Shopping for Games: Online vs. Brick and Mortar

Just in time for the holiday rush, this timeless debate needs to be dug up, dusted off and re-examined:

In the 'old days', speaking candidly of the 80's and 90's game store markets across the country, your gaming selection was pretty straight forward. If it’s on the shelf, that's what you can buy; if it isn't, and we can't order it, you can't buy it, or you have to buy it elsewhere. At the heart of the issue is basic economics: supply and demand. People demand products, and the game stores supply them, exchanging cash for the customer's desired goods. Simple, right?

Now, in the modern day, the same principles of economics apply; however, with the advent of online shopping, the once simple economic transaction becomes embroiled in moral conflict, ethical dilemma, and the potential of direct, and subtle financial disaster for our fair game store proprietors. Let's look closely: Idealistically, you go into a game store, look for, and hopefully find a game that you want. Excellent, however the price is a little more than you'd like to spend at the moment...(it happens.) You are faced with a decision, buy it now, or look elsewhere...Now, more than likely, you aren't going to go to another game store. Most distributors will have some sort of price control on their products, or retailers aren't going to go below a certain price point and jeopardize their profit margin...(again, economic principle applies.) So going 'across town' won't really help, because if a price difference exists, it will be less than 10% in all likelihood, which will only cover sales tax, but the added time and gas usage going 'across town' will cut away into your gaming plans.

Aha! An alternative arises...you could always, (bum bum BUM!) check online! Surely, with an entire planet of games and gaming companies at your fingertips, you can find a better deal. Amazon, eBay and Craigslist call out to you like the Siren's Song of old antiquities summoning you to the rocky shores of gaming doom.

And here's why: Is the internet cheaper? Yes and no. While the price point is less than regular retail, sometimes by 20, 30 or even 40%, you have to take into consideration the shipping costs, and within the last few months, a few major internet retailers have even added sales tax...which further cuts into your forecasted expenditures.

Is the internet more convenient? Sure. Again, shoppers have a plethora of game stores, and retailers available to them on their computer screen. With a little bit of digging and comparative shopping, they are sure to find a bargain, given the caveat of our previous statement.

One drawback to the internet is that you have to wait for them to deliver it to your door. Most shipping timetables range anywhere from 5-10 business days; or less if you pay for express delivery (which again cuts into the overall cost.) But the ultimate shortfall of ordering games is simply this: When you shop at a local game store, which ever location you prefer, you are in essence becoming an investor. You are purchasing 'stock' or 'controlling interest' (to borrow a financial term) in that location. The advantages being that you can hold the product, look over its contents, and with a bit of research, find out from the store staff how the game is selling, how it plays, and what benefits and features that game contains. We've all had games that have a great deal of hype, but have fallen flat. Your local game store is where you can separate the fact from fiction, whereas the online alternative is more interested in a quick grab of your well earned money, not your overall satisfaction with your gaming experience. Many game stores have a gaming library, or distributor demos at your local store to try out and even rent. Trying something before you buy it is definitely a rare and beautiful thing with any product you may find in the real world, and with the cost of some games, you want the biggest bang for your buck.

Here's how: If you buy online, you may get it cheaper, sure. But the drawback to gaming is this: you very rarely are able to play by yourself. You need other players, a community, somewhere to play. These needs, simple though they maybe, are all met by going to your game store. If and when you buy from them, you are supporting your local community, and keeping their doors open. You are reinforcing your desire to game, play on, and involve yourself in the community. Better still, by purchasing more, you are increasing the profit margins of said locations, and give them more leniency on discounts down the road....AND....you can buy it today, and play it today.

So before logging online, give a second thought to your local gaming establishment...your conscience and your game store will thank you for it!

Make it a gaming day!

Geoff Barton


Professor

Miskatonic University

How to Pick Out a Game That You Will Enjoy

With both the gaming community and hobby expanding outwards faster than is perceptible, there is quite a variety of games, genres, publishers, producers, designers, and companies out there in the world jockeying for your 'dice-dollars'. Game stores, comic shops, bookstores, and even big box stores are carrying selections of games well beyond your standard compliment of Stratego, Clue, Risk, and Monopoly.  So the questions you ask yourself, as you stand before this wall of games are: How do I know what I'm buying? What's good? Is this going to be fun? The answer is simple: research; and it’s easier than you think.

    So we'll start under the assumption you have a game (or two) in mind. You're satisfied with the price. The packaging, promotion and concept seem appealing, but somewhere in the back of your thoughts linger some doubt. Not to worry. The first place to look for information about the game is the company website. Now, here, you may find that the company is giving you, the consumer an overload of how awesome this game is, how there is nothing like it, how easy it is to play, and just really putting the spotlight on the product. However, with a bit of digging on some sites like www.fantasyflightgames.com you can find rules and instructions on how to play, FAQ's, tutorials and errata. In addition, you can always log onto the forums and see what other players have to say.

    The next step is to find general gaming forums, or sites such as www.penandpapergames.com, or www.boardgamegeek.com. The former is a general gaming site with opinions, links, and general how-to's pertaining to gaming. The later is an extensive and complete guide to all things board gaming, including critiques, pictures, reviews, ratings, and a marketplace for all types of board games, from historical war-games to limited edition or games with limited pressings, as well as foreign market items. This is going to be more of an in-depth user guide to the games, how they play and general overview. Its going to be a bit more detailed than the company site as it will highlight not only the better aspects of the game, but the gritty shortcomings as well.

       Another step you can take if you are actively involved with social media is to check on a game's Facebook page, either official, or fan-made. This will give you a greater feel for the hype it generates and how well it has been received by the general populace. It will also have links to other similar pages to games from the same publisher, and gives you an opportunity to speak with people who have played the game, and who are interested in doing so. You can also go to your local conventions for more information. Most conventions nowadays, whether they are themed for comics, sci-fi, anime, etc. will have a large section for open gaming. By checking with the convention's website, and schedule of events, you may find that someone is running the game that you are interested in; or even better, the publisher could be running a demo of the game so that you can learn the ropes from the people who designed the game and market it to the public.

        But finally, the greatest source of information about a game should begin and end with your game store/comic store associate. They should be well versed in the trends of the game, if it sells, and if people are enjoying it. They'll be in tune with what people think and whether or not a game has been hyped, or if there is a great amount of interest in the game. They will also have access to industry magazines that will tell them about the product weeks, if not months in advance, and may have articles highlighting features of the product well before they hit the shelves.

        With so much out there to occupy your attention and to compete for your gaming dollar, it’s well worth the time to take and do a little legwork to see what you are getting yourself into. You'll find that when you do, your gaming dollars go farther, you enjoy the hobby a bit more, and you educate yourself in trends within the industry and become a little bit more of an expert yourself!

Make it a gaming day!

Geoff Barton
Professor
Miskatonic University