E129. Origins Game Fair Recap

Hey, and welcome to Episode 129. Origins Game Fair 2025 turned 50 this summer. To celebrate this milestone, the Table Talk community came together for games, memories, and gathering around the table for epic showdowns and sprawling strategy games to light hearted laughs over party favorites. This year's golden anniversary was a heartwarming reminder of

why we play. In this episode, we are sharing the highlights of the games we explored, the amazing people we connected with, and the unforgettable energy that only Origins can deliver. Today, I've invited Chris Preston to join me and return to the show and share our experiences at Origins in Columbus, OH. Chris. How are you? I'm good, man. It's good to see you again. It's always a pleasure. Yeah, it's been a year since you were on the show. Has it been that long?

You said that earlier. You said last year. And I was like, that was just a few months ago, wasn't it? Yeah. It was, it was, it was like August. I think it was like episode 9091 or something like that. Maybe it was 89, but it's been a while. Doesn't seem like it's been that long ago. I know, I know. And it feels like origins was this past weekend, even though it's been like 3 weeks. So yeah, crazy.

So yeah, I again, thanks for joining and I just want to talk about our experiences and origins. So I've got a few stats we'll talk about first, if that's cool, and then we can get into the experience. So according to Origins game fairs website, they had 19,171 attendees this year, which is an increase of 8% over the previous year, which is kind of good. They had 410 exhibitors of which one of them you worked for this year. And then there were 8810 scheduled events.

And that was an increase of 26% from last year. So what do all these statistics mean? Here's here's the cool conclusion. And I'm really excited about this. Like, can you tell I am such a nerd? Like, I don't think anyone else cares about this, but I do. So I'm going to share it with you. OK. So this means that Origins is now the number 5 tabletop convention in the world. And here's here's how it's calculated. So last year in 2024, Essence Spiel had 204,000 attendees.

Sticking at #1 no big star, obviously #2 Gen. Con with 71,000 attendees last year. This year, because it has already come and gone, UKGE had 42,000 attendees. Wow. Which I got. Really. Yeah. I didn't know that was that big. I had no idea. That one surprised me as well. I was like, wow, man, that's that's a. Just means we need to go over there sometime. Yes. And we have, we do we really need to last year's numbers PAX Unplugged was approximately

30,000. They don't keep track of attendees stats like the other conventions, but OK, that's kind of the number. And then 19,171 at Origins, making it the fifth largest convention in the world, and that is exciting. I believe it used to be #4 though, didn't it? I think it's just here in the past few years that Pax U has started to surpass from what I understand. So that's my understanding as well as PAX used numbers have just skyrocketed. I have not yet been to PAX Unplugged.

Yeah, same. It's a little far. It's, it's not only is it far, it's like the first weekend of December. And so it's between Thanksgiving, it's right before Christmas where you have holiday travel, right? It's kind of a mess, right? So. Which I think they changed the dates this year. It's still in between Christmas and Thanksgiving, but it's in November instead of December this year. It is. So that maybe will help. Yeah, I think I would love to go

up to that one. I was talking to somebody. Her name eludes me, so I won't try to get it wrong. But she was saying that it has become a bigger one for a lot of the bigger publishers, especially because #1 geographically it hits a different region and #2 it's not 5 weeks apart like Origins and Gen. Con. So which, you know, if you want to get into it, I'll go ahead and start on my negative note. One of my like, one of my only disappointments of Origins was yeah. Tell me about.

There were a lot of bigger or well known and well established publishers that weren't there that I anticipated would be. Now it's not the end of the world and I don't feel like I missed anything without them there. But from what I knew of Origins years ago, I expected there to be a little bit more of a Gen. Con exhibitor hall feel, and it definitely felt smaller and it felt like there were some publishers that were missing a little bit.

Now, again, if that's my only gripe, then I think the con was a success. From this conversation, I kind of deduced that a lot of them have not necessarily pulled out of Origins, but maybe aren't doing Origins every year because it's so close geographically and time wise to Gincon. They've kind of gone in on packs and Gincon to give a little bit

of separation there. So that's, that's an interesting observation given the fact that the stats stay there were 410 exhibitors and that's up. So there were in fact more exhibitors than there have been before. Yeah, that that is very interesting. And she even said that there were, I don't want to overestimate the numbers, but there were a decent amount that had to back out fairly last minute because of they didn't get the stock in they needed to be able to be at the convention,

right. And so, you know, there, there could be a plethora of reasons why some of them weren't there this year. It could be the separation of time and geography and packs you being more appealing that way. It could also be the tariff situation or the shipping issues that have, you know, there's a little bit of a backlog and costs have gone up recently. So it's true.

All that to say, it's interesting that I, I do agree that it's interesting that the numbers are up, but there were also a lot of great exhibitors still. There was just a good handful of publishers that I was kind of surprised to not see there, knowing that Origins used to be #2 in the country. Yeah. And Yep, so. It's interesting. So I want you to come back in August after Gen. Con, because you're going to be a Gen. Con, right? And that's the plan right now.

Yep, actually, we just kind of solidified that of this past week. And and I will be a Gen. Con. I think this will be an interesting conversation after Gen. Con to do a side by side comparison because we know there's some big vendors that will not be a Gen. Con this year. Yeah, that have already that have already backed out and backed out months ago. And I'm curious to see some of the non American ones, like who's going to make the trip? Who's going to be here?

Yes, because I saw that Borden Dice is still going to have a booth, which I'm really excited about. They've become one of my favorite publishers in the past year or two. And so that's cool that they're still coming, but I am curious to see how that plays out. I can confirm that there will be a team from Mosaic Games. This is their this is their first Gen. con. Just to remind you guys this Mosaic Games, this is Palgan from Bangalore, India, who I had, who I had on the show.

