gamescom asia 2024 - Meet Guests Andrew Wincott and Shihori At The Entertainment Zone (19 and 20 October 2024)

Calling all gamers! gamescom asia will return to Suntec Convention Centre from 18 to 20 October 2024. Besides the industry-only events that will happen on the 19th, gaming fans can step into the Entertainment Zone, which is open to the general public on the weekend of 19 and 20 October 2024.

Tickets to the Entertainment Zone are available for purchase at this link: https://ga.bigtix.io/

Superfan tickets cost SGD 55 each, and with that you will get 20% discount on gamescom asia merchandise, and excluxive access to the show on 18 October 2024, besides entry on 19 and 20 October.

As for single day tickets, each entry costs SGD19 online, and SGD 25 onsite.

So, what is there to see and do at gamescom asia?? Here are a few things of what to expect at the event:

CAPCOM PRO TOUR 2024 SUPER PREMIERE SINGAPORE
Capcom will be back showcasing their upcoming games, and for those gunning to compete in e-sports, you can sign up for CAPCOM Pro Tour 2024 SUPER PREMIER SINGAPORE to show off your Street Fighter 6 skills! The competition is exciting to watch on the live stage with competitors flying in from different parts of the world.

More information on the competition can be found here: https://www.start.gg/tournament/capcom-pro-tour-2024-super-premier-singapore/details


COSPLAY COMPETITION
Cosplayers add colour to any geek event with their amazing costumes and showmanship. At gamescom asia, you can be on the main stage by taking part in the The Cosplay Runway Competition, organised in collaboration with Neo Tokyo Project. The judges for the competition are Charess, Vera Chimera and Angelus.

Interested cosplayers wanting to show off their talent and win amazing prizes, can sign up at this link - https://gamescom.asia/ent/b2c-cosplay. Registration ends on 1 September 2024, so hurry, if you want to join the competition!

As for the rest of us who are not cosplaying, the runway competition is super entertaining, and you get an eyeful of the level of creativity that these cosplayers have, in their attempts to bring a game character to life.

MAIN STAGE EVENTS AND SHOWFLOOR
Several main stage events are scheduled on both days to capture the attention of gaming enthusiasts. There are talks, behind the scenes panels, game teasers and more. On the showfloor itself, there are booths galore for you to explore.

Red Dot Diva recalls that a number of the booths last year was immersive and eye-catching. Ubisoft's entire booth was all about pirates because they were promoting Skull and Bones, and Capcom had a really huge screen showing off their game trailers. The showfloor itself had the best lighting and vibe that Red Dot Diva has ever seen after attending so many geek shows throughout the years.

As of now, some interesting guests have already been announced, with more to be revealed in the coming days.

Look out for BAFTA-winning ANDREW WINCOTT, who is the voice of Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3. Word is, there would be opportunities to have a meet and greet with him too.

Singer-songwriter SHIHORI, the voice of SPARKLE Melissa in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, as well as the singing vocals behind the ALLSTAR 2024 anthem “Night of Rhythm”, will also be at gamescom asia. Party with her during her live session on stage as she belt out your favourite game tunes.

GCL group will also be returning to gamescom asia, all geared up to feature their 2024 titles like JDM: Japanese Drift Master, Terratech Worlds, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.


INDIE WAVEMAKERS
There is also a special corner on the gamescom asia showfloor that is Red Dot Diva's personal favourite. It is the Indie Wavemakers section where independent game makers from the region come together to showcase their games. There is a wide range of game genres exhibited, and many of them are impressive in their design and ideas. You get an intimate experience with the game makers at their booths trying out their upcoming creations. Plus, the indie developers are also usually interested to get your feedback about your game experience.


Besides the things to do and see listed above, you can also get merchandise and goodies at the Doujin Market, check out or play some board games, and grab a bite at the food section if you get hungry! If you are a gamer, what are you waiting for? Go grab a ticket to gamescom asia now!



----------------------------

Curious to see what gamescom asia was like? Check out Red Dot Diva's Youtube video!

