Bring Back the Arcade!

Oh! How I do love this game!!!

Ms. Pacman, Galaga, Skee Ball and Air Hockey - these are the games I adore. Whether it is a reflection of my yesteryear or simply that ever-breathing competitive nature inside me, I really don't know, but this is what I automatically think of when I think of "the arcade."

I didn't really grow up in the arcade culture, although I was of age to do so. "My" arcade closed before I started to make any kind of money where that type of activity could be appreciated, and it is one thing I wished I always had.

I've been know to yell at the screen...

Meet Me at the Arcade 
 
It was for this reason that the panel at the New York Comic Con entitled "Meet Me At The Arcade" intrigued me so much.  There was a group of gamers discussing the closing of the last true Arcade in New York City, the culture of the arcade and what the future holds for this particular type of gamer.

Meet Me At The Arcade Panel at NYCC 2011

Every single one of these gentlemen had their own experience to share from the arcade as gamers, employees and even as a film maker. The perspectives drew not only from experiences shared in the famed "Chinatown Fair" arcade that was the last arcade in New York City, but also across the United States and even Japan.

I found every bit of the conversation engaging, enlightening and it just made me want to go grab a bunch of friends to go find an arcade!

Why the arcades were/are important even now.

One of the final days at Chinatown Fair.

As the panelists each shared their own experiences it became clear that a trip to the arcade was about so much more than just gaming. Lessons learned at the arcade were:

1. stretching the dollar - One panelist summed it up perfectly, "Every game was a money match." These guys went to the arcade with their lunch money for the day/week and had to use only that to entertain themselves for hours. How was this done? By becoming very good at the game and making each quarter last.
2. patience - Players have to wait their turn to play their game of choice. If they happen to be behind someone who is especially skilled, well, they might be there for awhile. This is far removed from so much of our current media which seems to center around instant gratification.
3. social skills - There was really only one way to get better at games in the arcade without going broke, you had to learn from fellow gamers. Many times this would mean having to approach gamers you may only know from the arcade and engaging in a conversation about strategy and tips. (It also involved spending lots and lots of time simply watching other gamers play the games!) In today's gaming world, where you are in your living room with an unlimited (free) amount of do-overs this type of strategic thinking about the game can often be lost. Fellow gamers have been replaced by strategy guides, YouTube videos and websites and face-to-face interaction has been replaced with voices coming out of the screen or into headsets. Other benefits of the social scene of the arcade mentioned by panelists were:

• finding like-minded people
• finding one's truth - the panelist seemed to agree that the idea that gaming is an "escape"  from reality is a major misconception held by society. They argued, rather, that games allowed them to become more themselves

What about Japan?

Image

You may or may not know this, but arcades are alive and well in Japanese society. This begs the question Why are arcades so popular in Japan when they can't seem to survive in the US? Four very compelling points were raised by the panel:

1. That's where the technology is. This makes the purchase of games and parts a lot more affordable in Japan than here in the US where they would have to be shipped overseas.
2. "No one wants to stay at home in Japan." I found this point particularly interesting. According to multiple panelists, the homes in Japan are so small that they really aren't conducive to "hanging out." They claim that while they lived there they witnessed the prevalence of eating out, going out and just plain being out of the house more in Japan due to limited space!
3. Customer service in Japanese arcades is second to none! Evidently if your button breaks in the middle of you playing a game, you stay where you are, raise your hand and an attendant comes to you with the parts in hand, ready to repair and replace. In contrast, the anecdotes from the US arcades demonstrate that machines could lay dormant for days.
4. Cultural scene vs. Cash Business. Guess which definition belongs to which country! The arcade business is a cash business and, therefore draws the interest of certain types of owners in the US who are less concerned with the scene and more concerned with the cash. In Japan, arcade gaming is part of the culture. You can walk into an arcade and find gaming kids, but you'll be just as likely to see a guy, in his suit, making a gaming stop on his way home from work. Arcade gaming simply means two different things in these two different countries.

What to Look for Next...

