Monday, August 9, 2010

Site Business: August Schedule for AtLA Mondays, Otakon Report

A couple of site business items:

  • I will not be able to post an AtLA Monday tonight. Rather than keep on making and breaking promises, for the month of August, I'm going to have to go to AtLA every-other-Monday. So, expect "The Blue Spirit" next Monday, and "The Fortuneteller" August 30.
  • I was a guest on Viga the Otagal's podcast to talk about Otakon 2010. So if you've ever wondered if I sound as nerdy as I write (answer: I sound even nerdier), check it out.
  • If you want a shorter summary of my thoughts on Otakon: They've gotten too big to keep being a disorganized bunch of unprofessional buddy-buddies whose immediate reaction to any criticism is to circle the wagons and protect their own. They need to be more open and communicative with the attendees and less defensive when they screw up. Also, the con has a very strong focus on guests, which is fine if that's what you're into, but personally I'd much rather hear a bunch of fans debating the philosophical implications of LeLouch's powers than meet his voice actor. That goes double if it's the American voice actor. Otakon just doesn't seem to care about fan-generated programming, and it shows -- I had much, much more downtime than at Anime Boston.

1 comment:

  1. Nan Desu Kan had a fail like you describe last year, but they figured out that if they get a good old otaku's club, and react defensively and stupidly when someone goofs up, they will lose a lot of attendance and a lot of face. They improved that situation dramatically, though. Here's hoping Otakon can do the same.

    Of course, the difference is a six thousand person con versus a twenty-four thousand person con... o.0

    I'd like to see more fan-based content, too. I have little interest in meeting voice actors, though a little more for Japanese guests, just because it's usually their voices I hear rather than the US ones (I'm a subtitle snob).
    I wonder what it takes to set that up. NDK isn't the only con I go to, just the biggest - one of the little ones may have more room for experimental content rather than the tried-and-true panels and guests.

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