----------------------------

gamescom asia is the satellite event of Gamescom, the world's largest event for computer and video games and Europe's largest business platform for the games industry. Both events are organized by Koelnmesse, one of the world's largest trade fair companies.

For more information and the latest updates, visit Gamescom Asia website, or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Discord, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

----------------------------

If you enjoy my content, feel free to help keep the blog and other Red Dot Diva endeavours going via ko-fi. Thank you for your support!

Gamescom Asia 2023: A Snazzy Entertainment Zone With Capcom, Sony Playstation, Ubisoft, and more!

gamescom asia first in-person Entertainment Zone, which ran from 21 and 22 October 2023 at Suntec Convention Centre, .

Red Dot Diva checked out the show together with gamer buddy Edward yesterday on 21 October 2023. Even if you are not that into games, you will find the convention hall super eye-catching, with the colourful LED lights and brilliant wall-to-wall giant screens on the main and competitive stages. Gotta say, gamescom asia has probably the most gorgeous looking showfloor and stage setup that Red Dot Diva has seen so far in a local large scale festival.

In this year's show, there are over 100 games titles and over 200 board games for enthusiasts to try out. The latest AAA games showcased include Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PlayStation), and Capcom's Dragon's Dogma. Ubisoft had a fantastic looking booth hyping up their action-adventure pirate game, Skull and Bones. Gaming fans can also enjoy playing Just Dance 2024 (PlayStation), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (4Divinity), Atomic Heart (Epicsoft Asia), and Assassin’s Creed: Mirage (Ubisoft). And if you prefer indie games, there was a indie village with publishers from all over the world like Battlebrew Productions, Junkfish, Ogre Head Studios and Tantanmen Games.

Power Up With Gamescom Asia 2023: Top 3 Highlights Of The Entertainment Zone!

This year's gamescom asia runs its first in-person Entertainment Zone, from 21 and 22 October 2023, at Suntec Convention Centre.

Red Dot Diva checked out the show together with gamer buddy Edward yesterday on 21 October 2023. Even if you are not that into games, you will find the show hall really eye-catching with the colourful LED lights and grand wall to wall giant screens on the main and competitive stages.

Here is Edward's write-up on top 3 highlights of the Entertainment Zone!

Gamescom Asia - Grab Your Tickets For The Entertainment Zone!

Here's a reminder for the gamers out there. Have you got your tickets to this year's Gamescom Asia's Entertainment Zone? The consumer segment returns to a physical format from 20 to 22 October 2023, when Gamescom Asia's returns to Suntec Convention Centre.

Capcom Asia has already announced their presence at Gamescom Asia, and there will also be indie publishers showcasing their games. Other than the game publisher booths, attendees can enjoy watching e-sports on site, live panels on stage, play boardgames, buy merchandise, and take pics with cosplayers. Watch out for more exciting announcements as the gaming event of the year draws nearer.

Gamescom Asia 2023 - Capcom Announced For Inaugural B2C Entertainment Zone

Here is a piece of exciting news for this year's Gamescom Asia, which will be held from 19 to 22 October 2023 at Suntec Convention Centre. Capcom, one of the largest gaming developers and publishers of the world, has confirmed their participation at this year's inaugural B2C Entertainment Zone. The B2C zone will be held on 20 to 22 October 2023, with 20 October open to business visitors and a limited number of pre-registered fans only. Gaming enthusiasts will be very familiar with Capcom's best-selling series like Resident Evil and Street Fighter.

For the last two iterations of the gaming festival, the B2C segment had been scuppered due to Covid-19 social restrictions. The key B2C highlights in 2021 and 2022 were broadcasted mainly via Gamescom Asia's online shows PRIMETIME and STUDIO, and it was just not the same as having gaming fans gathering physically on site, where you can wear your favourite costumes, or meet your friends and bond together over the love for gaming.

Gamescom Asia 2023's Entertainment Zone To Shift To Physical Format (19 to 22 October 2023)

Gamescom Asia has officially announced their 2023 show dates! The premiere gaming convention in South-East Asia will run for 4 days, from 19 – 22 October 2023.

