Goodman Games

Oh, we have a miniature poodle, so I totally get the demi-canine category!

I guess what made me ask, was the fact that I thought at least one of them was a poodle, and I completely appreciated the fact that their hair was cut 'normally' and they weren't all poodled-out. It took about two years to convince our groomer that we just wanted the dog's hair cut short all over....

S & G Comics and Collectibles
464 Forks of the River Parkway
Sevierville, TN
865-908-8346
http://sgcomics.com/



S&G is a comics and collectibles store serving the Pigeon Forge area of Tennessee. If you're a comics fan it's got a lot to offer, including a healthy supply of back issues and a good assortment of new titles. The gaming products are limited to some CCG's, but they special order on request and have contact info for the local D&D players. The owner is very friendly and we had a lot to talk about.

Dicehead Games and Comics
Bradley Square Mall
200 Paul Huff Parkway
Cleveland, TN
423-473-7125
http://www.dicehead.com



You know it's going to be a good "gamer-game" store when it's called "Dicehead Games"! Dicehead Games has two stores in the Chattanooga, TN area, both of which I visited. This particular store has a great location in a large mall. The store is primarily devoted to miniatures and comics, with a very large gaming space in the back. Many game stores have play space, but it's rare to see this much play space in a mall store, since mall rents tend to be more expensive. I applaud them for providing so much gaming space in such a prime location. The store has all the basic gaming categories, including board games, strategy games, card games, and of course RPG's. The RPG section isn't huge but they offer to special order at a 10% discount on anything that isn't in stock, which is a good service to the local gamers with specialty tastes. The owners of Dicehead Games are actively involved in the local gaming and con scene, and their enthusiasm for the product shows in conversation with them.

Dicehead Games & Comics #2
6231 Perimeter Dr. #127
Chattanooga, TN
423-553-1960
http://www.dicehead.com



This is the second location for Dicehead Games. It's in a shopping center right in Chattanooga. It's a little smaller than the other location but in my opinion has a better RPG selection. They stock Goodman Games products, and you can tell the staff is interested in RPG's because their selection includes some of the specialty titles you really have to know about in order to carry (for example, OSRIC products). There's gaming space, a good selection of Games Workshop and Warmachine miniatures, board games, and gaming space in the back. Plus the owner and manager of this location, Mel, can talk shop about almost any game she carries. It's not often a shop owner can tell me about her 40K army then pitch me on a Cthulhu supplement written by one of her customers!

Titan Games & Comics
2585 Spring Road
Smyrna, GA 30080
770-433-8226
http://www.titangamesandcomics.com



When I was growing up in Atlanta, the three big game stores on the scene were Sword of the Phoenix (the original Atlanta game store), The War Room, and Titan Games. The first two have closed but Titan still has three locations. The Smyrna location has more of an RPG focus than most game stores I go to. Half the wall space is comics, and another 1/4 is RPG's. The rest of the games are crammed into the remaining space. Most of the RPG's are stocked face-out (always the best way to present RPG's in my opinion) and they have an impressive selection of both big names and third party publishers, not to mention a lot of back stock. This is a browser's store and if you're an RPG fan, there's a lot of good stuff to browse!

Fantasy Factory
257 N. Hamilton St.
Dalton, GA 30720
706-259-3315
http://www.fantasyfactory.com



Small town game stores are always a pleasure to visit. In large cities the game stores often become specialized in order to better define themselves relative to the competition. For example, the three large game stores in Milwaukee each have a specialty: one is RPG focused, one family game focused, and one board/card game focused. But a small town game store often serves a huge geographical range and has to be everything to everybody, so you never know what you'll find inside. Fantasy Factory is primarily a comics shop, but they also have several shelves of RPG product covering a wide variety of publishers, including Goodman Games. They also have a wall of Reaper minis, and an assortment of other game products. Dalton's a slow-paced town and this is a slow-paced store, with a very relaxing atmosphere. It was easy to hang out for a while and talk shop with the manager (and his son, who spends summer days reading comics in the store - I wish I'd had that opportunity as a kid). The manager is also involved in running the local convention. Fantasy Factory is a fun store with a nice atmosphere, broad focus, and a knowledgeable staff.

Dr. No's Comics and Games
3428 Canton Road
Marietta, GA
770-422-4642
http://www.drnos.com



The last time I visited Dr. No's was when I was in their Risk 2210 AD league many years ago. Since then they've expanded into the adjacent store front, doubling their space. Their comics selection is genuinely impressive and their game selection is large. Compared to some of the nationally notable full line game stores -- such as Games Plus in Chicago, Endgame in Oakland, and Black Diamond Games in Walnut Creek -- Dr. No's isn't quite a "full line" game store yet, but for a comics-game store hybrid they have an excellent selection of games that is much broader than most other comics and game stores. They have all the core miniatures lines in stock, a good selection of the collectible minis lines, the CCG lines, and a broad selection of RPG's. The RPG selection for 4E looked good for Wizards of the Coast materials but was missing Goodman Games products, although the manager promised to take a look at it. Dr. No's is a great store and I almost wish they'd take that final step to really expand their game selection into "full line" status -- they're "this close" to being a notable national full line game store.

