Origins Cancelled

GAMA announced late last week that it had decided to Cancel both Origins online, scheduled for June 21 but also the regular Origins Game Fair, which the organization had postponed until October. GAMA felt there was too much potential disruption from the BLM movement to successfully host the online version of Origins and there was too great a chance for COVID 19 to resurge this fall to take a chance on hosting the Game Fair.

Origins Trade Day

Gary went to the Origins Trade Day last week. This is what he saw there.

2014 Origins Awards Nominees

Anything that you feel should have been on the list?

The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Announces 2014 Origins Awards Nominees
COLUMBUS, OH – March 31, 2014- The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design is pleased to announce the 2014 Origins Awards Nominees.

These awards are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design to companies for outstanding games in the industry. These are the 40th annual awards. This year, the Awards had fourteen categories: Best Role Playing Game, Best Role Playing Supplement, Best Board Game, Best Historical Board Game, Best Historical Miniature Figure/Line, Best Historical Miniature Rules, Best Historical Miniature Rules Supplements, Best Miniature Figure Line, Best Miniature Figure Rules, Best Game Accessory, Best Children’s, Family, Party Game, Best Collectible Card Game, Best Traditional Card Game, and Best Game Related Publication.

The winner of each category will be voted on by members of the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design. Origins attendees will have the chance to vote on the Fan Favorite in each category. The winners will be announced and presented by at the Origins Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 14th of the event.

Additional information concerning the Origins Awards can be found at www.originsgamefair.com under the Origins Awards link.

Please congratulate these companies and designers:

Best Role Playing Game
 13th Age – Pelgrane Press, designed by: Rob Heinsoo, Jonathan Tweet
FATE Core System – Evil Hat Productions, LLC, designed by: Leonard Balsera, Brian Engard, Jeremy Keller, Ryan Macklin, Mike Olson
Mummy: the Curse – White Wolf Game Studio, designed by: C.A. Suleiman
 Numenera - Monte Cook Games, designed by: Monte Cook
Shadowrun: Core Rulebook – Catalyst Game Labs, designed by: Jason Hardy, Aaron Pavao, Adam Large, Mark Dynna, Steven “Bull” Ratkovich, Peter M. Andrew Jr., Michael Wich

Best Role Playing Supplement
DC Adventures Universe – Green Ronin Publishing, designed by: Darren Bulmer, Seth Johnson, Steve Kenson, Jon Leitheusser, John Polojac, Aaron Sullivan
Heart of the Wild – Cucible 7 Entertainment, designed by: Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
Transhuman – Posthuman Studios, designed by: Rob Boyle, Brian Cross, Jack Graham
Night’s Watch – Green Ronin Publishing, designed by: Joseph Carriker, Lee Hammock, Brett Rebischke-Smith, Ian Ireland, Michelle Lyons, John Hay
Eternal Lies – Pelgrane Press, designed by: Will Hindmarch, Jeff Tidball, Jeremy Keller

Best Board Game Trains – Alderac Entertainment Group, designed by: Hisashi Hayashi
Time n Space – Stronghold Games, designed by: Tobias Stapelfeldt
Space Cadet: Dice Duel – Stronghold, designed by: Geoff Engelstein, Sydney Engelstein
Krosmaster Arena - Japanime, designed by: Nicolas Degouy, Édouard Guiton
City of Iron – Red Raven Games designed by Ryan Laukat

Best Historical Board Game
SOS Titanic - Ludonate, designed by: Bruno Cathala, Ludovic Maublanc
Navajo Wars – GMT, designed by: Joel Toppen
Freedom: The Underground Railroad – Academy Games, designed by Brian Mayer
1775:Rebellion – Academy Games, designed by: Beau Beckett, Jeph Stahl
Francis Drake – Eagle Games, designed by: Peter Hawes

Best Historical Miniature Figure/Line
Fife & Drum: Revolutionary War -– Fife & Drum, designed by: Richard Ansell
Highlander Force – North Star Military Figures, designed by: North Star Military Figures
Fate of a Nation: Arab Israeli Wars – Battlefront Miniatures, designed by: Evan Allen, Chris Townley
Red Army: 28mm Russian Infantry – Wargames Factory, designed by: Wargames Factory
Devil Dogs and Dragons – Empress Miniatures, designed by: Empress Miniatures

Best Historical Miniature Rules
Fields of Fire 2nd Edition – Proving Ground Games, designed by: Larry Yeager, Chris Brutsche, Mark Brown
Fire and Sword – Wargamer, designed by: Konrad Sosinski, Rafal Szwelicki
Chain of Command –Too Fat Ladies, designed by Richard Clark

Best Historical Miniature Rules Supplements
SAGA: Varjazi & Basileus – Gripping Beast, designed by: Alexandre Buchel
Flames of War: Fate of a Nation – Battlefront Miniatures, designed by: Phil Yates
Force on Force: Classified – Osprey Publishing, designed by Ambush Alley Games

