Caught some of the cosplay at yesterday mornings session for the EB Games Expo and thought I'd share it:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14977609@N06/sets/72157648341441796/show/
Might just be me but it wasn't as much fun as last year [https://www.flickr.com/photos/14977609@N06/sets/72157646825974827/show/], I'm not sure if it's the half day split (8-3 & 4-11 or something), missing my friends highly inappropriate banter from last year, the very high bar set by Oz Comic Con [https://www.flickr.com/photos/14977609@N06/sets/72157647259949890/show/] or that there just wasn't the expectation with the new consoles on the horizon and the games lined up to come out but nothing really grabbed me this year.
I did sit through the re-run of the new Metal Gear video they'd put out for Tokyo games con. and couldn't be bothered to re-dub for this one and was quite surprised by the new support character (the girl in the last picture is an official cosplayer doing the character "Quiet").
Maybe it's all the Anita Sarkeesian topics I've seen on here of late or living with a card carrying feminist for over two years but it did strike me as quite ridiculous that Snake was in full sneak suit and she was in a bra and panties with torn tights - I mean the play-through was in a forested area with a target of search and rescue a captive operative from a militia force, so you know, that seems appropriate dress for the mission..
I'll probably get some flack for that comment but it's pretty undeniable exploitation; I've debated in the past with my partner about some characters, such as Ada's dress in Resi'4 - personally I think it helps inform her character as a stereotyped "badass femme fatale" but this is kinda dumb. (although Resi4 even shoots itself in the foot with the bonus games where you can play as Ada in a completely appropriate outfit for the scenario - why didn't she get that in the main game?)
Worst I think it's jarring, it breaks the immersion, which for me is a big thing about gaming. Being drawn into a world and absorbed in the plot - and when a character's depicted like "Quiet" is it breaks that immersion, it reminds you you're playing a game, where women are to be depicted as sex symbols at all times.
Granted, the video did start off with Snake with his shirt off (MGS 3's "Natural Camo" homage) so at least the exploitation is not all one-sided, but still, it annoyed me. Given the recent flak maybe this is something to be changed before the games release, but I doubt it. Probably just another mile-stone in the lack of progress to be made in this area.
But now I'm rambling, this post was supposed to just share the awesome work and effort some folks have put into their cosplaying, which is always the biggest fun I have a con's. Though giving this year's lacklustre, I might give next years a miss.
Any other Sydneyites make this year's EB Expo? What did you think? Any games you were pumped for?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14977609@N06/sets/72157648341441796/show/
Might just be me but it wasn't as much fun as last year [https://www.flickr.com/photos/14977609@N06/sets/72157646825974827/show/], I'm not sure if it's the half day split (8-3 & 4-11 or something), missing my friends highly inappropriate banter from last year, the very high bar set by Oz Comic Con [https://www.flickr.com/photos/14977609@N06/sets/72157647259949890/show/] or that there just wasn't the expectation with the new consoles on the horizon and the games lined up to come out but nothing really grabbed me this year.
I did sit through the re-run of the new Metal Gear video they'd put out for Tokyo games con. and couldn't be bothered to re-dub for this one and was quite surprised by the new support character (the girl in the last picture is an official cosplayer doing the character "Quiet").
Maybe it's all the Anita Sarkeesian topics I've seen on here of late or living with a card carrying feminist for over two years but it did strike me as quite ridiculous that Snake was in full sneak suit and she was in a bra and panties with torn tights - I mean the play-through was in a forested area with a target of search and rescue a captive operative from a militia force, so you know, that seems appropriate dress for the mission..
I'll probably get some flack for that comment but it's pretty undeniable exploitation; I've debated in the past with my partner about some characters, such as Ada's dress in Resi'4 - personally I think it helps inform her character as a stereotyped "badass femme fatale" but this is kinda dumb. (although Resi4 even shoots itself in the foot with the bonus games where you can play as Ada in a completely appropriate outfit for the scenario - why didn't she get that in the main game?)
Worst I think it's jarring, it breaks the immersion, which for me is a big thing about gaming. Being drawn into a world and absorbed in the plot - and when a character's depicted like "Quiet" is it breaks that immersion, it reminds you you're playing a game, where women are to be depicted as sex symbols at all times.
Granted, the video did start off with Snake with his shirt off (MGS 3's "Natural Camo" homage) so at least the exploitation is not all one-sided, but still, it annoyed me. Given the recent flak maybe this is something to be changed before the games release, but I doubt it. Probably just another mile-stone in the lack of progress to be made in this area.
But now I'm rambling, this post was supposed to just share the awesome work and effort some folks have put into their cosplaying, which is always the biggest fun I have a con's. Though giving this year's lacklustre, I might give next years a miss.
Any other Sydneyites make this year's EB Expo? What did you think? Any games you were pumped for?