News
The Dragon’s Den brings board game options to Coachella Valley
In today’s digital world, many games are played on a screen with players only interacting online.
But the Dragon’s Den, a new tabletop game lounge in Palm Desert, is changing that by getting people offline and starting to play board games together in-person.
“There’s not a place with big tables like this in the desert for them to play in, so we’re the first of its kind,” said Mindy Conant who owns the Dragon’s Den with her son Jake.
The Conant’s goal: providing a safe space for people to play role-playing games.
“There’s not a lot of places to have cheap, wholesome fun and this is really a good spot,” said one customer.
From cult classics like Dungeons and Dragons to today’s newer role-playing games like Warhammer, RPG’s have gone from being played in dimly lit basements to now being showcased in the national economic spotlight.
“I’ve been following the financials since really since the COVID-era boom,” said Ilya Brookwell, a professor with the Media & Cultural Studies Department at University of California, Riverside.
Brookwell says economic experts are predicting the board game industry to increase its multi-billion-dollar global market.
“The reason why it is that large is because when you monetize and expand beyond the local and go into bigger communities you then associate with all kinds of other brands,” he said.
At the Dragon’s Den, players are investing big time and money behind these projects.
“I still have the price point in my head, it’s not good,” joked RPG player Dorian Canchola.
Despite the large financial investments and time commitments preparing their supplies, many of these gamers say the true value is more than money.
“I got all these friends, I go out more than I ever did, and I have something that I enjoy doing,” Canchola said. “Even on the roughest week of my life, I just go home, and I paint and I’m happy.”
The Dragon’s Den is located at 72221 CA-111 #101a, in Palm Desert, CA.
This story was written and reported by Kai Beech.
By: Pristine Villarreal
February 12, 2024
Latest Instagram Posts
After a car drove through a walkway, damaging Bill’s Pizza, the restaurant appears to have begun repairs and is still open the following day. The neighboring store, Gallivant was also damaged and is closed until Monday. NBC Palm Springs is following the effects of this accident and what this means to the Palm Springs community. #billspizza #palmsprings #continuingcoverage #localnews #coachellavalley
Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are using bioengineered baker's yeast to break down plastic into ingredients for cookies.
Camden, Arkansas, is the unlikely hub of US missile manufacturing after years of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have drained the country's arsenal. But the Trump administration's push to scale up defense production is colliding with the limits of the small, rural town.
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will 1) Devin Session with the diving TD, 2) Mason Flores with the dot on the run, 3) Reese Johnson with the clutch FG, 4) Kaylaun Smith running over defenders, or 5) Joshua Perez with the TD throw. #hondaofthedesert #fnl #fridaynightlights #fyp #highschoolfootball
🏒🔥 LET’S HEAR FROM TIM O’BRIEN! We’re kicking off Coachella Valley Firebirds Opening Night and catching up with Tim O’Brien! Hear what he has to say as the Firebirds get ready to hit the ice for another exciting season. 🏒🔥 #CoachellaValleyFirebirds #Firebirds #OpeningNight #Hockey #CoachellaValley PalmSprings CVFirebirds
SHARE this reel to help find ‘The Fab 5’ a home! 🐶🤍 #therogginreport #palmsprings #dogrescue #coachellavalley #nbcpalmsprings
🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Take a moment to know the warning signs, schedule your mammogram, and talk with your doctor about the screening schedule that’s right for you. Early detection can make a difference. 💗 #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #Mammogram #EarlyDetection #BreastHealth CoachellaValley DAPHealth
🎬 FREE MOVIE TICKETS! 🍿❤️ Our Manny the Movie Guy is here with a chance to see the upcoming screening of “Love of Your Life” — FREE! 📅 This Tuesday 📍 Mary Pickford Theatre — Cathedral City Want to see the movie before everyone else? Manny has the tickets! 🎟️ Watch for details on how you can enter and score your FREE tickets! #MannyTheMovieGuy #LoveOfYourLife #FreeTickets #MovieScreening #CathedralCity CoachellaValley MaryPickford NBCPalmSprings
🚨 SB 1379 is officially law, separating the Riverside County Sheriffs department and the coroners offices effective July 2027. @maria_nvtv spoke with Sheriff Chad Bianco and a local mom, and both spoke on what this means to them. Be sure to go to nbcpalmsprings.com to see the full report #SB1379 #RiversideCounty #CaliforniaPolitics #ChadBianco #incustodydeaths
It’s time for Season 5!! Fuego stopped by the studio today with a message! Coachella Valley Firebirds season opener this Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. — tickets at CVFIREBIRDS.COM