Whether it's designer games, board games, miniature-painting or just exchanging hobby chat, clubs are the place to be if you want to meet like-minded people. EDWIN WONG tells you where the most happening places are located.

IN the early 1970s, hobby clubs were the in-thing, where people would join clubs to meet others who shared the same interest, and spend their weekends indulging in their favourite pastime.

Unfortunately, with the invention of the world’s greatest solitaire entertainment device — the computer game, clubs eventually gave way to joystick-wielding computer jockeys.

While computer games are great for testing your reflexes and hand-to-eye coordination, they literally spelled the death of social interaction and skills.

By the 1990s, there was nary a club in sight. By the new millennium, clubs had evolved into online communities with a new breed of language that once upon a time one would have mistaken for alien code!
Well, just when we thought that clubs were well and truly buried in time, guess what? They are beginning to spring up again, with new forms of hobby, Cosplay, anime, live role-playing and yes, even designer games.

DESIGNER GAME HOBBY CLUBS

Thailand

In most Asian countries, the designer game hobby club is no more than a “meet-up”, where one enthusiast agrees to be the organiser, and then ropes in friends and colleagues, through word-of-mouth, for regular gaming sessions.

In Bangkok, the organiser happens to be a woman and sessions are usually organised in either a private residence, office or community hall, courtesy of the members.

They meet every month, and members just bring along their own games to share.

It is indeed nice to see the spirit of sharing, and meeting new friends, again in this day and age where everything else seems to be becoming more impersonal.

Indonesia

If language (since rules are only either in English or German) didn’t deter the Thais from enjoying this growing lifestyle hobby, then it certainly wasn’t going to stop Indonesians from enjoying the same.

No surprise then that meet-ups are springing up not only in Jakarta, but recently also in Bandung, Surabaya, Jogjakarta, and believe it or not, even Batam and Kelapa Gading.

But unlike Bangkok, where a large number of the members are expatriates, the meet-ups in Indonesia draw a substantially local crowd who meet mostly in cafes or community halls.

Also, they are far more active than the Bangkok meet-up.

Malaysia

The clubs in Malaysia are different from both Bangkok and Jakarta in that they are a combination of actual clubs and meet-ups in public places (like cafes).

Currently, there are at least three clubs and several meet-up groups in Kuala Lumpur alone, with a few others in Ipoh, Penang, Malacca, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

What goes on?

As most clubs promote themselves online, one can just join their community website, participate in their forums and just join one of their regular sessions.

As this can be intimidating, many people are introduced to these clubs, either by a friend or colleague.

Meet-ups are mostly free to join in, but clubs usually levy a small membership fee or day charge to cover the cost of the premises and utilities.

BoardGameCafe
www.boardgamecafe.net

BoardGameCafe is essentially a community forum where enthusiasts and the curious can pop by anonymously to establish if they like what they see.

It’s an active site where gamers post threads on everything from the next meet-up, to reviews of the games they’ve played, and to what they are planning to play in the next session.

Difference of opinions on how good a game is, or isn’t; or how well or badly certain gamers played, makes for good reading.

Although different groups meet-up at different venues, the more regular ones are the Friday night session at Old Town Kopitiam in Cheras (next to Leisure Mall), and Saturday afternoons at Mage Cafe in Damansara Jaya (next to Atria).

There is no charge other than what you order in F&B.

Games Circle
8B, Jalan SS22/25, Petaling Jaya, Selangor (016-451 0940).

GC, as it is fondly know among its members, is one of the longest miniature game clubs around, faithfully serving its core of Warhammer 40k & Fantasy fans, from Friday evenings to Sundays.

Drop in anytime and you will find members painting their precious miniatures, playing on tables laden with beautiful terrain pieces, or just exchanging hobby chat.

In addition, there is also a weekly RPG (role-playing game) group playing D&D (Dungeons & Dragons), so you can join one of the greatest games ever created right here in GC.

Members pay a small fee. Look for someone named Richard who will be happy to introduce you to Warhammer miniature games.

Comics Corner
75A, Jalan SS22/23, 47400 Damansara Jaya (03-7725 8528) & No. 38, Jalan SS15/4, 47500 Subang Jaya.

The undisputed “king” of TCGs (trading card games), Comics Corner is still the place to hang out to play your favorite TCG.

Although members play a wide range of other games, especially sci-fi and fantasy theme, the core activity is still the major TCGs — Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, etc — where there is a very active domestic and international circuit with serious prize money.

There is no table charge or membership fee, other than for tournaments.

Toybox
43A, Jalan 20/16, Petaling Jaya, Selangor (012-267 5003).

Fast becoming known as the “complete club” for designer game fans, Toybox members (who pay a small fee) enjoy playing board games, TCGs, miniature games and PS3 electronic entertainment. They can also borrow them home!

In addition to having all the latest games available, including some cool gadgets for PS3 such as Rock Band guitars and drum kit, Toybox is also currently the home to the Flames of War (Malaysia) club, where members get free gaming on Sundays, access to rule book, templates, accessories, and the most awesome miniature scale buildings and terrain pieces in the world. Come and see it to believe!

Wolf Game Shop
6A-3, Jalan 14/20, Section 14, 46100 Petaling Jaya (012-259 9952).

Another long established club, Wolf is also a home base for miniature gaming enthusiasts who love their Warmachine, Confrontation, Flames of War and of course, Warhammer 40K.

Of late, there seems to be growing interest in the new genre of pre-painted miniature games, where those who lack the time and/or skills to paint can now also enjoy miniature gaming.

Do pop by and check out the first pre-painted, non-collectible miniatures game, AT-43.

Join the club!

Well, what are you waiting for? End your Solitaire days and get with the latest lifestyle hobby in town!

For more information, e-mail imagine.games@mac.com.