Teahouse Comics
5920 Roswell Rd. Suite B-107
Sandy Springs, GA
404-252-3994
http://www.teahouse-comics.com



Teahouse Comics is a brand new comics store on Atlanta's north side. The store is really a pure comics store, with only a very small selection of games. But the owners both come from a gaming background: one managed another comics/game store in Atlanta for 15 years, and the other is an active 4E GM who runs gaming two nights a week in the store. They are enthusiastic about adding gaming products to the assortment as the store builds up a fan base. For now they have a great comics selection and a basic D&D 4E section, and will special order any gaming product that you ask for.

Intergalactic Comics, Cards, and Games
82 S Tennessee Ave
Etowah, TN
423-781-7378



Intergalactic wasn't even on my list of stores to visit, but I happened to drive by it one morning by sheer luck! The store was closed when I passed but I got a look inside, and was impressed by the Warhammer 40K mural painted on the wall. This store is serious about 40K! I spoke with the owner on the phone later and he indicated he does indeed stock D&D and would pass around some Goodman Games catalogs to the local gamers. If you're in the area, check it out!

Dean's Dugout
1815 Wehrli Road
Naperville, IL
630-527-8888
http://www.deansdugoutonline.com/



Dean's Dugout is a sports collectibles store that is branching out into gaming. If you're a Goodman Games fan, this is a great place to shop: their two primary lines are Wizards of the Coast D&D products and Goodman Games! When I visited they had a gorgeous display of our products face-out on their gaming table. The selection is steadily expanding, kicked off by their participation in Free RPG Day this weekend and a "gaming extravaganza" next weekend. They have a large gaming space with lots of space, and overall I can see them becoming a great force for gaming in their local community.

One Stop Comics
111 S. Ridgeland Ave.
Oak Park, IL
708-524-2287
http://www.onestopcomics.net/



One Stop Comics is a large comics store with a huge back issue supply and lots of hidden surprises concealed in the nooks and crannies of the shop. The store has gotten into and out of gaming over the years, depending on local trends, so the gaming assortment is a little eclectic. They carry D&D and will special order Goodman Games on request. They do, however, support Free RPG Day. They have a great selection of current-year and previous-years' Free RPG Day product -- including healthy supplies of our Punjar: Tarnished Jewel module from 2008. If you're a collector missing that one, give them a call!

They also have the world's largest supply of Conan comics from the 1970's! I have never seen so many Conan comics in one place. Take the photograph below...imagine it three times over...then add in a couple dozen comic boxes with more. The owner said he bought out a collection owned by the sister of a former Conan writer. If you're a Conan fan, this is the store for you!


Conan, Conan, and more Conan!

Gamescape North
1225 4th Street
San Rafael, CA
415-457-8698
http://www.gamescape-north.com



Gamescape North is worth visiting for a number of reasons, but one that's notable strictly from a "game store tourism" perspective is the gorgeous drive. You have to cross the Golden Gate Bridge to get to Gamescape North, so you get a great view of San Francisco and Alcatraz before passing the houseboats and rolling hills of Marin. By the time I got the store, I was already in a great mood. The store itself is a true full-line game store, opening up with puzzles and board games aimed at the casual family gamer, then quickly transitioning to the "gamer games." They have a full selection of all major game lines, including an outstanding RPG section - about 15 feet of face-out displays with all major RPG lines, plus quite a few minor ones, as well as indie RPG's. The store has four gaming tables in the back. They also sell gaming tables - actual furniture - and keep a variety of sizes in stock, which you don't see everyday. One other compliment I have to send their way is the general aesthetics of the store: it's carpeted, it's well lit, it's spacious, it's just a pleasant place to shop.

Games of Berkeley
2151 Shattuck Ave.
Berkeley, CA
510-540-7822
http://www.gamesofberkeley.com



Games of Berkeley is an industry institution. For those who follow such things, it's the store founded by the owner of Chessex several decades ago. It's a full line game store, one of nearly a half-dozen such stores in the San Francisco area, which is truly blessed with an abundance of high-quality game stores. Games of Berkeley carries a wide variety of mass market novelty products, including some toys and gimmic gifts, as well as puzzles, mass market board games, and outdoor Nerf-type activity products. And then, there are the games. They have a large supply of RPG's housed magazine-box style; a huge number of miniatures, including complete lines of Games Workshop, Warmachine, and Reaper; many smaller miniatures lines; indie RPG's; all the popular Euro board games; and pretty much any other gamer product you'd like. The store is packed to the gills with games, and has a basement play area as well. Along with Black Diamond Games, Endgame, Gamescape North, Gator Games, and Gamescape, it's a must-visit game store for anyone who visits northern California.

