On a happier note, the winners of the 2011 Origins Awards were announced at the Origins Game Fair last night. Congratulations to all the winners, especially the folks behind the Dresden Files RPG, which swept the roleplaying game section!

I had bits in two nominated items this year: Family Games: The 100 Best, edited by Jim Lowder, and Shadowrun: Spells and Chrome, edited by John Helfer. Both were up for Best Gaming Publication and against some stiff competition. Despite that, Shadowrun: Spells and Chrome took home the trophy! Big congratulations to all my fellow authors involved in that book, but especially to John, who put together a fantastic collection.

The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design announced the nominees for this year’s Origins Awards this week. Congratulations to all the nominees! The winners will be announced at the Origins Game Fair held at the end of June.

The biggest happy surprise for me was the inclusion of Space Hulk as a nominee for best board game. Games Workshop released a very limited edition last year, which went out of print almost immediately. I wrote about the game in Hobby Games: The 100 Best as one of my all-time favorite games, and I’m glad to see it reaching a new generation of gamers. Here’s hoping this spurs GW into bringing the game back out on a more permanent basis.

GAMA announced the finalists for this year’s Origins Awards yesterday. I can’t find a mention yet on GAMA’s site, but thankfully ICv2.com has a full list. I’m happy to note that three products in which I had a small part made the cut this year. They are:

Best Publication, Non-Fiction: 40 Years of Gen Con by Robin Laws. Robin interviewed me, along with many others, for this book, and I’m proud to see my words appear alongside those of so many people I admire.

Best Roleplaying Game Supplement: Codex Arcanis by Paradigm Concepts. I wrote a chapter or so in the original, paperback edition, which hit shelves in 2001. A handsome, hardcover edition came out last year. Sadly, I don’t have a copy of the new book yet, and I have no idea if I’m credited in it or if any of my work made it into the latest version. Either way, I’m happy for Henry, Eric, and the rest of the crew at Paradigm.

Best Publication, Non-Fiction: Hobby Games: The 100 Best edited by James Lowder. I wrote the essay on Space Hulk, which means I only chipped in 1% (or probably less) of this excellent, star-studded book. I was honored to be asked to contribute anything at all.

Congratulations to all the finalists, and good luck to everyone in the final round!

The ever-reliable GamingReport.com posted the results of the Origins Awards, which were presented at a ceremony in Columbus, OH, last night. Congratulations to all the winners!

I didn’t make it to Origins this year. The summer gets packed with conventions of all kinds, and I can only make it to so many of them and still get my work done and see my family. Other shows had stronger pulls this year, so I’m home instead, missing my friends, but enjoying my time with my wife and kids.

The voting for the annual Origins Awards is now open, but only until June 6. If you’re a gaming industry professional, you can join the AAGAD and vote for free. So please do!

If you’re not an industry professional, you can still take a gander at the nominees for this year’s awards and bask in their reflected glory. I don’t have anything on the ballot this year, so this time around my announcement is stunningly plug-free.