Yeah, he's coming. Him and his wife and two of his staff members. I don't, I don't know. He didn't tell me who they are, but there's four of them, a contingency coming to Gen. Con. So. So that's exciting. I'll have to make sure and go say hey to him. Make sure to listen to next week's episode, Episode 130. I have a really frank conversation with the creative director of Game Head Games, Paul Solomon. OK. And we talked a lot about his booth and what he's gonna be doing.

And so we'll make sure to go say hi to him as well. So, so stay tuned for that one, but we'll save our conversation about Jen Khan for a month from now because this is supposed to be about origins. It is, yes, absolutely. So you told me what your least favorite thing was. What was Do you have a single favorite? Thing whether that's. A game played. A person met and experienced in the vendor hall.

Whatever I mean, other than getting to sit and play games with Mr. and Mrs. Cajun Gamer themselves. I mean. Because, you know, yeah, it's hard to beat that, I mean. It's it is hard guys. It's really hard to be playing a game with me and my wife, I'm telling you. Yeah, I think the best thing just overall for me was I got to see and meet a lot of people that I've known online for years.

And you know, I don't live up around all these conventions where there's small pockets of groups of people that get together. I know that y'all usually have a big group get together in geek way. I haven't been able to make it up for that, you know, living in Oklahoma, a little bit further away than that and I don't get a meet and see a lot of these people that I see online very often. I got to meet quite a few people

for the first time in person. So that was, I mean, that's always exciting to get to say, hey, you actually exist in real life. Yeah. And then also just getting to see through some of the conventions we've been to the past few years, we've built in person relationships with a lot of the people that started

online. And so that is always a blast of getting to, you know, we chat online and text periodically throughout the year, but it's a blast getting to like hug each other's necks and play a game and talk about life together. And I think, I mean, overall, obviously I love games and I play board games, right? You know, hey, that's why we're here. But I think it's the people and the connection with people that make the games so special.

And without that it's, you know, I mean, games would still be fun without the relational aspect, but I think it just enhances it and makes it more special and enjoyable. Yep. I agree and I feel like that's what everyone's the typical answer is the people, right? I know for me that's my favorite thing is getting to see everyone. Although I didn't get to I didn't get to socialize as much this year. The schedule was weird for for me, You know, I had, I had a

great time. So here's my favorite thing about Origins and why we will go to Origins forever. So the hotel we stayed at was not connected to the Convention Center but was across the street. OK. And it is infinitely closer than any connected hotel in Indianapolis at Gen. Con. Yeah. I walked out of my hotel and I'm across the street and there I am in the Convention Center. It was great. Yeah, I love that. I love it. Must have been nice. It was it was fantastic.

And and of course the hotel prices don't they're not as high as they are in Indy. I mean, Gen. Con, Gen. Con's got a bigger draw. So naturally, but but yeah, that was that was the fun thing for me. I really my favorite thing at least wasn't fun. It was just. Fantastic. Yeah, I'm interested to see how

that plays out. Obviously we said we'd hold our Jincon conversation for later, but I saw Monday morning, as I was getting ready and eating breakfast before I started the drive back home, I saw a post where somebody said this was their first origins and they were kind of evaluating their thoughts and feelings versus Jincon. And the comments section was all over the place, as they often are. But a lot of people agreed and supported for some of the same reasons you just said.

The hotels are cheaper. It's easier to stay closer. The city itself, with the hotels and restaurants and Convention Center, feels closer and easier to navigate and so. North Market, The North Market is the single greatest feature of origins, that it's right there in walking distance and you can eat anything. Yeah, you know. I'm kind of bummed we didn't get to experience any of that. We stayed, it was 2025 minutes out from the Convention Center.

We, you know, we had a 20 minute drive in and out every day and when it was time to go we got in the car and drove out and we didn't really get to see an experience much downtown. So I would like to do that next time if we can. But but wise, we had to find a cheap hotel so we stayed in the Dublin area on the northwest side of the city. Yeah, Dublin's kinda. Yeah, it's. Gonna fall on a bad drive. I won't comment on the drivers in the Columbus area. Fuck off.

So talk to me about your experience working in the vendor hall cuz you were with bitewing games correct? So how did you get that gig? How did you enjoy that gig? Tell me all about it. Yeah, so I was thinking after I said my favorite thing in the con, my second favorite thing probably was working the booth. We have gone to several conventions now and worked with publishers to demo and teach games. And I don't know what it is about it, but I just love doing that.

I think it's a blast to being able to to teach a game and see it click for somebody and see them get excited about it. And you know, the responses, they're like, we gotta buy this, you know, we gotta have this game and there's just something, you know, fun and rewarding. And also being on the exhibitor floor working a booth like that, it allows you to see and talk to

people more. And so there were a lot of times that I got to see and and catch somebody's eye that I might not have been able to catch otherwise because they just happened to be walking by the booth. PJ being one of those people, it taught you icore and sadly you were not one of those people that fondled and decided to buy them, and you were one of the rare ones. But yeah, Bitewing was a new company for me. I've heard of them and I've played a few of their games.

My gaming bestie, as I refer to him, who we were there together you got to meet. Kyle, I did. He he has backed a few of their games and so I've played some with him. But one of the people that I've met, actually his wife and I connected online several years ago and they live in North Carolina and we've met them by going out to Tantrum Con in January or February.

And depending on the year, they've changed the month a couple Times Now there's some of those in person friends, like we've stayed at their house with them when we go out or if we don't get to stay with them, we go to dinner and hang out and play games before or after the convention. So like they've become some, you know, really treasured friends for us. He texted me out of the blue. It was probably April, end of April, beginning of May.

