Business Spotlight: Meta-Games Unlimited

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Rick Latham and Allan Reid thought they'd have plenty of space when they moved Meta-Games Unlimited into its new location in The Plaza Shopping Center in July 2002. But the retail area already is jammed with merchandise, and the gaming area is filled with players most evenings.|ret||ret||tab|

"The first night we opened up, the place was packed," said Latham. "There were 80 or 90 people in here playing. I couldn't believe it."|ret||ret||tab|

Prior to founding Meta-Games, Latham played the popular adventure card game "Magic: The Gathering." An outstanding player, he participated in the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour, which stops in several cities around the world each year and has players competing for a purse of more than $1 million. At one point, he was the fifth-ranked player in the world. |ret||ret||tab|

While competing in the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour, Latham met many other gamers from Springfield. Inevitably, says Latham, they would all end up talking about the lack of gaming locales back home.|ret||ret||tab|

After leaving the pro tour, Latham decided to open his own gaming store. Rather than go it alone, he asked Reid, a fellow gamer from Neosho, to be his business partner. Reid agreed, relocated to Springfield, and they opened Meta-Games Unlimited Inc. in 1998.|ret||ret||tab|

Originally, Meta-Games was located on East Chestnut Expressway in Springfield and occupied 900 square feet of retail space. Approximately 90 percent of that space was used as a gaming area.|ret||ret||tab|

"That's really what has made us stand out all along," said Latham. "Other stores sell games, but there's no place you could sit down and play them or compete against others."|ret||ret||tab|

Before long, Meta-Games began hosting leagues for gamers and holding tournaments. Although the store doesn't make money from leagues and tournaments, it has helped attract customers, who buy their gaming supplies at the store. Those who play in leagues and tournaments are some of Meta-Games most loyal customers, Latham said.|ret||ret||tab|

In 2000, Latham and Reid moved Meta-Games into 2,100 square feet of retail store space in The Plaza Shopping Center. The two quickly made use of the extra space by increasing inventory. |ret||ret||tab|

They also added four computers, which allowed patrons to participate in online gaming. These computers are connected to the Internet and to each other via a local area network. This configuration allows patrons to play people located inside or outside the store.|ret||ret||tab|

"We have a super-fast DSL (digital subscriber line) connection to the Internet," said Latham. |ret||ret||tab|

"That's why people come here to do their online gaming."|ret||ret||tab|

In July 2002, Meta-Games moved to a larger store in the Plaza Shopping Center, which spans 3,400 square feet. Latham and Reid expanded their inventory again.|ret||ret||tab|

Patrons can find a wide variety of games at the store, including role-playing games, such as "Dungeons and Dragons," or card games, such as "Dragon Ball Z." The store also carries all types of board games as well as war games, such as "Mage Knight," which is played with miniature figurine game pieces.|ret||ret||tab|

Meta-Games carries a large selection of miniature figurine game pieces, which are ready to use. |ret||ret||tab|

Do-it-yourselfers also can find unfinished miniature figurine game pieces and paint supplies, which they can use to fashion their own armies. |ret||ret||tab|

In addition, the store contains a wide selection of books that teach people how to play games, including "Warhamme" and "Pokmon," an assortment of dice, playing cards for games such as "Magic: The Gathering," and used video games.|ret||ret||tab|

"We only carry used video games because there's no way we can compete against places like Best Buy and Wal-Mart," said Latham. |ret||ret||tab|

Latham and Reid have concentrated on pleasing their niche of customers who come to the store to buy and play games. Since the move, eight more computers were added to the online gaming area, and several tables were added to the gaming area. |ret||ret||tab|

Latham and Reid are working on expanding their customer base by adding more gaming leagues. |ret||ret||tab|

The store also plans on holding several Magic: The Gathering Junior Super Series tournaments. The tournaments will be open to players 15 and younger. Those who participate will compete against other players located throughout the United States. The winner will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. |ret||ret||tab|

"This is the first step toward becoming a location used to qualify players for Magic's Pro Tour," said Latham. "I don't think Springfield will ever be a stop on the Pro Tour, but if we play our cards right so to speak we could become the host site for some qualifiers."|ret||ret||tab|

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