Last year, gaming fans from the region were extremely disappointed to learn that the Entertainment Zone (B2C) was only held virtually through 2 livestreamed shows. Despite that, Gamecom Asia 2022's Trade Zone hosted 88 exhibitors and sponsors, and received over 3,200 trade visitors from about 70 countries.

For this year's event, Gamescom Asia's organiser Koelnmesse Singapore has proclaimed that the Entertainment Zone segment will open its doors to a physical format. After all, Covid-19 multi-ministry task force has recently announced that Red Dot Island's Dorscon level will be lowered to Green. This signifies that the health risk of the Covid-19 disease is now considered mild on the island. Moreover, mask-wearing while on public transport is no longer mandatory. (YAY!)

Gamescom Asia 2022 - A Peek At The Physical Trade Zone

Gamescom Asia 2022 wrapped up its show last weekend. The premiere gaming convention for developers in South-East Asia ran from 20 to 22 October 2022. While the Entertainment Zone (B2C) was held online with 2 livestreamed shows, the Trade Zone (B2B) segment was held physically at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre. Red Dot Diva and her media buddy Gwen dropped by the show floor on 21 October (Saturday) for a quick walk-through.

The showfloor was targetted primarily for professionals from the gaming industry, with booths showcasing various game studios, gaming technology and peripherals. Ample space was allocated to provide opportunities for networking and making business connections.

Gamescom Asia 2022's Virtual Entertainment Zone And Where You Can Watch It

Gamescom Asia is only a week away! The premiere gaming convention will be held at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre from 20 to 22 October 2022.

Not gonna lie, Red Dot Diva was disappointed when Gamescom Asia 2022 announced that the B2C Entertainment Zone will be a fully online show this year. She had been hoping to be able to interact with fellow geeks on the show floor, while trying out new games at the various exhibitor booths. Still, the fact that the festival is set to go on despite globally challenging times, shows the industry's confidence about gaming in this region.

Gamescom Asia's industry segment, called the Trade Zone, will remain as an in-person event at Suntec. Over 80 exhibitors from 16 countries are geared up to showcase their games and expertise during the event, and industry attendees will be able to enjoy the exhibition area with scheduled panels on stage, trade conference, networking opportunities, and speed-dating sessions.

Gamescom Asia Returns With A Physical Entertainment Zone From 20 To 22 October 2022

Exciting times are ahead for gamers as Gamescom Asia will return to Red Dot Island from 20 to 22 October 2022 at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre! The city-state opened up for fully Covid-19 vaccinated visitors since early this year, which sets the stage for Gamescom Asia to host a larger physical Trade Zone, Conference, plus a physical Entertainment Zone for the first time. Last year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the convention was a hybrid experience with the Trade Zone and Entertainment Zone held virtually. Attendees were able to watch livestreams and on-demand videos to keep up with what was announced during the convention.

“We are delighted to have the commitment of global leading video game players for the event. This is testament to the increasing interest in the games market in Southeast Asia as well as in gamescom asia. With just three months before the event, the team is working hard to develop an exceptional experience for all trade visitors and the public alike. We are expecting many more companies to join us over the coming weeks in this widely anticipated event,” said Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director of Koelnmesse Singapore, the organiser of gamescom asia.

Gamescom Asia 2021 Presents The Heart of Gaming From 14 to 17 October

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, it has been awhile since a major entertainment-related convention is taking place in Red Dot Island. So, it is a wonderful feeling to have colour and excitement back in town with gamescom asia's first Asian version from 14 to 17 October 2021.

“We’re excited to finally launch the gamescom brand to the Asian market with gamescom asia 2021. We could have waited for 2022 to kick things off but the industry was craving for a place for interaction this year, and we wanted to provide gamers a glimpse of what the region had in store for them in the near future,” says Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director of Koelnmesse Singapore, the organisers of gamescom asia.

