I wrote this a few years ago on my LJ when I got really pissed off at a convention I attended.  This started me off in the rocky path of being a convention reviewer.  I wanted change and I knew that unless people discuss it then it would not happen.  It stirred up a hornet's nest and it prompted 80 comments on my LJ.  I hope the following comes up as a good read. 


Last Sunday, I went to the GX-Con, the first console gaming convention in the country.  The event was organized by GamEX Magazine, from what I gathered is a console gaming magazine.  They were to have game demos for the next generation consoles like Nintendo Wii, Microsoft XBOX 360, and Sony Playstation3.  They also advertised a gaming tournament and cosplay only from their approved list of games.  I was rather excited to go because I was expecting something different.

Anyway, I was there early at around 10 am.  I was alone as everyone I knew who were coming were late.  Good thing I met a friend of mine on the way in.  When we got in, someone gave us this small piece of paper with instructions on how to play the games.  I didn't quite understand the instructions at first as there wasn't any signs to point you in the right direction.

The convention space was small.  In fact, my friend and I circled the place three times in like 30 minutes looking at everything that was available. I cannot begin to emphasize at how small the place was and how little there was too see.  That alone was disappointing. What we found rather odd was that we weren't actually able to identify where the gaming demos were.  I mean if you were just wondering around, you won't notice it unless you were actually looking for them.  Like I said, NO SIGNS.

After the craze brought about by the full scale Gundam RX-78-2 that was built in Odaiba, the city of Kobe follows suit with another full scale robot.  Construction has began to build an 18-foot statue of the robot Tetsujin 28.

Tetsujin 28 was a popular manga back in 1956 and was the first to feature a giant robot.  Since then, the series has gained a cult following ever since has spawned numerous anime series and live action films.  Now Kobe plans to immortalize the series by erecting a monument of the popular giant robot.

According to AnimeNewsNetwork, "The Kobe Tetsujin Project's statue is intended as a symbol of the city's revival after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. It is being build in Nagata Ward, the city's hardest hit neighborhood which has since been rebuilt and revitalized. The statue also celebrates the life of one of Kobe's most well-known native sons, as Yokoyama not only created the Tetsujin 28 manga and anime, but also Giant Robo and Sally the Witch."

The project is reported to cost 1.4 million USD.   Parts of Tetsujin 28 is already being sent to Kobe's Wakamatsu Park where the statue will be erected.  They plan to finish construction by September and open the statue to the public by October 4. 

 

I finally got to watch Transformers last Saturday.  I watched it at Gateway with a friend of mine.  I was trying to get some IMAX tickets but unfortunately it has been completely sold out.  Expected as much, considering all the hype for the movie.  Even the cinema house in Gateway was full of people.  I was checking the timeslots for Transformers when I realized all of the cinemas were just showing Transformers that day.  I was standing in line for about an hour before I actually got to buy some tickets.  In hindsight, I should have really reserved tickets before I got to Gateway.

I have been waiting for this sequel since the first movie came out.  When the first Transformers movie came out, I didn't really have high expectations, I just wanted to see it to relive my childhood.  But after the success of the first movie, I got really excited to see the sequel. 

The movie starts off with a brief history of the Transformers and the villain of this movie, known as The Fallen.  We are then catapulted to present day where we are introduced to what has happened in the 2 year gap between the first movie and the sequel.   We are immediately introduced to the new members of the Autobot team, including Arcee, the twins - Mudflap and Skids, and Sideswipe.  Sideswipe is my favorite in this one.  With Jazz being killed in the first movie, a replacement was needed and Sideswipe filled in the role quite well.  And even though he only spoke a few lines, he was really awesome.  I have to say though,  Bumblebee is as adorable as ever and seems to have taken a big brother role when the twins are around.

The 8th Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention (TOYCON) was held at Megamall Megatrade Hall 2 & 3 last June 13 and 14, 2009.  There has been a lot of buzz for this convention even back in early May.  I personally was looking forward to the event because of the exhibits and the collectibles that would be available for me to see. 

As early as 10 AM, Saturday, a line was already amassing in front of Megatrade.  In fact, the line got so long that it reached the bridge area and then back to the other side of the atrium.  With the recent marketing strategy of Toycon and the infamous irenecullen multiply blog (which by the way I still suspect is connected with an organizer of Toycon), it wasn't much of a surprise at the amount of attendees.  The cosplayers haven't even arrived yet and the crowd was swelling.  Entrance to the event was PhP 100.00 per day.  I did hear that they sold out on the tickets that they had to sell day 2 tickets for day 1.  Though one way the could have avoided this is by preselling the tickets, which I understand was not done (correct me if I'm wrong).

Posing for pictures have long been a tradition among Asians.  It is not enough to just have a picture taken but one must strike a pose to capture one's attention in the photo.  For Asians, it is almost like an art form and this could be no farther from the truth for cosplayers as well.

So it came as no surprise when I stumbled upon the website, Asianposes.com. The site offers the most popular and commonly used poses by Asians, specifically Asian women.  From the most common V-sign to the cat claws, this site has a pose for everyone that you are sure to try and enjoy.  The site currently lists down 25 of the most popular poses used today and is regularly updated with new content.  It comes with lots and lots of reference pictures and a description on how to do the poses.  There are even case studies of female Asian celebrities and the poses that they do.  Some cosplayers here are even starting to use these poses. It's even becoming popular with the guys.

So if you're new or old in the cosplay community, or someone who wants to get a some good fun out of the poses, then this site will definitely deliver.  XD

And here is our very own Sarze, indulging us with his rendition of Aisan Poses.