Sheffield has always had a strong gaming community, due in part to the two universities and their requisite gaming societies, as well as a prolific alternative community with their gaming hobbies. This is of course without mentioning four gaming shops (two Games Workshop stores, the RPG-focused Patriot Games on the Wicker, and the historical wargames-biased War Games Emporium in Orchard Square).
Enter a fifth gaming shop. You may wonder how such a shop could thrive, when there is already strong competition, and normally I would agree. In this case however, I feel The Outpost can do just that. For starters, The Outpost is prominently located in the city centre, focused on science-fiction/fantasy war gaming, and seeks to connect with the gaming community, as the owner Chris Murdoch is a long-standing member.
The Outpost‘s embracing of the gaming community is most noticeable in the gaming area, which is for people to come in and play games whenever they want. This is not a new idea, and has been tried before, but with little success. Where The Outpost should succeed is that this community aspect has been factored into their business model from the outset, rather than as a later addition – thus this gaming area is located directly on the premises, rather than in a different location as they have been previously (with the additional costs of lease and staff that this incurs). With this is mind, The Outpost is less a gaming store, but more a gaming centre.
Brightly lit and laid out on multiple levels, The Outpost has a welcoming feel. Walking around The Outpost, the walls are lined with games from Games Workshop and Spartan Games, amongst others, whilst tables are laid out for gamers to come in and play, as well as a painting area set aside in a corner. Already The Outpost is setting up gaming-leagues for Bloodbowl and Necromunda (yay!), with more events planned in the future (as Chris Murdoch admits, they are still settling in to their premises).
Being a long-standing gamer, what I would personally love to see would be gaming sessions held at The Outpost during the week, designed for gamers who work in the city centre to enjoy a game during their lunch-hour.
Source : http://www.the-outpost.co.uk/
At las, a gaming store where you are not focused on a specific brand. Hope your are open next time i have money too spend
June 27, 2012 at 13:26