Author: Ralph Mazza (---.io.com)
Date: 05-17-2005 15:15
What an interesting article. I would suggest that before you start feuding with your neighbor, however, that you count yourself lucky to have won the first round and make the attempt to extend the olive branch and coordinate future events with them. That would be way more successful if you can do it than getting all cut throat.
There was one paragraph that made me wince, however. I do understand the very understandable bias you have BEING a FLGS but even given that, this paragraph:
>>>>As an online sell of games, I will ship anywhere, and will sell just about everything. You should check us out sometime at http://www.titangames.com. But, only if you can't find what you need locally. We don't undercut local stores, because without your local stores, the adventure-games hobby industry is all done. Nobody every learned to play a game from an online discounter! <<<<
...was too much to swallow.
I love game stores. I've killed MANY MANY happy hours at a number of game stores where the store was clean, well organized and lit and staffed with friendly knowledgable people. I LOVE a good game store.
But to say that the adventure hobby industry will die without them...wow...just not true. They aren't the only distribution chain for the industry, they aren't the only teach-someone-how-to-play venue either.
I mean, when I started in the hobby there WERE no FLGSs. If you were lucky the local RC or model railroad shop carried a small shelf of SPI and a few bags of historical minis and lots of diorama material for making terrain.
The bulk of my game purchases came from ads in 'zines and the venerable Wargames West (how many of us old grognards have fond memories of hours spent leaving through the Wargames West catalog).
The only difference between an online store today and my much beloved Wargames West is the convenience (and information volume) of a web site vs. a newspaper format.
The hobby did just fine back then without FLGSs, its doing just fine now with FLGSs, and it will do just fine in the future if there comes a time where there are no FLGSs.
I'd rather live in a future where there are ever more and ever better FLGSs...but I am completely certain that the hobby won't die without them.
I understand your bias...but honestly...to equate the store with the hobby...that's just silly.
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