i didn't put that link in there, it's the stupid adwords that put that there.
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Stuff to do in London? (Gaming)
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Originally posted by Decider-VT View PostThere's a concession in Hamleys but that's it. I wouldn't bother with HMV for games either- the section keeps halving in size every week and they're dumping Nintendo completely soon. The only other place to buy games in Central London that I can think of are the two branches of CeX in Rathbone Place and Tottenham Court Road, unless you want to pay ?47 for a copy of GTAV in Fopp.
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Last time I went back over Christmas i think the only stores I visited, aside from the Forbidden Planet, were these ones:
The Cinema Store: http://www.thecinemastore.co.uk/contact/
Orbital Comics: http://www.orbitalcomics.com/
I think every other place I used to go to has closed down and turned into a crappy souvenir shop.
I think the most exciting thing in central London was finding out that they started to sell hot food in Tescos.
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Bit disappointed to think that London has gone downhill so much.
I was thinking of visiting Retro Game Base, but it turns out they're in Streatham! That's a 40 minute train journey!
Bumping the thread because I'd like more recommendations. So far I have:
CeX
Tokyo Toys
Thecinemastore
Orbital
Forbidden Planet
Funland
Gosh Comics
Of those though, several establishments seem to be run by knobs (?), and many require far travelling. Plus there's some arcades, but I don't really want to spend money playing games for a few minutes.
Man, I remember when London had everything. Now it's no better than any other generic town or city in the UK.
Is there anything else game related? Otherwise I might just head round the LWS for some live all-female bikini wrestling next weekend.
EDIT:
Also, there used to be a place in London where you could read Japanese magazines. Not The Japan Centre, but like some kind of cultural embassy place. Anyone know what I mean? They'd get new mags in each month for like a mini library.
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PLAY GAMES, DRINK BEER
Remember yesterday when we told you about book clubs? Psych! Everyone knows books are dull. Gamer bars are where it's at now, grandad
The vibe: Solid. The downstairs is a retro arcade, complete with a fleet of lovingly restored cabinets. Worried the clientele will mock you for your lack of a Triforce tattoo and arcane Metroidknowledge? Don't! There's also a nice downstairs lounge (weekends only) without any games in it.FOUR QUARTERS(PECKHAM)
How you'd sell it to Lucy who's not really into this sort of thing: "It's an exercise in pure nostalgia!"
What's on offer: Current highlights include House of The Dead 2, Daytona USA and Smash TV. There's also a superb range of beers including Kernel IPA, Brew By Numbers and Brick Peckham Pils.The vibe: One of the least intimidating gaming bars in London. By that we mean it isn't full of doughy, hostile men in fedoras. A robust selection of games (some retro, some not), foosball and pinball tables, as well as a regular (popular) game-themed karaoke night called Marioke. And lo: you can bring your own food!LOADING (DALSTON)
How you'd sell it to Lucy: "Yes, everyone's playing video games. But they're doing so ironically! In Dalston!"
What's on offer: Super Nintendo, XBox, WiiU, an arcade cabinet with 60 titles. And loads of game-themed cocktails.The vibe: Interested in rattling off a few rounds of Mortal Kombat II while rolling your eyes at how gauche the whole thing is? This isn't for you, noob. Meltdown (situated inside a proper, old pub) feels like a shadowy, anarchic club house for the capital's nocturnal uber-gamers. In a nice way.MELTDOWN(CALEDONIAN ROAD)
How you'd sell it to Lucy: Unless she's an anthropologist doing her PhD in "Ostracised Men of London", there is nothing for Lucy here.
What's on offer: League of Legends,Hearthstone, DOTA 2, Starcraft, that kinda thing.The vibe: An enormous, windy complex (featuring its own brewery and distillery) with a big outdoors area to boot. Also: this is the sort of place you'd actually visit for the food as well as any pixel-based stuff. We had their Four Thieves Burger and it was a monument to gluttony in man.THE FOUR THIEVES(BATTERSEA)
How you'd sell it to Lucy: "To be honest Lucy, you won't even know the games are there."
What's on offer: A big screen that shows whatever games are being played (it was Tekken when we were in), table tennis and a huge ? like massive ? Scalextric-type thing.The vibe: You'll notice in the headline *stifled giggle* we just said "games"? Well... what about games which are not video in nature? To whit: board and card games? What a delightful caprice we have played on you! Draughts, under a bridge in Hackney, is a cosy, surprisingly stylish haven for fans of table-based craic.DRAUGHTS(HAGGERSTON)
How you'd sell it to Lucy: "It's sad that in this day and age, computer-obsessed young people are unable to enjoy the real world and all it has to offer. Now, deal your Settlers of Catan deck and I'll explain once more about resource cards."
What's on offer: Good coffee, local craft beers, ales and ciders. And loads (not an exaggeration) of board games.
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Unfortunately there are basically zero decent games shops in London these days (will be delighted to be proved wrong if anyone has info to the contrary!).
But the good news is, the arcade scene is now on the up and up. Looking above I can see a gloomy comment from myself circa 2014, and the situation is much better now than it was then.
The only problem is that the best venues tend to be quite spread out across suburban London, rather than clustered in the centre.
You won't find anything in Kensington and Mayfair, but if you head to Soho it's worth checking out Las Vegas on Wardour St (head downstairs for games, it's a small place but with some decent stuff, especially if you like music games), and NQ64 on Berwick St. I've not been to the latter yet but there are a few of them across the UK now and they have a very good rep.
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