And just when the audience felt that there was nothing left for America in terms of the arcade, two exciting ventures were discussed:

1. Next Level Arcade in Brooklyn! Although the location may not be as central as the Chinatown Fair, Next Level was opened by one of the former employees and gamers of Chinatown Fair. He said that he was bored, looking to fill a void and simply did not want to see the community separate. He knows that having a crowd of predominantly 21 and over changes the dynamic of the crowd, but at least some of the players have found a new place to continue their shared gaming.
2. Arcade: The Last Night at Chinatown Fair This movie is a Kickstarter project that was filmed in the final days of the arcade's existence. Here's the trailer so you can get a sneak peek at some of the footage and some of the perspectives of the gamers who were there (I'm looking forward to this movie's release!):

Arcade: The Last Night at Chinatown Fair Trailer from Kurt Vincent on Vimeo.

Do you consider yourself a gamer?

What types of social gaming have you participated in?

From your perspective, what are some of the benefits and/or drawbacks of today's online gaming culture?

PARENTS: Would you prefer your kids playing games socially in an arcade, or at home with the family's console?

Wand Dueling for Harry Potter Fans

 My People Gathered at The Hasbro Stage
 

Isn't this bag great?!

Being a Potterhead myself, I was among my own at the New York Comic Con this year. There were so many people dressed in their school robes, wands in hand ready for all kinds of mischief. There were more still, not in costume, like myself, sporting Harry Potter t-shirts, bags, hats or some other adornment to ensure every knew where their true allegiances lie.

On the Friday morning of the Con there was a calling of sorts, a gathering of all Potter fans to meet at the Hasbro stage. You see, at the Hasbro stage there was going to be a lesson on wand dueling! Muggles, wizards and witches gathered around the stage to learn the art of wand waving surely in the distinct hopes that we could all walk away just a tiny bit more magical for having done so.

The Group That Shall Not Be Named

As I sat waiting for the ceremony to begin, I watched as the fellow fans gathered. Suddenly, a small group arrived with costumes that were plainly more authentic than the rest. Not only did this group have richer looking materials, wands and gait they also happened to look like characters right out of the films! I was not surprised then that this group walked confidently to the stage.

This group is known as "The Group That Shall Not Be Named"and they were going to lead us in our lessons. The Group That Shall Not Be  Named is the New York Harry Potter Meetup group (if you have not checked out meetup.com for finding cool people with cool things to do, then it's about time you check it out!). They have monthly meetings and play Quidditch in Riverside Park! They describe themselves as:

W e are THE Harry Potter fan group in the New York City and Tri-State area.  Our activities cater to every aspect of fandom. From fan fic and fan art, to cosplay and Wizard Rock.

And I sat there wondering, "How the heck did I miss THIS Meetup group?"
(And now, as I am writing this post I am wondering, "Nicole WHY HAVEN'T YOU JOINED YET?!?!")

They are quite impressive in their fandom.

And in their wand skills.

Wand Dueling 101

Well, just your wands, really...

Since I thought it would be impossible for me to explain the intricacies of wand movement and instruction through my words alone, I went to the "class" armed and ready with my camera. So here is my not-so professional video of Wand Dueling by Bellatrix LeStrange of The Group That Shall Not Be Named at the New York Comic Con 2011.

Enjoy! 

Do you think you can do it?

Are you ready to duel?

What magic tricks can you share with ME?

NYCC 2011 Rundown & Giveaway!

The New York ComicCon has come and gone this year, but not without leaving me with tons to share with you over the next couple of weeks. I will give you a sneak peek and to give you a run down of all (or at least most of) what I was exposed to...

The Panels

No matter what kind of convention I am going to, I always plan my excursion by panels first, then figuring out how to fit everything else in between. Here are some of the juicy topics covered in my panel education this weekend:

