Super simple matching costumes, but fully evocative of Pokemon. I also smirked when I spotted their considerable swag pile – they had clearly done their time at the PopCap booth.

  This costume had such a fun, fitted purple velvet that I couldn’t not ask for a picture. (Also, somehow we are standing at a show floor intersection that is not absolutely mobbed by attendees. How is this possible?)

  “Son, you’re going to have to learn how to deal with Asians if you ever want to be part of a successful Capcom game. Might as well start now.”

  Costumes where the head is above your actual head are the creepiest. This was the case for the Clockwork Droid, who actually had a glass head underneath the mask, complete with gears. You know you shouldn’t be addressing the face, but it’s weird and scary to be addressing the thin lace by the neck. […]

  I don’t have many friends who cosplay, but the ones who do, pull off incredible outfits. This coord has simple ingredients that mesh well and turn out to be much more than the sum of their parts. Bonus points for original style League of Legends lanyard holding her badge.

  Man, what is with these female cosplayers with awesome costumes looking absolutely bored killing me? My group actually struck up a conversation with her after the shot, but even when she was discussing cosplay, she looked like she wanted to rope those vines around her own neck.

Wizards of the Coast had an elaborate setup as always, with a big portion dedicated to Magic the Gathering. After you waited in line to play MtG on their iPads and consoles, you were given a sweet exclusive Pinny Arcade pin of Chandra Nalaar, and were invited to take a quick photo with her in […]

  After taking this picture, I thanked the cosplayer, who uncharacteristically handed me her card. Of all the pictures I take at conventions, I will probably only get two cards, so I know she means business. I was still admiring the costume when I heard a voice pierce through the convention hall din, and out […]

  Every convention, at least one publisher has the bright idea to distribute paper hats, knowing that attendees will look ridiculous but wear them anyway, becoming walking advertisements and inciting others into clamoring for hats of their own. I usually resist, but I regret not having a hat for this picture.

  The next tabletop RPG I jumped into was Dread, a horror game. Instead of using dice, we would influence our characters’ success and safety by pulling off blocks from the Jenga tower in front of us. As the story progressed, we pulled more blocks, as the tension built up; until finally the tower, and […]