Welcome To the Origins Pre-Registration Program Book Origins 2008 looks to be another great year for Ori- gins--with a few big changes! We’ve introduced a new concept to Origins--and changed the name of the show. We at the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the non-profi t trade association that looks after the interests of the game industry, started working in 2001 to really make Origins the gamer’s game convention. With the help of many GMs, clubs, volunteers, and publishers, we have accomplished this goal. No matter your type of social or hobby, non-electronic game, Origins is the place for you. Now we need to work on something else, while main- taining Origins as *the* gamer’s game con. The thing that we need in the game industry is more custom- ers--and therefore more gamers. GAMA has a num- ber of programs to help the industry with this, from our Games in Education and Games to Troops, to our partnerships with the American Library Association and with hobby and toy associations. We’re getting Origins into the act as well by inviting “the public” to enjoy our Exhibit Hall on Saturday and Sunday for only $3 a person or $10 a family. These folks will be attending Origins like it’s another of the summer fairs here in Columbus. They’ll come to learn and buy new games. Some of these folks will discover our hobby and become gamers. most of them will just discover a new world of games to enjoy and will become casual costomers of our publishers. Both kinds of person will help us--and you! They will help to sell more games, which will help our publish- ers, of course; and more healthy publishers will help you get more and better games! Origins has been known as the Origins International Information Game Expo for some years now. That was a great name but we felt that with the change in image--to the public--of the show, that we needed to change the name to Origins Game Fair, a name that we feel really speaks to our vision. We hope that you enjoy the show! -- Anthony Anthony J. Gallela Executive Director 1 GAMA Staff TABLE OF CONTENTS Anthony J. Gallela Executive Director Jodie Panzeri Operations Director General Information page 1 Trey Reilly Program Director Pre-registration Information page 5 Matthew Ragsdale Exhibitor Services and Sales Coordinator Administrative Information page 4 Steve Verdoliva Events and Programs Volunteer Information page 6 Coordinator Origins First-Timers page 3 Joby Miller Events and Operations Coordinator Hotels page 8 John Kaufeld Public Relations Area Restaurants page 10 Coordinator Exhibit Hall Map page 12 Sponsors page 11 Clubs & Organizations page 14 Special Events page 16 Origin Award Nominees page 20 Auction page 25 Guests of Honor page 22 Featured Artists page 26 Art Show page 27 Teacher’s Hall Pass page 27 Kids Program page 29 Spouse and Family Program page 29 Newcomers Program page 28 Strategicorps page 28 NSDM page 34 Seminars page 34 GAMA Retail Summit page 38 War College page 15 Collectible Card Games page 39 Live Action Roleplaying page 39 Miniatures page 41 War Room page 56 Strategicorps Theme page 28 HOT Gaming page 46 Paint N’ Take page 48 “Uncle Duke” Retrospective page 47 Roleplaying Games page 49 The GatheringA page 52 Tabletop Games page 53 Traditional Games page 57 Information 2 FIRST-TIMERS GAME FAIR-ONLY? Welcome to Your First get fi rst dibs on the Adventure at Origins! available seats, mind On Saturday and Sunday only, for $3 a person or you, which is why it’s always a good idea $10 per family, you may attend Origins and enjoy There are literally thousands of people to pre-register for the: who come year after year to this the games you know Exhibit Hall (with hundreds of game-sellers and great show, but we are particularly about that might be happy when new folks join us for the game demos), in high demand. fi rst time. This is an exciting oppor- Art Show, tunity for you to discover the magic Also, there are plenty Auction, and of an entire convention center full of of groups and com- Food Vendors. gaming and game-related activities. panies running “open Frankly, we kind of envy you that This pass does not get you into scheduled events play” events where fi rst-time wonder. Remember it’s not at the show, but it does let you shop and get you a folks can literally just just a con but an adventure! wander up, sit down, lot of exposure to hundreds of cool games. and start playing. Anyway, the following are some ques- tions you may have, with answers If you have a regular badge to the show, you do OK, I’ve never been you’ll need. not need a Fair-Only Pass as well. Your regualr to the place. Where am I going? Well, pass gets you into everything the Fair Pass does, Should I pre-register for the conven- elsewhere in this plus much, much more. tion? Absolutely! Not only do you get book you’ll fi nd the a discount on your badge fee (right address and driving now, you pay $60.00 for the show; directions, so let’s you. You can search accord- after May 25th and at the door, it will assume you are at the Convention ing to game titles and systems be $70.00), you avoid the On Site Center or at the Hyatt (the attached (such as “Dungeons & Drag- Registration Line. hotel). The fi rst place you will need ons” or “Risk”), broad catego- to fi nd is the Registration Area, which ries (such as “roleplaying” or Now then, our on site lines are is a large, long series of booths “tabletop”), the names of clubs nowhere near as bad as they used located out in the main hallway of or individual game masters to be, thanks to our process work- the Convention Center. There’s a set you like to play with, times you ing so much better in recent years. of escalators that run between the know you will be available to Still, those who pre-register can walk Convention Center and the Hyatt; play, and many other search right up to the Pre-Reg line, get their the Registration Area is very near the criteria. packet, and get gaming much quicker bottom of those escalators and pretty when they arrive. much impossible to miss. You will want to pay particular attention to three pieces of What about pre-registering for If you enter the Convention Center at information that each game events? You should certainly look the entrance closest to the Hyatt, the will have listed – Minimum into it. If you go through the event Registration Area will be right there in Age, Experience, and Complex- schedule (which will be available and front of you, along the left wall. If you ity. The Minimum Age will give searchable online starting in May) and enter from any of the other entrances, guidance on what is considered fi nd games that you know for certain you’ll want to go to the main hallway the appropriate age to play. you will want to play, you are better and turn right, going towards the long The Experience listed will in- of pre-registering for them. Not only escalators. Again, you won’t be able dicate whether or not newbies does this guarantee you a seat at that to miss the Reg Area that way. are really encouraged to try table, but it also lets the organizer or and play. Complexity will give game master know they should be Events are happening all around you, you a sense of how much time expecting you. and the Convention Center is a huge and effort you’ll likely expend place. Don’t worry; there will be a learning the game should you Can I just show up on site and play map showing you were everything choose to try one you’ve never games? Absolutely! Not only can you is, as well as dozens of helpful staff played. sign up for games on site as part of people and volunteers to ask ques- your registration (or, if you pre-regis- tions of at any time. As well, there’s Much of this information was ter, as a separate action), but you can gained from our good friends an Information Booth right near the Information also purchase any number of Generic Registration Area with folks on hand at the “Unoffi cial Origins Tokens to use as you wish. Gener- at all times to point you in the right Survivor’s Guide” - http:// ics come in $2.00 increments, and direction. origins.guide.home.att.net/ they match up with the costs of our Origins2k6/. Do yourself a events. If you see a game you want How do I decide what games I want favor and spend some time on to play, and there is space available, to play? When the Event Registration it, as those guys have done a you can just turn in the appropriate System goes live in May (www.origin- fantastic job of collecting tons number of Generics to the game or- sgamefair.com), you will be able to of useful information for any- ganizer and sit down and play. Those search it for events that may interest one coming to Origins. who have actual tickets for the game 3 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Badges the attendee is not able to be seated All persons participating in Origins at the time of the event.