“For those who can make it to Suntec on 14-15 October for the event in Singapore, we are creating an extremely safe environment for in-person business interaction. All attendees will go through a non-invasive and highly accurate test before entering the event, which is a first for any event in Singapore. gamescom asia is proud to lead the way as a demo event and to help pave the path for other events to open in a safe manner in the very near future.”

The region's most anticipated gaming convention has a hybrid programme that consists of two zones - Trade and Entertainment. The Trade Zone has an in-person conference at Suntec Convention Centre from 14 to 16 October, with industry guests appearing live as well as online via the virtual platform Hubilo. There are segments called Games360, Mobile Gaming Summit, and UNconference featuring panels and technical dialogues featuring prominent industry guests from Riot Games, Microsoft Xbox Asia, Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix and more. The virtual conference on Hubilo also offers attendees networking opportunities and an exhibitor's area.

In addition, Mr. Alvin Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, will be gracing the event and giving an opening address at the Mobile Gaming Summit on 15 October 2021.

Gamescom Asia Launches Hybrid Event in October 2021

Back in 2019, Gamestart Asia, the premier gaming convention in South-East Asia, announced a collaboration with the gamescom team to launch their festival in Red Dot Island. gamescom, whose organiser is German company Koelnmesse, is the world's largest tech and gaming event.

The Asian edition was supposed to kick off in October 2020. But then... the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic happened, and it joined many other mass events that had to be postponed.

As everyone looks forward to “the new normal”, the eagerly anticipated event will debut with a hybrid format this year from 14 to 17 October.

Get on Facebook Live for AsiaPac Books' Singlit Den Online Event on 17 May 2020

Yesterday, local publisher Asiapac Books kicked off Singlit Comics Den together with collaborators Singapore Comic Con (SGCC), Kult and Buy SingLit.

The inaugural online event this weekend (16 and 17 May 2020) consists of a list of workshops by local comic book creators as well as live streams of book launches and meet and greets. It is such a great way to help the community remain connected with each other during the Covid-19 Circuit Breaker.

For Sunday's (17 May) schedule, there will be a series of free live streams via Facebook:

1400 hrs - Meet the creators: Sacred Guardians Singa
1500 hrs - Comic book launch: Elizabeth Choy
1600 hrs - Making comic books with Asiapac Books
1700 hrs - Discover the "POP" within you with Singapore Comic Con
1800 hrs - Launch party for Comix.sg, Singapore’s new online directory for comic creators

Rebranded Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) Shifts Dates to 7 & 8 Dec 2019!

The signs were already there during last year's Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention (STGCC). Remember the huge signage made out of post-its with the new name, near the food court? It was a hint of what's to come concerning the rebranding of Red Dot Island's main pop-culture show.

Since then, there has been a fair amount of hearsay with bits of information flowing through from exhibitors and those who signed up for booths at this year's Artist Alley. However, for most local fans, things have been kept on the low-down... Until last night. 

At an exclusive fan party held at retro gaming bar NINETEEN80, ReedPOP Singapore made three important official announcements to a group of about 25 specially invited fans. 

#1 - STGCC Has Been Rebranded as Singapore Comic Con (SGCC)
The event's lengthy name - Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention - has always been a tongue twister. Red Dot Diva noticed that guests usually fumble when they need to mention the show's name at a promotional video or during interviews. Many local folks (especially those who are not so hardcore) sometimes call it Singapore Comic Con for short.

Also, the new name is more in line with all the other pop-culture conventions that ReedPOP organises internationally, like New York Comic Con, Oz Comic Con, Seoul Comic Con and Indonesia Comic Con. ReedPOP assures that other segments like toys, will still have their presence at the show even though it is not mentioned specifically in rebranding.

The show's acronym/ hashtag itself though, is rather unfortunate. It is a running joke that SGCC stands for Serangoon Gardens Country Club, so... will there be a pop-culture mini golf competition at the show? Red Dot Diva thinks that will be quite a fun and novel idea. Hahaha.

Apparently, SGCC was chosen over SCC in order not to cause confusion for those who associate the latter's acronym with Singapore Comics Community.

