My wife and I were visiting our daughter and her family in San Antonio. When we came into "The Printed Meeple" store on Monday (this week), they were just opening up in the morning. I met store co-owners Toby Stewart and Clay Fambro. Their store looks like a fun place. Everything was clean, organized, and pleasant.
While their store has been open less than a year, I was amazed to see the great variety of games one can play, all neatly organized on the wall. Both Clay and Toby were friendly, and took the time to explain to me what they're doing, and the challenges during the pandemic.
My wife placed an order for several things, including 3D printed chess pieces (ours at home in Utah often get broken). These 'Meeple People' pieces seem sturdy enough to last through the treatment our 18 grandchildren will give them. And the pieces look so cool! (My wife only paid $15 for them, chose the colors-- Gold & Red-- she wanted them 3D printed in, and they were done by day's end!
She also had them print a 3D articulated alligator (for our daughter in Florida, who saw her first couple of alligators there near Tampa that day), to help her remember that event. It is about 6 inches long, I would guess, and only $4.00 for them to 3D print it from scratch! (Probably cheaper and cooler than any souvenirs she might have bought there in Tampa)!
My wife, Linnea, also bought a large articulated dolphin for our 4-year old granddaughter, Coco, who lives there in San Antonio. And she also bought an articulated octopus they printed that same day (Monday) for our nearly 14-year old granddaughter, Felicity.
Better than articulated wood toys, I think these printed 3D plastic ones are likely much sturdier, and will probably last much longer (I'm guessing) than wooden ones generally do. And its slick how you can choose from among the plastic filaments these are 3D printed from which color, or colors, these are made from. In all, my wife said she paid only $50 or so for all she bought from there.
Their prices are much lower than I expected! I sell promotional products, and I see what mass produced and sold (typically either injection or blow molded) plastic items sell for, and I am very impressed how economical their game and other pieces sell for that are 3D printed on site!
BTW, it appears they have MANY stock designs available for different game pieces to 3D print in plastic, and maybe in metal too, for popular games like chess, checkers, etc, etc, etc.
I believe these men are honest and upright. They seem to me to be worthy of the trust of the San Antonio public to place in them with their game needs, be it having custom pieces 3D printed, or playing the board games they have so many of. $10 would be a cheap date night (price wise) for a couple. Or $5 a head would be affordable for any family or date or friend group to play there. (I think soda pop and lemonade from their soda fountain is included).
My oldest son (now 39) was into trying to develop games a dozen or so years back. If he ever dabbled in that again, I would recommend going to The Printed Meeple to get their help in custom 3D printing the game pieces used for board games. I would expect doing so would be not very hard, whether you live in San Antonio, or anywhere in the US! Who knows, even this old 66-year old fuddy duddy might work on a few game ideas, and get them to help me 3D print game pieces for them!?!
I thought '"The Printed Meeple" sounded like a strange name for a business. I learned from my 12-year old grandson, Patrick, that any game piece used in a board game, like a thimble piece in Monopoly, as an example, is referred to as a "meeple" by nerds in the board game business, since it is a "people" that represents "me" on a game board. Hence, Toby and Clay are "people" who can help you 3D print "meeples" for any existing or new game anyone may come up with. And, also, for a nominal fee ($5, I believe, per person), anyone can come in and play from a selection of probably hundreds of board games, for hours.
Let me add, their soda pop selection from their 'soda fountain' is very good. Included, I believe, when you pay the $5/person fee to come in and play games. You may need to bring your own popcorn, though! read more
