06/16/2019

A Final Fantasy Cosplayer Walks Into The Forest And… (From The Attract Mode Archive: #052)

by Matthew Edward Hawkins

The following post originally appeared on attractmo.de, on April 18, 2013.
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This month’s round up of random game related imagery found on Instagram kicks off with perhaps my favorite cosplayer from PAX East 2013. Not much else to say here, other than, check the other angles…

I know it’s somewhat awkward (maybe even inappropriate) to bring up fun times had in Boston, in light of recent events. But they help to remind myself how incredible the city is, along with the people who live there. Who will all unquestionably bounce back.

K, enough real world pontificating; time for more pictures of gamer dorks, dressed to the nines (hey, PAX is all about the cosplay). Like this super stylish, and super creepy take on Phanto from Super Mario Bros 2

And this Lucca, from Chrono Trigger, was simply the best…

As were these two dudes, as James and Gary, from Typing of the Dead

What pleased me the most was how well represented indie gaming was. Like this Sword & Sworcery cosplayer…

Though Hotline Miami was clearly the hottest thing on that end…

Some cosplay was rather inventive, whereas others were kinda gross. And sometimes it was both…

As noted, and aside from cosplay, PAX is also about the indies; the sheer abundance of top-notch offerings was frankly mind-blowing. Best part is how pretty everything was playable. Yet some folks still chose to stand in line for over an hour to watch a non-interactive demo of Assassin’s Creed 4 all the sillier looking. Oh well, different strokes.

If I had to choose my game of the show (and it’s a tough call), I’d go with A.N.N.E.. It’s basically Cave Story meets Mega Man meets Super Metroid

Though not all of the offerings from big publishers were bad. For example, Locco Cycle looks as amazing as ever…

PAX isn’t just a place to play cool stuff, it’s also for buying cool stuff as well. Like the aforementioned Double Fine & Capy Videogame Collection

But you know who literally a mount of super rad things for sale? Why the Fangamer booth, of course, including some debuting Attract Mode items (and which are now finally available online)…

Across the way was the Double Fine/CAPY booth, where also had some fairly compelling goods for purchase, and not just the chance to snag Capy Fine Racing GP. You also had the Super Time Force Kookabunga tee that Nathan Vella is proudly wearing…

Immediately after PAX was GDC. Wish I could have gone, but it just wasn’t meant to be. In addition to the conference itself, there’s all the super cool after parties, with this year’s hottest ticket being the Venus Patrol/Wild Rumpus shindig. Would have loved to have seen Shaw-Han Liem, aka I Am Robot and Proud, perform live…

Though the star of the show was Tenya Wanya Teens. I too would have caressed its multi-colored, many buttoned controller, just like Kris is doing…

Speaking of, here’s a pic that Robin Hunicke took of Keita Takahashi himself, walking around in Kaho Abe’s Ninja Shadow Warrior get-up…

Yet at the end of the day, GDC is all about hearing from those who are pushing the medium forward, in wild and unexpected ways. And not just learning about how some of the most beloved games were pieced together, but ideas for ones that have yet to happen. Like Planet and Baby; I really need to ask Vincent Diamante what the heck that’s all about…

But even better than all the pics that immediately followed GDC, from folks chilling in SF after the fact. Here’s one from Kris, who states: “We climbed up a tree and jumped in the pool. Everyone got mad.”

And here’s Robin showing Keita around town. Checking out a gigantic glockenspiels, at some local park/playground, to be exact. I’m assuming such places are like a second home to him…

Speaking of get aways, Renaud Bédard is currently in Japan, and sharing pics of his various exploits. With the highlight thus far being Space Station, the video game bar in Osaka (I actually got the meet the owner, who was at PAX East; super cool dude)…

In some ways it’s actually superior to Super Potato, the one destination all video game dorks all flock towards when visiting Japan. For starters, it serves booze! Second, check out this super rad bathroom…

John Ricciardi got what appears to be a wedding invitation, in the form of a cookie that looks like a Famicom cartridge?

If only these custom Game Boy carts that Grace are assembling were functional (though they’re damn pretty nonetheless)…

I have no idea where Nina Freeman spotted this super sweet Virtua Fighter jacket, but I certainly hope she picked it up (for my birthday)…

Speaking of Virtua, here’s mashysoup, aka one of the Fangamer’s self professed “weird twins”, putting the 32X version through it’s paces. The hardware deserves all the hate it gets, but this and a few other standouts help to justify its existence. Somewhat…

Am a big fan of CherrySlug and these recent Street Fighter and Pokemon inspired pieces are some of my favorites…

And speaking of Pokemon, darkviruzzz definitely knows how to make a Mewtwo toy looks super ominous and stuff…

Here’s a pic I’m absolutely head over heels for, from Alina V, of a Yuna (from Final Fantasy X, duh) cosplayer, walking into the woods. In search of adventure? Maybe answers to mysteries? Or just the perfect spot for a photo shoot? Probably the latter…

Though, as Zack Kotzer reminds us…

I have no idea where the following is from originally…

The same could also be said for 95% of POLSTYLE‘s pics…

So, I’m good pals with Joe Simko; he’s one of the artists at Topps who works on Garbage Pail Kids cards. Yes, they’re still being made. In fact, a brand new series just came out, and it was pointed out to me that there’s a decent amount of video game humor to be found…

I also know from Joe that all the illustrator make tons of money on the side, doing commissions. Often of stuff that would not fly with Topps’ legal department for a variety of reasons, like this example…

And now for something completely different; do you remember the Ukiyo-e Heroes Kickstarter? Well, it would appear that Chris Furniss donated…

Nick Maynard asks us all to…

Not all chiptunes cover art is a collection of pixels in some form or fashion (not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind you). Here we have Bit Shifter showing off the latest CD from Huoratron…

Lamar Abrams sez: “Defend yourself

Speaking of Game Boys (once again), this custom all white model from Andreas Tekus is pretty darn sexy…

I love Stu Brett‘s Instagram feed, because it’s a constant reminder of which Super Famicom game I should fire up on my emulator next…

Diego Garcia states: “All is as it should be”. Could not agree more…

BTW, this was Diego’s midterm (he’s studying game design at NYU)…

Lacey Micallef demonstrates that the best jokes are often the most obvious ones…

I’m pretty sure I’ve shown off one of Joel Carroll‘s Samuses before, but I love them so much, here’s another taste…

The guy also does a bang up job rendering K K Slider as well…

Time once again to see what SWERY is up to. Oh hey, here he is with a tiny hamburger!

Oh, so one thing that’s starting to become more common is Instragramed pics of someone using the Oculus Rift, like Nathan here. I also love how everyone puts fake eyes on the thing…

And here’s Nathan with folks who walked this year, with several others…

Sticking with hands for just a tiny bit; another good pal of mine, Colleen AF Venable decided to fashion herself some Space Invaders nails…

Comics Vs. Games 2 is just around the corner, and as previously explained, the Comics Vs. Games Gallery and Bit Bazaar will both take place at Bento Miso. And not only that, but as Jennie Faber also points out, you’ll also find a growing selection of arcade machines that’s totally exclusive to the grand city of Toronto…

Finally, and as also previously noted, pieces from the show have been making the rounds (and expect to see even more in coming days and weeks), though Chris Furniss’s contributions are somewhat of a secret. But I can at least show everyone the note that came enclosed…

Hi, Chris! Hello.

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