I had this discussion one too many times, so here goes my opinion:
Basically, people put costumes on (cosplay or not) for two main reasons:
1- Trying to reproduce as faithfully the character as possible;
2- Just for fun.
A good part of cosplayers don't care if they are too fat, too short, don't have the right face, don't look like famouse actor/actresses, etc.
They only do it because they like the character and wanted to join the fun.
To take pics of them or not is the photographer's own decision, and of course there will always be critics. But some people gets waaaaay too crazy about it... which kinda reminds moralist rants about tattoos, long hairs, leather clothing or rock music... :P
In the mix, yes, there are attention whores, people who don't have a clue about what they are doing, people who don't put much effort or just decided to use a costume one day before the event and "improvised" and stuff like that.
But IT IS harmless fun overall.
We might get some scary results, but it's only a matter of adapting to the idea.
I mean, really, for most of them it's not like the event grounds is a beauty/cosplay contest or something.
And in the end, there will always be good looking and fugly people out there...
On the gaming side, it's just the same as playing plastic instruments on a game compared to playing real instruments on a live show. Some people look lame, some look cool, but they are all just trying to have some fun...
Cosplayers will always be misunderstood. It's pretty common for people to judge cosplayers because the costumes don't look right, isn't as good as he/she wanted it to be, so that must mean the people wearing them are freaks, virgins, morons, weird or whatever.
Isn't it a treat of our modern society to judge the book by it's cover anyways?
But oh well, if you wanna check some good cosplaying (IMHO at least), here: [xspblog.com]
Forgive me Kotaku overlords if this constitutes spamming... T_T'
Sigh....white middleclass attention seekers trying desperately to look as cute or entertaining as their Japanese counterparts!
Its really sad and pathetic to see some librarian looking gap year student to trying to perform at a level that takes skill, dedication and...often....natural beauty!
and why o why o why do fat people try to pull off non fat cospaly!If you have a Wario build DO NOT dress as Luigi (for example)!
@keyrat: Sometimes when grabbing a picture of a random cosplayer when you're surrounded by hundreds of people you don't have time to take it with a proper camera, just a quick snap with a phone - and as this isn't really a 'Press event' as you say it is, it's a public convention, so there are a LOT of people there. I think for a gallery of cosplayers, the picture quality is perfectly fine.
If you'd care to look at the stuff Brian and Michael have posted in terms of news in their roles as press members at gamescom, it's to Kotaku's usual good standard of quality. No need to tear them down because of a trivial gallery post.
@BasedOnLuck:
For some odd reason, that girl on the right looks exactly like what I imagine Navi looks like. It's something with that smile - you'd be walking, trying to sort your thoughts, and you say: ..so does the conduct of the inhabitants of the land really change the fact that Princess Zelda is a despot.. And Navi goes: "Look! Log!"
Maybe my gaming culture isn't what it used to be, but I have no idea who half these people are supposed to be dressed as.
There's a lot of disturbing shit in this gallery...
Not to worry, it's not just you. In some cases I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't dressed as anybody, but instead tried to just have a theme to adhere to.
@NoHoldsBarred: I thought the TF2 guys were awesome, they even went the extra mile with the intelligence suitcase with actual things from TF2 sticking out of it.
I think the idea of "booth babes" is outdated and something the games industry would be better off moving away from. It's degrading to the women modelling, as well as the ones working in the industry. Plus, it only further spreads the "mid 90's stereotype" of all gamers being mid-teen males.
People should be attracted to a game for it's unique story and gameplay, not because there's boobs surrounding it (with the exception of hentai games).
@2c-b: Here's the paradox though: Sites like Kotaku posts articles about City of Heroes strictly on the basis that a pair of models are wearing costumes. Many other sites often create 'Booth Babe collections' which, if internet hits are anything to go by, get pretty well looked at. Each and every view is publicity to the company that hired them.
Until that stops happening, they will keep hiring.
Also, am I really making fun of them so much as making fun of the fact the costumes are kind of cheap looking and it's a pretty common staple of game marketing? Touchy, aren't we?
