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Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
MCM Comic Con is still worth it for gamers even without EGX - Reader's Feature
A reader reports back from his time at MCM Comic Con in London and gets to play a lot of video and tabletop games, despite a lack of big name attendees. Last week I attended yet another MCM Comic Con at the ExCeL Centre in London, along with my son, who this year decided to dress up as Super Mario. As you all know by now, MCM Comic Con is a three-day celebration of all things popular culture. However, this year's show was not linked with EGX, as was the case at last October's exhibition, so there was less emphasis on video games – but there was still a lot on offer. Our first stop was the Mattel stand, where they were promoting Barbie, Masters of the Universe, and Hot Wheels. There was a sit-down setup of Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged on the PlayStation 5. This was one of the highlights of the day, as we ended up returning a few times in an attempt to win the race. I'll probably pick it up this up, as we enjoyed it so much. Up next was the chance to play Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy. This was one of the first opportunities to play the game before its release on 13th June. While I'd never properly played Magic before, I had dabbled in Final Fantasy's own trading card game but stopped some time ago. We played using the starter deck kits featuring Cloud and Sephiroth and battled it out, with me emerging victorious. The cards looked amazing and feature characters, weapons, spells, and locations from all 16 mainline Final Fantasy titles. The only downer was that there were no promo cards being handed out. The next port of call was Artist Alley, where hundreds of independent artists showcased their wares. I was after one in particular: Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau. I first came across his work while playing Marvel Snap. I had a quick chat with him and got him to sign some artwork prints of Tifa and Rogue. Sticking with Final Fantasy, I noticed actor Ben Starr on the show floor – the voice of Clive Rosfield, the protagonist of Final Fantasy 16. I didn't get a chance to speak with him, as he looked in a rush, probably due to the fact that he was part of the show with his Natural Six Dungeons & Dragons Actual Play panel. After lunch, we headed off to the Family Gaming Zone, where around 20 consoles were set up with a variety of family-friendly titles. Games that we sampled included Conduct TOGETHER! on the Nintendo Switch, a puzzle-type game where you manoeuvre trains and switch tracks to avoid collisions. Then, on to JellyCar Worlds, a driving and platforming game where you hav to work your way through various obstacles. It reminded me of both the Trials series and World Of Goo, with its physics-based gameplay. We proceeded to play Tower Of Babel – No Mercy, which was a shape-dropping game where the aim is to stack as high as possible. We played the co-op mode, where we each took turns placing rectangular-shaped blocks. On paper, that doesn't sound like the greatest game, but the dormant competitive side of me came out and I was desperate to beat a nine-year-old child. The last game of the day was Astro Duel 2. The two of us joined four other convention players in a mix of retro pixel platforming and spaceship battles. It's a combination of Smash Bros. and Asteroids, with players fighting fast on the ground or in the sky. Very hectic but a lot of fun – and great to play a six-person game with all players sitting alongside each other (although one kid did rage quit a few times!). Last call before heading home was the Bandai Namco zone. They had a strong showing, with multiple games available to try. It was great to see a major game publisher represented at the event. They were showcasing several Dragon Ball Z titles and Shadow Labyrinth, while Elden Ring: Nightreign was also on display – though sadly, not in a playable format. Finally, a quick spin on their gacha machines rounded off a wonderful day. More Trending Overall, another successful show and the next show's dates have already been released. MCM returns to ExCeL London this October, along with EGX, for another three-day celebration from 24–26 October. By reader Tom Pozzetti (eyetunes – PSN ID) The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Why I'm taking a week off work for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch - Reader's Feature MORE: This week was low-key the worst in modern video game history – Reader's Feature MORE: Star Wars Battlefront 3 needs to have these new features - Reader's Feature
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
HoYo FEST 2025: Southeast Asia's most anticipated HoYoverse event returns in July
SINGAPORE, May 29 — Celebrate and gather with fellow fans of Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero as HoYo FEST returns in 2025! Taking place from July 24 to 27, 2025, HoYo FEST invites players and fans across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to celebrate their favourite HoYoverse titles, and create unforgettable memories. An event not to be missed by HoYoverse fans Now in its 5th year, Southeast Asia's premier HoYoverse event – which has grown in scale over the years – is now taking place in exhibition centres across six cities. HoYoverse fans will be treated to 4 days of onsite activities including themed booths done up in their favourite HoYoverse games. They also be able to take home event exclusive Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero freebies, get the chance to purchase HoYo FEST exclusive items, be able to participate in a lucky draw, and check out HoYoverse-inspired merchandise from their favourite creators at HoYo FEST's Artist Alley. Championing creators and fan artists Following its introduction in Indonesia's and Vietnam's HoYo FEST in 2024, HoYo FEST's Artist Alley will also debut in each HoYo FEST across Southeast Asia in 2025. Typically held in Anime Comic Gaming (ACG) conventions, Artist Alley is where local artists can showcase and sell their own ACG-inspired creations. At