The Professional Gamer - September 11, 2017

Hello readers! We are one week past Nan Desu Kan (two weeks past Fort Collins Comic Con), and I'm finally feeling a bit rested and ready to get back into the normal routine again. Podcast edits are coming along, and will be posted as I complete them. I'll also be putting my thoughts to those two conventions to pen in the next week as well. Until then, let's talk about the ordinary things that I've done this week.

Crystal and I have been watching some of this season's simulcast anime on Crunchyroll. Several weeks ago, we started watching Restaurant to Another World (Isekai Shokudou) and this past week we started watching Elegant Yokai Apartment Life (Yokai Apartment no Yuuga na Nichijou). I have managed to catch up to the simulcast on both of these shows. Restaurant to Another World is about about Western cuisine restaurant in Japan that is connected to another world every Saturday. Each episode tells the story of a patron and the food that they order. There are a few tenuous connections between some of these patrons; however, the portals to the restaurant appear in various parts of the other world, allowing many different people to access the .restaurant.

Meanwhile, Elegant Yokai Apartment Life is about a high school student whose parents have died. Although his relatives are willing to take him in, Yushi feels that he is a burden and applies to a school that has dormatories. Unfortunately, the dorms burn down only a few days before he is supposed to start school. Faced with the prospect of having to move back in with his relatives, Yushi starts hunting for an apartment that he can afford on his part-time job. The only thing he can find is a room in an old creepy building. The building is actually haunted, and exists at a sort of dimensional cross-roads. Aside from the supernatural themes, the show actually deals with issues of friendship and masculinity. I did not expect this show to discuss some of these themes, but it has been a pleasant surprise.

Other than that, I've ordered parts for a new computer and am looking forward to getting it up and running soon. Hope you check in again next week and until then, game on!

Nan Desu Kan 2017 Podcasts

Hi everyone! NDK 2017 is over, and I'm back in the studio, cutting up podcast audio for release in our podcast. The first selection, a press conference with Dante Basco (Rufio (Hook) and Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender), will be available on Wednesday morning. I hope you all are looking forward to it. Dante was a great interview subject, and very insightful about the life of a creative professional. See you back here in a few days.

NDK is Near!

Good news anime geeks! NDK is this week and the schedule, map, and guide are all out for us.

2017 NDK Program Book
2017 NDK Events Guide
2017 NDK Map

I hope you all will be able to make it out to the Sheridan this weekend!

And a very important note, at least to me. The Japanese Voice Actors are having a Q&A at 10:00 AM Sunday in Panel Room 2. This should be a must see panel. Without their hard work, a lot of the stuff we have enjoyed may have never made it state side. 

The Professional Gamer - July 24, 2017

Hello readers! I spent last weekend up in the mountains away from such pesky things at cell phone reception and wireless internet access, which made it a bit challenging to put together an article for you all. Unfortunately, I also was doing field work last week, and was therefore kept away from my geeky pursuits. So, what did I end up doing in that last two weeks? Read on to find out.

Read More

Denver Comic Con Wrap Up

Hi readers! In place of my typical Professional Gamer column this week, I'm going to post a wrap up discussion of my time at Denver Comic Con this year. I had a lot of fun and bought a lot of comics and other art. I also had the opportunity (with Chris) to play some video games that are being developed or published by smaller, independent companies. Click through to read more.

Read More