ASSEMbler
01-31-2006, 09:51 PM
http://assemblergames.com/images/gamechoice/gamechoice.jpg
It's easy to forget with the advent of the world wide web, e-mail, and online shopping, stores are at their roots what they have always been; a person behind a counter.
In the old days, you had to hunt down these places. Perhaps ordering by mail if you were lucky, but more likely by mailing money to a foreign land based solely on usenet conversations, and blind faith in the honest nature of your fellow man. How easily we forget that these places STILL EXIST.
Stores may make more money via the web, but there is something magical, tangible, and completely pleasing to visit these alladin's caves.
Kudos to Virtual Alan for his efforts in reminding all of us of the roots of our hobby. Concealed behind the shiny exterior of a web page, they still exist, and the smiles shared by merchant and collector alike, regardless of language or age, are something that can never be conveyed by any web page.
I fondly remember the age when collecting was an experience of people meeting people, and not the sterile click of a mouse on an order form.
-ASSEMbler
You can see the complete story here, with more pictures. (http://assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8511)
It's easy to forget with the advent of the world wide web, e-mail, and online shopping, stores are at their roots what they have always been; a person behind a counter.
In the old days, you had to hunt down these places. Perhaps ordering by mail if you were lucky, but more likely by mailing money to a foreign land based solely on usenet conversations, and blind faith in the honest nature of your fellow man. How easily we forget that these places STILL EXIST.
Stores may make more money via the web, but there is something magical, tangible, and completely pleasing to visit these alladin's caves.
Kudos to Virtual Alan for his efforts in reminding all of us of the roots of our hobby. Concealed behind the shiny exterior of a web page, they still exist, and the smiles shared by merchant and collector alike, regardless of language or age, are something that can never be conveyed by any web page.
I fondly remember the age when collecting was an experience of people meeting people, and not the sterile click of a mouse on an order form.
-ASSEMbler
You can see the complete story here, with more pictures. (http://assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8511)