Behind the Counter
Anyway, Origins was a great show, once again. In fact, I think this was one of the best Origins I have been to, and I have attended fifteen of them now. This is the first one I have attended in 12 years that I didn't set up at as a vendor.
My son, Max Keeney, and I attended the show and had a blast! The thing we usually look forward to is the VENDORS HALL and this year was no exception. We love to browse the aisles of merchandise, and check out the new games, and accessories, from about 200 vendors. This year we picked up several new things, including Jerusalem by Elfenwerks, and Dresden Files RPG by Evil Hat were our two big acquisitions for the weekend.
Max also scored a free copy of Settlers of America by Mayfair Games he did the demo thing, and won a free copy. Pretty cool, that was like a 3-week allowance win for him! He was really proud!
Max gamed more than I did, as I had to attend a couple meetings of the GAMA Retail Division GTS Planning meetings, to plan the Seminar Track for the GAMA Trade Show come next March 14-18, 2011. With somewhere between 30 and 45 hours of seminars on tap given by retailers FOR retailers it promises to be a great event for store owners and managers to come learn their trade from other industry leaders.
We missed the auction completely at Origins this year, something we usually enjoy. But, we didn't see signage showing us where to go, and the event wasn't in its usual spot the guy known as Propwash was set up in that spot with 12 of the battletech pods where you could pay a nominal fee, and jockey a battletech mech against the computers and other opponents. I have played that a few times, and always get hosed so I avoided that embarassment, but Max played it for an hour or two and really loved it.
Out on the Exhibitors hall, the place was really full gone were the deadspaces filled with tables and chairs and the place holders trying to make the hall look fuller than it was we've seen that for the past couple years, and now it's gone. (though there were a few tables and chairs round the power-box outlets, where you really can't sell the space, which was nice for the weary folks like me). Overall, the exhibitors hall looked better than the past couple years.
I was glad to see Alderac Entertainment back on tap with their own booth, and looking good! That's a company whose games I enjoy carrying, and playing and I genuinely like John Zinser, so it was good to see him at the show! Max and I also got to chat it up with Jolly Blackburn from Kenzer Company and KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE fame. Jolly is always fun to chat with, and he had his wife at the show this year, too!
This is the first year in quite a while I didn't attend the GAMA Elections. Mostly because I let my membership lapse and hadn't been asked to renew, so I didn't bother. I like GAMA anyone who knows me will knows that. The GAMA Trade Show is responsible for my companies growing, and my learning how to make them grow. For years I struggled to make a living in the game industry but GTS 1998 (or, maybe it was 97) changed that by teaching me a LOT at the seminars I attended and that is why I give as many seminars as I can every year: To help others, as I was helped.
Back to the Hall, one last trip: I heard a rumor that the aisleways in the vendors hall were wider this year: Untrue! I actually paced it off, cause it looked wider, and it wasn't. I think the thing was this year the hall was laid out with many more aisle ways that went the full length of the room, and were not interrupted by oddly shaped or oddly positioned booths and as a result, it looked more open.
In fact, because of the booth placements I spent more time, and money, in the hall than ever before (as a shopper).
I talked to several vendors who said they had record sales on Thursday, so they were very excited, and looking forward to a big uptic in overall sales. And, I hope everyone had a great show both exhibitors and vendors.
Max and I had a great time, for certain!!
Marcus King
Owner
Titan's Entertainment Cafe, Battle Creek, Michigan
