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Review - San Diego Comic-Con 2003
Review by
Nuriko
"First time I came back with money in my bank account."
This year seemed much busier than the previous
Comic-Cons that I've attended. Although Preview Night is fairly recent, there
were many people. Ironically, many of the big names in the local and internet
anime sales community were nowhere to be found, such as Rising Sun Creations,
USAnime, Animenation, Anime Gamers, and many others. In my opinion, this was
the year to show. Demand was high and supply was very low. I came back with
unspent cash!
The most impressive booths this Comic-Con belonged to Toy Press/Five Star
Stories/Kinokunia Bookstores, Viz, Bandai and Anime Network (Owned by ADV). As
for non-anime related booths - Lord of the Rings, Little Giant LTD (Matrix,
Star Wars and Terminator 3 figures), Haunted Mansion and ACME (Cartoon
Network).
The best display this year goes to Toy Press for their magnificent display of
their Five Star Stories resin and plastic models.
Some people were rewarded for attending Preview Night - Viz gave out canvas
Yu-Gi-Oh bags, ADV had posters of Najica and King of Bandits Jing, and other
booths gave out pins or coupons. Pioneer had Lupin III sideburns and decks of
playing cards they were giving out, and those did not last long at all.
One of the things we did was watch the trailer from Bandai to see what titles
they had... and to get a Witch Hunter Robin t-shirt. I was very pleased to
find out that someone FINALLY bought the rights to Cyber Formula. Thanks
Bandai.
Bandai also had a bunch of special guests this year. The creator for Wedding
Peach was signing and doing some sketches along with the designer for Power
Rangers and the creator of Pretite Mary Angel's Wing. Didn't notice them? That
was because they were very underplayed. I'm just happy I got my goods signed.
I saw Stan Lee by one of the comic book appraisal booths. Unfortunately, he
wasn't signing any autographs, but we got some decent pics of him. When he
left he had a mob of fans after him. He sure ran fast! The next day he was in
the autograph area, but it wasn't posted in the hall so I didn't go. -_- The
day after that he was signing at a booth but I was over crowded. I wish I were
that popular.
The most enjoyable experience came from Kevin Smith (Dogma, Clerks, Chasing
Amy fame). He was kind enough to take a picture with me even though the staff
gave him a hard time for offering. Thanks Kevin, I'm one of your biggest fans.
He even signed the DVD cover to me instead of the generic signature.
The most HORRIFIC experience from Comic-Con came from Angelina Jolie (Tomb
Raiber fame). Not only did her people not plan when the session would take
place, they didn't even plan WHERE. So all these preteen boys and vulcans are
getting in line for several hours and don't even know if she'll show up. Once
she did show up, all hell broke loose. People were crawling all over each
other trying to get a picture. I was stuck in the middle, and I swear I almost
got killed. In fact, about ten minutes after that someone got hurt by the mob
and she was whisked away and an ambulance was called. I don't know how the
person is now, but I hope they're okay.
I had planned on going to ten screenings. The amount I went to? Zero.
All in all, I had fun. I love comics and I love anime, so it would have to
take a lot for me to dislike going... like... Anime Expo.
Review - ADV's US Release of Saiyuki - The Journey Begins
(Box Set)
Review by
Nuriko
"Steaming Pile of Rancid Horse Shit"
How dare the suits at AD Vision mock me!
So I bought the American release of Saiyuki (formerly known by ADV as 'Paradise Rangers' - if THAT doesn't tell you how much they're going to mess it up). Not only was I disappointed with the DVD (contents of the case and their dub) but I am very close to writing a formal complaint to ADVision asking for my money back.
Yes, the box came with a T-Shirt, and the T-Shirt was good. That was the ONLY good thing about buying it.
The DVD itself came in a clear case (without a reversible cover, so it looked really lame) and included a "poster", which wasn't a poster at all, just info about the characters... on a bigger piece of paper. The inserts that Viz put in Ayashi no Ceres were better "posters" than that piece of crap.
