Newsbriefs for April 29, 2008

NOMINEES FOR 34TH ANNUAL ORIGINS AWARDS ANNOUNCED

The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design (AAGAD) and the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) proudly announce the nominees in all categories for the 34th Origins Awards.

Game retailer attendees at last week’s GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas reviewed the list and selected the finalists in each award category. From those finalists, attendees at the Origins Game Fair and members of the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design will select the ultimate winners of the 34th Origins Awards.

This year’s winners will be announced during the Origins Awards ceremony at the Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, June 28, at 8:00 p.m.

Submissions for 35th Origins Awards will open soon. Watch http://www.originsgamefair.com/aagad/submission for updates and submission forms. The final submission deadline for the 35th Origins Awards is January 15, 2009. No extensions will be given past this date! It is perfectly acceptable to submit games as they are released throughout the year.

For more information about the Origins Game Fair, visit http://www.originsgamefair.com. To learn more about the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design, please visit http://www.originsgamefair.com/aagad.

MINIATURE OR MINIATURES LINE       

Skarrd Raze #2
by Dark Age Games

George R.R. Martin Masterworks - Premium Miniature Line       
by Dark Sword Miniatures, Inc.

Titanius Fury
by Dragonfire Laser Crafts Inc.

Bronzeback Titan, HORDES: Evolution Miniatures Line         
by Privateer Press

Dark Heaven Legends Fantasy Miniatures
by Reaper Miniatures   

MINIATURES RULES       

Classic Battletech
Published by Catalyst Game Labs
Created by Jordan Weisman
Edited by Michelle Lyons, Diane Piron-Gelman

Saganami Island Tactical Simulator, Second Edition
Published by Ad Astra Games
Created by Ken Burnside and Thomas Pope

Forces of WARMACHINE: Pirates of the Broken Coast        
Published by Privateer Press
Created by Brian Snoddy and Matt Wilson

AT-43
Published by Rackham
Created by Arnaud Cuidet, Jean-Baptiste Lullien, Nicolas Raoult, and Jerome Rigal

Song of Blades and Heroes       
Published by Andrea Sfiligoi
Created by Andrea Sfiligoi

PUBLICATION, FICTION       

Astounding Hero Tales         
Published by Hero Games        
Edited by James Lowder

Dragons of the Highlord Skies         
Published by Wizards of the Coast       
Written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Frontier Cthulhu        
Published by Chaosium        
Edited by William Jones

The Orc King        
Published by Wizards of the Coast        
Written by R.A. Salvatore

The Time Curse        
Published by Margaret Weis Productions        
Written by James M. Ward


PUBLICATION, NON-FICTION       

40 Years of Gen Con         
Published by Atlas Games        
Written by Robin D. Laws

Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress: A Girl’s Guide to the Dungeons & Dragons Game         Published by Wizards of the Coast        
Written by Shelly Mazzanoble

Grand History of the Realms         
Published by Wizards of the Coast        
Written by Brian R. James and Ed Greenwood

Hobby Games: The 100 Best         
Published by Green Ronin        
Edited by James Lowder

No Quarter Magazine        
Published by Privateer Press        
Nathan Letsinger, editor-in-chief; Eric Cagle, editor; Josh Manderville, art director

ROLEPLAYING GAME
   
Grimm
Published by Fantasy Flight Games
Written by Robert Vaughn and Christian T. Petersen

The Savage World of Solomon Kane
Published by Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group   
Written by Paul "Wiggy" Wade-Williams (with Shane Lacy Hensley)

CthulhuTech
Published by Mongoose Publishing        
Written by Matthew Grau and Fraser McKay

Battlestar Galactica         
Published by Margaret Weis Productions         
Written by Jamie Chambers

Faery’s Tale Deluxe          
Published by Firefly Games        
Written by Patrick Sweeney, Sandy Antunes, Christina Stiles, and Robin D. Laws

Aces & Eights
Published by Kenzer & Co.
Written by Jolly R. Blackburn, Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson, Dave Kenzer, Jennifer Kenzer and Mark Plemmons


ROLEPLAYING GAME SUPPLEMENT       

Legend of the Five Rings: Emerald Empire        
Published by Alderac Entertainment Group        
Written by Shawn Carman, Richard Farrese, Douglas  Sun and Brian Yoon

Pirate’s Guide to Freeport         
Published by Green Ronin        
Written by Chris Pramas, Robert J. Schwalb, and Patrick O’Duffy

Delta Green: Eyes Only         
Published by Pagan Publishing         
Written by Dennis Detwiller, Adam Scott Glancy and Shane Ivey

Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords          
Published by Paizo Publishing        
Edited by James Jacobs, Art by Wayne Reynolds

Ruins of the Wild: Dungeon Tiles 4          
Published by Wizards of the Coast        
Written by Bruce R. Cordell

Codex Arcanis
Published by Paradigm Concepts        
Written by Team Paradigm

GAME SUPPORT       

Dungeon Life: Bendy Walls
Published by by Z-Man Publishing   

Gamemastery Flip Mat: Tavern
Published by Paizo Publishing   

Crystalline Counters
Published by Three Sages Games   

Hollow Earth Expedition GM Screen
Published by Exile Game Studio   

Dr. Wizard’s Patented Elevation Indicator        
Published by Stratus Artworks   

Call Of Cthulhu Dice Set
Published by Q-Workshop

COLLECTIBLE CARD GAME

Bleach
Published by Score Entertainment        
Aik Tongtharadol (lead designer), William Harper (rules editor)

