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feature :: supanova brisbane 08 - day 1

SupaNova Brisbane 08 - Day 1

Phil takes us on a tour of day 1 at SupaNova in Brisbane, with a particular focus on the video game contingent

Day 1 (Phil) | Afterparty | Day 2 (Yug)

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There's only one thing worse than having to wake up early to go to work. It's waking up early to go to something fun. Think about it! On any day pre-fun, you want to sleep in, relax, and take it easy before enjoying the fruits of the forthcoming activities. Waking up and being tired on a weekday work isn't nearly as bad - you already expected to be miserable at work, but being miserable because of fatigue when a whole day's fun was planned? That suck diddly-ucks.

So I woke up at 8 to make it to the first day of Supanova Brisbane by 10. Ungodly hours, I know. I cruise up to Yug's doorstep half an hour late, get an earful of abuse which I ignore, then we all merrily walk to the RNA Showgrounds to attend the biggest geek-fest of the year.

In attendance was myself, Matt, Yug, SniperXtreme and teashades from the AG forums. Yugs mate Frith was on hand for his superb blurry photojournalism skills, and I was merely there to check out the cosplay.


The line to get in was huge and went around the block


We arrived just as the doors opened, and as members of the media we didn't have to wait in line like the rest of the chumps. I found Yahtzee somewhere halfway down the line, but didn't offer to wait with him, instead offering fake condolences. I don't hide the fact that I'm better than everyone else. Apparently even more so than someone who is world famous and makes a shitload more money than I do.

Anyway, upon entering we were met with the standard garbage freebies from EB Games, and I was initially impressed at the size of the convention. This was my first Supanova, and apparently it was the biggest one by far. However, it was deceptively empty - at least half of the booths on show were merely retailers in a different location. EB, JB Hi-fi and Madman were all represented, along with a wide selection of independent online stores. Aside from EB Games and Jb Hi-fi (which sold the same stuff at the same prices as regular stores), all the smaller booths sold pretty much the same stuff. Yawn.

The plan was - Matt and Yug were to host a panel with a number of local developers about how to get into the games industry. Jolly good, then. Myself, Yahtzee, Matt B (Yahtzee's roommate) and teashades watched most of it, and the room filled up pretty nicely despite a rather dull start. I didn't really pay any attention tot he panel, because Catwoman decided to sit in the row behind me. Shouldn't she be out causing trouble instead of learning about which Brisbane tertiary institutions offer beginner programming courses?


Yug and Matt hosting the panel featuring William Docherty and Don Kirkland (THQ Studio Australia), Theron Miles (Krome Studios) and Adrian Cook (Wildfire Studios)


After the panel, we were pretty much free to roam the Supanova convention, which consisted of pretty much all I described earlier. Booth-stores. We had some pizza, then wandered outside where most of the badass anime heroes and video game superstars were lining up at the ATM and buying hot chips. It's a pretty funny sight watching Dante and Squall getting annoying when they can't remember their PIN number to withdraw twenty bucks. Just smash the stupid machine open with that giant-ass sword!

The star of the show really was the cosplay. It was universally excellent, with a high number of hot women in hot costumes. Insert obligatory hottie picture....NOW!


Phil getting sandwiched between two cosplayers


The biggest star at the show was Spike Spencer, who is well-known for his portrayal of Shinji Ikari in the greatest anime series ever created - Neon Genesis Evangelion. He has also contributed to a number of other games and anime, but these are inconsequential when compared to the awesomeness of Shinji. He was to be on a panel with two other other hottie voice actors (who I've never heard of), and the second it was announced over the loudspeaker, I made my way down to the room where it was to be held. Upon arriving, the room was already full, and the stinky, nerdy Supanova "security" (aka fifteen year-old volunteers) were turning attendees away because it was a fire hazard. Way to organise a great show, Supanova coordinators.

And that was pretty much it! By this time Yug had already left, and he headed down to the local for some beer without telling anybody. There were no more noteworthy events to be held throughout the day, and we couldn't move anywhere because Yahtzee was continuously mobbed by fans wanting a picture and autograph. Sucks to be him. Asshole.


The boyz - Matt B, Yug, Phil, Matt and Yahtzee


I bought a new Evangelion figure and met Spike Spencer for an autograph. He seemed like a pretty cool guy, but our steamy, intimate time together was short-lived. We watched a fake wresting match from the AWF (Australian Wreslting Federation - cheap and nasty version of the WWE), which was surprisingly good, despite the bogus announcer. It was a three-way match, and the guys did a pretty good job of hamming it up and subsequently laying some fake smackdown. This was probably the most enjoyable "event" of the day.

By mid-afternoon, we were sick of the room and everyone in it. Most of us went our separate ways, only to meet back up at Yug's joint for the after-party.

Overall I had a pretty good time, but Supanova could definitely improve. The attendance was shockingly huge, so for next year I expect at least twice the number of activities. Anything less will be a bore. Too many people were simply standing around, and it definitely needs more of a games showing. Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft should all have individual sections, along with a giant lounge area with drinks, TVs and games - and more than one ATM. Seriously, the line was way too long. It takes ages for just one moron to fumble with the keypad only to find out they are simply checking their account balance, let alone one hundred.

At this stage, Supanova results in you paying $20 entry to pay more money at various booths for stuff than can be bought elsewhere for cheaper. Sure, it's not as "fun", but get with the program. Supanova could be so much more, and I really hope they pull together some big stars, big games and big fun for next year.




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