EnBlock - Singapore's First Lego Convention to Launch on 19-21 April 2019

Something special for LEGO builders and collectors of Red Dot Island is happening in April. The EnBlock Brick Convention, is set to launch on Easter weekend April 19 to 21, at Funan Showsuite @ Hill Street.

Organized by the LEGO gallery and retail shop My Little Brick Shop, EnBlock is touted as the island's first Lego convention. Various builds by LEGO artists will be on display for fans to ogle at. Red Dot Diva is not much of a LEGO builder, but she is constantly amazed at how creative LEGO artists can be, especially the intricately-designed dioramas.

To gain entry into the brick convention, you would have to purchase a ticket.

Regular ticket for 1-day entry
SGD 4 (early bird price), SGD 6 
Access to the convention, bazaar, 1 lucky draw, and all activities and contests on a first-come, first-served basis
Link: https://shopee.sg/mylittlebrickshop/1930516210

All Access VIP 3-day pass
SGD 18
Access to the convention, bazaar, 3 lucky draws (1 on each day), and all activities and contests on a first-come, first-served basis
Link: https://shopee.sg/mylittlebrickshop/1930613049

Purchase a pass before 8 March, and you will also each receive a unique collectible for FREE - a personalized LEGO Peranakan Microfigure that is worth SGD 7.98.

Gamestart Asia 2018 - 5 Cool Things To Look Out For!

This weekend's Gamestart Asia 2018, South East Asia's premiere gaming convention, will be levelling up on a few areas.

There is an increased focus on industry related events with the launch of its Masterclasses on game art and design held in the last couple of days, which were led by experts Jacqueline Jocson and Carlo Arellano. During the convention itself, Gamestart Asia will also be holding workshops relating to building your own retro arcade machine and creating fun animations. These sessions are provided in collaboration with video production company, No Average Joe.

In addition, the arena of e-sports remains the major highlight, with the SEA Major 2018 hosting tournaments for 10 games, where international professional e-sports athletes will be competing for a prize pool of USD 50,000. Fans can get to watch their e-sports heroes in action, like Japan's Daigo Umehara, top female Tekken 7 player Tokido, home boy Ho Kun Xian and reknown multi-game champion Justin Wong.

Founder's Base will be back as well. This is where you can find the cutest, wierdest, quirkiest indie games built by local developers. Visit the area, try out the games there and vote for your favourite game at the Indie Awards. You will stand a chance to win a Wacom Intuos S BT tablet!!

Tabletop gamers will be happy to know that they are tons of opportunities to play their favourite games or try new ones. There are also cool prizes for grabs at The Gauntlet, where fans can show off their skills in a variety of games.

In addition, fans can shop at the the Doujin Market, and admire the awesome costumes at the Cosplay Runway. There is so many exciting things happening on both days, but if you are a casual gamer and are more interested in pop-culture/ entertainment, here is Red Dot Diva's pick of the Top 5 Cool Things to Look Out For at Gamestart Asia!

1. Meet Elise Zhang - Voice of Overwatch's Mei

The lovable voice actor from China will be at the convention meeting fans of the immensely popular game Overwatch during these times at the Gamestart Booth:

13 Oct - 3 to 4 PM
14 Oct - 1 to 2 PM

Photo prints are available at the Gamestart Booth as well. These cost $30 each. Limited meet and greet tickets are at $35 each, and you can bring 1 item for Elise to autograph.

Also, don't miss catching Elise on the main stage at 5:30 PM on 14 October.

STGCC 2018 - Adi Granov, Stephanie Hans, James C. Mulligan, Simone Legno and Reis O'Brien Announced as Guests

ReedPop sure took their time in announcing the third wave of STGCC 2018 guests, but the list was just released a few hours ago, and many of them are returning guests. These include more comic book guests, namely Adi Granov and Stephanie Hans.

Currently working exclusively for Marvel, Adi Granov is already familiar with fans, as he has been attending STGCC as a guest for a few years now. He is best known for his conceptual and illustrations in the MCU, which include design work for conceptual designer and illustrator on movies such as the "Iron Man" movies 1 to 3, "The Avengers", "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Black Panther".

