AnimeCon at Great America

[VictimX]

I'm sure most of you know about AnimeCon at Great America so will it be this year? They had it for the last two years, will they have it for a thrid? The event was not set up right last time, half of the people who said they would show up for playing anime came. It was a mess really but they showed alot of anime and I like it. I went from one theater to the other all day just watching anime. Dose anyone have any info on it this year?

[Yami]

I'm sure most of you know about AnimeCon at Great America so will it be this year? They had it for the last two years, will they have it for a thrid? The event was not set up right last time, half of the people who said they would show up for playing anime came. It was a mess really but they showed alot of anime and I like it. I went from one theater to the other all day just watching anime. Dose anyone have any info on it this year?

The last i checked Paracon wasn't going to be this year. It was really fun last year too T_T maybe i ran into you! XD

I think i might try to e-mail Great America and ask them about Paracon for this year ^^

[DayDreamerNessa]

if they DID have it again this would be the 4th year.

i'd much rather just go and hang out at the arcade and ride rides though XD

[VictimX]

Last year they were supposed to have free play arcades saddly nothing. I went for that main reason, all you can play arcades. Well if any of you can get info on it thanks.

[ZJCitrusGraffiti]

Amazingly, I went all 3 years to ParaCon also. But unlike the usual "getting better", each year it "got worse." Those who went to the first ParaCon might agree. Because IF one pre-reg'd online, not only would they only have to pay a real cheap $18(general attendece was over $25) and get a laminated badge(generic for all; "guest", but it was on a handy Paramount lanyard), but they would also be given a special ParaCon T-shirt too! The pic on the shirt is soo cute I can't bring myself to ever wear it 'cuz subsequent trips to the washer/dryer might fade it. (i'm still kicking myself because i could have asked if PGA could have given me one of their in-park ParaCon advertisements before I left for the day. (honestly, that con was gone about it the wrong way. the only way you could have known about the con at all was to visit the PGA website) PLUS: There was an ACTUAL DEALER'S ROOM!! A bit out of the way, but what can you do? The only negative I found was that if pre-reg'd people came late in the day, they wouldn't be able to pick up their shirts because the Con people would have given it away to someone who just happen to be a the right place at the right time, nevermind that they didn't pre-reg'd online. The ticket people just didn't want to stay in the sun any longer and gave away t-shirts that wasn't theirs to give away!! My friend lost a shirt that way. ...The next year the price went up to $20(i think), there were fabric sticker badges, no shirt for online registering, a delayed panel of VIZ representatives which went into overtime, AND the dealer's tables were scattered throughout the park!(I think there were only 2 or 3 dealer's tho) There WAS the costume contest(i don't remember if i went or not), but that was a minor highlight compared to all the bad aspects of the day. ....ParaCon's final/3rd year was... can you believe it? Worse! Con prices went up again but there wasn't a badge to go along with your ticket.. You actually had to BUY the laminated badge at $10-$15 each(yellow and green "guest" ones) and since I went in place of a dealer that couldn't go(i was a former employee), I had this "VIP" fabric sticker to count as my "con badge" But I guess nobody told these dumb female "guards" to the PGA Theater(one of the two video rooms) that those counted as a badge!! >: (  They'd extend their arms and wouldn't let me and my brother through. But after noticing a group of guys walk out(and NO BADGE IN SIGHT!) i asked if they were stopped by the girls and one said no! .. That irritated me to heck!! They stop ME but not THEM!?!? What in hell!?!  And then throughout the three years, to go to a con that is not exclusively open to anime fans!?! It felt like school all over again where you're an outcast except this was public society!  ...I am glad there isn't a 4th ParaCon! (it'll only get worse)

[DayDreamerNessa]

yeah i went to the first one and the 3rd one.

the first year had a decent dealers room for a first year thing ya know? wasn't that bad and cheeeap.

3rd eh, i didn't even bother going to the events nor dealer room >>; just went on rides and saw a few cosplayers wandering around

but yeah it was something to do =P

[Yami]

Amazingly, I went all 3 years to ParaCon also.

I wonder if i met you at ParaCon last year! XD

[ZJCitrusGraffiti]

I wonder if i met you at ParaCon last year! XD

Maybe you just saw me, but not "met" me.

I just remembered something! There was a panel one of those years(2nd or 3rd) and they gave away the very first NewType USA magazine! It had the guy from RaXephone on the cover. The ppl who were already/still in their seats at the end of the panel, were given open copies of issue No.0(October i think), the month before the official NTUSA No.1 came out. (that was good timing for the con AND panel) Those who didn't get a copy AND voiced their displeasure WOULD have gotten a closed copy of No.0 IF they stayed long enough after the panel had finished. I know this, 'cuz (and it pays to always sit up front) my brother and I sat up front, and it was THOSE ppl who were given the NTUSA first. But I didn't want to move from those good seats 'cuz the anime/video programming was starting next.... And what happened but the panel ppl came back with NEW NTUSA magazines!... and since we didn't leave, THEY GAVE US TWO MORE!! *was thinking* Oh joy! I got NTUSA No.0!!! But i forsaw a bulky pile of NTUSA mags in my room in the future, so I didn't want them. I gave one of the closed NTUSA away to ANYBODY nearby once outside. An aquaintance of mine who I know subscribed to NTUSA has the 2nd closed No.0 I had. I just kept the first open issue I was given.

I'll write my memories as I get them.

[yunnie2896]

yeah i went last year and it was really fun but i checked there sight and it dosen't look like it's happening but if i hear diffrent i'll post something^_^

[CaptainPlanet]

Yeah, I went last year, but it was just so much worse then Fanimecon, it was unbearable.  Plus, just being in Great America with.....other people......just detracts from the whole thing.  I mean, anime conventions make you feel almost separated from the normal world.  When you have random other people walking around and staring....especially when you're cosplaying....especially when you see someone you know that isnt there for the con.....o god...:P

[ZJCitrusGraffiti]

Captain Planet: that's true! I wrote about that "weird/odd" feeling on my earlier post on this page you're on now. (not the one 2 posts above you, higher than that.) You know? Great America had a good concept in hosting an anime con within an amusement park.. they just had to "get rid" of the "general public"  :D  hehe, ne?

[Mach5Motorsport]

Captain Planet:  Great America had a good concept in hosting an anime con within an amusement park.. they just had to "get rid" of the "general public"  :D  hehe, ne?

Having been a part of the first ParaCon and knowing the person responsible for starting the concept and pitching it to the GA execs and Paramount Peoples, it should be known that after the first ParaCon all the planning went through the Executives, thus making the event company-run by executives.  Yeah, the fun aspect was sucked out and the guy who came up with the event couldn't counter the direction that Paramount was going.

[VictimX]

That would explain the WB20 YU-GI-OH involment. Along side the choas that escorted the planning of the event. Half the show didn't come and had to go back and forth alot from one theater to another. The panel and cosplay was oka. Even after all the problems I still had fun.