• Comic Books in Education - Whether you are looking for your own children, you have a classroom of your own, or you are interested in pursuing comic books in your own intellectual quest, I've got a lot to share. I met people from Reading With Pictures, the Comic Book Project, the Comic Book Classroom and even participated in a comic scholars discussion. From what I gathered through these panel discussions and others there appears to be a big move to bring comic books and schools together for the mutual benefit of the students and the comic book industry. It is very exciting.
• Arcades - Remember them? Maybe you are lucky enough to even have one still open near you. I went to one panel "Meet Me At the Arcade" where panelists discussed the subculture of the arcades, the social aspect of it and why they believe arcades are needed in gaming even today. It was an incredibly interesting talk which gave me a deeper insight about the dynamics of social gaming and the shortcomings of online play.
• Wand Dueling - It happened. Of course I was there to watch it all! I even got video. So if you are interested in how to effectively wand duel just like the witches and wizards in Harry Potter, then stay tuned - the video is on its way!
• The Creative Process - There are so many different panels I wet to where this theme played a prominent role - "The Comics History of the World," "Food and Comics with Wylie Dufresne," "Writing: Story Structure," "Girls Kick Butt: Strong Female Heroines in YA Fantasy," as well as most of the panels relating to comics in education discussed above. In short, it is nearly impossible to get creative professionals in a room together and not discuss the creative process!! There's oodles to talk about here!
• Jeff Smith's BONE - Any other super-fans out there? Did you know that it is the 20th Anniversary of Jeff Smith's BONE? It is and there was a panel dedicated to the celebration, looking back on the last 20 years (plus, we learned!) and discussing what is coming up in the future. Very exciting and fun stuff for my fellow fans out there - I can't wait to share it with you!
• Screen Future - How about a sneak peek into what some of the big-wigs think the future of gaming, comics and TV is going to look like all around the world in five years? This was another engaging discussion drawing in the use of social media, online streaming, accessibility and the relevance of Nielsen ratings as we move forward. I was sad when this particular talk ended because I could tell each and every one of the panelists had more to say!

Books

Well, it would be kind of ridiculous to go to a comic BOOK convention and not come back with at least some book discussion, no? I think so! I've got a pile of books here that I am going through as we speak so I can share my perspective on each and every one of them with you. I have comic books, graphic novels, YA novels and even some nonfiction. Lots going on in the book world - I'm taking them one at a time and enjoying every page!

Products/Companies/Deals

Finally, I ran into some pretty cool people on the exhibitor floor. There were publishing companies with great book deals going on this month and next month that are wanting you to gobble up their discounts, nonprofits looking for some caring souls, museums with cool calendars of events, websites designed for aspiring and published writers and super-cool stores with some super-cool geek stuff that you just have to check out! It's a lot, but it is all coming! I'm looking forward to sharing it with you!

However, before all of that... there seems to be another matter at hand here. Did the title of this blog post mention something about a GIVEAWAY??? That's a pretty big deal. There has never been a giveaway here on Rivera Runs Through It before! Well, if the title says it, then it MUST be true!

~~IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!!!~~

Gee... I wonder what I could possibly have to give away?

Hmm...

How about a 2011 New York ComicCon SWAG ("stuff we all get") BAG filled with NYCC goodies?!

goodies!

SWAG BAG!

So what do you think? Interested? If so, jump on in. There are five different ways to enter. You may do more than one to increase your chances (each one counts as an entry) and the fifth option - tweeting about the giveaway - can be done once a day every day of the giveaway!

A Weekend Away...

This morning's view of the Javits Center.

No truer words have been written. Since it started here in New York City there has been nothing quite like the New York Comic Con. This is where I have been spending my weekend. One more day left. One more day of Rivera running through the Con. Then I can come home and run through it all for you right here on the Rivera Runs Through It blog! I can't wait to share it with you!

5 Promo Codes from New York Comic Con 2011

It's finally here! While there is going to be tons of stuff to share with you as I get the opportunity to explore the Exhibitor Floor, Artist Alley, Panels and Screenings throughout the weekend, right now I can quickly share some of the great deals found here at the Con just in case you didn't have the chance to swing on by!

 20% Off At Midtown Comics Of course, there has to be some fantastic comic book deals at a ComicCon! Midtown Comics is a pretty famous comic book store found here in New York City (there are actually three now!), but they also have a great online store and presence. Head over to midtowncomics.com and use CODEWORD: NYCC before October 23, 2011 for 20% off any purchase (excluding gift cards and pre-orders).

10% Off at HasbroToyShop.com Toys and comic books seem to go hand in hand. It is no surprise that Hasbro has a strong presence at the New York Comic Con, or that they are happy to share a nice discount opportunity with a large portion of their fan base. Check out HasbroToyShop.com and enter promo code: NYCC2011 before November 6, 2011 to receive 10% off your online order. (This offer can not be used on gift cards, HasbroToyShop.com Exclusives, Hasbro Ultimate Gifts or PLAYATHON Fundraising Kits. The discount applies to pre-tax and pre-shipping amount.)