Best Miniature Figure Line
Malifaux: The Guild’s Judgement– Wyrd Miniatures, designed by: Wyrd Miniatures
HeroClix Wolverine and the X-men – WizKids Games, designed by: WizKids Games
MERCs Mini’s (Shock Trooper, Spy, Eagle, Beacher) – MegaCon Games, designed by: MegaCon Games

Best Miniature Figure Rules
 Marvel HeroClix: Avengers Vs X-men Starters – WizKids Games, designed by: WizKids Games
Battletech Alpha Strike – Catalyst Game Labs, designed by: Herbert A. Beas II, Joshua Franklin, Paul Sjardijn, Ray Arrastia, Joel Steverson
Judge Dredd – Warlord Games, designed by: Matthew Sprange

Best Game Accessory

 Krosmaster Fire & Ice – Japanime Games, designed by: Ankama
Shadowrun GM Screen – Catalyst Game Labs, designed by: Jason Hardy
Fate Dice – Evil Hat Productions, LLC., designed by: Fred Hicks, Chris Hanrahan
Space Gaming Mat – HC+D Supplies, designed by: Andre Garcia
Pathfinder Battles: Skull and Shackles – WizKids Games, designed by: WizKids Games

Best Children’s, Family, Party Game
 Walk the Plank – Mayday Games, designed by: Shane Steely, Jared Tinney
Three Little Pigs – Iello, designed by: Laurent Pouchain
My Happy Farm – 5th St. Games, designed by: Oleksandr Nevskiy, Oleg Sidorenko
ROFL – Cryptozoic, designed by: John Kovalic
Choose One! – Looney Labs, designed by: Andrew Looney

Best Collectible Card Game
Pokemon Black & White Legendary Treasures – The Pokemon Company, Intl., designed by: The Pokemon Company
Pokemon Red Genesect Collection – The Pokemon Company, Intl., designed by: The Pokemon Company
Yu-Gi-Oh! Battle Pack 2 – Konami Digital Entertainment, designed by: Konami Digital Entertainment
Yu-Gi-Oh! Super Starter V for Victory – Konami Digital Entertainment, designed by: Konami Digital Entertainment
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legendary Collection 4: Joey’s World – Konami Digital Entertainment, designed by: Konami Digital Entertainment

Best Traditional Card Game
Love Letter– AEG, designed by: Seiji Kanai
DC Comics – Cryptozoic Entertainment, designed by: Matt Hyra, Ben Stoll Boss Monster - Brotherwise Games designed by: Johnny O’Neal, Chris O’Neal
Clubs – North Star Games , designed by: Dominic Crapochettes
 Dark City - Upper Deck, designed by: Devin Lowe

Best Game Related Publication
 Khan of Mars – Evil Hat Books, author: Stephen Blackmoore
Fire for Effect – Catalyst Game Labs, edited by: Jason Schmetzer
 ICv2 - Editor: Milton Griepp
Dork Tower – Editor: John Kovalic
TableTop – Wil Wheaton, Felicia Day

Origins Awards

The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Announces 37th Annual Origins Awards Winners

COLUMBUS, OH (June 26, 2011) The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design is proud to announce the winners for the 37th Annual Origins Awards.

The Origins Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design to recognize outstanding achievement in design and production of games and game-related products.

The winners were voted on by attendees at the Origins Game Fair in Columbus, OH in June 2011 from the nominees in each category chosen by retailers at the GAMA Trade Show. The winners were announced and the coveted Calliope statues were presented at the Origins Awards Ceremony on the evening of Saturday June 25th.

The Academy would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the jury members, GAMA staff, and everyone who submitted a product to the 37th annual Origins Awards.



Best Roleplaying Game – The Dresden Files RPG: Your Story by Evil Hat Productions

Best Roleplaying Supplement – Our World (The Dresden Files RPG) by Evil Hat Productions

Best Board Game – Castle Ravenloft by Wizards of the Coast

Best Traditional Card Game – Back to the Future: The Card Game by Looney Labs, Inc.

Best Family, Party or Children’s Game – Zombie Dice by Steve Jackson Games

Best Gaming Accessory – Cthulhu Dice Bag by Steve Jackson Games

Best Miniatures Rules – DC HeroClix Blackest Knight Starter Game by WizKids/NECA

Best Historical Board Game – Catan Histories – Settlers of America: Trails to Rails by Mayfair Games

Best Game-Related Publication – Shadowrun: Spells and Chrome by Catalyst Game Labs

Best Play-By-Mail – Legends – The One Ring by Game Systems International Limited

Origins Awards Winners

Here're the 2010 Origins Awards winners:

On behalf of Game Manufacturers Association and the Academy of
Adventure Gaming Arts & Design, the 36th Annual Origins Award winners
of 2010 are:

Best Historical Miniature Figure or Line - Wings of War: Albatross
D.III by Nexus Editrice

Best Historical Miniature Game Rules Supplement - Flames of War: North
Africa by Battlefront Miniatures, LTD.

