Gaming retail therapy.

[acidforblood]

Gaming shops on the high street are a bit dull aren't they? Why do they seem more like a Library than an Arcade. Gaming is a visual and aural pastime so why are game shops so boring? You go into a record store and music is pumping out, you go into a game store and you'll be lucky to find a demo pod that works and to find one with sound is almost blasphemous. You'll have the odd TV that is showing a rolling demo and again the volume will be low or you'll need the hearing of a Bat to get any joy.

That's the high street but is your local indie store any better? I've not been in a single one that had much atmosphere. At best one had a Arcade Sega Rally cabinet but the norm is the ubiquitous demo pod and maybe a room out the back with consoles hooked up to a TV for which you have to pay for the privilage.

But why no background music? Why no old arcade cabinets? Why not make the inside of the store exciting and appealing?....Why are they all so dull?

[Beelzebot]

My indie (Neo Gen in Edinburgh) has demo pods for each of the main consoles which are running 90% of the time (he only switches them off for when the nearby school enters at lunchtime). The sound is turned up and he usually has some music playing as well.

The idea of having an arcade machine is a nice one, but I imagine the reality is that they take up space that could otherwise be used for selling games.

[stroppa]

neo gen kicks ass, Kev imported a lot of stuff for me on request.

[moosedeer]

My local gamestation is ok they have a gc and xbox pod i think (cant remember if they have a ps2 pod)They have about 10 tv scatered about with rolling demos on and always have music which varies from day to day(i think the employees have a day each so to speak).
CEX is cool sometimes too they always have music and ithe sometimes have a tv with a dvd running (atleast i think they used to but i havent payed much atention recently)They dont have anypods though but they do have an old arcade cab thats up for sale and i think you coulod play on it at one time but its always switched of now .

[Scythe]

My local gamestation is ok they have a gc and xbox pod i think (cant remember if they have a ps2 pod)They have about 10 tv scatered about with rolling demos on and always have music which varies from day to day(i think the employees have a day each so to speak).
.

Gamestation in Croydon (my old local) has some of the worst music playing evah!!11!!

[Lyris]

My indie (Neo Gen in Edinburgh) has demo pods for each of the main consoles which are running 90% of the time (he only switches them off for when the nearby school enters at lunchtime). The sound is turned up and he usually has some music playing as well.

Same goes for G-Force here in Glasgow.
I'd love to see a games store that was all dark with big plasma screens everywhere, and little glass cabinets lit up with the games inside... or something of that style. It'd be way cool, I'm surprised no big store's tried it.

[moosedeer]

Yeah i said it had music playing not good music

[MrDark]

Yep! Was going to mention Neo Gen myself. Must be the best indie store I've been to even though it isn't really that big. The shop keeper Kevin is very friendly as well.

I'm actually surprised that people know about Neo Gen here. 8)

[srgbilco]

My local GameStation (also in Croydon) is too small to really allow for any pods or even TVs. A local electronics shop is better though, with a small games section that nevertheless manages to have an arcade cabinet. As it's only small and mainly deals in imports, all the games are kept behind glass and you have to ask the shop guy to take it down. No flashing light though.

My main problem with indies is the unfriendliness they show towards people who they don't know. You'll see a counter guy playing through an N64 title with a regular, or in deep conversation, but generally ignore the first-time visitors, especially if they're under 18. It's really akward to get served as well, since you're a bit embarassed to interupt the 3 conversations going on. Or maybe it's just me.