Free Movie Rental from FlixFling Need a movie night? (Who doesn't??!!) Flix Fling is a website that provides unlimited streaming movies online. You can sign up by visiting www.FlixFling.com and get a free rental (excluding "Premium" Titles) using the promo code: NYCOMICCON . If you are already a subscriber to FlixFling, then you can use this promo code toward any purchase!

$5 Off CSI: The Experience at Discovery Times Square Discovery Times Square, located on 44th Street right in between 7th and 8th Avenue, provides great experiences for fans. In promoting this most recent experience, Discovery says we can "Play the role of a crime scene investigator in CSI: The Experience... Complete with 3 Crime Scenes, 15 Forensic Lab Stations and dazzling special effects." To take advantage of this discount, use the promo code: CSICON when ordering tickets at CSIEXHIBIT.COM. This offer expires on March 2, 2012.

20% Off T-SHIRTS and FUN Apparel!!!! Every single Comic Con I go to, I come home with at least two brand new t-shirts and longing for about 15 more! www.StylinOnline.com is offering all of us 20% our next online order (so I can save on this year's take-home wish list!) simply by using coupon code: CON2011. So go check them out for easy Halloween ideas, fun and cool t-shirts for yourself or as gifts, or even some  super onesies for the little cuties in your life!


So I hope you can make use of at least one of these deals before they expire! Stay tuned for more goodies from the Con and (who knows?) maybe even more cool deals!

What if #11

Each week the Rivera Runs Through It blog presents a different "What If...?" question for you to explore. Some will be serious, some will be silly, some might be political, religious or historical.

 At the bottom of this post will be a place for you to link up your own post about the question, so feel free to share. If you have arrived at this post and the inlinkz tool is closed, or you don't have a blog, then please leave your response (or link) in the comment section below using DISQUS.

Happy pondering to everyone...

What IF #11:

What if you had a superpower?

We've all thought about it at some point in our lives -

• Would your life be improved or damaged?
• What power would be most useful?
• Which could be the most fun/dangerous/exciting?
• How would having a superpower change your relationships?
• Would you publicly share your powers or keep them secret?

As you think about your answer, perhaps you want to take it a step further by giving us your "origin story"...

• How did you get these powers?
• What motivates you to use them?
• Would you be a hero, a villain or a mild-mannered citizen?

Perhaps you can tell I'm a bit comic book minded these days... Out here in New York City, I've got all things super on my mind, as the Comic Book convention is coming to town this Thursday!! It is for this reason that this week's "What if..." question is so appropriate.

I'd love to see your responses to this week's question.

For a list of all of the What if questions asked so far, 

see The What If Prompts

Why Everyone Should Check Out the New York Comic Con (NYCC)

It's coming back! I can't wait!! The New York Comic Con will be back at the Jacob Javits Center this October from the 13th through the 16th! It's getting so that I can't feel it coming nearer...

Are you wondering WHY all of these people are on line at NYCC?

Typically, when talking about comic book conventions, in my experience, I have been faced with two starkly different reactions from those I am conversing with:

• unbridled enthusiasm, or
• confusion, with a hint of fear that I am one of "those kinds of people"

Now, having selected Mathematics as a major in college and following that up by becoming a high school math teacher, luckily, these are reactions that I am all too used to in conversations. I am never offended, I merely see them as an amazing opportunity to let you in on the secret joys of my subcultures that have gone long unappreciated by the masses.

I don't dare to propose that ComicCons are for everyone, however, before you dismiss them entirely based on some preconceived notions of what they "must" entail, I would like to give you a brief list of some of my joys of NYCC:

1. It is just about THE best spot in all of NYC for people-watching.

I was raised a people-watcher. Mom and Dad would bring us to Central Park (another fabulous people-watching spot!) and after hours a having fun in the sun, we would park ourselves on a bench and watch the people go by. There were always so many different kinds of people doing so many different things! I'd think up stories about each person's day and life. The whole thing amazed me!

The Joes +1.

