Sets of Interesting Things: ComicCon Asia

3/26/2018 - 9:25 PM - GMT+8

Note: First off, I won't go off-tangent on Manny Pacquiao, who the event organizer is, etc. I am reviewing based on how fun the event was, not on how correct, wrong, or insulting it is

With all the controversies, cancellations, and crazy stuff (especially that 4 hour long line on the first day). ComicCon Asia did a surprisingly decent job on their 2nd day. With this year being ComicCon Asia's debut, I can say that it has potential if it continues and improves in the future.

The fact that they were able to invite amazing guests, like the 4 Overwatch voice actors/actresses is a notable feat in itself. Despite the price, a great many (myself included) attended this convention to meet/see/get a photograph/get an autograph from Carolina Ravassa (Sombra), Feodor Chin (Zenyatta), Anjali Bhimani (Symmetra), and/or Jen Cohn (Pharah).

The event also had a 'quest system' that acted like an event/activities guide via an app that can be downloaded on a smartphone. It tracks a user's progress through the badge that they gave out, and a user can track their progress through their phone.

Yup, these things can be scanned by the event people

What got me miffed with the app however, is that it did not remove the white space that stems from an autocomplete in its login page... :/ Seriously, just disable the autocomplete on the text form if removing the white-space is too troublesome. Took me around 3 hours to figure out what was wrong and why it wasn't accepting my input.

Despite that annoying part of the app however, they had some pretty cool prizes for achieving top score via the number of quests done; like a gaming laptop from Asus, and other random stuff. This was a very interesting way to keep your guests engaged in all the booths in the event, heck, it encouraged traffic towards the booths.

They also had some really cool booths, like a huge Potato Corner Booth with a game thing going on. Though I have to admit that they were lacking in the variety of booths, they were mostly mainstream stuff that we could just browse for outside the event venue.

Finally, there was the line. I don't know why but I just have to put it here.

Why was the line for pre-reg LONGER than the one for the on-site? Heck, there was a point where there was a line for pre-registered people, but no line for the on-site. I mean, it's an improvement from the 1st day, but yeah, needs a bit more tweaking... Maybe less writing, and more automation next time?

All in all, as a convention in its beginnings, it's expected for it to have mixed results. It was sorta lacking in the "geeky" booths (need more comic, figure, fan-made stuff booths). It also had a controversial start, and a chaotic entrance on its first day. But... It had good spacing between the booths (you won't get squished too much), free wifi (yes, a comicon asia wifi service was on), good guests(Overwatch ftw), an interesting 'event/activity guide', and some really good cosplay presented by the cosplayers who attended the event.

Here are some pics of some cosplayers I asked to take a photograph of: