View from the Game Store is a weekly(-ish) column by Marcus King, owner of Titan's Entertainment Cafe in Battle Creek, Michigan.  This week, Marcus takes us along on his visit to the Origins Game Fair last weekend.

First, let me say that not all retailers really like the big cons.  Many feel threatened by, even stolen from, the vendors who attend those shows--many of whom sell things at below retail prices or do show specials that the average retailer cannot compete with.

I am not one of those retailers but I am a retailer who charges full retail price on everything in my store.  Where we compete is with a great selection of items and long and friendly shopping hours at our store as well with a staff that is both professional in appearance and knowledgeable of their products.  Kind of like a Best-Buy with knowledge, if you will.  However, to be fair, I am more than a 3 hours from any major convention so only the most hardcore of gamers attend either Origins or GenCon--so the two shows are of little monetary consequence to me.

This was, however, my 15th consecutive Origins Game Fair.  I have also been to 14 consecutive Gen Cons and 11 DraconCons.  So, I've been around the conventions a bit, as both an attendee (shopper, gamer) and as a vendor (400+ conventions).

This year I was impressed by Origins.  In fact, I think this was one of the best Origins I have been to and I have attended fifteen of them now.  This is the first one I have attended in 12 years that I didn't set up at as a vendor.  It looked to me like the GAMA staff and Board of Directors were working to make sure that everyone got the most out of the show.  

I also had the opportunity to have a 10-minute private conversation with John Ward, executive director of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), which hosts Origins (and GTS).  This 10-minute conversation took about an hour, since John was interrupted 18 times (yes, I counted).  A busier, more in demand guy, you would have a hard time finding.  I am not complaining mind you.  Just illustrating for those who would demand more, or complain about Origins or John that: WOW.  Not sure how many more hours a day the guy could work!  Any problems Origins or GAMA might have, in my opinion, are not the fault of the Executive Director not putting in the effort or time.  I work 50 to 80 hours a week and the schedule John keeps would kill me!

Other Things at Origins of Note:
The cool daisy logo of Looney Labs--literally a trail of hubcap sized decals going from the Looney Labs exhibitor hall booth, to their game room on the main concourse--I don't know how many there were, maybe 200 of them, but they were certainly an attention getter!!!

The big Mayfair Games and Settlers of Catan logos on the staircase.  You could read them from about a football field away!!  Nice!

Exhibitors Hall: Fuller, with more vendors than last year, and with a 6% attendance growth from the previous year.  And there were more people shopping.  In fact, their $5 (or is it $3?) wristband to just get into the vendors hall, well they sold 2,000 more of those than last year!!  What does that tell me?  Well, that even though the show sold fewer 4-day passes, they sold way more day passes for one day.  And that meant that the people who really wanted to just come and shop--they could do so with more money to spend in the hall, which I am sure made many vendors pleased!!

This year also had the hall sold out a month (or so) before the show, which is a first in years!

Overall, I think Origins is on the right track.  Making exhibitors happy and wanting to return.  Making attendee's find value in the con as either a shopping extravaganza, or as a game fair.  Finding a way to appeal to a lot of different people! (I mean, try to get into the Gen Con hall for $5.  Ha!)

My only quibble, and frankly it’s a small one, is the Trade Day at Origins was not a big success.  My two seminars were, well, lets just say the attendance was lighter than expected.  Having has as many as 170+ people at a seminar I have presented at GTS, I expected to fill the smaller seating available at Origins Trade Day--but maybe next year.

In fact, I might be willing to go back to Origins next year as a vendor, too.  I almost missed setting up at it this year.

The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.