What makes a game store a game store?

[Glyfair]

I was contemplating looking into creating one of those google maps that show the locations of various FLGS. It occured to me that there is a wide variety of things that might be considered a game store. Thus the question "What makes a game store a game store?" (I specifically want to avoid the "friendly" part of FLGS for this discussion).

Is it just a store that sells hobby games? If so then that could include Borders, Barnes & Noble or even Toys 'R Us at times. That seems to broad for me.

Does it mean stores that having in store gaming? While nice, I don't think so as there are plenty of stores that only carry hobby games that don't have in-store gaming due to space.

Does it mean a store that sells only hobby games (and very closely related merchandise)? That would exclude one of my FLGSs that is primarily a bookstore with a strong comic book, new age and hobby game focus (with in store gaming going on reasonably regularly.

What do you think makes a hobby game store qualify to be part of the FLGS (again, excluding discussing the friendly part of FLGS)?

 

[The Lost Muse]

I'd say a game store is a place where at least 10-15% of the space is taken up by RPG and gaming related stuff. If they have space for gaming, then it's a FLGS

 

[Stormborn]

I would say its a matter of emphasis. If a store's focus seems to be to cater to gamers with RPG/Card/Mini games and related materials then its a game store. Where that threshold may lie will be subjective and determined on a case by case basis.

 

[Denizen]

A game store is a store that has three or more of the following:

comics
pen and paper rpgs and supplements
board games
anime
manga
busts of comic/movie characters
war game supplies/minatures
ornate weaponry
ccgs or tcgs
costumes all year round
game playing space
LAN
life size yoda model
pasty face males age 13-30

 

[Aeson]

A game store is a store that has three or more of the following:

comics
pen and paper rpgs and supplements
board games
anime
manga
busts of comic/movie characters
war game supplies/minatures
ornate weaponry
ccgs or tcgs
costumes all year round
game playing space
LAN
life size yoda model
pasty face males age 13-30

You left off a void of females 13-30.

 

[delericho]

It's to do with focus, as was said above. Basically, a store that primarily sells games is a 'game store', while those that primarily sell something else and cover games as a sideline aren't.

 

[DestroyYouAlot]

If they have space for gaming, then it's a FLGS

I like this definition, although we have a local store (TJ's Collectibles in Milford, MA) that's got a whole basement for gaming and is decidedly not a "F" LGS; the guy who runs it harrasses you if you're not looking and not buying within five minutes of walking in the door, tries to sell you on whatever new line he overstocked on (and is pushy about it), and gives you grief if you don't buy anything once you've determined that he doesn't have what you want - he called one of the guys in my group a "cherry picker" because he only buys what he can use!

A game store is a store that has three or more of the following:

comics
pen and paper rpgs and supplements
board games
anime
manga
busts of comic/movie characters
war game supplies/minatures
ornate weaponry
ccgs or tcgs
costumes all year round
game playing space
LAN
life size yoda model
pasty face males age 13-30

This makes me smile.

You left off a void of females 13-30.

Read my mind.

 

[Cor Azer]

I'd say a game store is a place where at least 10-15% of the space is taken up by RPG and gaming related stuff. If they have space for gaming, then it's a FLGS

I don't think you could put an exact percentage on that sort of thing, but I do agree that it's a matter of emphasis. Moreso than shelf space, I tend to frame the decision as "Does the staff seem knowledgable about RPG products?" Yes, I realize that some FLGS staff will know much less than they should, but generally speaking, someone who works in the store knows something about some form of the hobby - but in many of those book stores that just happen to have a large section of RPG supplements, all they seem to know is which section the books are in.

 

[mcrow]

any store that sells all the main types of games gamers play and has space for playing of games is a "gaming store". They must stock a selection of:

RPGs
Minis
Board Games
Card games

They must also host demo games.


Other stores who might carry a small sampling of anyone of the above games, such as Borders or B&N, but no gaming space are not gaming stores.

 

[bento]

This is all great if you live in a city that supports specialty shops, but I think overlooking general outlets like Books-a-Million or Borders would be a shame, especially for people who are in smaller markets.

The definitions are loose enough that I think the more important task would be to adequately describe WHAT they carry. Maybe you could come up with a check list of publishers and then rate the retailer by how much of the product lines they carry, such as full line, partial line, core books only.

General bookstores can also fit in this criteria because two Barnes and Nobles I frequent carry vastly different levels of WoTC books.