HoYo FEST 2025, fans can expect HoYoverse-inspired merch from their favourite local artists and creators. This marks the first time that a gaming company is allowing fan-created merchandise to be sold at its own event in Southeast Asia. Additionally, with the new Stage Segment, cosplayers, performers and fan artists can showcase their talents on the HoYo FEST stage. HoYoverse is proud to welcome creators and performers, who are inspired by HoYoverse's games, to the Artist Alley and to the Stage. The final line-up for the artists and performers that will be showcased at each country will be announced in late June. Tickets for sale soon Tickets for HoYo FEST will go on sale starting June 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM (UTC+8) on the official HoYo FEST website at Fans can choose from 1-Day Passes, Multi-Day Passes, or Fast Passes. Fast Passes will come with early entry privileges, exclusive items, and priority access to HoYo FEST booths and activities. The ultimate gathering for HoYoverse fans From exclusive merchandise to vibrant community showcases, HoYo FEST 2025 is the gathering for HoYoverse fans to come together, connect, and celebrate their shared love for gaming and creativity. We look forward to welcoming our fans to experience HoYo FEST this July. For full event details and ticket purchase information, visit the official HoYo FEST 2025 website:
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Welcome to the Show' wants to feel like hanging out with friends in their Lincoln Square basement
Derek Bish is hard to miss. Tall and jovial (he gave his height as 'a trim 6-foot-8,' and that's not far from the truth), his affable smile and good-natured laugh make him easy to spot in any room. The simplest way to find him, however, is to head over to The Getaway in Lincoln Square. Every other Monday, Bish can be seen onstage as the host of 'Welcome to the Show,' a Chicago-centric live talk show that he created. 'Welcome to the Show' has been filling the backroom of The Getaway since its first episode in the summer of 2024. Bish says the show's genesis sprang from a simple adage: 'Make what you want to see yourself.' The idea for a show spotlighting the best of Chicago art, entertainment, sports and culture had been brewing in his brain for months but it wasn't until December 2023 that he decided to make it happen. After declaring his New Year's resolution to 'host and start this show finally,' Bish pitched the idea to longtime friends Dave Halpern, Ross Dimun and Scott Spidale. The men had just taken ownership of the recently closed Grafton Pub and were in the process of converting it into The Getaway. The trio agreed to give him the backroom. On June 17, 2024, the show premiered, featuring, among other guests, Cubs anthem singer John Vincent and Michelin-starred chef Christian Hunter. With no PR team or crew, Bish does all the booking himself, attributing his guest-related good fortune to his love of 'a kindly worded email.' 'I'll send random cold emails to people I think would enjoy it,' he says. So far, that approach has worked, as personalities as varied as Chicago comic Jamie Shriner, WGN host Ji Suk Yi and Empty Bottle co-owner Matt Ciarleglio have graced his stage over the last year. 'Stage,' however, may be a grand word for the room where the show takes place. Audience members pass through the dimly lit, mirror-filled main bar to slip through a black curtain. On the other side, a long, narrow room opens. Couches, ottomans and high-top tables fill the space, and, at the far end, two armchairs and a coffee table sit next to a working fireplace and sprawling hearth. It almost feels like walking into a talk show set up in someone's basement — which is exactly what Bish is going for. 'It's like a house party,' he says. 'The whole goal of the show is to feel like you know me already, and we're hanging out and I'm introducing you to some really fantastic artists that live in Chicago.' Luis Romero is one of those artists. Romero has been an illustrator professionally for over 20 years; he was invited to the show after attending the 2024 Christmas edition as an audience member. The night of his appearance, he sold pins, drawings and patches from a table near the entrance. A regular on the convention circuit, Romero was featured in this year's Artist Alley at C2E2. Of the two events, Romero loves the intimate feel 'Welcome to the Show' provides. 'You get to meet a person and highlight what they're doing,' he says, in a way the 'flood of people' at C2E2 doesn't always allow. That personal touch proliferates throughout the evening. Bish brings books from his own house for audience members to peruse. He decorates the interview space with his children's artwork. At a recent show, he and his wife Margaret Bish baked brownies for the crowd. Bish, who described himself as 'the only one in his family who's ever picked up a microphone,' opens the show with an endearingly rambling monologue that instantly sets the room — and his guests — at ease with his ability to lead the evening. And just like no one would charge their friends to hang out, 'Welcome to the Show' is a free event. That way, Bish says, 'People get to save their money and they can spend it on the artist.' Bish's commitment to supporting local artistry extends to Lincoln Square itself. Noting that shows are often seated to capacity, he admits 'quite a few' venues have approached him about relocating. 'I just don't want to do that yet,' he says. The show 'feels special in that neighborhood.' As his audience grows, Bish aims to keep 'Welcome to the Show' a peaceful respite from the troubled outside world by reminding them of the culture, art, and joy in Chicago. 'It can feel daunting out there,' he said. 'There's just so much garbage going on. But in reality, every day we wake up, we wake up in a great city surrounded by great talented people.' During the closing monologue of a recent episode, Bish echoed this sentiment. 'Now more than ever is a wonderful time to be open and vulnerable with each other,' he said. 'Don't be afraid of feeling good. It's OK to be happy. I promise.' After a night at this show, it's hard not to be.
