Amarillo Design Bureau has decided not to go to the ORIGINS GAME FAIR in 2014. We do not expect to attend Origins in any future year. We do not plan to start attending GenCon in future. We will be happy make arrangements for another booth to offer our key products at Origins.

This was a painful decision, but one that had to be made. Origins has changed over the years. It is now more a general hobby show or county fair than game show, and the crowds of loyal ADB customers who attended every year (and who are still buying our products on our shopping cart) stopped attending for various reasons not related to ADB.

Origins for us was about COMMUNITY, not profit. To be sure, we made money every year. (Even if you discount the sales we'd have made over the shopping cart without attending the show, walk-in sales at the show covered expenses.) The show was about being there for you, and you have been here for us in every way that counts. There is just no point in us going to Origins without you.

We wish GAMA the best in this year and future years as they put on the excellent regional convention, Origins.

By Chuck Strong (Raider) on Monday, April 08, 2019 - 02:39 pm: Edit

The Origins team cares more about their schedule and convenience. As a result of them not listening to us, we F&E players have chosen to go elsewhere.

By Randy Blair (Randyblair) on Monday, April 08, 2019 - 03:34 pm: Edit

What is the problem with Origins?
I have seriously considered running my Gen Con SFB games there.
Some honest opinions, please.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, April 08, 2019 - 04:54 pm: Edit

We quit going to origins because our players stopped going when they moved it into the school year for reasons that didn't hold water.

Once the management team gets an idea, nobody can convince them how wrong it is.

The show is run okay, but when they tell you 12,000 people showed up, that includes 5,000 local people who are not interested in games but bring the kids for the $2 tickets and "walking around the fairgrounds in air conditioning."

By Randy Blair (Randyblair) on Monday, April 08, 2019 - 09:43 pm: Edit

Ok, that's fair.
If I ran SFB games there, do you think it'd be worthwhile?
I can say with certainty it won't be this year, but if it can help ADB and the player base, I can commit to next year.
Columbus is not terribly far away from me. Close to the same distance as Indy is for Gen Con.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Tuesday, April 09, 2019 - 08:03 pm: Edit

We had a number of NYC teachers, NYC schools end the year in late June.

Origins moved from late July, to early July late June, to early to mid June.

In 2012 it started May 30th.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 11:38 am: Edit

2012 was the year that killed it. So many of our players stayed home and the next year they (or their wives) decided that with SFBOL they really didn't have a reason to go again. There may be 20-30 players to keep a few tables full but there are not 200 players to make the trip a working proposition for ADB. The last time we went we lost a ton of money (first time ever we lost money at Origins) and that was the end of the road. Origins is about building the community, and Origins (in 2012) told the community not to show up.

By Randy Blair (Randyblair) on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 04:30 pm: Edit

If I ran SFB games there, do you think it'd be worthwhile?

By Randy Blair (Randyblair) on Friday, April 12, 2019 - 04:00 pm: Edit

Jean has told me that my Gen Con events "make a difference" for ADB.
There is no way that *I* can define worthwhile for YOUR company. You're overthinking my question.
If you want to see ADB games at Origins, all you have to do is say, "Yeah, that'd be great, man. Go do that."

And it will be done.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, April 12, 2019 - 04:18 pm: Edit

If you want to do it, it would be of some value that even I cannot define. You might ask Jean.

By MarkSHoyle (Bolo) on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 - 08:11 am: Edit

With ADB not attending Origins anymore...

I came across a ten page errata handout...

First Line starts:

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Quote:

Hello! Welcome to ORIGINS '80 Task Force's Star Fleet Battles Tournament.

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By MarkSHoyle (Bolo) on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 - 08:24 pm: Edit

Handout has been claimed....