It is nice to know that Stephanie Hans will be returning to STGCC as well. Her vibrant artwork (with a penchant for the colour red) has graced the covers of comic titles like Image Comics' "The Wicked and the Divine 1831", Dark Horse's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 12", and Marvel's "Jessica Jones" and "Ms. Marvel" - just to name a few!

Collage of artwork by James Mulligan

Also meeting the fans again this year's convention is Disney's official artist James C. Mulligan, whose ties with the Mouse has spanned over two decades! His art of well known celebrities and Disney characters are simply gorgeous. He also does very entertaining performances and live drawings on stage, as those who were at last year's STGCC can attest to!

On the local front, Mr Kiasu's creator Johnny Lau will be meeting fans and signing the 10th volume of the beloved comic book series at Action City's booth during the convention.

STGCC 2018 - Diva Chats with Mark Brooks about Han Solo and Star Wars' Toxic Fans

Artist Mark Brooks' eye-catching and vibrant artwork has graced the covers of many high-profile Marvel comic books like "Deadpool", "Secret Empire", "Avengers" and "The Amazing Spider-Man". He used to work exclusively for Marvel, but recently, he has been lured by DC Comics to be a variant cover artist starting with the iconic Detective Comics issue #982.

Mark Brook's lifelike rendition of the human figure is striking, especially for the female form. His drawings of female superheroes and villains show off their individual beauty and quirks, balancing strength and a kind of glowy softness.

When Red Dot Diva learnt that Mark Brooks was also asked to draw for Marvel's run on Star Wars comics, she thought that this was a brilliant choice, especially when he was asked to collaborate with writer Marjorie Liu to draw interiors for the "Han Solo" series.  

Mark Brooks will be back in town to meet fans at the Singapore Toy Game and Comic Convention on 8 and 9 September, Marina Bay Sands Expo. Red Dot Diva got in touch with him to chat about "Han Solo", his recent projects, and his thoughts on Star Wars being a hot bed for toxic fandom.

Red Dot Diva: This will be your 2nd time back in STGCC! Are you looking forward to do anything new in Singapore?
Mark: I’m really excited to be back! The last time I was there was 6 years ago.  I loved the city and the people so it will be great to get reacquainted. Mainly, I’m looking forward to eating the amazing food and do some general exploring. I’ll be coming into town a few days early just to do that.

Returning Guests for STGCC 2018 and Lego Area for the Harry Potter & Voltron Fans!

The Singapore Toy, Games and Comic Convention (STGCC) must be rather lucrative for comic book artists. Their booths are usually swarmed with fans from Red Dot Island as well as those who check in from countries around the region, where it is difficult to meet well-known comic creators face to face.

Coming back to this year's convention are last year's guests Frank Cho, Arthur Adams and Joyce Chin, as well as Agnes Garbowska! Fans who missed meeting them in previous shows, can have another chance to get their comics signed or request for commissions and sketches.

It was in 2015 when fan favourite Agnes Garbowska was a guest at the convetion. Her whimsical, uber-cute drawings were a hit, especially with the younger folks, and the lines at her booth were mostly 20 people deep most of the time! Her style of art shines in titles like "DC Super Hero Girls" (DC Comics), "My Little Pony" (IDW Publishing) and "Grumpy Cat" (Dynamite).

When we last met Frank Cho, he had just kicked off a new fantasy series called "Skybourne" with BOOM! Studios. The 5-issue comic series wrapped up in February this year. He is currently working on several other creator-owned projects, including "Guns & Dinos" with Image Comics and "War Witch" with novelist Tom Sniegoski for Big Wow Publications.

Veteran comic book artist Arthur Adams will be meeting fans again, bringing with him his knowledge of the industry and art that spans across various publishing houses, like Marvel, DC Comics, Image and Dark Horse. He also founded a creator-owned comics imprint called Legend together with Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, John Byrne. The imprint was published through Dark Horse Comics before it ceased in 1998. His creator-owned "Monkeyman and O'Brien" from the Legend days still exists in various crossovers.

