Daisho Con

This choice has been plaguing me for a while now. Both cons overlap each other (GenCon: August 13-16, Anime Iowa: August 14-16). I tend to prefer anime over gaming, but at the same time, I don't really know the guests they have for Iowa that well.

Which are you going to?

*looks up the guest list*

Michael McConnohie - Voice actor and President of the Nevada-based Voxworks voice-acting corporation

Melodee M. Spevack - Voice actress and Vice President of the Nevada-based Voxworks voice-acting corporation

Sean Schemmel - Voice actor who works considerably for distributing companies 4Kids Entertainment, FUNimation Entertainment, and Pokémon USA


Michael and Melodee are husband and wife. It was too bad they couldn't show up at Kakkoi|Con last year due to a horse riding accident.

Michael is currently most famous for being Emperor Charles Vi Brittania from Code Geass, and the Narrator from Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo. Schwarzwald from Big O... You might not be too familiar with him, but he's actually one of the big names among the big names for voice actors.

Melodee isn't as big an actor for anime, but still has a few rolls. Sadly, the only ones I'm particularily familiar with is Torpedo Girl from Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo and Kamui from .Hack//Legend of the Twilight.

Sean Schemmel: HE'S GOKU. 'Nuff said. Hmm... He was born in Iowa? No wonder he's attending.

Anime Iowa. It is my and Aminar's favorite con.

Edit: With the exception of Daisho of course

disclaimer: I've never been to Gen Con

Gen Con..is in Indiana......Cheesus will not be going to Indiana anytime soon.....::runs far away::

I'd rather go to Anime Iowa hands down

I shall be attending...neither.

Though, I've always wanted to go to GenCon

I went to GenCon for about 15 years when it was in Wisconsin. I've never been to the Indiana incarnation (or the other ones).

I will be attending Gen Con this year. I go every other year simply because as my wife says "You spend too much when you go". This maybe true taht is why his year I am taking her and see what she spends. My evil genius is much to much to handle! It is fantastic being me!

I have heard good things about Anime Iowa

For your personality Gencon is likely better, you honestly seemed kind of unhappy at Acen(IE bigger anime cons) Gencon has a different atmosphere that you are likely more comfortable in. It's less diverse and the subject matter is information you specialize in, so you'll likely be more confident and willing to talk. A huge part of Anime Iowa is the dance(something you really seemed to dislike at ACEN) and the wandering and talking to strangers, something I know you aren't comfortable with. I spent about 4 hours talking to random people in the consuite and another 3 wandering the con with people I didn't know. That and laughing at Zack for hurting himself in the pool was fun.

Aminar wrote:For your personality Gencon is likely better, you honestly seemed kind of unhappy at Acen(IE bigger anime cons) Gencon has a different atmosphere that you are likely more comfortable in. It's less diverse and the subject matter is information you specialize in, so you'll likely be more confident and willing to talk. A huge part of Anime Iowa is the dance(something you really seemed to dislike at ACEN) and the wandering and talking to strangers, something I know you aren't comfortable with. I spent about 4 hours talking to random people in the consuite and another 3 wandering the con with people I didn't know. That and laughing at Zack for hurting himself in the pool was fun.

Like I said, Andrew, my knowledge of gaming isn't very vast. Anime is much bigger for me.

The only thing that bothered be about ACen was the walking, mainly because I tire more easily than you guys, thanks to my knee. This con is about a fifth of the size of Acen, from what I've heard, or twice the size of NoBrand. I could probably handle this size better.

As for talking to random people, I like doing it at cons. It's a different kind of atmosphere, and it's even more enjoyable when in cosplay. Hell, the one thing I sorta liked about the dance was sitting in line talking to the guy next to me. My philosophy is that it's easier to talk to people when you know that they share similar tastes.

You are right about the dance. I've never liked dances. I make a fool of myself enough times without trying to dance.

Still, I have gotten an invite to GenCon from one of my friends. He still needs to decide what con he really wants to go to, though. He found out about the conflicting dates.

Aminar wrote:That and laughing at Zack for hurting himself in the pool was fun.

Oh god. My head still hurts from that.

What I meant is that At Anime Cons you have fifty kabillion different fandoms, half of which hate a quarter of the other ones intensely. At Gencon everyone at least knows D&D or Magic. That gives a much smaller fandom base, while everybody has their own games there is alot more centralization. As For Anime iowas size, it's still huge, just not to the level of ACEN, which is bigger than the town I grew up in.(Oconto Falls)
As for walking, all cons are walking. Thats what cons are. Daisho is really nice because it's got less walking, but I guarantee your knee is nowhere as debilitating as weighing 350 lbs is.

Aminar wrote:What I meant is that At Anime Cons you have fifty kabillion different fandoms, half of which hate a quarter of the other ones intensely. At Gencon everyone at least knows D&D or Magic. That gives a much smaller fandom base, while everybody has their own games there is alot more centralization. As For Anime iowas size, it's still huge, just not to the level of ACEN, which is bigger than the town I grew up in.(Oconto Falls)
As for walking, all cons are walking. Thats what cons are. Daisho is really nice because it's got less walking, but I guarantee your knee is nowhere as debilitating as weighing 350 lbs is.

Anime Iowa is not huge. It draws about 2,000 people, which is on the low end for midsize conventions. It's the antithesis to Anime Detour: Detour is a midsize that feels like a big con, while Iowa is a midsize that feels like a small con.

What is true about Iowa is that it relies on the social element a lot more. The programming is solid but not outstanding, the masquerade is underwhelming, the video game room demonstrates how much No Brand has spoiled us and the AMV Contest is just plain awful. So you're right about needing to wander and socialize, whether with your group or with friends. I've really enjoyed myself since they moved to Coralville, probably the most relaxing con I go to. They do have an beautiful location, friendly staff and a fantastic vendor room.

I've never been to Gencon since I play neither D&D nor Magic.

I must intercede that GenCon is not just D&D and Magic. There is a lot of that happening there but things to do are non-stop. There is the auction which is overwhelming in the items that are available from boardgames to mini's to books to a CAR 2 years ago. Boardgames, cosplay, Texas Hold-em just to name a few. If your a gamer of any sort and go to GenCon and can not find something to go you are simply not a gamer.

I didn't say it was, I said everyone there knows them.