Origins is historically a miniatures convention, while GenCon is historically a Roleplaying Convention. As it has been explained to me, A few years back Gen Con started forcing its sponsors to be exclusive to their convention, forcing them to choose between GenCon and Origins. I can not verify this information, but have heard it from multiple sources. In the early 2000s, Origins hit its peak with record attendance, and a dealer room that was filled with some of the hottest Game manufacturers around. Since then things have slowly dwindled down and, in the last few years quite a few of the major Game companies have indeed been absent from the dealer room, and indeed, as I mentioned, chosen GenCon instead.
The organization that runs Origins currently is called GAMA (The Game Manufacturers Association.) A new executive director, John Ward, took the reigns last year, and has been working very hard to get the Major Game company presence back at Origins. My
FLGS owner has recently informed me, after speaking with Mr. Ward., that GAMA is having some success in building the dealer room back up.
I have spent time at both Conventions, (15 years at Origins, 3 years at GenCon) and have worked in the dealer rooms, run events, and participated as a player and consumer at both. I can tell you that they both have their merits. I can tell you that they both also have their downsides. I chose to run events at Origins this year due to its closer proximity, and because I have asked my
FLGS to sponsor prizes for the events we run, since he will have a booth in the dealer room there this year. CappyTom and I are very excited about the prospects of a very successful four (and a half) day run at Origins this year.
It is for this reason that I chose to form and register an official game club with GAMA this year. I am covering the $50 registration fee for the
Game Club out of pocket, and am not
requiring any compensation from those who join. Being added to the roster for Buckeye Gamers in Flight (Which was basically the Game Club name we chose to represent the wingsofwar.org Ohio Squadron), gets you an
automatic half off of your convention badge price, and requires
nothing from you in return. All we need is a little information from you to add your name to the list we submit to GAMA. If you choose to help us out with events as well, you earn credit for the amount of time you volunteer. (Calculated based on the number of players in the event and the amount of time the event runs, and then shared between any GM's supervising the event. With enough credit, you can earn a totally free convention badge, Food Vouchers (for the Food Court and other Convention Center vendors), or even a free stay (shared room) at the Hyatt (connected to the Columbus Convention Center) for the Con. This is a chance for us to to meet some of our members face to face, run some events, and have a ton of fun!
The dealer room will have plenty to offer and see, The store to which Rob was referring, Crazy Igor's, has been there for at least the past 5 years and has a HUGE selection of used wargames and material. We also hope to get everyone from the Forums together one evening to have dinner and drinks at the 94th Aerosquadron, near the Columbus Airport. (Just a short drive from the convention center)
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