3FREEgames.com has been doing well, too. Check it out if you get a chance.

All told, we had 300 orders waiting for me to print, pull and pack when I got back on Sunday! Not a bad weekend at all!

I guess I am lucky - I own my own business, and though that can be a struggle, it also allows me to work as I want. Need extra money, work more hours. Need more time off, take a 3-day weekend any time I want.

I guess at a time like what I have had early this month, it is good to take the time to count one's blessings - and my business is a big one in my life!! Plus a good staff, lots of industry friends, and folks that care about whats going on with me.

Some of my readers may remember the name Mark Santillo (who worked for GAMA for quite some time), and who left GAMA to move to the Seattle/Portland area of Washington. Mark called me to check on things yesterday - just one of the reasons I always considered Mark such a good friend - he cares about people.

Well, this month (October, 2006) looks to be a busy one. The new Magic set, new DreamBlade on the horizon, new Yugioh, and all kinds of cool stuff.

Next year should be exciting too. Heard a rumor from one of my regular customers that D&D 4th Edition would be electronic, not printed - so just on disc, pdf, online. With monthly subscriptions to updated adventures, text, and more. Boy, I can't imagine that being true - and if it is, will it spell the end for a LOT of retail stores?

I know just one thing - come what may, I will still be here at Titan Games come next year this time.

This month I wanted to mention some special thanks for my friends at GAMA, and in the industry - folks I saw this last week. Dave and Kelli Wallace, Jim Crocker, Tony Lakas, Lionel and John, Jason Zara, Rob Moses of the GRD. Anthony Galella, Jodie Panzerri, Christina and Matt of the GAMA Offices. Greg Hacke and Tammy, Will and William Niebling, Alex Yeager, Phil Lacefield, Rick Loomis, Brian Dalrymple, Stan Sord, Michael Stackpole (yes, THAT Michael Stackpole), and Aaron Witten. It was good to sell all of you at GAMA this past week.

And a special thanks to Collen, and the great Chicken Enchiladas she made for dinner!

So, boys and girls, send me an email, tell me what you would like to know about being a game store owner, give me some topics for the next few months' columns? Pretty please?

Marcus King
Titan Games - owner
3FREEgames - owner
Hugely Handsome Single Guy (don't hate me!)

Titangamesinc@aol.com