Players get on board for games comeback event

Old fashioned entertainment for all the family at Dewars Centre

Think board games are yesterday’s news? Reckon all the cool kids are gaming online these days?

A group of friends have joined forces to organise a major new event to prove the cynics wrong.

Cluedo, Monopoly and good old cards will be the order of the day as hundreds of gamers converge on Perth for the first Tabletop Scotland event.

Event organisers have already received inquiries from as far afield as Orkney and Croydon as they make plans for the gathering in the Dewars Centre.

It is a phenomenon that is sweeping the globe as people eschew the online world for more face-to-face experiences.

A recent event in Birmingham attracted 27,000 people and organisers of the Perth event believe there is a great untapped potential north of the border.

“It will cover everything and anything from board games, card games and role-playing games,” said John Harper, 38, of Tabletop Scotland, who is from Torryburn near Dunfermline.

“People do not realise what a huge industry there is for people coming together to play games, sitting with friends and family.”

While old favourites like Monopoly and Risk are on most people’s radars, Mr Harper said there were would be many more options on the table.

And organisers hope to bring in plenty of first-time families to the event, as well as the more seasoned gamers.

Tabletop Scotland’s director, David Wright, from St Monans, said: “Tabletop gaming has become increasingly popular in recent years and is a great way for people to socialise, make new friends and to have a great time doing so.

“We will have a library of games on hand for people to learn and play on-site so no prior knowledge will be required.

“We created Tabletop Scotland to have a focal point for the hobby in Scotland and to bring together those already involved in the gaming community and those who may be discovering for the first time that it exists.”

The event will be held at the Dewars Centre on September 1 and 2 next year.

Picture: Getty. Traditional games are becoming more popular.