Back from Otakon, welcome to scattered thoughts-o-rama
Well, it's been an exhausting weekend that we spent at Otakon, one that I cannot even begin to say how much it's impacted me.
For one, it was really good seeing some old friends again. Due to distance and duties, I hadn't seen some of my friends in a while, and it was good to see both, even briefly. I wish I could have had more time to hang with them, but that's the way of the game; we're all on one side of the fence or another, and besides, I'll get the chance in November, so no biggie. ^_^ Truthfully, I'm still chuckling when we were trying to talk to kiristokyoto Friday evening and security was trying to usher us out of the room, until she waved them off, saying, "It's OK...they're friends, not just stalkers."
Oh, for those of you who ever plan to go (back) to Otakon, I highly recommend the English pub across the way. Called the Wharf Rat, they serve a local microbrew, Oliver's, that's absolute heaven. silverlightstar, star_sign and I just raved about the beer, which is surprising since I usually could care less about that sort of stuff. There's also a pizza place nearby that has an outstanding pesto-and-chicken sandwich. However, feel free to skip the Hard Rock Cafe in town. The girls and I went with fausti for lunch there, and I must say, for a Hard Rock, I was completely underwhelmed. The worst service I'd ever had at a hard rock previously was the one in Brisbane. This one was far worse, hands down. It shouldn't take two hours to wait for food that wasn't prepared properly by waiters who seemed to be mostly nonexistent. Maybe it was a bad day for them, but I'm not planning to find out later on.
I think I did a lot of work on the manga this weekend - probably more than the rest of the Megami staffers would have liked, but I'm just that way at times. I want this to succeed more than anything, and now that certain perspectives have been changed for me and new doors have been opened (and old ones shut for now), I want to see this through more than I can ever say. But I managed to retool the project logo, come up with a logo for silverlightstar's webdesign company, get some research books that we needed for our new project, get a lot of writing done, and even snagged a new laptop bag, since what I'm using now is frankly just not up to snuff.
Went to see the OAP Studios' debut panel for the Aka Ryu Chronicles. If there's anyone who deserves any credit whatsoever for success, it's roannachan and bcclark88. However, I wasn't expecting to be thanked in her special credits section. ^_^;;; Hell, considering the suggestions I made and the edits, I'm surprised she still speaks to me! ^_^;;;
The small gathering we had on Sunday was beautiful. Kinda embarrassed that Caitlin mentioned it was my idea (that's twice people have made me blush during the con!) and it was moving, with even the small number of people there gathered together. It's a shame that we weren't able to get out copies of Enlightenment out to everyone (a Kinko's that isn't open 24/7? o_O), but I probably would have been completely mortified had it been successful, so He probably saved me the cardiac. ^_^;;;
windchime11 went from manic to burnt out over the course of the weekend, but she had fun. Glad to see our apprentice isn't entirely turned off by the con experience. ^_^
Based on a certain person's behavior this weekend, I'm more convinced than ever that he's worn out whatever grace, welcome and goodwill he has, and should probably get going soonest.
As for Otakon itself? Well, kinda sad, in a way. It's a big con, but it also feels like a big con - same way as AX does, I'm told. When that's the case, you lose your personal touches with the fans, and makes it less important that your con remain in existence. There are tons of large cons (non anime, though) that have grown huge and are still as fan-oriented as the day they could only get their hands on one or two fans. I'm glad that my own con, AnimeUSA, continues to remember this even as we begin to grow from a small con into a mid-size one. Because the alternative is pissing off the fans, and to do so, especially in these salad days of otakudom, will come a price when it's so deep into the mainstream that no one will prop you up anymore when alternatives arise.
Aside from that, yes, I've been vague about certain things, especially the Megami issues. More will come later, possibly by the end of the month. Of course, those in the know, well...there's a few surprises in store there, as well. ^_-
For one, it was really good seeing some old friends again. Due to distance and duties, I hadn't seen some of my friends in a while, and it was good to see both, even briefly. I wish I could have had more time to hang with them, but that's the way of the game; we're all on one side of the fence or another, and besides, I'll get the chance in November, so no biggie. ^_^ Truthfully, I'm still chuckling when we were trying to talk to kiristokyoto Friday evening and security was trying to usher us out of the room, until she waved them off, saying, "It's OK...they're friends, not just stalkers."
Oh, for those of you who ever plan to go (back) to Otakon, I highly recommend the English pub across the way. Called the Wharf Rat, they serve a local microbrew, Oliver's, that's absolute heaven. silverlightstar, star_sign and I just raved about the beer, which is surprising since I usually could care less about that sort of stuff. There's also a pizza place nearby that has an outstanding pesto-and-chicken sandwich. However, feel free to skip the Hard Rock Cafe in town. The girls and I went with fausti for lunch there, and I must say, for a Hard Rock, I was completely underwhelmed. The worst service I'd ever had at a hard rock previously was the one in Brisbane. This one was far worse, hands down. It shouldn't take two hours to wait for food that wasn't prepared properly by waiters who seemed to be mostly nonexistent. Maybe it was a bad day for them, but I'm not planning to find out later on.
I think I did a lot of work on the manga this weekend - probably more than the rest of the Megami staffers would have liked, but I'm just that way at times. I want this to succeed more than anything, and now that certain perspectives have been changed for me and new doors have been opened (and old ones shut for now), I want to see this through more than I can ever say. But I managed to retool the project logo, come up with a logo for silverlightstar's webdesign company, get some research books that we needed for our new project, get a lot of writing done, and even snagged a new laptop bag, since what I'm using now is frankly just not up to snuff.
Went to see the OAP Studios' debut panel for the Aka Ryu Chronicles. If there's anyone who deserves any credit whatsoever for success, it's roannachan and bcclark88. However, I wasn't expecting to be thanked in her special credits section. ^_^;;; Hell, considering the suggestions I made and the edits, I'm surprised she still speaks to me! ^_^;;;
The small gathering we had on Sunday was beautiful. Kinda embarrassed that Caitlin mentioned it was my idea (that's twice people have made me blush during the con!) and it was moving, with even the small number of people there gathered together. It's a shame that we weren't able to get out copies of Enlightenment out to everyone (a Kinko's that isn't open 24/7? o_O), but I probably would have been completely mortified had it been successful, so He probably saved me the cardiac. ^_^;;;
windchime11 went from manic to burnt out over the course of the weekend, but she had fun. Glad to see our apprentice isn't entirely turned off by the con experience. ^_^
Based on a certain person's behavior this weekend, I'm more convinced than ever that he's worn out whatever grace, welcome and goodwill he has, and should probably get going soonest.
As for Otakon itself? Well, kinda sad, in a way. It's a big con, but it also feels like a big con - same way as AX does, I'm told. When that's the case, you lose your personal touches with the fans, and makes it less important that your con remain in existence. There are tons of large cons (non anime, though) that have grown huge and are still as fan-oriented as the day they could only get their hands on one or two fans. I'm glad that my own con, AnimeUSA, continues to remember this even as we begin to grow from a small con into a mid-size one. Because the alternative is pissing off the fans, and to do so, especially in these salad days of otakudom, will come a price when it's so deep into the mainstream that no one will prop you up anymore when alternatives arise.
Aside from that, yes, I've been vague about certain things, especially the Megami issues. More will come later, possibly by the end of the month. Of course, those in the know, well...there's a few surprises in store there, as well. ^_-