Going back to the old gaming board
Yes, the kind with dice you hold, cards you shuffle – and real people at a table
GET out from behind your screens, unplug and interact with someone new – from across a chessboard, in a card game, or maybe even a game of Monopoly.
That’s the message from Shelley Kirby of The Unseen Shoppe in Westville, who encourages table-top gaming by hosting games nights at the shop.
“I’m a child at heart,” she said, “I’m 31 going on 12.”
For Kirby, it’s about people. “Our family grew up playing games together. Card games, dice games, board games, you name it. It was great bonding time – even when my sisters were beating me at Monopoly,” she said.
She’s grateful to her parents for encouraging those game nights. “It would have been so much easier to just pop on the TV after a long day at work,” she said.
Inspired to build a community, Kirby started holding game nights at her shop.
“Being able to provide a place for people to connect and share the joys of what this hobby has, is what gets me up in the morning,” she said.
The shop is open seven days a week and holds an array of themed game nights. Everyone is welcome and the games library has hundreds of games. And it’s free.
“Tuesday is board game night when we play games from our library, or games that people bring in. Wednesdays and Thursdays are set aside for miniature war gaming when we host the Durban War Games Club for Warhammer (Sigmar and 40K). Magic: the Gathering, is our Friday night offering, with Pokémon card games on Saturdays. As long as there is a table, you can play,” said Kirby.
Whether you are playing Cluedo or Catan, it’s all about having fun and forming relationships.
“Table-top gaming is a very inclusive activity. The dice don’t care what race, gender or orientation you identify as. The cards are the same if you’re wealthy, or sporty, or clever or cool. The board doesn’t change if you are old or young, deaf or in a wheelchair. It’s the same game for everyone. Weekends are reserved for tournaments and card game competitions. “We also offer role-playing games such as Pathfinder and Dungeons & Dragons and try to sneak painting days on to the calendar as well.” said Kirby.
Kirby said there had been too many special moments to count. “I’ve witnessed shy awkward kids, who couldn’t talk to people, gain the confidence to sit down at a table of strangers and teach them a new game. I’ve seen a divorced dad bond with his estranged son over card games.
“As cheesy as it sounds, I met the man I love. He came to our games night with mutual friends. We wouldn’t have met if there hadn’t been a space that catered to our similar interests. It was an incredible experience, falling in love over weeks and weeks of playing different games. I loved the fact that he never just let me win,” she said.