Los Angeles Times
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
More than 50,000 fans from around the globe turned out for this year's WonderCon
All manner of cosplayers, gamers, artists and comic book collectors made their way into the Anaheim Convention Center on March 29 for WonderCon, the annual comic, science fiction and film convention. Many stopped to take pictures near the fountain just outside the center, a popular meeting spot for those who dress up in elaborate costumes and makeup to emulate their favorite comic or film character. Produced and operated by San Diego Comic Convention, which also hosts Comic-Con International in San Diego each year, WonderCon hosted more than 50,000 people, all with varying degrees of fandom, over the last weekend of March. Bill Ponseti, owner of Fantastic Worlds Comics in Scottsdale, Ariz., was among the comic book vendors selling issues from the Silver and Bronze ages of the collectibles at the convention. While he negotiated over the price of a stack of comics one customer pulled, he talked about his early experience with comic conventions. 'I have been doing shows since about 1974,' said Ponseti. 'Early on, they were more than just comics. The first one I went to was a Star Trek science fiction and comic book convention.' Like most conventions, WonderCon has always attracted an eclectic mix of fans and vendors. Originally known as the Wonderful World of Comics Convention when it began in the late 1980s in the Bay Area, the convention came to Orange County in 2012, rebranded as WonderCon Anaheim, where it has become a highly anticipated event with an international following. This year's convention welcomed attendees from Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. The 2025 convention featured speaker panels, autograph moments, original art, toys, games and even a masquerade. More than 900 exhibitors participated in the event. Graphic artist Molly Nemecek, who uses they and their pronouns and goes by the name Mollinko, was working a booth on Artist Alley, where they offered a commissioned drawing for $75. 'It is my first time at WonderCon, and so far everyone has been really nice,' said Nemecek, who traveled from Canada for the event. Nemecek has done illustrations for video games and comic books and loves to make stickers for conventions because it gives the artist the chance to put their design skills to the test, drawing characters from video games and television shows. 'Some people call my style Lisa Frank, but with muscles,' said Nemecek, referring to the design firm that was especially popular in the 1980s and '90s. 'There are a lot of really bright colors and I love doing male pin-up work. You don't see a lot of people doing sexy dude pin-ups; it is usually women. I like to even the playing field a little bit.' Nemecek sketched on a pad in their lap, while cosplayers perused stickers and prints. 'I want people to come to my booth and see my art and see a safe space where they can be themselves,' Nemecek said. Sometimes being yourself means dressing like someone else. Alex Nicholson was one such cosplayer, dressed as Seiko Ayase from the manga series Dandadan, complete with a gray wig fluffed up to stand at attention like Seiko's trademark hairstyle. 'This is a store-bought wig that we literally teased and formed last night,' Nicholson explained. Some cosplayers worked on their costumes a little longer, like Vivienne Dubrock, who began putting together her Ahsoka costume in January. The Star Wars character, played by Rosario Dawson on the Disney+ show, has distinctive head features; two montrals and three head tails with blue and white coloring. Dubrock said she made most of her costume from scratch, including the headpiece. 'It is all, for the most part, 3D printed and then I sanded and hand-painted everything,' said Dubrock. 'The headpiece I made start to finish from silicone. We 3D printed a mold for it.' In the gaming area, attendees gather around tables for popular role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, or to discover a new favorite. Aric Lorton attend the convention promoting his new extraction style board game, Duelgeon. 'At a convention you get direct interaction with people that are probably going to be very invested in your game, that otherwise would not see it,' Lorton said. Orange County Public Libraries also set up a booth at the event, using the convention as an opportunity to call attention to the selection of graphic novels available to check out at local branches. 'We are promoting literacy,' said Katherine Ramirez, a representative of OC Public Libraries. 'Pictures with words is a great for kids who like to read, or are learning to read.' Ramirez offered library card membership and talked to attendees about Comic Orange, a family-friendly event celebrating comics and promoting literacy that will be held on May 10 at the Tustin Library. Whether people were attending as fans of comics, gaming, cosplaying or art, they found a little bit of magic and wonder at the convention. Ponseti said he is glad the conventions are still going strong and his booth remained busy throughout the weekend. 'There is a whole other generation we are passing the torch to and it is super fun to see,' he said.
