The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

trade association A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific Industry (economics), industry. An industry tra ...

based in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...

, dedicated to the advancement of the non-electronic social

game A game is a structured form of play (activity), play, usually undertaken for enjoyment, entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator s ...

industry Industry may refer to: Economics * Industry (economics), a generally categorized branch of economic activity * Industry (manufacturing), a specific branch of economic activity, typically in factories with machinery * The wider industrial sector ...

– Board/Tabletop Games, Miniatures Games, Card Games, Collectable/Tradeable Card Games, Role-Playing Games, and Live-Action Role Playing Games. Its members are game manufacturers, retailers, distributors, suppliers, conventions, clubs, and independent professionals related to the games industry. The association was formed in 1977 to protect the interests of the

Origins Game Fair Origins Game Fair is an annual gaming convention that was first held in 1975. Since 1996, it has been held in Columbus, Ohio at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Origins is run by The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Origins was cha ...

, and was incorporated as a non-profit venture in 1982. GAMA organizes two shows each year, the GAMA Trade Show (GTS) in

Reno, Nevada Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is the ...

– a professional trade show aimed at game retailers, and the

– a 15,000 person consumer show that is aimed at the game-playing public. GAMA has a number of programs designed to advance hobby games as a business. The Games in Education program strives to teach educators how they can use games in their curricula. The retailer mentoring program is aimed at helping new game stores become successful businesses. The Industry Watch Committee helps stores and publishers deal with negative press about games. In all they do, they endeavor to strengthen the business of publishing and selling games. In 2006 GAMA began the Games to Troops program, working with the

MWR MWR may refer to: * Michael Waltrip Racing, a NASCAR racing team * ''Monthly Weather Review'', an American Meteorological Society journal * Morale, Welfare and Recreation, an American military support network * Museum of World Religions, a museum i ...

offices of all four US military service branches to establish a permanent games library at every MWR station on the US front lines. The social games industry has since sent over a quarter of a million dollars in games to the US troops through this program.

External links

* http://www.gama.org/ * http://www.originsgamefair.com/ {{Wargames Non-profit organizations based in Ohio Game manufacturers 1977 establishments in Ohio Economy of Columbus, Ohio Organizations established in 1977