STGCC 09 – Thoughts & Impressions

The Singapore Toy, Games and Comics convention came to a close yesterday. An event that officially lasted for 3 days, and which I went for 2 days excluding the preview night. Although some might say that the event is lacking is various aspects (i.e nothing much to see), I beg to differ. The event opened many new doors for me and was the perfect opportunity for a gathering of people with the same passions.

First off, I’m very lucky to have obtained a media pass for the event via LEon. Without it I probably wouldn’t have met a bunch of awesome people and had an exchange of many interesting ideas (though I was on listening mode most of the time). Truth be told, I only paid attention to what I was fond of (Nendoroids and Figmas) and did not pay much attention to the other toy news beyond the little bodies of them Nendoroids.

ze other bloggers!

In fact I’ve not heard or read most of their blogs or knew of their existence before meeting up. It was a real eye opener to the passion and interest of other hobbyist who are so dedicated and devoted to their other fields of interests.

Animax Shana.

Bumblebee Cosplay. Very nice!

STGCC to be is not just a convention where toys are lumped together in one accessible location for people to get their fix. While some, or should I say most, people would perceive the quality of the convention by what is being offered by the vendors, I would say that that is just not how it should be. While I personally find that most of the stuff there not up to my liking, because of my interest in anime and all things otaku, I was lucky enough to be able to meet people from the blogsphere who had the same interest as I do. In a spontaneous exchanged of online words, we met up and had a great time just sitted at one corner and toying around with each other’s stuff. Would not have been possible for this event since we are a bunch of lazy people who need something BIG like this to get our butts moving. It was especially awesome when people came over and asked what we were doing; Promoting GSC and Max Factory’s products of course!

Jason strikes back, last seen at Cosfest VII

Pokemon?

Awesome volcaloids!

Likewise I am the cosplayers definitely had a great time in the convention. I am sure that getting together at one place meeting people who enjoy the same activity as you fuels your passion even more. More so if you have virtually non-existent support from family and friends. It is a time where you can just let loose and be who you want to be without any reservations and queer stares from people. Likewise for my Nendoroid and Figma comrades. I used to have, and still do (though not to an extent as before), reservations on taking out my Nendoroids in the public due to the pressure of being looked at as a nutcase. I am sure most of us have this problem! But this feeling is virtually gone when you are with a bunch of people who does the same things as you do. Think of it as an exponential collective power! ^^

Dollfie power!

On the last day when I went back to take some photos of the cosplayers, I also saw a bunch of Dollfie enthusiasts just sitted at a corner and displaying their beautiful daughters. I am sure they got together and planned to crash the event with their daughters. Same thing as we did the day before!

Love this Joker cosplay!

Sandtrooper!

But sadly I wasn’t able to take good pictures of the cosplayers because of the crowd and the cramp walkways. Also half the cosplayers were on stage for some cosplaying competition. I did however, manage to grab a picture with a fellow awesome Sandtrooper whom I’ve also met over the blogsphere!

While most of the toys on display, beside the Domo-kun stuff, did not appeal to me much. I was particularly intrigued by the beauty of the Blythe dolls they had on display. What’s even more coincidental is that comrade Chun’s Blythe’s beauty entry was featured with the other finalist in the STGCC Blythe booth. What a small world we live in. Now after the exposure to Blythe dolls, I have an awakened urge to own one in the future.

Domos.

So is STGCC a success? I would certainly say it is. Any event which brings people of common interests together in real life and make make real networking over the internet is definitely a win for me. Who cares about the massive collection if you have if you have no one to share it with? The synergy or ideas when people come together is one that I really enjoy. I’ve learned much from my fellow Nendoroid and Figma lovers and is still amazed by the different personalities and how we originate from totally different walks of life, yet bonded together by a common interest.

So cute!

I started blogging about Nendoroids 6 months ago as my semester break started, and along the course of this half a year, I’ve met many awesome people, and in a sense, felt that I’ve learned more that what is taught during my management degree course. Of course when I started taking an interest in nendoroid photography, I was quite at a loss and wondered if there was anyone that shared the same interest as I did since my real life friends did not share the same interest. But over the months I slowly found out a world out there that I could talk “nendo” with ^^!

“Wake up!! The event has ended. Time to go home Kyouka-sama!”

What I urge people to do is find what you like to do or collect, and be shy with your hobby. Nowadays I have no qualms taking out my little Nendoroids during family gatherings and explaining to them little kids that my nendos are not edible! Of course, don’t neglect your real life commitments when indulging in your passion!

Nyaaaan

I hope that in the near figure, I’ll meet more people who are interested in what Nendoroids and Figmas in events such as this! Follow me on Twittersphere!