Category: Stuff

Stuff: Learn About Cosplay (Costume Play)

Friday, September 14, 2007 - 06:10 PM

Cosplay is a combination of the English words "costume" and "roleplay", is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, Japanese pop music bands, Visual Kei, fantasy music stories (such as stories by the band Sound Horizon), and novels. However, in some circles, "cosplay" has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.

In Japan, "cosplay" as a hobby is usually an end unto itself. Like-minded people gather to see others' costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests.

The most specific anecdote about the origin of the word "cosplay" was that Nov Takahashi (from a Japanese studio called Studio Hard) coined the term "cosplay" as a contraction of the English-language words "costume play" while he was attending the 1984 Los Angeles Science Fiction Worldcon. He was so impressed by the hall and masquerade costuming there that he reported about it frequently in Japanese science fiction magazines. This point is debatable, however, as the word fits in with a common Japanese method of abbreviation: combining the first two syllables of one word with the first two syllables of a second word (or, more precisely, the first two moras of each). Other examples of this include Pokémon (pocket monsters) and puroresu ("professional wrestling").

Stuff: Alexandra Roivas

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 11:38 PM

Alexandra Roivas, Eternal Darkness

In Eternal Darkness, one of the best GameCube titles and horror survival games, Alexandra is an advanced mathematics student at Washington University who learns that her grandfather has been murdered. After arriving at her grandfather's mansion, she discovers a mysterious book called the Tome of Eternal Darkness and becomes embroiled in a historic battle against evil forces. Scream queens in horror flicks are old hat, but Alex is a breath of fresh air for the horror survival games genre.
Pros: She's a brilliant, studious and brave numbers geek who's as gorgeous as she is smart.
Cons: She's begins to question her sanity when she begins reliving the experiences of people that have been dead for centuries.
Should be Played By: Veronica Mars! Kristen Bell can play a sexy math nerd turned amateur paranormal investigator in her sleep.

The scream queen Alexandra Roivas of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

Stuff: April Ryan

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 06:05 PM

April Ryan, The Longest Journey And Dreamfall

April isn't your typical 18-year-old alternative chick. No, this art student is a "shifter" that can move between worlds in the epic sci-fi fantasy adventure titles The Longest Journey and its sequel, Dreamfall. She's carrying some baggage, having been physically and emotionally abused by her father, and seems perpetually confused, especially when she's called upon to restore the balance between earth's dimensions. Still, April is one of the most complex, intriguing and powerful female characters around.
Pros: She's hot, single, artistically talented and walks around in her underwear a lot.
Cons: She talks way too much and has some serious daddy issues. What else is new.
Should Be Played By: Evangeline Lilly, as long as it doesn't conflict with her role on "Lost."

Stuff: Rayne

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 11:57 PM

Rayne, BloodRayne I And II

She's half human, half vampire and all red-headed hotness. Rayne is the protagonist of BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2, who also posed for Playboy Magazine in 2004. She spends her days sleeping and avoiding daylight and her nights slaughtering Nazi occult groups, evil vampires and other supernatural forces with giant, wrist-mounted blades and other weapons. Rayne also has crossover appeal; in addition to Playboy, she's appeared in a music video, a comic book series and a feature film (which was terrible).

Pros: She's got superhuman abilities, fiery red hair, a killer body and she never ages. Ever.

Cons: Her father is a vampire that raped her mother, she sucks blood and you can't take her to the beach. Ever.

Was Played By: Kristanna Loken of "Terminator 3" fame. Not a bad choice, but she isn't a natural redhead. And yes, it makes a difference.

The sexy half-vampire Rayne

Stuff: Princess Zelda

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 10:56 PM

The Legend Of Zelda Series

Princess Zelda is indeed legendary. A member of the Hyrule royal family, Zelda serves as the elusive damsel in distress for Link throughout the Legend of Zelda series. And like Link, we've seen different incarnations of Zelda throughout the series - some have been passive, Sleeping Beauty types while others have taken more active, powerful roles, such as in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. But regardless of role or screen time, Zelda is a true icon in the halls of video game greatness.
Pros: She's young, beautiful, related to royalty, and in many cases, quite powerful.
Cons: She has a habit of disappearing for long stretches, and her personality and identity seem to shift unexpectedly.
Should Be Played By: Alexis Bledel, because even though she's not blonde, there's just something about her eyes that evokes Zelda.

Stuff: Alyx Vance, Half-Life 2 And Half-Life 2 Episodes

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 10:54 PM

Alyx Vance is the kind of girl you can bring home to meet the parents. The daughter of renowned scientist Dr. Eli Vance, she's got brains. A member of the Combine resistance, she also knows how to kick ass and take names with her trademark pistol. She has a tough, strong-willed personality, which helps her bail Gordon Freeman out of trouble a few times, yet she's also vulnerable at times. The best thing about Alyx may be that she doesn't have huge breasts or impossible proportions held together by tight leather bikinis or other revealing outfits. She's just flat-out cute and charismatic, even in a simple gray hooded sweatshirt.
Pros: Alyx is highly intelligent, proficient with electronics and weapons, tough as nails, and extremely easy on the eyes in a girl-next-door kind of way.
Cons: Her outfit could use some work - especially the head band - and she's got a giant, overprotective robot named Dog.
Should Be Played By: Rosario Dawson or Jessica Alba. I can't decide, but either one would be a worthy choice.

Stuff: Lara Croft Tomb Raider

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 10:49 PM

Lara Croft, Tomb Raider Series

Is there any doubt that Lara Croft is the perennial video game heroine? Croft is a female Indiana Jones with Daisy Duke shorts, a tight tank top shirt and two pistols instead of a ragged hat and bullwhip. The buxom adventurer has become a cultural icon, appearing in more than 10 games, two feature films and several comic books and original novels.
Pros: Completely eye-popping and disproportionate features, a zest for adventure and great aim with the firearms.
Cons: She has some Daddy issues and has become increasingly violent as the Tomb Raider series has progressed.
Is Played By: Angelina Jolie, the absolute perfect choice.