The Toy and Game Inventors Expo

Last year, I went to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (ChiTAG) for the first time, and I had a great time. I wandered around the exhibit floor, took part in the inventors’ forum, and helped out with the Ask an Expert event.

This year, Mary Couzin (the woman behind the whole event) of Discover Games had decided to spotlight the inventors’ forum by running it by itself for a full two days before ChiTAG. The brand-new Toy and Game Inventors Expo (TAGIE) is a good chance for prospective game designers and toy inventors to get a crash course in how the industry works, network with like-minded souls, and even network with the people who might publish or purchase your ideas. Afterward, you can show off your wares to the public with a booth at ChiTAG too.

Because this is a professional show, attendance does not come cheap. Still, if you’re looking to break into the mass market as a designer or inventor, consider it tuition well spent.

I will likely show up at ChiTAG again to help out with Meet the Experts, and there’s a good chance I’ll be able to get down for TAGIE too. If so, I hope to see you there.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy birthday, America! Number 232 and counting.

The high temperature today in Beloit is predicted to be a stunningly appropriate 76° F. The flood waters have receded, and there are picnics and fireworks on the schedule for tonight.

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful day/weekend no matter where you might be.

IGDA Green Bay Meeting

The time, date, and place for the next IGDA Madison meeting have been set–7 PM on July 15 in Green Bay! Details are at the chapter’s website (for which I humbly serve as webmaster these days).

Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be able to make the six-hour round trip to the event. However, if you’re in Madison, you’re much closer, and if you’re in Green Bay, you lucky dog, you’re already there.

Origins Awards Awarded

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.

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No Wizard World Today

With my father coming home from the hospital yesterday, I decided to stay home today rather than roll down to Wizard World Chicago as I’d planned. I’m sure everyone will soldier on without me.

I’ve actually gotten some fun phone calls and text messages from friends at Origins this weekend. It seems like the show’s doing well, and they’re having a ball.

All this makes me look forward to Comic-Con and Gen Con that much more. Hope to see some of you there!

Dad’s Coming Home

Now for some good news.

I just found out that my father is coming back home today after nearly five weeks in the hospital. He’s doing much better, although he still has a good stretch of recovery ahead of him. I’m just glad to have him home again. Thanks to all of you who offered your support!

James Perham Dies

I just learned that James Perham died on May 31 of heart failure. I first met James many years ago when he was working for Cliff “Gideon” Van Meter at Starchilde Publications (publishers of Justifiers and Guardians) and back in the late ’80s/early ’90s. He later spent time working in comics with Valiant and Acclaim and had the singular honor of being the last Acclaim Comics employee, going down with the ship. Still, he didn’t let that stop him.

I saw James at Gen Con a couple years ago. He was working with a company that was about to bring a South American collectible card game into America. I don’t know whatever happened to that game. Still, it was great to see James again and hear his laugh that one last time.

Social (Worker) Games

Last week, my wife Ann participated in a “poverty simulation exercise” for people who work with the impoverished. Ann is a school social worker who concentrates on helping out homeless students, so she sees a lot of this in her job. The Janesville Gazette ran an article about the exercise and how it worked. The paper ran a photo of Ann with the article, but the website is not graced with it.

As Ann described the event, I immediately recognized it as a live-action roleplaying game. It would not have been out of place at any gaming convention, with the exception that the players were there to learn rather than to have fun. This was a simulation, not entertainment. Coincidentally, Ann played a 12-year-old boy named Matt, and the irony ensued.