The Dread Machine
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We’re back from New York ComicCon, with pics!
🕑 Added 2023-10-17 17:24:06 +0000 UTCLast week, I embarked on a pop culture pilgrimage.
New York ComicCon is where fandoms collide and an insane amount of creativity is on full display, from the art (which is literally everywhere) to the elaborate costumes people wear. With my very first Professional badge in hand (around my neck, actually), I set off to explore potential game design connections...and maybe also see Katee Sackhoff in person (but from a distance, because in my brain, that's somehow less weird than getting an autograph like a normal fan).
Unfortunately, gaming representation was disappointingly sparse, and eleventh-hour schedule updates made attending anything almost impossible. However, the costumes and our random excursions made the trip worthwhile.
The Speed Networking Saga
Monica and I had two reasons for attending NYCC this year: the Speed Networking sessions and the fact that we qualified for Pro badges. Neither of us are fans of forced interactions with strangers, especially in a networking setting, but we were prepared to attend and swap our fancy new business cards with other weirdos. Alas, whether due to a parallel universe mix-up or signage snafu, Monica and I circled the area, never finding wherever we were supposed to be, ultimately missing the networking event—assuming it actually happened. (We’re pretty sure it didn’t.)
It’s okay though, because one of my favorite game publishers, Free League Publishing, had a small booth. After seeing their booth at GenCon, which was massive and absolutely mobbed with people, it was weird to see hardly anyone stopping at this tiny little space staffed by the writer of Pirate Borg and his brother. I didn’t get to meet Limithron (the writer), but I did introduce myself to his brother, express how much I love Pirate Borg, and exchange cards with him. So, technically, I did a networking all on my own!
At GenCon, this meeting and brief discussion about RPG design would never have happened because their booth was absolute chaos, so I appreciate that NYCC attendees didn’t realize they were in the presence of indie gaming royalty.
Hidden Treasures
Jason and I discovered a universe tucked inside Printed Matter—a non-profit shop stuffed to the ceiling with indie books and zines.
This is where I found my new obsession: The Taxidermist’s Handbook by Alissa Bennett. I love true crime and books that read more like journals. Alissa’s collection of essays, written in the form of letters to dead and/or criminal recipients, scratches both of those itches.
I also picked up Ronit Porat: Hunting in Time after briefly flipping through the display copy. It’s still in shrink, though. I’ll update you once I crack open my copy.
Can we talk about the Tamagotchis? I’ve been dying to talk about the Tamagotchis.
Hell yes for pocket-sized nostalgia. I loved Tamagotchi’s booth, which was essentially a very colorful queue to the register lined with Tamagotchi displays.
This year, Tamagotchi released some special editions, including one for Jurassic Park’s 30th anniversary, which I snagged immediately, along with a Tamagotchi Uni.
Of course, I had to surrender them both to the children I purchased them for as soon as I arrived home. Said children are, however, making me super jealous, and I’m annoyed that I didn’t buy myself one. (Not that anyone asked, but the Jurassic Park version, which is a Tamagotchi Nano, looks a lot cooler than the fancy, full-color Tamagotchi Uni.)
The Best Cosplay of NYCC23 (imo)
See the crappy pic of the Death Note cosplay. I did my absolute best to get a good shot, but the cosplayer was understandably surrounded by other attendees for pictures. Because they were standing at the con's main entrance, our presence caused a bit of a crushing situation, so I had to get out of there. The cosplayer's attention to detail was astounding, and I didn't see anything else that came anywhere close to that level of effort. You can see a brief video of the Death Note cosplayer here.
Things I Bought
Dementia 21 box set. I have no clue what this manga is about, but as soon as I saw the art and heard "arthritic superheroes," I was sold.
A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll. Again, I saw the art and decided I needed it.
Squishy plushies from Tokidoki. I could tell you they were gifts for my children, but that would only be partially true. (I haven't outgrown my love for squishy, soft, cute things.)