Finally, the worst injustice to Saiyuki - they changed the meanings in the dub. Yes, I realize that sometimes words need to be 'adapted' to match up the lips, but this was much more foul. Hakkai cursed far more than Sanzo, and Hakkai NEVER curses. They even went as far as to re-dub Jeep!
So, as my final say - don't bother buying the American release of Saiyuki. I would rather spend $70 a pop on the original Japanese DVD's than to settle for the contemptuous material ADV is releasing.
Review -
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
Review by
TheCelestrian
"Best Game Ever"
So I found myself over at Nuriko's place on a Friday night, which is a common occurrence for the officers of the APA (especially during break and the early weeks of the semester when we have to wait for class rooms to open for club to hold our regular meetings), and no sooner had I walked into the door when Nuriko turns to me with a glint in her eye and a wicked smile on her face...
"Allen, show him what we got."
Allen (ICE if you looking for his officer name), turns to me after a brief hesitation and hands me a bag containing what feels like a DVD. I remove the bag to see a DVD of the highly anticipated release of Dragon Pink, which has been on video forever, but finding the DVD has been a long 3 month ordeal since it's release date in November.
"Not that one, dumbass. The other one."
Not that I would have any complaints about one of the funniest ‹ahem› mature anime feature ever made, but now I was curious; What would be more important on Nuriko's "show-Branden" list than Dragon Pink (After all, it's very hot, very wet and very pink!)? So with my attention undivided, I looked to Allen expectantly, waiting for this item of promise that awaited me.
....and I was not disappointed.
Before my very eyes was the one thing that I had seen cause so much controversy, so much loathing on the part of parents in America, and so much anticipation from straight males aged 12-65, lesbians (ha!), pervs, horndogs and those of the Onizuka persuasion such as myself since late summer. Staring back at me was the single greatest reason for me to break down and align myself with the dark, unholy forces of Bill Gates and the Microsoft Principality of XBox for the promise of gigglin' polygon breasts and Maya-Modeled G-Strings.
Looking back at me was DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball.
That was a Friday. Now, I've had some time to get up close and personal with all these luscious 3D modeled ladies that will always recognize me and every player for the pimps we are, cherishing our gifts of G-Strings, Suntan lotion and fine fruits while risking their petite and supple bodies in a high stakes game of..... volleyball and...... pool hopping while a rich, interpersonal story of relationships and conflict develop in your 14 day stay at Zack Island.
Sound Interesting? Want to know more? Then let me give you my review of DOAX.... GTB style.
Now to say this game was made for the aforementioned categories is an *understatement*. I've never seen such a game that so blatantly and consciously markets itself based upon the "assets" of the characters that wasn't a Japanese Hentai game. From the opening trailer to the end credits I was bombarded with T&A the entire time. The game itself does require a little bit of skill when you try some of the advanced Volleyball techniques, and the ladies hit harder the more your team beats them, but after about 4 minutes of game play I came to a startling, but rather interesting conclusion:
This is the ultimate Jerk-Off game ever made for console.
Now why would I say something like that? Because it's true. You really only need to use two button, and if you're not really trying to play the volleyball all the time, you can play the game with one hand. What even more humorous about it, is in DOAX, you can play the game in this manner:
Now I ask anyone of sane and logical thinking, how can this not be the total all-time whack-off fest made for the XBox? I can only imagine the amount of hornballs just loving this game (sadly, I am not one of those since I do not have an Xbox, and can't borrow it for fear of it never returning... ‹wink› ‹wink›). I have seriously thought a few times while playing this game that this is one of the more important, and viable steps of making Chi (from Chobits) a reality.
So for those of you that in the aforementioned categories, get this game. You'll love every polygon of it. If you're not, then I imagine you'll soon personally know someone who has the game, and you'll be able to look upon the TV with disgust and vehemently scold your friend/lover/acquaintance about how much of a sick perv they are for even considering getting the game, let alone shelling out the money to actually make it part of their personal video game collection. Then upon your mountain high, you will smite thy friend/lover/acquaintance for the immoral, poon hound that they are.
For me...... BEST GAME EVER!