Newsbriefs for March 20, 2008


ATTEND GTS TO GET THE FIRST PEEK AT AN AMAZING HUGE FIGURE FROM UPPER DECK’S WORLD OF WARCRAFT MINIS GAME -- AND GET A FREE PROMO FIGURE, TOO!!
There’s plenty of excitement around Upper Deck’s impending World of Warcraft miniatures game -- and GTS attendees get the hottest info to build sales at their stores!

Come to GTS and see how the Upper Deck artists brought your customers’ favorite World of Warcraft miniatures to life in amazing accurate scale with gorgeous details.

Want a free promo figure to make your customers drool? Attend Upper Deck’s presentation on Monday at 4 pm during GTS to receive a FREE promo figure.

And on Tuesday, Upper Deck treats show attendees to a special sneak peek at… well, we can’t tell you the figure’s name, but we can tell you this -- it’s one very big dragon!

Upper Deck will unveil this amazing figure -- and show off many others -- at their booth on Tuesday during GTS. Register for GTS today at www.gama.org/gts/shop-online. For the best available rates at Bally’s, check the Bally’s reservation system at https://www.harrahs.com/.

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WELCOME THE RETURN OF REAPER, GAMES WORKSHOP -- AND LOTS OF NEW EXHIBITORS AT GTS 2008
It’s official! GAMA proudly welcomes Games Workshop and Reaper back to the 2008 GAMA Trade Show!! GAMA also extends a warm welcome to these first-time GTS exhibitors:

* 7th Circle Games
* APBA Games
* Bucepahlus Games
* Catalyst Games Labs
* Core 7 Games
* Do Godder Press
* Duckfeet Entertainment
* Duncan Toys (Known for yo-yos, they just produced a new game)
* Dundjinni Enterprises
* Gozer games
* Nabar Games
* Ninja Magic Studios
* Rubbing Hands Games

Register for GTS today at www.gama.org/gts/shop-online. Do it now!!

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ORIGINS ON-SITE BOOK EVENT DEADLINE APRIL 4
For those of you who haven’t submitted yet, don’t forget that the final deadline for Origins Event Submission is April 4. Events that are submitted after that deadline cannot be guaranteed to be in the Onsite Book if accepted.

To submit your events go to www.originsgamefair.com/2007/events/eventsubmissions.

Check out the Origins event policies at www.originsgamefair.com/2008/plan/gms.

To look over our GM Benefits and Event Hours calculations, visit www.originsgamefair.com/2008/plan/gms/benefits/event-hours-calculations.

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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:

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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GTS EXHIBITORS: PROMOTE AND CONTROL YOUR GIVEAWAYS WITH THE FREE GTS RETAILER PASSPORT
Giving away product samples at this year's GTS? Let the GTS Retailer Passport program help you easily promote and monitor your giveaway program. Here's how it works: Every attending store location gets one passport. Someone from that location presents the passport at your booth. You tell them about your product, stamp the passport, and give them your sample. It's an easy way to make sure that the right people get the right amount of your goodies!

To participate in the GTS Retailer Passport program, contact Matt Ragsdale (sales@gama.org, 614-255-4500). Register by April 11, 2008 to get into this year’s program!

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THREE SHOWS FOR ONE PRICE AT THE MEGA WEEK OF TRADE SHOWS!
The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the National Retail Hobby Stores Association (NRHSA), and the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA) are pleased to announce a "Mega Week of Trade Shows" in Las Vegas, from April 20-26, 2008.

All three associations will be having their respective shows autonomously, yet registration and badges for any individual show will be accepted for entry into the other two. Please check with the individual show websites for times and locations.

Entry to exhibit halls does not guarantee entry to all seminar and special membership programs in each show. The shows are being held at the Las Vegas Hilton and Bally’s Las Vegas.

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OFFICIAL POLICY: CHILDREN AT GTS
Like most other trade shows in our related industries--WITRA, ASTRA, Toy Fair, Etc.--GTS does not allow children (under age 18) on the exhibit hall floor. Most professionals love children, but with the limited time at a trade show, they find that children are a distraction to business. Unlike most shows however, GTS does allow children in other areas of the convention. That said, if they are in convention areas, then they must be with you at all times and you must take them out of the area if they are disruptive. Children do not need a badge at GTS.

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HEAR THE BEST OF GTS 2007 SEMINARS AT PULP GAMER
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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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).


John Kaufeld
GAMA Communications
pr@gama.org