08/23/09
Hey, I can see myself in your pants...
No seriously, I'm not even trying to pick you up... just making an observation-- LOOK!
08/23/09
08/23/09
08/23/09
Also were these pictures taken with a cellphone camera? O_o
08/23/09
08/23/09
Basically, people put costumes on (cosplay or not) for two main reasons:
1- Trying to reproduce as faithfully the character as possible;
2- Just for fun.
A good part of cosplayers don't care if they are too fat, too short, don't have the right face, don't look like famouse actor/actresses, etc.
They only do it because they like the character and wanted to join the fun.
To take pics of them or not is the photographer's own decision, and of course there will always be critics. But some people gets waaaaay too crazy about it... which kinda reminds moralist rants about tattoos, long hairs, leather clothing or rock music... :P
In the mix, yes, there are attention whores, people who don't have a clue about what they are doing, people who don't put much effort or just decided to use a costume one day before the event and "improvised" and stuff like that.
But IT IS harmless fun overall.
We might get some scary results, but it's only a matter of adapting to the idea.
I mean, really, for most of them it's not like the event grounds is a beauty/cosplay contest or something.
And in the end, there will always be good looking and fugly people out there...
On the gaming side, it's just the same as playing plastic instruments on a game compared to playing real instruments on a live show. Some people look lame, some look cool, but they are all just trying to have some fun...
Cosplayers will always be misunderstood. It's pretty common for people to judge cosplayers because the costumes don't look right, isn't as good as he/she wanted it to be, so that must mean the people wearing them are freaks, virgins, morons, weird or whatever.
Isn't it a treat of our modern society to judge the book by it's cover anyways?
But oh well, if you wanna check some good cosplaying (IMHO at least), here:
[xspblog.com]
Forgive me Kotaku overlords if this constitutes spamming... T_T'
08/23/09
Its really sad and pathetic to see some librarian looking gap year student to trying to perform at a level that takes skill, dedication and...often....natural beauty!
and why o why o why do fat people try to pull off non fat cospaly!If you have a Wario build DO NOT dress as Luigi (for example)!
08/23/09
08/23/09
@pinshot:
08/23/09
08/23/09
08/23/09
08/23/09
08/23/09
But, sometimes, they just look bad.
08/23/09
08/23/09
If you'd care to look at the stuff Brian and Michael have posted in terms of news in their roles as press members at gamescom, it's to Kotaku's usual good standard of quality. No need to tear them down because of a trivial gallery post.
08/23/09
08/23/09
08/23/09
#32 and #5 "sexy"
#21 and #34 "stupid"
08/23/09
lol. 19: "Objets trouvés".
08/23/09
08/24/09
For some odd reason, that girl on the right looks exactly like what I imagine Navi looks like. It's something with that smile - you'd be walking, trying to sort your thoughts, and you say: ..so does the conduct of the inhabitants of the land really change the fact that Princess Zelda is a despot.. And Navi goes: "Look! Log!"
#8: "Off camera shot".
08/23/09
There's a lot of disturbing shit in this gallery...
08/23/09
Not to worry, it's not just you. In some cases I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't dressed as anybody, but instead tried to just have a theme to adhere to.
08/23/09
And is that the scout's Mother? wow, that's some valve dedication right there.
08/23/09
08/23/09
08/23/09
It would be better with a red spy next to Scout's mom.
08/23/09
08/23/09
HOWEVER, NICE NERF BAT SCOUT!
07/24/09
People should be attracted to a game for it's unique story and gameplay, not because there's boobs surrounding it (with the exception of hentai games).
07/24/09
Until that stops happening, they will keep hiring.
07/24/09
I always hated that. It was so ridiclious looking. I know you're just striking a heroic pose but NOBODY IS AROUND YOU ARE IN AN EMPTY ROOM STOP THAT!
Also, Zzz models in uninspired costumes. Not impressed.
07/24/09
07/24/09
wat.
07/24/09
Also, am I really making fun of them so much as making fun of the fact the costumes are kind of cheap looking and it's a pretty common staple of game marketing? Touchy, aren't we?