So this year I made plans to travel out to a far away huge convention most of you might know as Otakon. This was my first time going to such a huge convention. Though I guess that many people spread out over the size of a convention center and part of a hotel seems a little cramped... but I guess it was no more crapped than NDK, funny how that works out right? So then lets explore why the con is worth while and.. well might not be so worth while.

So the first thing is a trend I have been seeing in conventions a lot recently. While there is plenty of anime to watch, almost 100% of it is subbed. Why is this a problem, well that is because so many of these titles have been dubbed. I am all for having subtitles on my simulcasts. However, I really feel it kind of kills the point of voice acting if we are just going to watch the subbed version. Yes the subbed version comes on the disk so what? I honestly have to wonder when it became popular for everyone to touch themselves because of their massive skills at reading subtitles. Otherwise the video rooms were great. I mean I have seen most of the anime they showed, but there was enough that I had not see so I could take a couple hour break when my feet started hurting.

On to the next major part of conventions, the panels. I cannot really ding panels when it comes to my lack of interest in them. I mean to be honest, for me, Friday was a bit boring, but I do not need to have another interpretation on how to live as a hobo in japan while I am visiting. What I will praise are the few panels that were interesting and educational. After all, what can be more educational than sitting around watching Sentai openings. That was pretty sweet, we need more panels like that one. One thing is for sure though, the industry panels at huge conventions like this one are actually cool. I can actually get excited to go to an industry panel at this convention because the number of people makes the panel worth going too. Funny how when a panel is more than just an hour of previews they can be fun. The only thing that made this kind of suck was the schedule.

I understand that there are a lot of panels and that a lot goes on. I also know there was probably a method to the madness of the schedule. However, this whole staggered schedule thing really throws a wrench into my plans. I mean really, there were so many panes that started on the :15 and would run an hour, but then there was another panel 45 minutes later that I wanted to go see. So I had to be rude and leave before a panel was over. That just got annoying after a while. I know that I would hate it if people left my panel because they needed to run across the convention center to get to their next panel. However, that is just how things work out when you have so many panels going on. Well unless it is Sunday, then the entire convention shuts down.... well that is the last day, but there was pretty much nothing going on during the Sunday block.

The only part of this convention that I am kind of on the fence about is the video game room. First they pull out a massive chunk of the center to make the game room. However, I am pretty sure that overall they only had about double the consoles and arcades that other smaller cons have. I know that having an open flowing room is a good thing. However, when I have to really struggle to get my chance on a console... that is where things get annoying. Plus what was with all the arcades? I am all for a couple that cost money, but why did DDR and Pump have to not be free? I do not know, otherwise they had a very good spread of systems and experimental games.

Then there were the random blockades, what the hell? I mean sometimes I totally understood. You needed to keep people from cutting in line or sneaking into the inside line, I get it. However, there were also plenty of other times when there were areas that were blocked off for no good reason that I could discern. It is one thing when there are plenty of alternate paths. However, this time around I had plenty of long detours to get around that got annoying after a while. Again, with a massive convention like this one there is probably a method to their madness... however.. I am not sure what it was.

One thing I did like is the fact that lines were almost useless in this convention. I mean that in a good way. All of the panel rooms were big enough that I would not have to wait more than 30 minutes in line and that is if I was really excited to get into a panel. Most of the time though I could just show up 10 minutes before the panel and hop in line and be just fine. I cannot say that certain other conventions that I am going to be attending in the future.

So overall, this was a pretty fun experience. Really I think the fact that the industry actually gives a damn about conventions with more than 10000 people attending really makes a difference. You get to see more and have more exclusives and stuff like that and it is awesome like that. So yeah I would recommend this convention for everyone. So why don't you make plans to go to it next year?