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News & ArtsThursday, June 11, 2009
Two-Block Radius / Games Welcome, Gamma Ray Games!
Posted by Sam Machkovech on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 1:11 PM
There wasn't much fanfare to it, so you might've missed the news that Gamma Ray Games opened last week on Pine. Like most hobby shops around town, Gamma caters to tabletop purists without going too hardcore; you won't find copies of Risk, but you also won't see a table filling the center of the store with a 50-man World War II simulation. Think Catan and its modern-nerd board-gaming brethren.
So far, the limited selection and barebones interior scream soft open, but the balcony space with tables and open windows is already the store's greatest asset—it's not a cramped locker in there. Store founder Eric Logan is already talking up the store's future, but thankfully, his doesn't come off like a bullshit sell.
As of today, its upstairs lounge has 12 open boxes of more famous nerd games to try out for free. "We also welcome people bringing in their own to play," Logan says, and adds that people can request to check out the space for game sessions if they want to take their regular games out of their basements, and public events should follow shortly.
Logan says he has already partnered with Capitol Club across the street to host a gay game night there in the near future, and he's working up a map for his own store that details every unofficial/de facto gaming event you might find at bars and spots in Cap Hill, downtown, the U District, and more.
"Nobody's tried a spacious games store before in Seattle," Logan says before breaking into laughter, and points out that his is the only games store he can think of with a girlfriend / significant other lounge, complete with table, chairs, and "decidedly non-gamer magazines." (He had no response to a vending machine stocked with replacement boyfriends.) When asked about plans to monetize, Logan says his store will compete with a buy/sell/trade system ("so people can find secret rarities on a weekly basis," referring to out-of-print games), along with shelf space for indie/homemade role-playing games (the zines of nerds). He's most confident, though, in the sheer location: "We're the only games store that anyone on the Hill can get to without taking two buses."
2
I saw them setting up over the weekend.
I'll stop by and see just what they've got to offer.
Can't speak for gamers at large, but I took a look around while they were in the process of setting up, the owners seem to be pretty nice and social dudes.
I really hope there's enough support for both places (and others). The more gamers in Seattle, the better!
Speaking as a girlfriend, I'd rather the girlfriend lounge had MORE FUCKING GAMES, their stock is small enough as is.
Anyway, I'm still stoked about having a game store so close and would probably still hang out there if it had nothing but a card table and one copy of Settlers.
13
Wait, weren't the Wizards of the Coast stores just like that?
and points out that his is the only games store he can think of with a girlfriend / significant other lounge, complete with table, chairs, and "decidedly non-gamer magazines."
Gamer grrlz everywhere grind their dice in anger.
Oh yeah, Blue Highway Games in Queen Anne is a great board game shop.
Just to clarify, the S.O. Lounge is a gender neutral seating space added to the store at the request of gamers who wanted a place for non-gamer friends and relatives to be able to sit comfortably while they browsed. It was never intended as "the ladies area" and I apologize if that is how it has been construed.
Since opening a week ago, 1 in 5 of the gamers who have come in to the store have been women. Everyone involved with the store recognizes, supports and encourages this trend. In particular, we're all very enthused by how many women RPGers there are.
As far as "spaciousness" is concerned, I love Blue Highway and American Eagles both and wouldn't have been able to open our store if it weren't for the generosity and support of both of those store's owners. Both stores are much larger than mine in terms of both square footage and vastness of inventory and have my respect for it. What I meant to say, rather jokingly, was that no one had ever attempted to design a "minimalist" game store before. And, at the moment, we are definitely that.
I hope that before you grind your dice at me too hard or think that I don't know my local game store history, that you'll stop by, take a look around and let me know how I can make sure that the game store adequately reflects you and your interests.
Hope to see you soon,
Eric Logan
Owner, Gamma Ray Games
22
23
However, no Risk? C'mon now, I know this place is supposed to be 'minimalist' and all, but a games store without some Parker Brothers classics is like a coffee shop without drip.
@ Greg: We actually do have Risk. And Diplomacy. And Acquire. Classic respect is in full effect.
Mind you, I also have a new Italian game sitting right next to the Risk called 'Dust' that I might recommend over Risk, but we can discuss that when you get here.
@ 26: A little controversy is good. I'm just glad we had the chance to talk.
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