Gamers, Anime and Cosplayers. Oh My!

Gencon 2008, didn't know it was on until my friend told me. I thought why not, should be fun, and it was.

This is my second experience with a convention, first being supernova 2006 (really really dodgy imo, but I did go on the last day and most of the merchandise were sold out and was mainly sci-fi stuff on display... boo).

Me and my friend walked around checked out some of the booths, we didn't end up buying anything, as most things were a bit overpriced compared to if we import it and the variety was a tad lacking. Ah well, after a couple of loops around I headed towards the consoles and test my skills against other players in Brawl. Compared to my friends I thought I was a hardcore gamer, boy I was wrong, was talking to one of the players told me he didn't sleep because he was finishing Smash Brothers, then came today. Wow that much dedication, playing that many hours straight without sleep, I couldn't do it zzz...

Although he talked a lot of smack I kicked his ass with Ike, Kirby, Pokemon Trainer and Marth. I lost to a round with my friend though, was using Peach and I didn't know what her final smash did, got it didn't realise drops food items and makes them fall asleep (I stupidly attacked them) resulting in many deaths. Anyway after that gaming interruption we walked around a bit and stumbled into karaoke event.

Seemed a lot of the cosplayers were hanging around at the time. A lot of mistakes, a lot of murmuring, a lot of off-tone, a lot of voice cracking but everyone seemed to be having a good time singing to the lyrics, reminiscing the animes that people were singing to. Could really see that people were otaku (not many of my friends are otaku, usually have to dial it down otherwise get weird looks and the expression of not understanding a word I'm saying... zzz). Anyway my friend went with a Bleach song D-Technolife the second opening, I think he went with that, ah well he can correct me later. Seeing as he had the courage to sing in public I gathered all my courage and with my anxiety dissapating I went with the One Piece song 'We Are!', I tried to do it in the 7-Straw Hats Pirate versions voice, I forgot who did what verse in it, and I ended up singing either Zoro, Sanji, or Usopp's voice, when we got to the chorus (where all the pirates begin to sing), I reverted back to regular voice (i.e. tried to do Japanese emphasis but epicly phailed -.-'').

With that I took a small break, a couple of the cosplayers sung a few new songs (if any of them are reading this send me an email/comment and I will put song name where its from and who sung it specifically) and my friend went and did another Bleach song Life is Like a Boat. I decided to do one of my favourite songs, girly it may be but enjoyable to sing nontheless, Chobits - Let Me Be with you. I was doing a lot better in singing this, but I screwed up one of the long "ni"s and my voice cracked a couple of times, *shakes fist in rage* stupid high notes.

Then the cosplayers had to go for a photo shoot so my friend and I hung out with the karaoke DJ. She's pretty nice, we had a long discussion about anime, the convention, music, I even got to throw in a few new ideas they might include next time, sorry to all the anime otakus, it was mainly gaming ideas. After the photoshoot some of the cosplayers came back, and new faces showed up. They sung a few songs and I joined in for a triplet with a guy cosplaying as Urahara and his friend who wasn't cosplaying at all. We sang Soramimi Cake from Azumanga, the girl was laughing way too much, she stuffed most of the lyrics, the guy was trying to keep up, he did most of the time, and then the extended part kicked in and they were both like ZOMG!?! there is an extended edition of the song. But unfortunately I didn't get to see the attempt because the karaoke event was ending soon and they had to cut most of the extensions of the song. I then asked the DJ any song you would like me to try and sing for you? She wanted to see if anyone could attempt abenobashi Trick or Treat Goblins, I said sure why not I'll give it a whirl. Bzz died just barely made it to the halfway mark. One last song and then it was finally over. A second session was later in the afternoon but too late for me, or rather couldn't be stuffed waiting ^^;.

Afterwards had lunch, walked around for a bit and we went to go see the cosplay competition. The competition is split into two groups, groups (2+ people) and single (1 person). Whoever won would get $100 madman gift voucher, and whoever was runnerup I think it was $50 or $25 voucher but I figured gift voucher is not worth amount of time and effort and money these cosplayers put in, I think if all participants received the runnerup prize, second would get $100 madman gift voucer, and first would be much grander. But meh what do I know, just and 18 year old kid ^^;;.

Ok well the singles were a girl dressing as non-Timeskipped Kiba Inuzuka with a dog toy representing Akumaru she also joined at the first karaoke event, the angel warrior Pitt which when I first saw him, I thought he was a chick (sorry dude ^.^;), someone dressed as the Monopoly guy, another cosplayer I think they said was the nemesis of the Di gi Charat characters (can't remember the name) she had batwings and yellow hair (anyone or do I have to google it?), and this other girl dressed up as a theme I think, can't remember what it was but it was multicoloured, fluro colours everywhere @_@, season 3 Sailor Moon, Misty from Pokemon, Konata from Lucky Star, Grimmjaw from Bleach and Urohara from Bleach he came and sung after the photoshoot, thats all I can remember from the singles.

(The Monopoly Guy)

The groups consisted of Mia and Maya Fey from Phoenix Wright they sung quite a few songs as the karaoke event, Time-skipped Sasuke with the Fourth Hokage (cosplayed with a female), I know that the Fourth Hokage karaoked, there was a guitar hero group, it consisted of 3 people Judy Nails, Casey Lynch and Pandora (a guy cosplayed her), the resident evil girls consisting of Ada Wong (Resident Evil 4), Claire (Code Veronica), and Jill (from the movie) these girls also karoaked and a Death Note group consisting of 3 girls dressing up as Light (I thought this girl dressed up as Detective Gumshoe >.<), Meryl(?) and Misa.

(The Resident Evil Girls : Claire, Jill and Ada)

The Winners

Single event : Pitt (looked like he really deserve to win, his weapons and everything were top notch)

Group event : The Fey Sisters because I saw them karaoking, plus phoenix wright is an awesome series that must be played at any cost, I hoped they win.

(Phoenix Wright : The Fey Sisters)

The Runner-ups

Single event : The digicharat Nemesis, that one looked pretty good, and compared to the other costumes probably more expensive and more complex (more materials maybe?)

Group event : The Guitar Hero group, saw them a couple of times but I thought the one posing as Judy Nails was suppose to be midori, ah well.

(Guitar Hero II : Pandora, Casey and Judy)

Well that draws to the end of my day at Gencon, was really fun, hope those who went and karaoked with me could stand my singing ^^;. I might cosplay next time, but first gotta learn it, also after I get some of my work done and stop playing games and watching anime. @_@

Cosplayers I saw dunno some of their names but I sort of know what series they are from (other than the ones from the competition:

2x Cloud from FF7 AC (one looked awesome but his hair was down, another looked really dodge but it's a kid so I gave leniency).

Himura Kenshin (a worker) was going to ask do you know any of his sword techniques but chickened at the last second.

The male scientist from Code Geass (the one with the purple hair).

Random sword girl (could be from Valkyrie Profile 2 but unsure). Last one I can remember (because I want to go to bed 2am!! >.<)

- Might've been a employee/volunteer but I think she cosplay as the gun girl in Full Metal Alchemist, not 100% sure. Anyway hope you enjoyed this rant, nighty night.