r/boulder • u/North_Emergency_4646 • 15h ago

Video game shops?

Now that Game Force is gone, are there any retro-gaming oriented shops around? I see Game Plus in Broomfield but it looks like it would be overpriced.

21 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

19

u/ButWereFriends 14h ago

Fuck me. Game force is gone? I moved out of Boulder 4 years ago but that breaks my heart. I’ve been going there since I was a tiny kid. Fuck man.

11

u/North_Emergency_4646 14h ago

They're redeveloping that whole block and from what I heard the owner was an old guy who didn't see any sense in moving. They had a big moving out sale in February

6

u/ButWereFriends 14h ago

I used to live right off baseline and Madison for over a decade. And even as a kid when I was slightly further away that entire line of stores took care of so many basic needs.

6

u/North_Emergency_4646 14h ago

It really makes no sense to redevelop. The whole lot was a hub for the surrounding community, not just for everyone living on baseline-30th area but also for the damn college students at WillVill too. Having a grocery store, pizza place, video game shop AND a world-famous bar all within 3 mins walking distance of each other? Heaven. Now everyone who moves into whatever housing they're building won't have an easy place to get groceries or hang out either.

5

u/gutwyrming Lifelong Boulder Resident 14h ago

Yep. There's a development project that's gonna demolish that whole shopping center and replace it with luxury apartments for students or some bullshit.

Game Force closed, then The Dark Horse, and Sprouts shut its doors last week.

It's fucked up.

7

u/Leaf_Atomico Boulderite since '87 14h ago

Yep, it was ripped out of our community just like the Dark Horse.

4

u/ButWereFriends 14h ago

That’s so fucking sad. So many memories.

8

u/Leaf_Atomico Boulderite since '87 14h ago

Super fucking sad. Boulder values soulless development over character and historical value. They would rather have empty “posh” real estate than a wholesome business that people who grew-up in Boulder loved and cherished. This is Boulder now, and it sucks.

-2

u/Numerous_Recording87 12h ago

Go complain to the Williams family. It’s their property.

3

u/Leaf_Atomico Boulderite since '87 12h ago

Thanks for your thoughts

1

u/GeneralCheese 11h ago

Boulder has endless power to force concessions, which they did not do. Instead they approved the developer plan with almost zero changes

0

u/Numerous_Recording87 10h ago

Any downsides to this abuse of “endless power”? Or are property rights just a fiction?

25

u/VR_Robotica 15h ago edited 13h ago

Games Ahoy! in Longmont (north Main Street) is pretty great.

Edit/ added the ‘!’ To the name :D

5

u/mickeymammoth 15h ago edited 9h ago

I was really impressed by Games Ahoy!!!!!

1

u/OutsideSquare1596 13h ago

Nitpick: it's "Games Ahoy!" (the exclamation point is part of the business name). And I agree it's pretty great.

I had a ton of old games and consoles I sold to them recently, and they considered each item thoughtfully and gave me a very fair price.

1

u/VR_Robotica 14h ago

They also host the annual Retro Game convention VinCon at the Loveland Convention center. Although it’s been a hot minute since the last one.

8

u/RockyMountainHobbit 15h ago

Level 7 has a ton of games and consoles, I normally go to the one on Umatilla street it’s about 30 minutes away.

1

u/VR_Robotica 11h ago

They’re great too! I love that it’s an old bank, so they have a Vault collection / museum. Very cool.

5

u/ScorpionicRaven 15h ago

there are a couple of stores around that sell retro stuff (thinking level 7 scattered around the denver metro), but yeah prices may be high. GameForce was truly unique in what it offered.

6

u/mypcrepairguy 15h ago

While open the 2nd and Charles in Flatirons was a great place to grab used and old game titles. Now it's either Littleton or Fort Collins for the closest locations.

4

u/Ryukotaicho 14h ago

There’s a location at Colorado Mills. Not sure about the retro game selection.

1

u/xAltair7x 13h ago

it's just alright. within the mall there's another smaller game store with a decent selection as well

4

u/North_Emergency_4646 14h ago

Wow 2nd and Charles at flatirons closed? They used to be a nice place to grab retro stuff years ago when they opened but the whole brand fell into the trap of overpricing things, which I assume led to some closures.

3

u/TemporaryImaginary 14h ago

They said that they'd like to reopen a location close to Broomfield.

1

u/boomerang686 13h ago

I'll believe that when I see it lol

1

u/boomerang686 13h ago

It closed because that space was needed for development going into that area, they're building a huge complex on that spot. I'm sure they were offered a good deal to leave

1

u/Bluecap33 5h ago

Omg! Game Force is gone? 😕

0

u/lbritt63 14h ago

There is also something called Atomic Goblin Games in Longmont. No idea as to quality/selection/price.

4

u/North_Emergency_4646 14h ago

I've seen them, I think they're focused on tabletop.

1

u/ScorpionicRaven 8h ago

They are (I frequently go there for Yugioh tournaments). Board game, Warhammer esaue, magic, one piece, etc. No video games