And he was just like, hey, you want to come to Origins? I'm working with Bite Wing, and they need some more people. And I said I would love to, but I can't go by myself. And we don't. We didn't have anybody that would be able to watch the kids for Caitlin and I to go together like we would have liked. But I just texted Kyle. I was like, hey, you want to go to Origins and work with Bite Wing, knowing that he likes the company already. And so he talked to his wife. She was like, yeah.

And so we ended up getting on with them. And, you know, it's really cool. I mean, for one thing, it makes it affordable, right? Because you get a free badge typically. Now, not all publishers have the means or capability to provide what some of them have, but our experience typically is minimally, you get a free batch and sometimes a free game or two. But a lot of publishers also pay by the hour.

So, you know, that just helps offset the costs and make it affordable because without that hourly pay, it's like I couldn't have afforded to go up to make the trip up there. And right, even then, we didn't fully cover all of our travel costs, but it made it doable for both of us. And so, you know, you get a badge, you get paid a little bit typically. I know they gave a free game with the deluxe upgrades to and Pandasaurus.

We worked with it. Gen. Con, the only time we've been in 22, we're working with them again this year. They give two games and so nice. So, you know, different publishers do different things. There's some groups that will even potentially cover housing. So if if you're interested in going to one of these conventions, that's definitely the way to do it. If you're willing to work a little bit during the day, which I mean, if you call standard around teaching games work, then

we don't really agree on life. But so yeah, the problem was is I didn't know a lot of the games really well, but I had played I core once before the convention. I had played Cascadero once before the convention. And those were the two games that I ended up teaching spent we worked 4 hour shifts and I did I Core 2 days and Cascadero 2 days.

And it was interesting because there were a couple of other games that I had played once but didn't, you know, fully understand the race but didn't know the rules well enough to teach women by the last day. And being around the games, like people would walk and say, hey, well, we don't have a lot of

time, tell us what all you have. And I was the only one standing there and I got to give a quick 5 minute spiel of all of the games at one time and managed to do OK with, yeah, managed to do OK with a couple of them that I wasn't as familiar with. But I don't know, I just, I really enjoy it. It's, it's a cool way to get to know publishers and build relationships and meet tons of people that you wouldn't get to interact with otherwise, right Than just passing them in the

exhibitor hall. You know, Kyle had a great moment. I don't know if you've ever played Zevedas 7. Reiner can eat a game. He's played it two or three times and unfortunately the two groups he's played it with haven't played the game the way it's supposed to be played. And it's funny because he and I were just talking about this today, but that was one of the ones he got to teach and the group loved it and they were

playing the game. So it's got a lot of negotiation in it. The negotiation is a little bit backwards. Instead of like buying something from somebody or making promises, basically each character has an ability and instead of that being your own ability, you like rent it out to people. Essentially. That's the negotiation is like, hey, my ability would really be really beneficial for you right

now. So if you want to use it, give me a little money or promise me a vote when I need it, you know, so you can kind of barter and negotiate. So he hadn't gotten to really experience the negotiation of the game. And I was teasing him earlier. I was like, man, you. It was so fun watching you just immerse yourself with this group and get to play that game the way it was intended. And he had a blast with that. So, you know, it's just there's a lot, there's a lot to be said.

And one of the guys working there with Bitewing was one of the designers of a few games they've put out recently, Bebop and Shuffle and Swing. And it was cool getting to talk to him. Looking at Bebop was out to demo a day or two. And, you know, reading through the rules and learning that game. I always like to, to pick designers brains and say, hey, I'm just like, this is an interesting different twist that is backwards from some games. So why, how did that end up in

the game? Why did you go that way? And you know, it's just, it's really cool to get to meet people and talk to people that you may not get to otherwise. Or if you do, it's going to be a brief interaction. But we got to spend 4 days getting to know Nick, which is one of the guys that started the company and Robert of the designers talking about. We got to have lots of conversations and get to know these guys a little bit. And so there's a lot to love about working with a publisher

at Right and Right again. The people are what makes it fun. And getting a free game and getting to teaching. Games. That's great. My first and only experience working for a publisher on the Venter Hall floor was with Wise Wizard Games. Yep, I remember. You talking about that? Yeah. What was that, 2023? I don't, I don't know it it seems like a long time ago. Yeah. So like, I have this affinity for that company because of that experience. So I get it.

Yeah. I would say my, so my favorite thing, and in my mind, the biggest draw to Origins is also my biggest criticism of Gen. Con as well. So what I love about Origins is that you get a you get a true vendor hall. Like it it's it's it's legitimate. Yeah. 410 exhibitors. That's amazing. And then you've got open gaming right outside the vendor hall. That you don't have to pay extra for. And a games library that is open

to check out games. I mean, that is my absolute favorite because that is what I miss at Gen. Con. And I think Origins delivers in a real way. And I love that. My wife would say that is probably her favorite part. She loved the games library. We checked out four or five games from the games library that we went into the vendor hall and purchased later because because we have to do that so. Yeah, the games were there, an open gimmick, so oh God, they were all play games. Panda, Panda.

OK and Mountain Goats is because we demoed it. A word Z because we played. Where we played that. We did, we played where it's E she loved it so we bought it. I can't remember. There were a lot of it feels like All Play was the dominant publisher of games that we played a lot of at Origins this year.

And you know, I don't know if you noticed this just in general at different conventions, whether it's Tantrum Con, whether it's Tennessee Game Days, whether it's Origins Gen. Con, whether wherever you are, there always seems to be 1 publisher that kind of comes to the top in terms of the games that you play, right? When you play, when you play. And it seemed like all play this year. And that probably had to do with the fact that we had several friends doing demos at all plays.

