The pre-reg book lists all the events that have been schedule for the con, plus the first look at special guests, celebrities and speakers. Last year, the big celeb appearance was Billy Boyd, who later bailed and was replaced with Sean Astin. This year, the biggest non-gaming industry name is "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan so I don't think they've lined up a valid celebrity guest yet. Sorry, Hacksaw. And of course, I fully expect the entire supporting cast from Babylon 5 and Stargate to show up again, as they do every year.

This is one of the best designed pre-reg books I've seen in a while, although the bar for that doesn't usually ride too high. Recently, they insisted on printing highly detailed and colorful cover art that obscured every other bit of text... so this year's more sensible and restrained layout is better. Plus, you can read the event listings without going blind this time, which is another bonus.

We're still committed to going this year, even though we need to stay flexible should the big baby announcement overtake the timetable. So, assuming we're attending, I've been leafing through the pre-reg book marking the stuff I want to do.

There's a handful of name brand games I want to demo, if they're available for demoing... Teen Titans card game, Case Closed card game, Inuyasha card game. Inuyasha is already in stores, so I could pick up a starter of that one, but nothing beats a good, solid game demo. Give me a good demo and I'm halfway to purchasing. Titans is also supposed to be in stores in advance of the con. Case Closed is actually making its world debut at Origins, and they have a good sized demo event already on the books... unfortunately it's scheduled concurrently with this year's Doomtown World Championships, so hopefully they'll be doing informal demos in the Vendor Hall as well.

That's really what I like anyway, the Vendor Hall. I try to stay away from booking gaming events that cover up too much Vendor Hall time. In fact, I whined to the Doomtown people about Worlds eating up most of one day (roughly noon to five, plus finals), and they moved it to an evening event. Which makes me feel like an ass, but there you go.

I may do an Early American Chrononauts tourney... just because it's new (debuted at last year's Origins) and because I'm listed in the rulebook credits. Have I blogged that yet? I should whip up an entry on that.

I would love to do a Pokemon Sealed Deck event, but they're all so damn long. 4-5 hours of Swiss rounds, ugh. That's what tires me out on the Doomtown World Championship, but then again constructed deck Doomtown is much more cerebral than sealed deck Pokemon. Sealed deck games are more fun for the pure crap value than anything else anyway... here's your terrible deck, try and win against other similarly terrible decks.

Thinking back to what I liked/demoed last year, I didn't get a lot of hits out of it. I bought some Spycraft and have yet to play it, even though I like what little I know of it... I blame an awful demo and a confusing rulebook. WizKids' Pirates of the Spanish Main has lots of great cutout 3D pirate ships, but I haven't touched it either. Even poor Marvel/DC Vs. hasn't been played more than a handful of times, despite me buying a TON of it and me being absolutely desperate to like it.

In short, nothing last year was as big a hit as the Chrononauts, Battle of the Bands, or Lord of the Rings board game of years past. Case Closed, I'm expecting big things from you.