This morning I awoke, did my morning thang, then proceeded to my computer and Igoogle to see if there was anything new and interesting in the gaming world. What I found, was intriguing and entertaining to say the least.
I stumbled across a fun looking game trailer on GameTrailers.com. While there my eye was caught by an interesting link and I just had to click; because, yes, I am one of those people who starts at a site, and ends up in Timbuk-friggin-tu.
Basically, I went from a game trailer, through many twists, turns and Google pages, to end up at Cosplay.com.
Cosplay: short for "costume play ", is a type of performance art whose participants outfit themselves, with often-elaborate costumes and accessories, as a specific character. Characters are usually sourced in various Japanese and East Asian media, including mango, anime, comic books, graphic novels, video games, and fantasy movies.
What I was interesting in today was the video game aspect of cosplay. Nearly every video game costume worn for any convention, party or free time shenanigans is based off of an RPG - Mainly, Final Fantasy. I searched websites and Google Images for a long time, too long, looking at the different characters and quality of costumes.
I am intrigued by the time and money it takes to make the costumes, and the motivations behind it. One of my friends goes to a weekly cosplay party. They dress up and reenact scenes from their favorite mangas and anime series. I also loved the outfits I saw at BlizzCon. When you get passed the women who only wear the costumes to scream LOOK AT ME!! the craftsmanship and attention to detail are amazing.
But I know there is more to it than just really well made outfits. It is a life-style for some people. Much like I spend my $15 a month to play WoW, these cosplayers can spend hundreds of dollars per costume.
(I had been debating the idea of dressing up for the next BlizzCon. I do not want to be another spandex-wearing, male-attention-whoring, female; but I would be so down to dress up like a resto druid tree... or Thrall. Hehe.)
In my mind, the motivation behind dressing up would be the fantasy and fun in being able to be someone else for a day - A romanticized video game heroine! But it would be short lived, and soon I would want to get back in to my comfy pajama pants.
A lot of my friends giggle at the idea of cosplay, or can not fathom the reason behind it, while others get angry at me if I dare to question their sanity!
My main question, and reason for this article was to ask others out there why they cosplay. What are your opinions on it?
Happy Gaming,
CnC
