Darcy Paulin is living proof that board games aren't just for kids.
As the owner of Drexoll Games for more than a decade, he has encyclopedic knowledge of the trends and changes occurring in the industry.
And young people are not the only ones coming through the doors of his Kitsilano establishment.
“On some level, everyone is a gamer,” he said. “Games aren’t a foreign concept. Even in adulthood, we like to play.”
When Paulin opened up his shop in 2002 a renaissance was taking place in the gaming business.
Many European products were gaining popularity in North America and his customers were increasingly looking for more complex role-playing and strategy games.
Settlers of Catan was an early crowd pleaser, but so were games like Carcassone and Paulin’s all-time favourite, Puerto Rico.
The best part about these new games, he said, is that those who started them knew there was an end in sight.
“Monopoly and Risk — they are fun, but I am not sure I have ever finished them,” he said. “They just go on for a long time. That is what impressed me about the strategy games. You could finish them in an hour.”
These days, shops like Drexoll are under pressure from online and large-format retailers.
But Paulin, who managed a comic book shop before launching his own venture, said he continues to be successful because his customers rely on him for advice about which games they should buy and what suits their interests.
He has also made the store a hub for gaming enthusiasts, hosting a weekly games night every Friday.
“It is really fun,” he said. “We also have demo tables anytime we are open. It gives people a chance to try something they have never heard of before… and see whether it is something they are interested in.”
• For more information go to drexollgames.blogspot.ca.
