“We hope that board games will become a recreational activity Malaysians would think of when they hang out with friends, just like watching a movie or shopping,” said Luffy and Sandy when asked what their vision was for Soul Mad Cafe.
Expanding horizons
Being board game enthusiasts, Luffy and Sandy saw the local board game scene having trouble expanding due to its exclusive nature, where those within the community would only play among themselves, leaving little room for newbies to learn the ropes in a relaxing and engaging manner.
“No beginner would be willing to pay RM15 to play board games that they are unfamiliar with.
“That’s why we came out with the RM36 all-day promotion for customers in a group of four so that beginners can get familiar with the games while socializing with their friends.
“At Soul Mad Cafe, there are more than 500 board games for customers to choose and enjoy from as low as RM9 for the whole day. By providing a wide range of board games at an affordable price, we believe this will attract more to be part of the board game culture.”
More than just a game
Aside from solving complex challenges and devising strategies, another vital essence of board games is to serve as a social “bridge” between individuals.
That’s why Luffy and Sandy try to let everyone that step into Soul Mad Cafe feels the spirit of bonding that brings people of different backgrounds together in a cozy and laidback setting.
“Board games are perfect for those who may not be close or familiar with each other as it saves them from the awkwardness of finding topics to talk about and also serves as a platform for people to communicate and have fun.
“Whenever we see customers spending quality time with their friends over board games, we always feel a sense of fulfilment for being able to witness and play a part in their friendship and memories,” said Sandy.
However, with the pandemic bringing social activities to a grinding halt, things are looking much quieter at SoulMad Cafe – something that’s rather tragic to Luffy and Sandy, who have just managed to set everything on track right before the first MCO.
Forging ahead
Despite the rising phenomenon of board games going online, Luffy and Sandy are confident that it would not be adversely affected in the long run.
“Although almost everything is now done online, people will still seek out human interaction in real-time.
“This was apparent when we saw an influx of customers into SoulMad Cafe when MCO was relaxed.”
But like any other business, Luffy conceded that many sacrifices had to be made from his end to establish a mature board games culture in Malaysia.
“Operating a board game café is not exactly the most profitable business out there as we are hardly making a profit most of the time and would consider ourselves lucky not to be running at a loss. This is partially in thanks to the low price we offer our customers.
“Nevertheless, we believe that with persistence and determination, more board game lovers will be brought into the fold, thus enlarging the market and making it more profitable for everyone involved.”
Luffy also expressed his gratefulness for his staff who chose to stick by him during the pandemic.
“Finding a new board game instructor is not easy as it takes time to train the staff and have them adapt to the job,” he said.
“I believe that with a passionate and dedicated team, Soul Mad Cafe will strive to become an example for others to follow. With the combined efforts of everyone within the industry, we can shape board game culture in Malaysia.”
To know more about them, kindly visit their Facebook Page: Soul Mad Cafe
Sources: Soul Mad Cafe
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
