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 nominations for the Origins Awards — which honor the best in tabletop gaming every year — were just released. The list shows a strong slate of products, and I’m happy to say I’ve played/read a number of them. Congratulations to all my friends who picked up nods!

Two projects I chipped in on picked up nominations: Family Games: The 100 Best, edited by Jim Lowder, and Shadowrun: Spells and Chrome, edited by John Helfer. For Family Games: The 100 Best, I wrote an essay extolling the Pokémon CCG, and for Spells and Chrome I wrote a sharp little short story about the weaponization of cursed magic items entitled “No Such Luck.”

Of course, they’re both in the same category — Best Game-Related Publication — and up against some stiff competition from Hamlet’s Hit Points by Robin Laws; No Quarter Magazine edited by Matt Wilson, Aeryn Redel, and Privateer Press; and World at War: Revelation by Mark H. Walker. I’d feel no shame in losing out to any of them. In the meantime, I’ll happily add these two to my total for Origins Award nominations, which now stands at, um, 26, I think.

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.

Last night, GAMA gave out the 34th annual Origins Awards. Although I’ve not worked on many tabletop games over the past couple years, I had two books with my name in them that were nominated this year: 40 Years of Gen Con by Robin Laws and Hobby Games: The 100 Best edited by James Lowder.

My contribution to each was small. Robin interviewed me, along with dozens of others, for his book, and I wrote one of the 100 essays for Jim’s book. (My entry was about Space Hulk.) Sadly, both were up for the Non-Fiction Publication of the Year, and only one could win.

The voters at Origins chose Hobby Games: The 100 Best. My condolences to Robin, and many congratulations to Jim and the 99 other authors who chipped in on the winning book, among which I count several good friends. That includes many of my fellow Alliterates: Thomas Reid, Monte Cook, Steven Schend, Stan!, Tim Brown, Lester Smith, Wolf Baur, Steve Winter, Jeff Grubb, and Doug Niles.

Now, I can only wonder if GAMA will try to fit all 100+ names on to the trophy? If the rulebooks for collectible card games have taught us nothing else, it’s that people can read really small print.

Congratulations to all of the rest of the winners too! Notably, Jim Lowder’s Astounding Hero Tales anthology of pulp stories took home the Fiction Publication of the Year award too. (Robin was one of the book’s authors too, along with fellow Alliterate writer Thomas Reid, so there’s some small consolation for him.)

As Jim pointed out to me, this is likely the first time both awards have been won by creator-owned projects. Jim always stands strong for creators’ rights, and the contracts for both books show that.

Congratulations also to my friends at Paradigm Concepts for Codex Arcanis winning Roleplaying Game Supplement of the Year. I wrote a chunk of the original edition, although I’m told my work is only there in sprit in the latest, award-winning version.

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!

I’m told that the deadline for submissions for the Origins Awards has been extended to March 1. See the press release after the cut.

**** Due to the later date for GTS 2007, delays with notifying the gaming industry and the OA submission website, the Deadline for Origins Award Submission has been re-set to 1 March 2007. See below. ***

****33rd Annual Origins Awards – Product Submission ***

Please submit your 2006 gaming products NOW for the 33rd Annual Origins Awards presented by GAMA and the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design. Any product released during 2006 is eligible, and all products must be entered online at the Academy Website (below) before the 1 March 2007 Deadline. Nominees will be determined at the 2007 GAMA Trade Show (APRIL 23-26, 2007) and the Origins Awards will be presented during the 2007 Origins International Game Expo (July 5-8 2007).

Pete Panzeri
AcademyChair@gama.org

………………………………….

ORIGINS AWARD PRODUCT SUBMISSION

Go to: http://www.originsgames.com/aagad/submission/form

In addition to filling out the form, you will need to send the following to the GAMA address below:

7 copies of the product
Images of the product Title/logo*
Image of your company logo*
(* Images should be in either .300dpi JPG or .PSD format, and may be emailed to minion@gama.org, or included on a clearly labeled CD.)

Mail products and supporting documentation to:
GAMA
Attn: Origins Awards Submissions
280 N. High St. Suite 230
Columbus, Ohio 43215

All submissions for consideration and accompanying documentation must be postmarked NO LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2007.

Please send an e-mail to AcademyChair@gama.org and the Academy Secretary (contact information listed below) when the submissions materials and product are mailed so receipt at the GAMA office can be confirmed. Please include tracking information if available in this email.
The GAMA Offices can be reached by phone at (614) 255-4500 and fax (614) 255-4499.

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 Gamers Choice section of the Origins Awards is now open to the public. (That means you!) The deadline to get your votes in is June 12, so be sure to vote soon!

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.

Pete Panzeri, the chairman of the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design, pointed out that the Origins Awards nominations list I posted a while back was a preliminary version and contained errors. Here is the official (and final) press release (reproduced also after the break). I’ve removed the other list from my older post.

Academy Announces Origins Award Nominations

The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design proudly announces the nominees for the 32nd annual Origins Awards. Academy members selected an impressive group of nominees from an extensive range of submissions. Thanks to all who have supported the Academy and the Origins Awards program. All nominated games also become Gamers’ Choice Award nominees.