Yeah, tables. And that that was helpful. Well, I think that and they had about a bajillion demo tables that they're booth. Yes. I was talking to Joe, one of the all play guys, during Wednesday setup time and I was like, hey, man, like how's it going? You guys about done? He said, yeah, and he had this concert. Look at his face. He said the problem is, is we make a map and we set all the tables up and then we say how can we fit about 10 more? And they did. They had them crammed in there.

So I think you know one, they had so many tables for demo, but they've also been cranking out games a ridiculous pace. And they're all they're not all hits for me typically not that they're bad games. I think they're usually solid dreams. Yes, they're just not all something I want to on in my collection. But they're also quick to pick up, yes, easy to learn and they don't take long to play. And so I think they're like kind of that perfect convention game. Yeah. Right. Yes, I agree.

They are pretty fantastic individuals and they seem to treat their their demo, their contract workers on the vendor floor well. At least that's what I have noticed and I like that. I like that a lot. So kudos to all play and keep it, keep it going. You know, but we played a few other games, too. We played well, you and Katie and Kyle and I. We played Word Z and Chomp. Chomp. And then Kyle and I played Vegas Strip, which we both really

liked. And while there are two player rules, I don't think it's intended to be a two player game. So we both were like, I want to play this with more players. Yeah, which I've heard somebody say 4 is kind of the sweet spot. It plays up to six. But neither of our wives would enjoy the game. So it's like we may never get to try it again. But so I think I don't think there was another all play game that we played. I think it was those three. I'm going to look at my stats and make sure.

Yeah, do that and tell everyone what other games you and I played, because I can't even remember. Remember Chomp? I think it was just those two. I think that's always you sat with us for a while. We did one day, but I think that was all that we got to play together. OK, you and Kyle got to play Rococo, yes? So I've dedicated an entire episode to this. So anyone listening, you can go back and listen 1 of Gareth's favorite games.

You liked Rococo, didn't you? Didn't you like it at the end? I thoroughly enjoyed that. Kyle didn't like it as much as he anticipated. He has this problem where when a game gets talked about and he sets expectations for it. I mean, we all are guilty of this. I'll say that because I've done the same thing. Sure. He had his expectations a little high for that game and they didn't quite live up to it.

OK. And it's funny that we're having this conversation because he and I had a conversation earlier today on the phone for a while and we talked about Rococo. He loves Eagle Griffin games. He's a huge Vital Lacerta fan, and his biggest gripe was his biggest gripe was one of the things that I liked the most about it.

So it's funny is that it has the box size, it has the artwork, it has the componentry and the look and feel of a Vital Lacerta game, but it's just a step down enough in complexity that it just doesn't hurt. Yes, and he I liked that.

I do enjoy a Vital Lucerda game on occasion, but I appreciated how I it still gave me similar feels while just not being impossible to succeed at. But that was his biggest downfall of the game in his mind, was he would rather play a Vital. He would rather the extra complexity, sure. And I think he anticipated it being a little more complex than it was. And it just didn't quite hit for him as well as it did for me.

But I liked it and I can't wait to play it with Caitlin and yeah, potentially own it at some point. It is, it is truly a worthy game. I agree with your assessment. So it it, it has the look and the feel of a lacerda, but it's not so burdensome, right? It. That's a great word. Burdensome. It is really important. I have said this on so many occasions on this show. Almost every time in a conversation, I say this. You've got to embrace the theme because the theme really informs

the gameplay. In particular this game, right, Because it's a the whole idea of is that you're the dress designer, so you need your lace, you need your thread, you've got to purchase fabrics. You're going to, you know, I mean, you played the game, but it and I've talked about an entire episode Gareth and I did a couple years ago. It's so good. It is so good. I really feel as though I'm immersed in that French period of fashion design, you know, and I like that.

I like that a lot. It was cool. Let's go. What? What else did you play, Excuse me, that you really enjoyed? You got to give your stats. So I'm going to give my stats real quick because I am an avid BG stats user. My wife likes to give me a hard time that it's my hobby within the hobby. Kyle and I got into Columbus Monday evening and got to spend Tuesday playing games, and then we play games at the hotel at night after we got back as well.

And so over the course of that Monday to Sunday, I'm making sure that I don't have anything extra in here that shouldn't be here. I logged 56 plays. Yeah. Of 43 different games. Wow. 32 were new to me. Wow. And my favorite game that I played that entire week was one that he brought from home. And I think you'll understand my feelings on this. But we played it at the hotel because we didn't want to take the time down to play it at the convention. And it was the galactic cruise.

Yeah, that game is phenomenal, and it's another one similar to Rococo. It gives me Lacerta Field. I would say it's a little step up from Rococo, but still not quite as burdensome. I liked that word. You're welcome. As a typical Lacerta game, yes. And ever since we played it, I have wanted to play it again and it's one that I would love to own at some point. Mm hmm. Budget being a thing, that is a

huge hindrance there. But also I can't pay the kind of money for that game without Caitlin playing it and liking it. So I need her to play it and then we need some Christmas money and maybe we'll get a copy at some point. But that game was great. It was so good. Here's what. I'm hearing from all that. Here's the take away. You and Caitlin need to come stay here for a weekend or a day before Gen. Con on your way to Gen. Con and we could play Rococo, Angle and Cruise.

See, the problem is, is we'll be going to Gen. Con from Louisiana, OK? And so that would be considerably up. Wait. Well, I mean, it's straight up I-55. I'm just saying it's. A little. I don't know. We'll see. We'll see what we can do. But yeah, that's what you need to do because, because then we can introduce that, introduce Caitlin to games that you've gotten to play. And if she loves it, and I understand that if the wife loves it, then you're going to love it too.

