Fair organizer Mary Couzin says attendees will see "all types of games from all over the world" at ChiTAG's new location, Schaumburg Convention Center and Renaissance Hotel (about 30 miles northwest of Chicago). Fair attendees can play and buy the games being shown by the more than 100 exhibitors at ChiTAG 2006.
Couzin answered a few questions about ChiTAG for us.
Please tell us a little about the Chicago Toy and Game Fair: What is ChiTAG, who should consider attending, and what will they see?
The Chicago International Toy and Game Fair is targeting mainstream America, trying to "turn them on" to games, games they never knew existed. Many people come up to me at the Fair and are very excited to have either discovered or rediscovered the love of playing games. They had no idea so many different games existed.
That being said, game lovers will see new games from independents, European-style games from companies like Rio Grande Games and games from companies overseas, even the other side of the world.
A project we are very excited about is a project partnering with schools, the Young Inventor Challenge. Ed Hall, inventor of Word Ace, runner up on ABC's American Inventor and former teacher and coach, is working with us on this project. We want to get kids pumped up and interested in inventing and playing games. The winning entry from each school is being exhibited at ChiTAG, with the attendees voting on their favorite toy or game.
As we're tying to appeal to families, we also have toys and books as well as stage entertainment like Radio Disney, Ronald McDonald, wacky marketing mobiles, games shows, characters walking around, and much more.
Why did you start ChiTAG?
I started ChiTAG after attending Essen in 2001. (Note: Essen is a large game fair held in Essen, Germany, each fall. Like ChiTAG, it's targeted to the general public.) I was astounded at the popularity of that fair. Kids were all over the halls, playing in the aisles. We didn't have anything like that in the States. We had hobby fairs, but they didn't target mainstream America. That's what ChiTAG is all about.
I believe in play. I read a terrific article written by Richard Tait, co-founder of Cranium, recently. He wrote "Play is a basic need, just like air, water and the five food groups." I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but there are countless benefits: mentally, physically and socially.
There was a recent study by the American Sociological Review showing that people have fewer friends today than 20 years ago. In 1985, people said they had three close friends and today only two. One in four people now say they have no one to discuss important matters with. In times of crisis like Hurricane Katrina, people have nowhere to turn.
We need to reverse the trend. Getting people to play games, and thus interact more and develop bonds with one another, can benefit society as a whole.
How many exhibitors do you expect to have this year?
We expect over 100 exhibitors and sponsors again. I know your readers love Rio Grande Games, and they're the first and biggest booth you see when you walk into the Fair.
From overseas we have Australian Mind Games representing a number of fellow Aussies, Belgium's Lauwers Games, Barakel Howells from the West Indies, and a few others on the verge of committing. We have some coming from Canada, such as Corinthian Games and YNU Group.
From the U.S., we have companies like Rio Grande Games, Looney Labs, HL Games, Chuckle Games, G5 Productions, J-Way, Aeromax, Nertz, Monkeying Around, M-Incredibles, Spazzmania Entertainment, Flippin Chip Games, The TaktixGame Company, Funmaker Games and many, many more.
DiscoverGames.com, representing 35 independent companies, will also be there. Where I go, DiscoverGames goes.
Why did ChiTAG move to Schaumburg from the Navy Pier?
We need to be a destination, not one of many attractions at a hot tourist spot like Navy Pier. Parking in Schaumburg will be free or $8 a day. There's an attached hotel. No long walks. Half our traffic was coming from the suburbs. We know we'll pull even more in without the hassle of going downtown.
Schaumburg is within a six-hour drive for 18 percent of the U.S. population, or 46 million people. A free trolley service goes around Schaumburg, and there are bus tours that come in from Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio daily -- a vibrant corridor to say the least.
The attached Renaissance Hotel, with a special rate we negotiated, is also a plus.
What else should potential attendees know?
Our exhibitors need their support. We want to grow the game industry and would love to see them at ChiTAG! Non-game players witnessing the enthusiasm game players have will be infected with the love of play.