Legend of the Five Rings        
Published by Alderac Entertainment Group        
Mark Wootton (lead designer), Charles Urbach (cover artist)

The Spoils
by Tenacious Games, Inc.        
Josh Lytle (lead designer), Patrick Meehan (lead artist)

BOARD GAME OR EXPANSION

Pillars of the Earth        
Published by Mayfair Games        
Created by Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler

Kingsburg        
Published by Elfin Werks        
Created by Andrea Chiarvesio and Luca Iennaco

StarCraft: The Board Game        
Published by Fantasy Flight Games        
Created by Corey Konieczka and Christian Petersen

Last Night on Earth, The Zombie Game        
Published by Flying Frog Productions        
Created by Jason Hill

Battue: Storm of the Horse Lords        
Published by Red Juggernaut        
Created by Jim Long

TRADITIONAL CARD GAME       

Lifeboat        
Published by Gorilla Games        
Created by Jeff Siadek

Cutthroat Caverns       
Published by Smirk and Dagger Games        
Created by Curt Covert and Justin Brunetto

Bankruptcy        
Published by Tangent Games        
Created by Geoff Habiger and Coy Kissee

Zombie Fluxx       
Published by Looney Labs        
Created by Andrew Looney

Infernal Contraption        
Published by Privateer Press        
Created by Matt Wilson, Jason Soles, Kevin Clark, Erik Breidenstein

Race for the Galaxy
Published by Rio Grande Games
Created by Thomas Lehmann

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SPECIAL GTS WRAP-UP COMING THIS WEEK!
Last week’s GAMA Trade Show (GTS) in Las Vegas featured hundreds of attendees, lots of new products, seminars galore, and much, much more. Watch for the official show wrap-up, plus reports on the GTS Charity Auction, Games to Troops shipment, and more coming later this week!

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MANUFACTURERS -- BUILD BUYER BUZZ AND GRAB EXTRA PUBLICITY FOR YOUR NEW GAME WITH AN ORIGINS RELEASE
Again this year, Origins attendees will select one lucky game for the “Released At Origins” award. Sponsored by the Academy of Adventure Gaming, Arts, and Design (AAGAD) and GAMA, the award recognizes the game that Origins attendees select as the top new release at the show.

Get your new releases ready and watch for more details soon!
 
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SEE ORIGINS WITH GAMA’S RETAIL EXPERTS
Are you a retailer, who just hasn’t had time to get to the GAMA Trade Show? Interested in becoming a retailer some day? Join our GAMA Retail Division Board Members and expert retailers as they show you how it’s done, in our third GAMA Retailer Summit. You’ll walk the exhibit hall with other retailers, hear great speakers in our seminars, and chat with other retailers in the GRD Lounge. Nothing can replace the experience of GTS, but the GAMA Retailer Summit is the next best thing!

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HEAR THE BEST OF GTS 2007 SEMINARS ON THE PULP GAMER NETWORK
Relive the best of both the retailer and publisher seminar track from GTS 2007 thanks to the folks at the Pulp Gamer podcast. Hear the seminars for free at www.pulpgamer.com/category/gama-trade-show-seminars/.

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GET YOUR PRODUCTS REVIEWED BY GAMING REPORT
Marc Shayed from Gaming Report (www.gamingreport.com) sends along this invitation to get your games reviewed:

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Greetings Game & Toy Industry Professionals!!

Recently after the International Toy Fair a few weeks ago, I began to be asked the question by many manufactures and game producers concerning reviews  (especially the new companies). It began to happen so much I decided to send out an email.... The question I got a lot was:

"How much do we (the GamingReport) charge for a game, toy or product review?"

I have never heard of anyone charging for reviews, and I believe no one should. We have never charged for any game, toy or product review, and never will.

While several members of my staff have been hired for short term work on product development, testing,... (including myself) if the game is ready for a review, all we expect is a few copies (1 - 3) to send out to my reviews staff and we play-test the games and write the reviews.

As the game convention season is beginning, I would like to send reviews materials out to my staff over the next few weeks, if you have a game, toy or related product you would like reviewed, please just let us know.

As always, these materials can be sent to the below shipping address and a review will be written and posted online. Once posted, you will receive an email from me saying it is up.

The Gaming Report
Attention: Marc Shayed Reviews
6 Old County Way
Portland, CT  06480

We are always looking for your latest releases, and even your older ones that we have missed the first time around.

Good Luck and Good Gaming;

Marc Shayed
Review Editor
http://www.gamingreport.com/
MShayed@GamingReport.com

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BUILD YOUR BUSINESS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTIONS!
Expand your network of professional retailers and game industry experts through GAMA’s forums: the Game Industry Network and the GAMA Retail Division forum, both on Delphi Forums.

* The GAME INDUSTRY NETWORK (GIN) hosts an industry-only discussion on all aspects of games, from creation through sales. Game professionals use the forum to discuss issues, make announcements, look for and give advice, and more.

To join the conversation, send your request to Anthony Gallela (ed@gama.org). Please include the following:
* your first and last name
* preferred email address
* for retailers: name, location, and your title of your store
* for other industry pros: name of your company and your title

* The GAMA RETAIL DIVISION FORUM gives GRD members a place to discuss GAMA-related topics (the organization itself, things that members want GAMA to do, and such) with fellow members and GAMA staff.

To join the GRD forum, please send your contact information to Trey Reilly (programs@gama.org).

 

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 John Kaufeld
GAMA Communications
pr@gama.org