Topic: Vid Chicks

Hotties: Japanese Cosplay Chicks

Saturday, September 15, 2007 - 02:31 PM

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").

Hotties: Tomb Raider Anniversary Trailer

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 06:45 PM

Hotties: Shining Dragon Video Trailer

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 06:38 PM

Hotties: Zoe Castillo

Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 06:18 PM

Zoe Castillo, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

Is it actually possible to make a more attractive and alluring female character in the Longest Journey series than April Ryan? Gamers can debate who is the better heroine of the two, but at the very least, we can agree that Zoe is a worthy successor to April. Okay, so Zoe's a college dropout. So was Albert Einstein, not to mention Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. She's fiercely loyal, clever and she can handle herself in a fight.

Pros: Zoe is a heartbreaking cutie that, like April Ryan before her, tends to walk around in her underwear.

Cons: She's kind of a slacker and she may pull the whole "let's just be friends" line on you, so be warned.

Should be Played By: Natalie Portman, an absolute no-brainer and the only logical choice as far as I'm concerned.

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."