GAMA's Communications Manager Declares Organization 'Broken'

As reported by ICv2, the Marketing and Communications manager of the Game Manufacturer's Association--a US-based trade organization for the hobby games industry--has resigned her position and described GAMA as "deeply siloed and in many ways, broken."

Formed in 1977, GAMA runs the Origins Game Fair every year, one of the larger tabletop gaming conventions, as well as the industry trade show GAMA EXPO. Additionally, the organization presents the annual Origins Awards for tabletop gaming. The organization provides business support and industry-focused educational programs and includes publishers, retailers, distributors, freelancers, and more in its members.

Amy Lowe joined GAMA in October 2024. In her resignation letter, she made a range of allegations about the organization:

But here's the honest truth: GAMA is deeply siloed and, in many ways, broken.

• Toxic leadership.
• Rampant gatekeeping.
• Insecurity masquerading as control.
• Disrespect toward other staff and members.

I witnessed staff roll their eyes at members, members who literally fund the organization. I saw internal dynamics that were petty, power-hungry, and counterproductive. Then came a restructuring that had me reporting to someone who openly disrespected colleagues and talked s#!% about members.

I've worked in high-stakes environments. I've managed massive campaigns. I've dealt with complex teams. But I refuse to stay in a place that values ego over impact. So, I resigned, two days into the restructure.

When they reached out, ICv2 received a response from John Stacy, Executive Director of GAMA:

Over the past eight months GAMA has nearly doubled its staff to accommodate for our growing association. We now represent almost 1,700 tabletop game companies in three dozen countries. As part of this growth we have taken a hard look at how our staff was organized and made adjustments to better align with our ten year strategic plan for GAMA to be the epicenter of the tabletop industry. While I disagree with her categorization of our staff, we appreciate the brief time she was with us and wish her well in her future adventures.

 

[TrainedMunkee]

Origins is our go-to "large" con now that GenCon has ballooned to a size and cost I can't handle. Additionally, the tradeshow is held in my state now and generates valuable income in my region. I hope GAMA improves what it needs.

Unfortunately, I am in the same situation. I lived within walking distance of the Columbus Convention Center until recently. I will still do GenCon, but Origins is out for my family until they improve their culture. I let my dollars do my speaking for me the majority of the time. There are other cons that I will support in Cbus.

 

[Anon Adderlan]

Aaand they still have Matt Fantastic listed as a director. You know, the dude who sought out a specific individual with the intent to physically harm them at a bar during GenCon and then did so. So none of this surprises me.

Sadly this industry is as petty as they come, and GAMA acts as a gatekeeper regarding those involved in the field. The best I hope for is that they fade away into irrelevance, but I've seen how long dysfunctional organizations can remain solvent as long as the money keeps flowing in.

 

[Umbran]

Sadly this industry is as petty as they come, and GAMA acts as a gatekeeper regarding those involved in the field.

So, I do not argue that GAMA is run by good people, but this gatekeeping statement seems a bit strong compared to my experience with them.

Like, back before the Affordable Care Act, people who didn't work for big companies had a lot of issues getting health insurance. I went to a local larp convention, and another attendee also happened to be a GAMA rep.

I don't know about now, but at the time, GAMA offered health insurance. It wasn't great insurance, but it was something. As I recall it, she was more than willing to accept membership applications from anyone on con staff - like myself, who at the time regularly did a shifts in con security or ops to help out - I think as what they now call "a Media and Events" member, if we were hard up to get health insurance.

I don't see as the barriers to being a voting GAMA member are all that high that they are effective at keeping people out of the industry.

 

[Anon Adderlan]

Any large institution which controls a significant part of the industry by definition is a gatekeeper. And it's good to hear they cared enough about their members to provide health insurance. However how long ago was all this? Because the industry and this institution have changed significantly, which is ultimately the point, and ideological motives are far more common these days.