Joyce Chin is like a senpai to aspiring women artists who want to enter into the field of comic book art. She has been drawing for comics since 1995 and has worked for several titles like DC Comics, Marvel, Top Cow and Dynamite, like Vampirella, Red Sonja, Spider-man, Witchblade and Wynonna Earp, which is based on the supernatural Western horror TV series.

Pop-culture Convention Watch: ComicCon Asia, Manila - Was It Worth Attending?

Last year, Red Dot Diva and her Geek Blogger Alliance pals spotted a dodgy looking promo video of a new pop-culture convention called ComicCon Asia held at SMX Convention Center, Metro Manila, on 24th & 25th March 2018. They wondered if the convention was for real, especially since Asia-Pop Comic Con (APCC) has managed to garner solid fan and vendor support in the last couple of years. Are these newbies ready to take on the competition? That initial promo video and their newly launched website did not inspire much confidence.

The organizers, PSL Entertainment (who had more experience with beauty pageants) and Nam Entertainment Group, had touted that the convention was supported by Manny Pacquiao as the Philippines’ tourism ambassador. This was one of their biggest mistakes. The controversial, religiously conservative sportsman, was known to have called gay people ‘worse than animals’.

Perception that the show was being a poor copycat of the internationally reknown San Diego Comic-Con was also evident in its choice of name and the similarity in the logo design.

In comparison to APCC, tickets for the ComicCon Asia were more expensive. A 2-day ticket cost PHP1,300 (SGD33) compared to APCC's 2017 ticket prices of PHP1,100 (SGD27) for a 3-day access. To be fair, considering that they did invite Marvel's "Generalissimo" Stan Lee, the photo and autograph opportunities for the fans would have been worth the ticket price. However, any pop-culture fan would know that Stan Lee is already 96 years old, and has been of poor health lately. Would you fly more than 24 hours to another country to attend a convention at that age? It was not a surprise then, due to another bout of pneumonia, Stan Lee's appearance was cancelled a week before the convention. Also, a week's notice was late for those who had already made travel arrangements, even though Cavaet Emptor.

That was not the end of ComicCon Asia's list of boo-boos. Here are some of them:

Gamestart Asia and Anime Festival Asia Form Alliance To Build More Awesome Content in Asia

Fans who enjoy gaming and anime are in for a treat this year and beyond.

SOZO, the organizer of Anime Festival Asia (AFA), Red Dot Island's largest Japanese pop-culture event, has joined hands with Eliphant, the owners of Gamestart Asia. The two companies intend to use their newly formed alliance to power up on more gaming, anime and cosplay content in both of their shows held within the region. They have even moved to a new office premise together in order to consolidate their efforts.

As previously reported, Gamestart will be expanding their show to Indonesia this year. Dates have not yet been announced for the new show.

As for AFA, there will be plans to add more gaming activities and content in their events. 2018 is also AFA's 10th anniversary for the Red Dot Island show, so there is definitely are going to be a host of celebratory activities happeing at the convention!

“Southeast Asia emerges as one of the fastest growing markets for gaming and content, we recognised that both AFA and GameStart audiences have diverse interests in both gaming and anime. With our partnership, we hope to work closely to bring even more exhilarating content and holistic experiences to both fanbases across the regions,” said Shawn Chin, Managing Director of SOZO and founder of Anime Festival Asia.

“We are extremely excited to be able to bring our event to various regions, with the support of our partners. We are determined to support the regional gaming industry, especially in esports and game development. We are positive that our partnership will provide more events and enable us to bring awesome content to both gamers and anime fans,” said Elicia Lee, founder of GameStart Asia and CEO of Eliphant Pte Ltd.

It is not too early to start working on your cosplays, and saving money to attend both Gamestart Asia and AFA later this year. Also, remember to keep a look out for more exciting announcements about their calendar of events on both events' official channels in the coming weeks!