Conventions 2008!

[LadyRushia]

It's in Baltimore City at the convention center.

[Dante]

I've actually always wondered... why do people go to anime conventions, or any conventions for that matter... they all seem to only consist of vast sets of booths containing items for sale at extremely marked up prices... and... given the lack of funding most otakus have... well... why purchase anything at one of these things? Why attend at all? Just semi-curious because I never got it .

-Pascal

[LadyRushia]

I think the big reasons are cosplaying, meeting up with online friends, and being around people who completely understand your nerdy otakuness. That said, Otakon would be my first convention (yay!), so hopefully I'll have a good time.

[Peanut]

I've actually always wondered... why do people go to anime conventions, or any conventions for that matter... they all seem to only consist of vast sets of booths containing items for sale at extremely marked up prices... and... given the lack of funding most otakus have... well... why purchase anything at one of these things? Why attend at all? Just semi-curious because I never got it .

-Pascal

Vendors actually aren't a significant part of the convention. Otakon always shows episodes from several anime series on big screens, has video game tournaments, it has voice actors come and speak/sign autographs...it's actually a lot of fun. If your wondering why I went last year...well...it was a chance to hang out with my friends for what seemed like the last time until I returned for the summer. This year however I'm going because last year was awesome and I just want to go again...

[rii namuras]

Along with Otakon, I shall also probably hit up Metrocon this year to hang with my Florida buddies.

As for Otakon, I will eventually ask for the phone numbers of everyone that I have currently not gotten numbers from.

[color="Red"](Metrocon's a good con, you should go if you can. And do not miss the Human Chess Match - it was amazing last year.)[/color]

[tokiklok]

I'll be going to the Baltimore comic con in September as toph from avatar

[Seppuku]

so this is my first reply in like ...... ohhh 7 months XDDDDDDDD

(starting to fall out of anime)*thinks its become annoyingly popular (lol))
(*knows its a bad reason not to like something*)

ya *ehum*(missed u all) I will be attending Baltimore Comic con~!!! bothdays as Sokka from Avatar! tokiklok will be toph. Wooo! if anyone else is gonna be at Baltimore Comic con hit me up hueandkry@gmail.com

^-~ peace!

[kirakira]

I just attended Anime St. Louis this past weekend where I tore it up dressed as Reno. *laughs* I hope to attend ACen, but we'll see.

[AsianBlossom]

[color="Red"](Metrocon's a good con, you should go if you can. And do not miss the Human Chess Match - it was amazing last year.)[/color]

Ooh, I know that...I was watching the footage from last year on YouTube...and let's just say that I'm curious as to how it ends.

[Slytherine]

Jeez I can wait til Otakon. But I really need to pre-register. I'm procrastinating.
Gosh, I need a job!:bang:


~Slytherine
[I just noticed the smilies! They're SO amazing! ]

[LadyRushia]

Do not overuse them lest they rebel against you!

Yeah, Otakon's gonna be awesome. I need to pre-register, too.

[Slytherine]

Do not overuse them lest they rebel against you!

But they are just filled with the uber-amazing-ness! How can I possibly not use them constantly?!:dance: GAH!

Ok, I'm done. For now...

*-*-*

Dude...Otakon is going to be sooo sweet. It's gonna be like...the highlight of my summer. Unlike some people *cough*Rushia*cough* I don't get to go away to an amazingly pretty college next year. >.<

~Slytherine

[TalKeaton]

I had to not go to Anime Boston due to it being at the same time as Easter (see, my priorities are in check...)

I haven't checked to see if there will be any within my range in Florida this summer, if not then the next con I'll be hitting will be BakuCon in Burlington next fall.

[Slytherine]

...if not then the next con I'll be hitting will be BakuCon in Burlington next fall.

I heard BakuCon was pretty sweet. Unfortunately, that's all I heard, lol. Where is it held? Just wondering.

~Slytherine

[LadyRushia]

Dude...Otakon is going to be sooo sweet. It's gonna be like...the highlight of my summer. Unlike some people *cough*Rushia*cough* I don't get to go away to an amazingly pretty college next year. >.<

Forgive me for moving on with my life, hahaha.

[TalKeaton]

It's usually at the Hampton Inn in Colchester (a sub-part of Burlington). It was pretty sweet last year, I was only there for Saturday (I live within 5 or 6 miles of it), and except for the extreme crowdedness and one 'incident' with the hot tub I think it went well.

(I knew two people on staff, and they enlisted me to help with a few things that day too, so I didn't get to see as much as hoped.)

[Slytherine]

Thanks a bunch TalKeaton!

Forgive me for moving on with my life, hahaha.

*bursts into tears and runs off* Rushia is abandoning Kittie!

~Slytherine

[TalKeaton]

Hey, life has to come before anime. Priorities, priorities!