You're going to get to play it all the time. So I get it. Galactic Cruise is amazing. It was fantastic. We. Purchased the small box expansions and the deluxe bits from Kenton Keys booth at Origins. Yeah. So they're really. Really nice dudes they. Are and I'm hoping to have them on the show. Oh, it'll be cool sometimes sometimes this year they were busy. I gave them my card, I told them about the podcast and I'm like, guys, I don't know, we'll see. Hopefully we'll hear from them,

but. I stopped in their booth real quick one day just to because I had seen them. They've been at Tantrum Con the past two years demoing Galactic Cruise, and every year I talked to him like, we're going to come try it this year, and we've never had the time. Yeah, we've. Well, we've never taken the time to do it, all right? But it's hard, you know?

Sure. And so I told him, I said, you know, we've seen you guys at Tantrum Con and I've had intentions the past two years and I finally got to play it this week and holy cow, this game's good. I wish I could buy it, but I can't right now. And they gave me the the cockpit and the engine. They're not enamel pins. They're acrylic, Yes. And I was like, Oh my gosh, that's amazing. And if you've played the game, you'll understand the joke. And I'm a nerd. I laugh way too hard at it.

But they're like and. I already know what the joke is because you're I know what you're going to say. The engine and the cockpit are free and we have, what are they called, rooms. Yeah, they're like the compartments. Yeah, the rooms for the shuttle, you can purchase those separately. And if you've played the game, the cockpit and engine to start a new shuttle are free, free. But you have to buy the rooms to build out your shuttle and have space for your passengers.

That is right. I was like, Oh my gosh, that is amazing. So. So here's another thing, another strategy or tip for you if you want to get Galactic cruise on a tight budget, and I'm speaking from experience, is take some of the games on your shelf that you haven't played in three or four years and sell them at your local game store or, or at a consignment sale at Origins. Yeah, Katie and I or. A virtual flea market.

Katie and I made over $300 in sales of the consignment sale at Origins. See, I didn't even know the consignment sale was a thing. So here's the tip. If you go to Origins, there is a consignment sale that I don't even know where it was John and Sarah. I can tell you where it is. They're board gaming duo on Instagram and they're friends that we've had on mine that we

hang out at conventions now. They did it and they did pretty well, but they said it was like off the path and not super convenient to anything else at the convention, which is a bummer. But but yeah, I wish I had known about that because we definitely would have gone through it. I didn't have anything that I was ready to put in it yet because between tantrum con and token con, shout out to my local Oklahoma City con. We sold everything that was on our coal pile at the time. And they go.

Not quite so. Katie and I, because we try to play our entire collection a minimum of once every year. Yes, right now. Right now we're at 69.8%. That's insane. We tried to do that last year and we failed, so we turned it into play it all in two years. That's fair. And we're still at 71%. Well, but I think your collection is bigger than. Mine it could be, you know. You know. I don't know. You got a big collection too. I got to see it last year in person.

It's not small. No, but we try to hover at about 200 to 300 games. We're right there in that range, you know, we don't want to exceed 300 because that's just, it's just too many games. Too much play, Yeah, agreed. So we sold a bunch of games at our local game store here in Springfield and use the store credit to buy the base game of Galactic Cruise. Nice, that's cool. And all we had to do was buy the upgraded bits and the two expansions at Origins. So I basically had the whole

Kickstarter for a lot less. There you go. Except for that neoprene mad. I have to say I'm not a big fan. Really I have only played on the neoprene mat, so I'm curious as to. Well, yeah, I don't like the holes in the neoprene mat. See, that's why Kyle, I was surprised he brought it because he doesn't typically love neoprene mats for games. But he brought it and I said, are we using the mat? And he said yeah, and that's why he liked it is because of the holes that yeah, set and hold

the things. I don't like it. I don't think it rolls up very well. It's. That's fair. I love neoprene mats. I just think it could have done without the holes or make the board dual layer so that things fit and you save the but that's OK. That's another. That's an entirely different conversation. That's all different conversation. We're off track, yeah. Oh yeah, that's OK. Yeah, I think y'all wanted to hear about origins, right? Is that what we're here to?

So that was my favorite game that I played throughout the week. OK. And again, it was at Origins, but not technically at the convention, but they were there so it counts. Oh yeah, and. There were a lot of people buying that game and there were a lot of people playing it in the gaming area. Now I will say that open gaming area, I want to give a special shout out.

I have no clue if he listens to your podcast or not, but Kevin, also known as Berkey from Game Toppers, partnered with Origins and made game mats. Not only Origins branded game mats, but game mats for the specific tables that the Convention Center puts in the open gaming area because they are oddly shaped, they are long and they are skinny. Yes. And those mats made playing

games in that hall so nice. And I say that because most of the conventions we go to are more you check out games and play them. That's there's the exhibitor hall. If it's there is a minor focus, but you're there to play games and hotel and Convention Center tablecloths aren't the greatest, especially for games. And they get crummy and dirty. And by the end of the weekend it's, you know, you're like shaking them out to be able to play a game on it. And these Matt, I mean, they

were just, they were so nice. And murkies are really special. He's a great dude and he and I had a really cool personal moment at the end of the convention that almost left me in tears, so I won't get into that story. But if you've never gotten to meet him and talk to it, if you're at a convention where he is at, he is somebody you need to talk to and become friends with because he's just a genuine. Well, challenge accepted because it sounds like it. And yeah, those mats were

amazing. And I mean, he makes, I mean, their company makes incredible products. They're very good quality. And so, but yeah. I want to talk about Tavern Wire games. We check out their booth. So they've got a game that's going to be launching on Kickstarter later this month. It's called Vine. And they were selling, Yeah, they were selling like it wasn't really prototypes. It was, I don't know how to describe it.

