Can We Build Some 'Third Spaces' While We Watch the Death of Mainstream Games, Comics, and Entertainment?

Just a few random thoughts, thoroughly randomized for your consumption

A number of articles on Substack and elsewhere have combined with discussions with friends on various forums in regard to the future of much of entertainment, as well as how we interact as human beings. This article won’t be all that coherent, but rather offers some ideas thrown up against the Internet wall for you to consider.

Three specific articles here on the ‘Stack are background for much of this post.

1. The loss of what are termed “Third Spaces”. Not home, not work. The place we can go to do non-home and non-work things with real people.

   Brian Niemeier
   discusses this here:

   After the Mall: Can We Build a New Third Place?

2. The vanishing middle man of boardgaming, and other amusements, was discussed by

   Fandom Pulse
   in this article on Boardlandia’s closure.

   Online Retailer Boardlandia Closing And Blames Trump Tariffs Despite Admitting Years Of "Increasing Challenges"

3. The bifurcation of tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPG) into the Clubhouse, where friends meet to game, and the gachapon ideal of Hasbro/WotC’s future vision of Dungeons & Dragons.

   Bradford C. Walker
   presents his view of good games for the Clubhouse in this article, but take some time and read more on his analysis, as it’s been predictive as to the evolution of TTRPGs in the last decade or so.

   Games For The Clubhouse (Revised)

My discussion also hinges on posts from several gamers, modelers, and researchers in games. These people have a good background in the world of gaming and express a genuine love of gaming as an intellectual as well as an entertainment pastime. Please visit the Substacks of

Rick Stump

,

Alexander Macris

,

Michael DiBaggio

, and

Memorium - Stephen Smith

.

Hasbro/WotC dominates the commercial TTRPG industry. They are shifting to a digital model that will likely leave the Friendly Local Gaming Store (FLGS) in the same boat as the Local Comic Shop (LCS). Disruptions in distribution from 2020 through 2024 and a shift to digital platforms for distribution have sent many LCSs across the nation into oblivion. Those that are hanging on do so in many cases by shifting focus to Manga, collectible books, movie memorabilia, and other items to make up the loss of sales from American comics. As Hasbro/WotC move to a digital platform, it is highly likely that the FLGSs will see the same economic pressures.

Both suffer from the ability of the consumer to go directly to a manufacturer or supplier, such as Amazon, and order many of the items that the LCS or FLGS sells. This cuts further into their profitability and survivability as a business. Both compete on the commodity front for the money and attention of the consumer. It is unlikely that the FLGSs and LCSs can win on that battlefield. It’s true that there is a lot of OSR — Old School Renaissance — game product out there, but getting it known to players is often a tall hill to climb.

Where might the FLGS/LCS have an advantage?

On the personal interaction front, in “meat space”, with real life interactions.

I’m a pretty solid believer in Bradford’s analysis on bifurcation. For those who want D&D on their mobile devices and have interactions with others in this manner, Hasbro/WotC has them covered. For those who want to meet with and interact with people while gaming, can the FGLSs and LCSs fill some of that demand?

Consider my FLGS: composed of three separate locations — comic shop, game store, old 5&10 store (“five & dime” — look it up for some fun). The comic store gave up on tracking new Marvel and DC back in 2022. They still sell older comics, but they stock Manga, SF classic books, movie posters from the pre-1990 eras, other memorabilia, and a host of related items. The game store has five basement rooms that host games, with a couple small rooms on the main floor. A small portion of the main shop still sells games, but they are shifting to hosting games more and more.

What if they also decided to offer sales of snacks and drinks, popcorn, maybe installed a small pizza kitchen, or just allowed food to be delivered? Memberships get a discount on all services offered, but all are welcome.

Would that — could that — space become a “third space” to rekindle greater in-person interaction? I think that if you could work out an affordable membership option, you might be able to do that.

Or, at least you might stand a better shot than depending on Hasbro/WotC to keep you supplied with gaming products.

If any of this makes sense to you, and you have a FLGS or LCS on the edge in your area, then maybe have a talk with them about some of these ideas. Probably won’t work for some — perhaps even many. But maybe a few can swing this.

Maybe we can find a spot for a few new Third Spaces in the tumult of the Mainstream Entertainment Industry burning itself to ash.

“Roll for initiative.”