New Manchester Games Shop

[blufive]

I think They're called FanBoy 3 (though I might have that wrong) and they're on the junction of Newton Street and Back Piccadilly Cavell Street, just off Piccadilly Gardens. From the very quick look I had a couple of hours ago, they certainly look like a Proper Games Shop. At least four or five full-length bookcases of RPG rule books and supplements; a range of boardgames that includes Monopoly, Axis & Allies and at least one of the Settlers variants (I didn't have time to study the shelves properly) more CCGs than you can shake a stick at, other card games in the Fluxx/Chrononauts vein, miniatures, magazines and other gaming sundries.

I didn't spot any Games Workshop stuff in there, but some people would no doubt regard that as a benefit, and there's a GW store in the Arndale anyhow, so it's probably not worth their while to compete on that front.

They're planning to stay open into the evenings and run CC/war/board/RP games for a small fee (flyer indicates £2-3) with the money contributing towards nibbles and paying GMs for their time (I think)

They've only been open a week, so they won't be able to accept plastic until the UK banking system decides they're not an evil cabal of money-launderers, which may take another week or two to sort out. They seem like a friendly bunch, so I'd recommend that any local gamers drop by and have a look...

[2-days-later update: they ARE called FanBoy 3, and they're on the junction of Newton Street and Cavell Street, not Back Piccadilly. I only missed by about 10 yards...]

[2-weeks-later update: website here]

Comments

[morningstar-lj.livejournal.com]

Interesting.... if youre not doing much of a Thursday or Friday evening we could meet up and drop in?

[blufive.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan. A couple of the FONTers may well be interested, too. Hmm, reminds me, I must bounce something off the font list about it...

[del-c.livejournal.com]

How could you get "Fanboy 3" wrong? It's such a good pun on "Fun Boy Three" (spin-off group from 80s ska band The Specials, for those who don't recognise the reference) that if you got it wrong it's bound to be a better name than whatever they actually called the shop.

[blufive.livejournal.com]

Simple: I was so busy gawking in the windows at the sight of real, proper games in on the shelves, that I never actually looked at the signs on the outide of the shop. (Doh!)

They gave me a flier with "FanBoy 3" on the top, and I'm assuming that's the name of the place, but that could be the name of a local gaming group or something, and the shop's called something completely different.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that GW only sell their products through their own chain of shops, at least in the UK. This appears to be an effort to instill brand loyalty on the basis of hoping that the little Warhammer addicts never get to realise that there are actually other gaming systems out there.

When we lived in Cheltenham, the only gaming shop was the local GW outlet. bugshaw went in one day to buy some dice, and deeply confused the PFY behind the counter by asking for D12s and D20s.

"You don't need those for gaming, only six-sided dice."

"Er, you do for Call of Cthulhu."

[Adopts vacant state as GDW mind-control link opens] "There is no such game. If there was, GW would publish it. If we did, it would use ordinary dice. Therefore other dice are not and never can be required..."

OK, I exaggerate slightly, but that's pretty much GW's approach. Indeed, we were surprised when we found some of their stuff on sale in a mainstream gaming shop in Colorado Springs. I mentioned this to the owner, who commented that GW were trying so set up an exclusive GW store in Denver but apparently getting nowhere fast thanks to local gamers who refused to believe that a games store could sell only one publisher's games!

MC

[cavalorn.livejournal.com]

I went in there and they made me sign stuff! ;)

By the way, Gav... does FONT still meet? If so, would the folks like to have a get-together to watch some monstrously difficult to obtain classic 70s children's SF that I might just be able to lay my hands on? :D

[blufive.livejournal.com]

I went in there and they made me sign stuff! ;)

As they should :) No doubt you had to be chained, kicking and screaming, to a table...

does FONT still meet?

Yup. The details on this page are still accurate (Crown & Anchor, 2nd/4th Thursdays, FAB Cafe, 5th Thursdays). We've even been doing moderately well for new members recently. calatrice and I won't be at the next one, because we're on holiday, but the usual suspects should be present.

If so, would the folks like to have a get-together to watch some monstrously difficult to obtain classic 70s children's SF that I might just be able to lay my hands on?

Very possibly. I'll pass details on...

[blufive.livejournal.com]

There are very enthusiastic squeaking noises coming from certain people. they will be even more interested if you can obtain episodes 5 and 6 (apparently copies of the other 5 episodes are already Known To FONT)

I'll send details of the FONT mailing list to the address in your userinfo, then you can sign up and discuss it directly...

[cavalorn.livejournal.com]

There would be no gaps. :)

Attempting to sign up now...