Friends and Colleagues in the Games Industry,
We have taken a careful look at the Origins Awards Ceremony. Despite recent attempts to make the awards more interesting and entertaining (last year's 30th Anniversary show, in particular), Origins Awards ceremonies have been very lightly attended. We have concluded from this, and from the success of previous social events, that both gaming fans and industry professionals would rather celebrate the awards in a party-like atmosphere than sit down to a 2-hour ceremony.
As such, we've chosen to announce the Award Winners to the public on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. from the entrance of the Exhibit Hall, where the nominated products will be on display. We've replaced the Awards Ceremony with a celebratory Gala, scheduled from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM Friday night in the Fusion Room on the Ballroom level of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, across the skywalk from the Convention Center. Origins Award statuettes ('Callies') will be distributed at the party to those winners in attendance.
The party is free for the primary creators of nominated products and Supporting members of the Academy, and $30 for others. Tickets for the party may be purchased at the Special Services desk at Main Registration.
We are confident that this approach is much more in keeping with the spirit of our industry, and we hope you will all take the opportunity to enjoy the celebration.
On the behalf of the GAMA/Origins Staff
Sean Patrick Fannon
Events Coordinator, Origins/GAMA
Events@gama.org
www.originsgames.com
www.gama.org
