by Rob Balder
Origins Game Fair
June 22–26, 2011
Columbus, Ohio
http://originsgamefair.com/
This was my second Origins, and although it was a working con for me and I rarely left the Exhibitor Hall, I still got the impression that the event was kind of hollow.
Attendance was almost certainly down from my previous visit a couple of years ago (total attendance was 11,502, actually up from recent years–ed.), and the fact that they were not filling the spaces this time seemed impossible to ignore. The spirit of the event, though, seemed unbroken. The gamers were having a good time, the events were run well, and I have nothing but good things to say about the organization and execution of this con.
Impression: Maybe an off year? Still plan to return in 2012.
