What Makes Game Stores So Great?

A great game store is a place you can hang out in and feel welcome. It’s one of the few places where you can spend countless hours, browsing and playing, and not feel like an imposition. Every game store (especially the mom and pop ones) has their own unique feel. I’m going to tell you about one of my favorites.

Gaming Abroad

I used to live and work in Seoul, South Korea. A lot of people think of South Korea as a video game oasis and they wouldn’t be wrong. It’s a place where people pack stadiums to watch League of Legends or StarCraft tournaments. They take video games seriously, which is why it came as a surprise to learn that tabletop games (war gaming specifically) weren’t much of a thing. Not that video games and tabletop wargames go hand in hand, but given Korea’s penchant for gaming and sci-fi/fantasy genres, you would think there’d at least be a good Warhammer presence.

I absolutely love miniatures. I’ve been collecting and painting Warhammer miniatures for about six years now. I love the intricacies and details that go into modeling a game board, and painstakingly painting a model. I’m not much of a player. However, after three months in Korea, I started jonesing for a new army. I searched all over, looking for a Games Workshop or any kind of store geared for gaming, but I only found one. Orc Town.

It was a low key place, tucked down a narrow side street. A minimalist sign with a cartoon orc was the only indication a store was located there. The store was a moderately sized room packed to the brim with games, but they had just about any miniature game you could want. There were the mainstays like Warhammer, Warmachine, and Flames of War as well as a lot of historical and lesser known-games.

Gamer’s Oasis

The atmosphere and community made Orc Town great. The tables were always busy and everyone was friendly. Since Seoul lacks a big gaming presence, we all flocked to Orc Town. And not just the locals, I met people from all over the world there. Once I stopped briefly to watch a group of Australians play Dust Tactics, and they invited me to join. They gave me a crash course and we played for about an hour. The store owner was always welcoming and he was quick to offer painting and modeling advice.

So what makes game stores so great? We do. The people who are welcoming and willing to share their passion with complete strangers and help them along the way. Orc Town was a big highlight during my stay. Which says a lot because it’s a country of amazing things and experiences. I didn’t frequent it as much as I would’ve liked, but it was a pretty amazing place to stumble upon and visit every now and then.

-The Marshall

To check out Orc Town, visit: orctown-store.com.