It feels like a prototype but basically they were selling like these pre made copies of the game. I saw. I saw that box somewhere. I had to look it up so I knew. What you're talking? And so it's a tile laying game where you draw 2 tiles from the bag and you're creating a vine, right? And so you take one of the tiles and you put it on your vine. So you're growing your vine and then you give the other one to an opponent who has to take it and put it on their bind.

And then the play continues cool around and you're trying to grow beans and you get victory points for the number of beans that you have and you can harvest them and that's how you get the points. It's a really great game. And it comes in this beautiful green velvet bag. And the bag is what yes, it is. It's really incredible. And I'm hoping I got to talk to both Bobby, the designer and David. I can't remember David's last name, but he's like the great. He's like the art artist of the

game. Interesting. So he's pitching the game to my wife and I and does not mention that he's the artist at all. Like he's just like, I thought he was a contract worker. So so we we listen to the demo, hear the pitch, then I'm like, hey, I really, they're like, well, the designers over here. And I'm like, I really want to talk to him. I want to get him on the show because this game is so cool. And then when I finally get to talk to him, he tells me that David was the artist.

And so I ran over the David and gave him hell. And I'm like, why didn't you tell me that you were the artist of this game? You got to talk that up because this game is worthy. So I want to mention that be on the lookout for the Vine by Cavern Wire Games. You can find that cavern Cavern Cavern Wire games on Instagram. It looks neat. It's pretty cool. That was a great moment for me as well. So I really enjoy talking to them. And, you know, yeah, so I did a lot of networking this year.

That just kind of the interesting thing about being a podcaster as opposed to your typical, not normal, typical standard content creator. A lot of my friends who are content creators on Instagram and other social media, they schedule a lot more meetings. They have more pitches.

Being a podcaster, it's really more about relationships and it's more organic and Origins just really fit that well and gave me the opportunity to continue to nurture relationships that I already have established and establish new ones and I really enjoyed that probably more than anything. That's cool. Yeah, yeah. We didn't get a check out a lot of the smaller booths, unfortunately. We did have a lot of fun demoing some games though.

We spent a lot of time in the Hachette group and we demoed quite a few games, which if you were there or familiar with Hachette, it's a lot more than just them. They've got a whole list of companies that they usually have smaller publishers that they're they're demoing and selling for. They had one of the favorite games that I demoed was Pina Colada Ice. I don't know if you've gotten to play that one yet. You know anything about that one? I mean, I'm, I'm aware that it.

Exists so #1 the theme is random and cute, it doesn't really matter at all but I grew up our family played Yahtzee all the dadgum time and I. I will still play a game of Yahtzee to this day, but at its core pina colada I says Yahtzee. You get 3 rolls on your turn, but the role objectives will vary game to game. And there's this grid of 4 by 4 cards laid out on the table that have various role objectives.

So two pair or three of a kind, four of a kind, a full house, a straight, you know, so and, and they're kind of a mixture. Some of them have specific numbers like you need 2 twos and two fours or all evens, all odds, you know. And so at its core, it's got so you're trying to hit those objectives. If you hit an objective, you get a place one of your player pieces on it.

And the player pieces are all various drink shaped glass like glasses that you would find, you know, a pina colada or a mojito or a beer. So why in Cosmopolitan Martini, those types of glasses, so like each player has a unique shaped glass that is their pieces that are their pieces whatever. And if you complete one of the objectives for the first time, you're going to place one of your glasses on it and you score the points for it immediately. Some of the objectives have

multiple spots to claim. Some only have one. And now the goal of the game is either to be the player with the highest amount of points when somebody has placed all of their all six of their glasses, or if you can manage to connect 4, essentially claim 4 objectives in a straight line, horizontal, vertical diagonal, you win the game immediately it's over. And so it just, it was an interesting challenge and I got real close and couldn't roll what I needed to get it.

But but it was really interesting because by the end of the game, you later rounds you're seeing, OK, well, they're getting close and I need to block them, but I also need to roll this objective over here so I have a chance. And so while its core is Yahtzee, there was a lot more strategy. It was just it was really, it was really enjoyable. So that one was fun.

I think the second the game that surprised us the most, and I'm speaking a little for Kyle here because sometimes he loves games like this and sometimes he doesn't. It's like Kyle is here on the pile. It's like he's here. Have you tried Beeno? No. Okay, so Beeno is it's been around longer than I thought it had and I've primarily seen it.

Ryan from one board family talks about it online a lot and runs tournaments in the Atlanta area for Beeno and he and his family are huge fans of it. Well, they had a booth there and the last day toward the end of the hall hours, we snuck over there because I was like, we need to go try this because I've heard it's a lot of fun. It's so take Crocodile and air hockey and put them into a flicking game.

So the board is a soccer field and you're flicking the ball trying to score a goal like air hockey. OK, but there's metal pegs that are set up in front of the goal, the net, and you've got to like flick it through and around them. And I mean, it's not, you know, it's not galactic cruise or AV Tel Lacerta game. But if you're a fan of of flicking games, dexterity games or you're a soccer fan, it's definitely one to check out.

Because it was just, I mean, we were laughing and we were having so much fun with it. And the really interesting thing is if you seeing the board online so many times, I just assumed the edge of it was, you know, like a hard plastic or a wood or something. Sure. But it's like a, an elastic band. So you can like play the edge and try to, you know, bounce it off the edge. OK.