It still does, and ComicCon has INCREDIBLE people - authors, artists, fans of multiple subcultures (comics, specific movies, TV shows, games), people of the press, celebrities at multiple levels, and then (mostly on Sunday) lots of comic-loving families with their kids for family day.

The thing that makes this possibly the "BEST" spot for people-watching is that at the Con people show-off their uniqueness, their fandom and their super-fun inner child with unabashed pride! It is rare to see so many people, who lead otherwise very normal day-to-day lives, come together and just geek-out about whatever it is they love in such a mass effort.

2. Conventions Are A Great Place to Learn.

I think everyone knows this when it comes to conventions surrounding a particular profession or skill, but I feel like it is not something people think about in terms of the ComicCon. Ordinarily, when people think about the ComicCon, they think of crowds of people (they are there), many of which are dressed up in costume (this is very true) walking around an exhibit floor looking at and buying comic books, memorabilia, getting autographs and the such - this is all a part of the experience, however, it is not all of the experience.

One of last year's panels with a line of questions from the audience.

The first time I went to a Comic Con, I didn't realize this and I missed out on all of the PANELS and DISCUSSIONS. Once I discovered them, I never made that mistake again. The Panels are now how I design my entire experience. They vary from fan fun stuff like (thinking back to last year's event) James Marsters telling a packed room of fans what he's up to and answering all their questions (as wacky as they got!), to industry stuff like discussing how digital publishing will impact comics and what publishers, authors, artists and fans are saying about it, to how to bring Graphic Novels and Comic books into the classrooms as tools. There is so, so much going on in the panels and every year I fill a notebook with my nerdiness notes!

3. You get SO MUCH FREE STUFF.

The swag at NYCC can become overwhelming. I have almost excatly the same experience every single year. I walk in people are handing me cool pins, stickers, t-shirts and books and, in my glee I grab it all... hours later I am bogged down wondering, "What the heck am I carrying around?"

However, when night night falls and we get home, it is a combination of that post trick-or-treating and Christmas morning feeling all swirled into one! My husband and I spill out our bags and compare. "Ooo! Where did you get that? I didn't get that!" or "Cool! Look they gave me TWO!" Piles are made - mine, his, stuff to bring in to the students, and stuff to throw in with this year's candy for our trick or treaters!

In addition to the free stuff are TONS of coupons and discount codes for all types of convention deals on ALL TYPES of cool stuff.There are internet promo codes, pre-sales and exclusive offers (i.e. last year there was a special, and very competitive, ComicCon price for the SpiderMan Turn Off the Dark Broadway Show) slipped in among the swag. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for these this year, because I always end up looking at them last and end up missing out on some of the dated offers - such a bummer!

This was my favorite costume last year.
I thought he was a prop until he MOVED!
This is a costumed person!!

4. It's Just Plain Old-Fashioned Fun!

There is a happy excitement in the air at Comic Con. People don't take themselves as seriously when they are in that space - they're dressed up, perhaps painted blue, or walking on stilts, or sitting in a quiet corner dressed up like a bizarre space octopus scaring THE CRAP out of whoever walks by thinking you are a giant stuffed animal.

People are smiling.

You get to bear witness as fans meet their idols, shake their hands, take pictures with them and thank them for giving them joy.

People of all ages are playing - not just video games (although they are there, too), but jousting, having light saber battles and this year there will be wand duels and a Quidditch team is coming!

There is art everywhere - drawings, paintings, the written word, and now there's more video and graphics, too. Sunday is extra fun because it is family day and there are loads of family-friendly and kids' activities planned! It is just plain awesome.

After writing this post, it has come to my attention that I may be a biased in my perspective, however, let me tell you this: I only went to my first comic book convention out of love for a boy. I had no idea what I was getting into and thought this was going to be one of those things he was going "owe me" for. In other words, I was once the person who was confused by possible enjoyment "those people" had at comic book conventions. I didn't know. I hadn't tried it out. Now that I have, I love it. So maybe it's something you should check out - at least once - even if it's just to say that you have. I say put this on your bucket list and let me know when you're coming!

What are your thoughts about NYCC?

Have you been to any other comic book conventions?

What type of geek-out convention would you like to see and be a part of?