Gator Games
4212 Olympic Ave.
San Mateo, CA
650-571-PLAY
http://www.gatorgames.com



When I first started Goodman Games, I called 500 game stores to ask them to buy my first product. I still remember my conversation with Jean of Gator Games, who had ordered Broncosaurus Rex and remembered it. "This book better sell or I'm not ordering anything else from your company," she told me. Luckily, it did sell, and when I stopped into Gator Games today, they had a great selection of Goodman Games product. Gator Games is packed to the gills with gaming products, including multiple complete miniatures lines, a huge assortment of board games, and two separate sections of RPG's -- a series of magazine rack faceouts in the back and several bookshelves in the front. The store runs regular promotions and prices products competitively. They have the wide product selection typical of a good full-line gaming store; I came across some items I hadn't seen before, including a line of resin bases for diorama-style miniatures. They're currently running some great deals on what's left of their 3E products, if you're looking to round out a collection.

Hero’s Books, Toys, Games
26 W. Broadway St
Jackson, WY
(307) 733-8858



Gaming is a universal hobby, and the presence of a game store in downtown Jackson, Wyoming is testament to that fact. This is a country where elk and moose wander by the main roads, and hiking and whitewater rafting are common diversions. Even so, Hero’s does brisk business selling games, toys, comics, and hobby supplies in downtown Jackson. The store caters to the tourists and mass market crowd that makes up a big part of Jackson’s economy, and as such has a wide selection of yo-yo’s, puzzles, toys, collectibles, and mass market board games. In the rear of the store they have a comic book section, including backstock, and a gaming section. The gaming is mostly focused on Games Workshop but there is also a face-out of RPG materials, including core D&D and some older Goodman Games titles. This is a store that serves an unusual market but if you’re in the Jackson area and need your gaming fix, it’s the place to go!

If you’re a dog lover, you’ll appreciate the fact that Hero’s has a “shop dog” who lives in the back, and the owners put a picture of him on the business card!

Rook's Comics and Games
2622 W. Main St.
Bozeman, MT
406-556-2153
http://www.rookscomicsandgames.com



If there's one place in America that could inspire great D&D campaigns, it's got to be Montana. Untamed wilderness, endless vistas, and mysteries of the land are still real here, along with lengthy winters that provide lots of time to hole up and game. Rook's Comics and Games is clean, friendly, well-lit game store serving the Bozeman area. Vising this game store is a great experience. The lines they carry are well stocked, everything is presented nicely, and the staff is outgoing. There is a large gaming space connected to the main store. The product selection is what you'd expect of a full-line game store: all the basic miniatures, board games, card games, and RPG's, including Goodman Games -- plus a comics section with backstock. Plus I learned some fun facts about Montana when I asked where the new comics were on a Wednesday. Turns out "new comic day," which is Wednesday everywhere else in the world, is Thursday in the lesser-traveled roads of Montana! I suppose my spotty cell phone reception and the wildlife on the roads should have been a sign. Wilderness jokes aside, this is a great store and one well worth visiting if you ever have a family trip to Yellowstone or another reason to visit this neck of the woods.

The Splash Page
2545 Central Ave., Suite C
Billings, MT
406-652-9444



Clocking in at around 100,000 people, Billings is the largest city in Montana, and The Splash Page is the oldest game store serving the Billings area. It is primarily a comics store but also has a core gaming section with a good selection of Games Workshop and Wizards of the Coast products. Magic and Warhammer 40,000 are big here, and the store has a large gaming space in the back that can support prerelease tournaments and other events, including Free RPG Day which they participated in this year. They have a good faceout presentation of the 4E books and are looking to add Goodman Games after my visit. The comics selection is impressive, and includes a good variety of backstock and trade paperbacks. The owner, Scott, is active in comics industry trade associations, and if you're in the business you'll appreciate that this is the kind of store that uses an advanced POS system and other inventory management techniques more common to larger retailers. If you're in Billings, swing by the Splash Page!

Big Sky Comics and Collectibles
323 24th St. W #C
Billings, MT
406-656-0664
http://www.bigskycomics.com



Big Sky is a two-year-old store in Billings focused primarily on comics, but with a core gaming section and an enthusiastic owner with a passion for games. The comics selection is great. Two of my personal pet peeves about comic presentations are overlapping covers and displays that cover the bottom half of the covers, as many traditional magazine displays do. Comics are all about the art, so why obscure it? Big Sky does a great job of avoiding both of these pet peeves -- the comics are presented full-cover, spaced so they're easy to browse, and well organized. The new release tags are easy to identify. In general, this is just an easy store to shop. I picked up a Wolverine spinoff I hadn't noticed before; the presentation here brought it to my attention, where it had probably been covered up in stores I'd previously visited. The gaming section here is still very small, focused primarily on D&D 4E and a collection of core card/board games, but the owner is a fan, and I suspect that the selection will expand as the store grows. There's a single card table in the middle of the room so not much in terms of game space BUT there's a sofa! How can you go wrong with a sofa in the middle of the store? All in all, a welcoming friendly store that is starting off strong and I'm sure will do very well.

Joe, there are a lot of perks in your game mastery career, aren't there?


~jealous~