So it's, it was a lot of fun. It was a really cool game and and I mean I figured it would be enjoyable to try, but we had way more fun with it than either of us expected. The game that we the first game we played in all of Origins. Not a new game by any means. We played bonsai. That game is so good that. Game is a lot of fun, So good. Like how did we not play this? Well, I know how we haven't played it. There's just so many games out there. Too many games, not enough time.

But bonsai was the game that we started or with playing it at four players. And it was just this, I was like, this puzzle is amazing and there's so many ways to score when you're building out your bonsai tree. And I love tile placement, so I'm in. Yeah, that game was, that game was really incredible. And I was glad that we got to play that. So. Yeah. And we played that at Games Library. We played that at. Tantrum.

Yeah. This past January, and I think, you know, we've played so many puzzly tile drafting, tile lane games like that, that after a while some of them all feel the same. But the cool thing about bonsai is there was like very little restrictions to how you created your bonsai, which number one thematically makes sense, but also it could look so stupid as long as you're having fun and

scoring points, right? Like there's it's just because I think mine was all like super like, you know, wonky looking. But excuse me, I think the game was great. My bonsai tree only grew this way like it didn't grow up or out. It was like, I'm going to the right. Yeah, that's funny. I don't know what to say about that. So what are the things I do enjoy about Origins? Now this. This vendor is a Gen. Con and other conventions, but it's Queen games.

OK. So Queen Games is the only vendor whose booth is not in the vendor hall. It's right outside the vendor hall. And it's brilliant because across from their booth or all the tables where they have their scheduled events, learn to plays and everything like that. And it's just amazing. And I'm a huge fan of Queen Games. In fact, we were reorganizing our shelves yesterday and we're like, I want all the Queen Games together. And so we managed. So how many Queen Games games

games do you have? You know, that is a really good question and I'm going to turn around for just one second. I have 9 queen games OK in my do. You OK? So I'm curious, this has been a hot button topic OK the past couple years in the hobby. Do you have any of the Steffenfeld City Collection games? I have one. You have one. Which one do you have? I have Marrakech. I love Marrakech. That's my favorite one that I've played.

Really good. Of that series, I know there's a lot of people that aren't the biggest fan of Queen games anymore because of a lot of major production issues and seeming lack of customer service care and follow up with those issues. And people have spent a lot of games on the Stephenfeld City Collection. Sorry, a lot of money on the Stephenfeld City Collection games and they've arrived with some major issues and the complaints and requests for replacements are often ignored

and not heard. Interesting. It's. Interesting. I'm indifferent on Queen games. I don't own any of their games, I've enjoyed most of the ones I've played. But it's interesting hearing how much you like them as a publisher and all of the drama that I've read and heard from people online. So. So I think. I didn't know if you had any experience within that. And. Seeing any of that yourself? My my experience with Queen games is very pleasant. Also, it's a long relationship.

OK. My wife when we were dating, right, And we just celebrated 16 years of marriage. Oh, happy anniversary. Yeah. That was back in April though, so. To be fair. Oh. Well, but yeah, happy. Belated anniversary so. She had queen games. She brought into the, you know, the marriage essentially. And so we've been playing. So I've been playing queen games since marriage 1617 if you count engagement and if you count dating. So for 18 years I've been playing Queen game.

They've been around for a while. A long time and so I just love their games and most of the games I have are old. You know, we picked up old London Bridge at the end of the weekend on Sunday. I haven't been. Super achieved, didn't they? They did, they did. And it's been around a while. It's been a game I've been eyeing for a long time, but I didn't really know a lot about

it and I'm like, check it out. I think Katie and I have played like 5 or 6 times its Origins because it's just such a good game and good at two players. So that's a real, that's a real bonus. Again, my only experience with the city collection is Marrakech. I haven't you. Didn't backing on Kickstarter did. You I did not know so because I think a. Lot of the gripes come with the deluxe editions. Sure.

And some of the stuff, yeah. And Kyle has gone in on a lot of those games and he's got some gripes. And I don't know, it's just interesting because they're still selling a ton of games at conventions, they're still running successful Kickstarters, and there's still people that really love their games, but there's a lot of people that are really angry right now. Well, I I that's interesting. I'm glad to hear that. So that's, you know, something

to consider. I'm really hoping to get Rachel from queen games or one of another team member to come on the show because they've got a really interesting story. I'm not going to say much about it, but I learned it origin just about some of their successes and survival skills through everything that's going on and just I was I'm like, I need y'all to come on the show because this is this is cool.

I think it's a great story worth telling because I hope, I hope that Rachel or one of her team is able to come on the show and talk about that, that. Would be great. So I was really excited about that and that was cool. Yeah, they had games. I played a new to me queen game. Oh yeah. At Origins, that was one of my favorite games that I played out of the library, OK. And that is the game that you've talked about and really enjoy.

And we even talked about it at Origins, and that is Daba Walla. That game was so much fun, and they had some killer deals on their games. And I'm kind of in this place where I'm trying to not buy a whole lot unless I know that we like it or it's kind of a guarantee.

They had it for $25, yeah, and I was so tempted to buy it, but somebody said that it's not the best at 2, and since my wife and I tend to do most of our gaming at two players, I decided not to buy it without her playing it. Sure. But I was tempted. But anyway, I really like Double Walla. That was one of my favorite games is that I played out of the library. We love Polyamino games. We have a ton, we play a ton.

And I just thought the flow of the game was so unique and how you're stacking the tiles and I don't know, it was really interesting and it really stood out. And I was shifting. To my, but I decided not to. Now you and Caitlyn have to come over and add Baba Walla to the. So there's three games that. We have to play. Here's the problem. Sure, if we come, we have children. I got room. You can come to us too. I already extended that invite.