Between now and May 30, 2006, members of the Academy will select the Origins Awards winners. During the same time period, the general public can vote for the Gamers’ Choice Awards. The Origins Awards will be presented at a gala event during the Origins International Game Expo, June 29 through July 2, 2006, in Columbus, Ohio. For more information about Origins and the Origins Awards, see www.originsgames.com.

Pete Panzeri
Academy Chair

Anthony Gallela
GAMA Executive Director

Nominees for Board Game or Board Game Expansion of the Year: (Board Game College)
Amazonas by Mayfair Games, Inc.
Parthenon: Rise of the Aegean by Z-Man Games, Inc.
Rheinlander by Face 2 Face Games, Inc.
Shadows over Camelot by Days of Wonder
Vegas Showdown by Avalon Hill

Nominees for Collectable Card Game or Expansion of the Year: (Collectable Card Game College)
A Game of Thrones: Winter Edition by Fantasy Flight Games
Anachronism by TriKing Games
Magic: The Gathering – Ravnica by Wizards of the Coast
Perplex City by Mindcandy
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium by Sabertooth Games

Nominees for Traditional Card Game or Expansion of the Year: (Traditional Card Game College)
Gloom by Atlas Games
Oriente by Mayfair Games, Inc.
Paranoia by Mongoose Publishing
Plunder by Laughing Pan Productions
Reiner Knizia’s Poison by Playroom Entertainment

Nominees for Role-Playing Game of the Year: (Role-Playing College)
Army of Darkness by Eden Studios
Artesia by Archaia Studios Press
Deryni Adventure Game by Grey Ghost Press Inc.
Serenity by Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd.
World of Warcraft by White Wolf Publishing

Nominees for Role-Playing Game Supplement of the Year: (Role-Playing College)
Exalted Autochthonians by White Wolf Publishing
GURPS Infinite Worlds 4th edition by Steve Jackson Games
Mage by White Wolf Publishing
Midnight 2nd edition RPG by Fantasy Flight
Shackled City by Paizo Publishing, LLC.

Nominees for Miniatures Game or Expansion of the Year: (Miniatures College)
ATZ – All Things Zombie by Two Hour Wargames
Confrontation 3rd Edition by Rackham
Defiance: Vital Ground by Majestic 12 Games
Rezolution by Aberrant Games
WARMACHINE: Apotheosis by Privateer Press, LLC

Nominees for Miniatures line of the Year: (Miniatures College)
Caldwell Masterworks by Dark Sword Miniatures
Harbinger of Bast by Crocodile Games
Rezolution by Aberrant Games
Visions in Fantasy by Dark Sword Miniatures
WARMACHINE miniatures line by Privateer Press

Nominees for Historical Board Game of the Year: (Historical College)
Assyrians by Udo Grebe Games via GMT
Band of Heroes by Matrix Games
Empire of the Sun by GMT
Four Lost Battles by Operational Studies Group
The First World War by Phalanx Games
Twilight Struggle by GMT

Nominees for Historical Miniature Game or Expansion of the Year: (Historical College)
Avanti Savoia Flames of War Expansion by Battlefront
Bloody Picnic by Partizan Press
Gutshot by Hawgleg
Nuts by Two Hour Wargames
Strandhogg by Odin’s Press

Nominees for Historical Miniatures Line of the Year: (Historical College)
10mm WWII Personality Set by GFI, Minifigs
15mm Belgian 1940 Vickers Tank by True North Miniatures
15mm Flames of War: Cossacks by Battlefront
15mm Flames of War: Long Range Desert Group by Battlefront
28mm German Pioneers by Victory Force

Nominees for Nonfiction Publication of the Year: (Game Support Category)
Dragon Magazine by Paizo Publishing, LLC.
Dungeon Magazine Paizo Publishing, LLC.
Historical Miniature Gamer Magazine by Legio X, Inc.
No Quarter Magazine by Privateer Press, Inc.
The Art of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire by Fantasy Flight Games

Nominees for Game Accessory of the Year: (Game Support Category)
GameMastery Campaign Map Pack: Village by Paizo Publishing, LLC.
GameMastery Compleat Encounter: Throne of the Gorilla King by Paizo Publishing, LLC.
Magnetic Markers by Alea Tools, LLC
The 13th Hour – Roleplaying Soundtrack by Midnight Syndicate Soundtracks
Universe87 Campaign Setting Soundtrack by Bailey Records

Vanguard Nominees for Innovative Game Products: (College of Exceptional Gaming)
Axis and Allies [Collectable] Miniatures Game by Avalon Hill
Darter by Future Magic Games
Perplex City by Mindcandy
Polarity by Temple Games, Inc.
XIG: The Four Elements by GT2 Fun & Games Inc.

Vanguard Nominees for Unique Game Products: (College of Exceptional Gaming)
Age of Battles Complete Miniatures and Rules Set by Zvezda
Battleground: Fantasy Warfare by Your Move Games, Inc.
Galladon w/ Immaculate Steed by Magnificent Egos Inc.
Infinite Armies by BTRC
Rocketmen – Axis of Evil by Wiz Kids
World at War by Matrix Games