A Sonic Mystery Box. This purchase led to one of those awkward exchanges, where the vendor kindly asks if you're a Sonic fan, and you say, "Yeah," but then clarify, "but this is for my sons." I'm not sure why it was important for me to explain that I haven't been into Sonic since it was on Sega Genesis, but I did, because I'm insufferable, and for some reason, I object to being misidentified as a current, active Sonic fan.
Things I Didn't Buy
Obscenely priced dioramas. I showed incredible restraint at a booth featuring insanely detailed masks and dioramas. When I saw the Cyberpunk 2077 models, I almost caved, but after spending several long minutes staring (drooling) and trying to figure out where I would safely keep and display them in a house full of destructive children, I settled for taking some pictures.
Two books other people bought before I could get to the booth. I was prepared to drop money on the new Cyberpunk 2077 novel, No Coincidence, and The Horizon, but both were sold out!
Fudge...oh my god, fudge. The only reason I didn't leave NYCC with a 20-pound brick of The Incredible Fudge is because the line was so long. (This isn't a testament to my restraint so much as it is evidence of my impatience.)
A photo op with Susan Sarandon and Tim Curry. This is my one major regret. My friends were right; I should have done it.
Central Park, Artechouse, and Chelsea Market
I spent an entire day wandering around Central Park, taking pictures. (This is a betrayal my butchered feet still haven’t forgiven me for. My bloody, blistered toes are being held together by a carefully constructed Band-Aid framework even now.)
The following night, Jason and I traveled in the cold, rainy weather to Artechouse in Chelsea, where we both got very drunk while watching the mind-blowing light show, Beyond the Light. The show explores science and technology, but if I had to sum it up, it was like witnessing an acid trip. (It's important to note that I've never done acid, LSD, or any other hallucinogens, so my understanding of the experience is tied to what I've seen in movies and television.)
In short, it was awesome.
What Jason and I didn’t realize is that Artechouse’s exit brings you right into Chelsea Market, a whimsical, chaotic ass place neither of us would have chosen to visit while drunk.
I don’t really know how else to explain this, but it was like stumbling into Diagon Alley at Universal, and I’m convinced there’s an entire creative team that oversees every aspect of Chelsea Market’s design. It felt very much like it was orchestrated by Disney. Maybe the booze had something to do with it, but I grew up in a tourist trap, and Chelsea Market smells like a tourist trap in ways that made me doubt its authenticity while also appreciating the effort it takes to make people believe the space happens organically. (It doesn’t. It just can’t. I plan to Google this to death when I’m done working today.)
We ended up ducking into an Asian restaurant to eat and sober up. Maybe it was a Thai place? I can't remember, because I was so obsessed with the interior design. The mural and the bar looked like something straight out of Night City. I was sad about the lack of Cyberpunk 2077 representation at the show, but stumbling into this restaurant made up for it. (Update: I found it! The restaurant was Thai! Ayada in Chelsea Market.)
In Conclusion…
Did I see Katee Sackhoff? No, because I couldn't find the area where she was signing autographs and posing with fans...but I did see Sean Astin from about 30 feet away, which was wild. (You'll be pleased to know that I squashed the temptation to shout "Stranger Things did Bob Newby dirty! BOB NEWBY FOREVER!" It wasn't easy. RIP Bob.)
While NYCC was fun to attend, as an experienced convention attendee and speaker, I would not consider ReedPop, the company that organizes NYCC, particularly good at their jobs. I had a fun time, but their messy tech and poor attendee outreach have ensured I won’t be attending any cons of theirs in the future. (I do have my eye on Pax Unplugged, though!)
This week, I'm back in my office, working on the finishing touches for Issue 3.4. The cover this quarter is absolutely stunning, and I can't wait to show it off. Once that issue is done, Kanishk and I will be focusing all of our attention on Plane, our first solo RPG, which is expanding every time I open the file.
Plane's rules and core prompts are done, but before we release the print & play beta to Patreon and Ko-fi supporters for testing, we're going to create a free, standalone introductory adventure that contains some guardrails, to get people familiar with the rules and the universe. We decided to call it "Orientation," and we plan to structure it like a new employee's training session. We're almost done with the Coworker Directory, where profiles for all of the game's supporting characters can be found. I'll be posting that here as soon as we're finished!