I'll have our camper trailer set up and cooled off and ready. For you, you in fact did extend that invitation and. That's my ongoing offer with gaming friends. It's like, hey, we've got a camper in our driveway, you got somewhere to. Sleep, you know, so we've, when you stayed with me, we had the guest room in the basement. We've now moved everything upstairs. OK. So it's a lot easier on our guests and that that that creates that big room is now a

space. So if your kids aren't wanting a game and they don't want to sit in the room with mom and dad playing board games, there's a whole room they can hang out and just do stuff. So we reconfigured the way our guests experience at the OOB hostel. Hostel, yeah. That's great. Well you know Springfield IL is not a destination, but by God I'm trying to make it 1. Hey, it was a destination for me

last spring. Well, it's a great you're going somewhere, it's a stop point, you know, it's a waste. It made it. It made it great. I was like, hey, what are you doing this night? I'm driving through. You want to hang out? I will feed you and play games with you. That is what I will do. That's true. And have a good. Conversation. Absolutely. So, so yeah. So is there anything else about Origins that you want to share?

I don't know. I'm still trying to parse my thoughts of OK, I definitely think everybody should go to Origins absolutely at least one time. Yes, to experience it because like you said, it's such an interesting middle ground between we usually try to go to BG Spring and hopefully BG Fall usually every year because it's three, 3 1/2 hours from us. Their shining star is the board game geek library, which is just insanely massive. I mean, I think, and I'll say Origins had a really big

library. BGS is like twice that size. Sure, it's just massive. And so, you know, that con is all about check them out, play them, check them out, play them. You know, how many games can you get in a weekend? Yes, the convention in Oklahoma City token Con is similar. They don't have, I mean, it's it's a good sized library for a small local 3 day convention. And they're always changing it

out every. That's the interesting thing with them is it's different every year that they don't just keep adding to it. Yeah, they'll take some games out, put some new ones in. They've always got good hot games, but there's a small vendor hall there as well. But it's you check games out and you play them like that's the goal of that convention. I love it. And then you've got and then you've got Gen. Con. I think that's geek way too. Primarily, yes. It's a library and it's a

library. Win, but it's play to win, yeah. Yeah, play to wins is their thing, which is, I mean, it's a similar idea, right? You check out a game, you play it, you just hope you get to take a copy home you. Got it buddy. And but then you've got Gen. Con that while there is open gaming space available, there is the library and Lucas Oil, but you have to pay for it, which. Yeah. I have mixed feelings on that. Whatever it is, what it is, they've got to pay to be able to

use the space. Yes, it's not cheap and but you go to Gen. Con for the vendor hall, right? Like that's that's why people go there's game releases, it's the vendor hall. Same thing from what I understand, Essen, it is a shopping trip. And so Origins is right there in between where it's got a great presence for both. And again, I know I started with my negatives saying that there were some publishers I wish had been there. There were still there were still plenty of publishers to see there.

I mean you could have demoed games all day every. Day. All day. Still probably not demoed every game that was in the hall. Yep. Absolutely. So don't, don't mishear me there. It still was a great vendor hall. It just, I think I was expecting a little bit more than it was. So that's, that's fair. That's. Fair. So but then it had a good sized library and it had open gaming and I loved that they were right

there next to each other. And so while I don't know that Origins is going to be in every year for me, partially just because of the time of year, the distance, I mean, Indianapolis is hard to get to as it is. And then Origins two extra hours. Right, right. It's definitely one that I would like to go back to and it's one that I recommend everybody try at least once because it hits that sweet spot really well. And I think my favorite thing just convention wise is I'll never forget.

I think it was the Saturday of Gen. Con and Caitlyn and I were walking and I turned around to look at something and I turned back and she's gone. Because there's just, I mean, you're, you're here, right? And you're packed in. You're shoulder to shoulder even at its busiest. Origins was. Not Origins was not like that. And while I don't mind that briefly at Gen. Con because it's like there and you can still get out of it easily.

And when we worked last time, and this time we're working the morning shift so we don't have to fight the running of the nerds, as they call it. Right. That, I think that was the thing for me with Origins, is it hit that sweet spot well. It never felt overwhelming. It never felt daunting. Agreed. And it was just so if, and that was a lot of people in that post that I mentioned that Gen. Con was just too big and too

much for them. And Origins gave them a similar exhibitor hall, but less people, less overwhelming. And so if you struggle with social anxiety, you're Uber introverted and you want to get that feel, Origins is, is one that I recommend going to because you're going to get a lot of the big name. Publishers. You're gonna get a good gaming library and a chance to play games, but you're not gonna be packed in like sardines at the peak hall hours it is. It's less crowded and less

intense and but it's also. 60,000 less people. So I mean it makes it's. True, it's true, but I, I would, I would agree with that assessment completely. Yeah, I think Origins hits the sweet spot. It's perfect. It's a great way to kind of work your way in and experience Columbus as well because it's a great city. So yeah. So Chris, thank you so much for sharing all of your experiences and observation. I'm glad we got to hang out. I'm glad we got to play games at Origins.

Absolutely. Good to see you again. Guys. Remember to like and subscribe. We are at 78 subscribers. We're trying to get to 100 by October. So help me get there. I'm not sure. Next, next week, episode 130 with Paul Solomon. We've got a few more things coming up before Jen kind of Chris is going to come back. You're going to come back and we're going to talk about Gen. com. We're gonna we'll do our comparison and that'll be great. So thank you once again.

And guys remember, be kind to each other and play more games.