Thanks to all for the warm welcome.
Is it your impression that it's is as popular there as it is in Europe or the US?
Dont think so. Firstly, for many people it is quite expensive hobby, because prices are based primarily on the exchange rate which sometimes becomes extremely unfavorable(like now). Communities are largely concentrated in big cities such as Moscow and St.Petersburg, though some players and hobby enthusiasts are presented in other cities.
Speaking of popular wargames - the first place goes to WH40K I think. WHFB isn't so popular, although there is a considerable group of 'old' players still remains and also some influx of players is going on now(as far as I can see) after Age of Sigmar release. Flames of War as well as Warmachine/Hordes are quite popular alternatives for the above. But in general almost any wargame and/or setting has its fans here.
I would also like to mention our SAGA community run by my friends in Moscow. Guys held regular tournaments and events at their local stores, organize master classes and so on. It is very cool and, most importantly, very fresh and new invention. The local stores itself, where you can play wargames, buy miniatures and even paint ones with your friends(or world-known painters during master-classes), is a relatively new phenomenon here, and just a few years ago we could only dream of it, seeing it only during a trip to Europe for example.
Are there Russian figure manufacturers there that maybe other gamers have never heard of or seen?
For example, a friend of mine started manufacturing some 28mm medieval russians and vikings, sculpted by Ratnik.
There are a few more manufacturers, mainly focused on medievals, but even here, in Russia, its sometimes quite difficult to contact them or place an order.
Just trying to get a sense of what the scene may be like there - a fully complete gaming hobby industry or one where individuals rely primarily on European and American imports.
Its hard to call it "a fully complete gaming hobby industry" at the moment, but some positive changes have taken place in recent years. I hope in the future things will only get better.
But at this point, hobby is supported by individuals and much of it depends on their enthusiasm. Somewhere it will be one and a half man playing unpainted space marines at home, but somewhere else one enthusiast can invite the best painters from all over the world, rent business-center literally in the middle of Moscow, and finally organize painting contest which exceed the level of many European ones.
A country of contrasts we have here.
17 August 2007, 08:57:21 AM