Historical Miniatures Gaming Society accepting award entries

Bel Air, MD (April 8, 2009) -- The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society East invites entries into the First Annual HMGS Historicon Awards, which recognize excellence in the historical gaming industry. The HMGS is a non-profit educational organization that promotes the study of military history through historical miniatures gaming, seminars, grants, and conventions.

“We are very excited to announce this new awards program to honor the best products and publications released last year,” says Pete Panzeri, president of HMGS. “The Historicon awards are just one of our initiatives that encourage both young and old to learn about military history.”

All historical gaming industry products released in 2008 are eligible to apply for the Historicon Awards. The categories include Historical Miniatures Figure Line of the Year, Vehicle Line of the Year, Terrain Line of the Year, Game of the Year, Game Expansion of the Year, and Gaming Reference Publication of the Year. A special “Advanced Guard Award” will be presented to significant, unique or innovative products. Entrants must submit an entry form and five samples prior to May 1, 2009. There is no charge to enter.

The awards will be presented at the 25th annual Historicon 2009 conference to be held July 16 – 19, 2009 at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center in Lancaster, Pa. Historicon is the largest historical miniatures gaming convention in the United States. Each year, thousands of avid gamers descend on what the New York Times has described as the "mother of all war gaming conventions." The event features thousands of attendees (adults and children), hundreds and hundreds of games, the world's biggest war game hobby shop, painting events, and a special awards celebration.

HMGS also sponsors the HMGS East Legion of Honor, in which members are chosen for their distinguished service to the hobby. The Society’s Jack Scruby Award is a lifetime achievement award for distinguished service to the hobby of historical miniatures gaming, awarded every other year. The winners become Life Members of HMGS and serve as a source of inspiration and achievement to which all miniature hobbyists might aspire. Other HMGS events include the annual “Fall In” convention to be held Nov. 6 – 9, 2009 in Gettysburg, Pa.; “Cold Wars”, to be held March 11 – 14, 2010 in Lancaster, Pa., and “Historicon 2010” to be held in Baltimore, Md. next July.

For more information on the Historicon Awards 2009 or the Historical Conference, visit www.HMGS.org or email Awards@hmgs.org.