(Tal says this as he watches Gurren Laggan and ignores his homework)

[LadyRushia]

Fear not, Slytherine, soon you'll be doing the same.

[Slytherine]

Yeah, I know, but not soon enough! I might be a senior next year, but all the cool people are leaving THIS year! GRRR-ness!:mutter:


~Slytherine

[TalKeaton]

Ahh, the fun starts at college anyway.

Being in a Game Design major, most of the people I know are into anime, which is fairly convenient in a lot of ways.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Yeah, I know, but not soon enough! I might be a senior next year, but all the cool people are leaving THIS year! GRRR-ness!:mutter:


~Slytherine

Hey, I feel ya. All my friends are older than me, and they're all graduating college. =(

[Roy Mustang]

I've actually always wondered... why do people go to anime conventions, or any conventions for that matter... they all seem to only consist of vast sets of booths containing items for sale at extremely marked up prices... and... given the lack of funding most otakus have... well... why purchase anything at one of these things? Why attend at all? Just semi-curious because I never got it .

-Pascal

Vendors actually aren't a significant part of the convention. Otakon always shows episodes from several anime series on big screens, has video game tournaments, it has voice actors come and speak/sign autographs...it's actually a lot of fun. If your wondering why I went last year...well...it was a chance to hang out with my friends for what seemed like the last time until I returned for the summer. This year however I'm going because last year was awesome and I just want to go again...

This is the truth. I never buy anime dvd's or music from dealer rooms at anime cons, because I can get them less then what they are selling them for. I only buy hard to find stuff at anime cons. Which in case, I only buy anime cels and maybe a model kit that are hard to get over here in the states.

About 90% of time, I'm trying to get autographs for a lot of my posters, models, anime cels or anime sketches. I mostly carry at least two bags of stuff to get sign at cons.

This is why, I only go to anime cons that I can only drive to and carry my stuff around with me.

[color="Red"][font="Book Antiqua"]Col. Roy Mustang[/font][/color]

[Nate]

Oh, sweet dog, you KNOW I'm all over Otakon.

[OhElk]

I'll be stalking the Nan Desu Kan in Denver. If I didn't, there are staff members that will come and get me and drag me to the Marriott. I think I'm going to be cosplaying The White Rabbit for my Alice in Wonderland Group, Celes from FFVI/or Lolita-styled Black Mokona from xxxHOLiC, and Konan, from Naruto.
I get a lip piercing, and blue hair.
Oh yeeeeaah. And Pajama Ame Warashi from xxxHOLiC for the CLAMP Pajama party.

[AsianBlossom]

So they charge a lot more at conventions? Do they have imported video games? What if you don't want to wait a month for Play-Asia to ship? (don't know how long it usually takes, but I waited a month and I'm pleased as punch with the CD and cellphone charm)

And like how ridiculous is this price hike?

[Htom Sirveaux]

Oh, sweet dog, you KNOW I'm all over Otakon.

Word, gangsta.

[Nate]

So they charge a lot more at conventions?

God yes. A box of pocky will run you six dollars usually. Of course moronic Wapanese people who yell out stupid things like "I'M ADDICTED TO POCKY!" happily shovel out their hard earned cash. Because real otaku don't go to the Oriental grocery store across the street and buy them for 89 cents. That would ruin the spirit of things.

Also most collectibles and toys will run you higher than you might find online, for example a Voltron figure went for about 150 bucks at Otakon, whereas online it was around 100. Some things aren't bad, the manga and anime are usually pretty cheap, and most stands have sales (such as 5 for 15 dollars, any Tokyopop manga only 3 dollars, etc.).

In short: Toys/collectibles/food overpriced, CDs usually decent priced, anime/manga usually good price.

Do they have imported video games?

Yep.

What if you don't want to wait a month for Play-Asia to ship?

Choose the faster shipping option.

Man I should go ahead and prereg for Otakon now, for reals.

[Peanut]

Man I should go ahead and prereg for Otakon now, for reals.

Yeah...that would probably be a good idea...took care of mine yesterday and I guess now would be a good time to mention that meboeck will be attending for sure now...

[AsianBlossom]

A box of pocky will run you six dollars usually. Of course moronic Wapanese people who yell out stupid things like "I'M ADDICTED TO POCKY!" happily shovel out their hard earned cash. Because real otaku don't go to the Oriental grocery store across the street and buy them for 89 cents.

Looks like I'm not a real otaku then]In short: Toys/collectibles/food overpriced, CDs usually decent priced, anime/manga usually good price.[/QUOTE]

That's all good to know...we need cheaper anime and manga. Heck, if you look at AnimeNation's online store, some of their manga runs from the four dollar to the ten dollar range. You can find all sorts of manga for almost half the price of retail bookstores. Not guaranteeing everything is cheaper on there, though...

But still, that's good to know. Domo arigato gozaimasu! *bows politely*