Why I Stopped Picking Games Myself: A Procurement Lesson from a Sci-Games Convert
The Comparison Framework
Back in 2019, I was handed the keys to our new entertainment venue and told: "Fill it with the best sci-fi games you can find." Easy, right? I dove headfirst into researching, buying, and testing everything from video games to board games. Three months, a blown budget, and several angry customer comments later, I realized I'd been approaching it all wrong.
This article compares two paths: the DIY approach (buying games piecemeal from different sources, managing inventory yourself) versus using a curated B2B platform like Sci-Games (one-stop, pre-vetted catalog with support). I'll walk through three key dimensions—breadth of selection, time-to-deployment, and cost-of-errors—to help you decide which route fits your venue.
Full disclosure: I eventually switched to Sci-Games after my DIY disaster. But your mileage may vary, so I'll keep it objective.
Dimension 1: Game Selection Depth
DIY: The Wild West
My first mistake: thinking I could cover all bases by chasing "best sci fi video games" lists and "best sci-fi board games" reviews separately. I ended up with 15 video game titles (some too complex for casuals) and a handful of board games that looked great online but were either too heavy or too niche. For instance, I bought Bloodborne board game because it was hyped, but our customers found it punishingly difficult. Meanwhile, I completely missed simpler classics like card game Spit or Sevens card game because they didn't appear in my algorithm-driven research.
What I didn't know at the time was that successful venues need a mix of depth and accessibility—high-end strategy for enthusiasts and quick, social games for everyone else. My DIY catalog had no balance.
Sci-Games: Curated Variety
When I finally looked at Sci-Games' catalog, I was struck by two things: first, their sci-fi video game list actually included not just AAA titles but also indie gems that tested well with focus groups. Second, their sci-fi board game section had tiered difficulty ratings—easy, medium, hard. Bloodborne was labeled "hard" with a caveat about expected play time. And they stocked party staples like Spit and Sevens, which I'd completely overlooked. The platform had clearly optimized for real-world usage data, not just buzz.
I can only speak to my own venue size (about 1000 sq ft gaming area). If you're running a massive arcade with dedicated rooms, the calculus might be different.
Dimension 2: Time & Effort Efficiency
DIY: The Sunk Hours
Procuring a single board game DIY requires: searching multiple retailers, checking stock, comparing prices, reading reviews, watching playthroughs, buying, receiving, testing, and often returning. Multiply that by 30+ games. I spent roughly 40 hours in Q1 2019 just on decision-making, not counting unboxing and setup. And even then, I got it wrong half the time.
Take how do you play Sevens card game—I had to watch three YouTube tutorials to confirm the rules matched what customers would expect. (Spoiler: they didn't all agree.)
Sci-Games: Done in Days
With Sci-Games, I sent them my venue specs and a budget. They returned a curated list within 48 hours. Each game had a playtime, complexity score, and success metric from similar venues. I made my selections, placed a single purchase order, and received everything in one shipment. Total procurement time: maybe 5 hours, including onboarding. The automated system eliminated the data entry errors I used to have with multiple POs.
Honestly, I'm not sure why some platforms move slower—my best guess is they lack the internal buffer practices. But Sci-Games' turnaround was a revelation.
Dimension 3: Cost of Mistakes
DIY: Real Dollars, Real Embarrassment
My biggest blooper: I ordered 10 copies of Bloodborne board game at $60 each, assuming it would be a hit. After a month, only 2 had been used, and those players complained about complexity. I ended up discounting them to clear shelf space—lost about $540 directly, plus the opportunity cost of games I should have stocked instead.
Another time, I bought a cheap bundle of sci-fi video game licenses from a reseller. They turned out to be region-locked. $320 down the drain. Plus the frustration when customers couldn't launch them.
The numbers said go with my own research because I could "save" on platform fees. My gut told me something was off after the third rejection. I ignored it. Looking back, I should have invested in better specifications upfront. But given what I knew then, my choice seemed reasonable.
Sci-Games: Risk Mitigation
With Sci-Games, the replacement policy was clear: if a game underperformed within the first 30 days, they'd swap it for another title at no additional cost. That would've saved me $540 on Bloodborne alone. They also offered pre-installed digital licenses with no region hassles.
Take this with a grain of salt: I haven't tested every single replacement, but in two instances they handled the swap in under a week. That kind of certainty—knowing you won't eat the cost of bad picks—is where the real value lies.
When to Choose DIY vs Sci-Games
Choose DIY if: you have a dedicated game curator on staff, a large budget for experimentation, and the patience to test each title over months. MAYBE if you're running a niche community where you know your audience's exact tastes.
Choose Sci-Games (or similar curated platform) if: you value time certainty over marginal cost savings, you need balanced variety fast, and you prefer a single point of accountability when something goes wrong. For most mid-size B2B venues, the efficiency gain is undeniable—I personally watched our customer satisfaction score jump from 3.1 to 4.4 after the switch.
I can't tell you that Sci-Games is perfect for every scenario. But if you're making this decision right now, ask yourself: Do I want to learn from my own mistakes, or from someone else's? I already made enough for both of us.