Best Historical Miniature Game Rules - Wings of War: WWII, Deluxe
Edition by Nexus Editrice, designed by Andrea Angiolino & Pier Glorgio
Paglia

Best Historical Board Game – Conflict of Heroes: Storms of Steel! By
Academy Games, designed by Uwe Eickert, John Hill & Dana Lombardy

Best Game-Related Book – BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction by
Catalyst Game Labs, written by Randall N. Bills, Jason Schmetzer &
Matt Heerdt

Best Game Accessory – Knights of the Dinner Table by Kenzer & Company,
designed by Jolly R. Blackburn

Best Miniature Figure or Line – Marvel HeroClix Hammer of Thor
Expansion by WizKids, designed by Eric Englehard, Kelly Bonilla, Jake
Theis & James Szubski

Best Miniature Game Rules - BattleTech: Strategic Operations by
Catalyst Game Labs, designed by Herbert A. Beas II & Randall N. Bills

Best Role Playing Game Supplement - Big Damn Heroes Handbook by
Margaret Weis Productions, designed by Cam Banks, Jennifer Brozek, Jim
Davenport, Jason Durall, Tony Lee, Nathon Rockwood & Clark Valentine

Best Role Playing Game - Eclipse Phase by Catalyst Game Labs/Posthuman
Studios, designed by Rob Boyle & Brian Cross

Best Children’s, Family or Party Game - Are You The Traitor? By Looney
Labs, designed by Andrew Looney

Best Traditional Card Game – Poo by Catalyst Game Labs/Labs/WildFire,
LLC., designed by Matthew Grau

Best Board Game - Space Hulk by Games Workshop

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Official Origins Report

Here's the offficial report on Origins from GAMA:

Thanks for another great Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio! If you had a chance to make it to the event, you were one of over 10 thousand gaming enthusiasts who enjoyed the show. Although attendance numbers were down by approximately 18% from 2008, day-pass ticket sales increased by nearly 16% which means more people were introduced to the hobby this year than ever before.

This year also saw an increase in sponsors for Origins, more vendors in the exhibit hall, expanded open gaming, an impressive Art Show and Art College, and many other great events and seminars. Special thanks to the 250 volunteers who offered their time and talent to this year’s event. Without their assistance, the Origins Game Fair would not be possible.

2009 ORIGINS AWARD WINNERS

The Game Manufacturers Association's (GAMA) Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design, GAMA's retail members, and the attendees of this year’s Origins Game Fair have chosen the best tabletop games in a number of categories. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.

Here are the categories with the winners:

BOARD GAMES
Pandemic
Published by Z-Man Games, Inc.
Designed by Matt Leacock

CHILDREN’S, FAMILY, AND PARTY GAMES
Say Anything
Published by North Star Games
Designed by Dominic Craphuchettes and Satish Pillalamarri

HISTORICAL BOARD GAMES
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
Published by Academy Games
Designed by Uwe Eickert

CARD GAMES
Dominion
Published by Rio Grande Games
Designed by Donald X Vaccarino

COLLECTIBLE CARD GAMES
Magic the Gathering: Shards of Alara 1
Published by Wizards of the Coast
Designed by Bill Rose and Devin Low

FICTION
Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons Volume 2
Published by Devil’s Due
Edited by James Lowder & Mike O’Sullivan

NON-FICTION
Tour de Lovecraft: The Tales
Published by Atomic Overmind Press
Written by Ken Hite

MINIATURE FIGURE GAME RULES
Classic Battletech: Tactical Operations
Published by Catalyst Game Labs
Designed by Randall N. Bills and Herbert A Beas II

MINIATURE FIGURE OR LINE OF MINIATURE FIGURES
Star Wars Miniatures: The Clone Wars
Published by Wizards of the Coast

HISTORICAL MINIATURE FIGURE GAME RULES
There was a tie in this category.

Field of Glory Miniature Rules
Published by Osprey Publishing / Slitherine Software
Designed by Richard Bodley-Scott

and

Song of Drums and Shakos
Published by Ganesha Games
Designed by Andrea Sfiligoi

HISTORICAL MINIATURE FIGURE GAME RULES SUPPLEMENTS
RISE OF ROME (Field of Glory Supplement)

Published by Osprey Publishing

HISTORICAL MINIATURE FIGURE OR LINE OF MINIATURE FIGURES
SS-Panzerdivision ‘Das Reich’ Panzerkompanie (GEAB06) [15mm Line]

Published by Battlefront Games

PLAY BY POST
Hyborian War

Published by Reality Simulations Inc.

Designed by Paul W Brown III

ROLE-PLAYING GAMES
Mouseguard Role-Playing Game
Published by Archaia Studios Press
Designed by Luke Crane and David Petersen

ROLE-PLAYING GAME SUPPLEMENTS
Serenity Adventures
Published by Margaret Weis Productions
Designed by Alana Abbot, Billy Aguiar, James Davenport, Ted Reed, and James M. Ward

GAME ACCESSORIES
D-Total die
Published by Gamescience
Designed by Dr. A. F. Simkin, Frank Dutrain, and Louis Zocchi

Andrea Kruse

GAMA Communications