Feb 01, 2015 23:56
Last week I went to Magfest. Normally I tend to con-report immediately after a con, but I didn't this time because... well, I guess I don't have that much to say about it!
First thing worth mentioning, though, and definitely worth saying about, was going to the premier of Famikamen Rider (as in Famicom, aka Nintendo, and Kamen Rider, as in the Japanese suit-superhero), a fan-made film made in honor of Justin Carmical / "JewWario", who died a few weeks after the last Magfest. He had started a project before he died, and his friends used a bit of that footage, plus a story they made, to finish things and pay homage to him. And... well, it was both fun and a loving tribute ^^ It wasn't actually quite finished, a few minor effects shots weren't done, but I don't think anyone there cared. So yea, fan-made film (on a similar production level to the Channel Awesome anniversary movies) that I quite enjoyed. A.
Aside from that, well, I played games! I got to experience first hand the difference between a pinball game with used, weak springs and bumpers (twilight zone), to a fresh one (Batman), and even a fun old Dr. Who pinball game.
I did a lot of shooters- enough that, due to some of them having stiff triggers, my primary hand got tired and I started switching off to my left, and found, surprisingly, I was able to adapt to offhand lightgun shooting *really* well! So I trained myself to be an ambidextrious lightgun shooter ^^
I also got introduced to the card game Coup, a game all about bluffing, and played it on two different days (winning once). It played fast, and was easy to introduce people to- after a few rounds I could help introduce newbies. And it's newbie friendly in the sense that newbies tend to have certain bad bluffing habits, but also tend to figure out that they do, and can use that ^^ It feels like everyone has a chance while at the same time feeling strongly skill-based and not random, which is a delicate balance. So, I recommend that, rating: A.
Saw some videos, one on the history of Smash Brothers Melee and it's top players. Fairly fun, but I also boggled by the fact that it was *four hours long* in total. Liked what I watched but still! There was also a video on LGBT in gaming which, alas, I had to miss due to tiredness setting in.
Not many of the other panels interested me.
Bought a few comics and books, got a few commissions, nothing big to report really aside from that. Only an 'ok' dealers room. Oh yea, and for a 24-hour a day con, they *really* should've thought of where one can get food after 11, there's one vending machine in the whole place and it's hard to find (on the pool level, below everything else), as I and a nice guy called Eddie found out late at night.
All in all, I give it a B-. Lotsa games to play, some fun stuff, but aside from the premier, nothing that's likely to stick out in my head long-term.
ratings,
con report