London MCM Expo 2009 Review

…And so we say ‘catch you later’ to our costumes, ‘so long’ to those shurikens and ‘until next time’ to our toy swords. The London MCM Expo has once again come and gone, and not a single person has gone away feeling empty hearted (or handed for that matter). Everyone’s favourite animes were on display this year, including the hottest releases and newest titles announced. Many gamers were eager to get their hands on the latest console games, including demonstrations for Bayonetta and the much-anticipated Tekken 6, and were pleasantly surprised by the full-scale M12 ‘Warthog’ LRV from the popular Halo series. For the many film fans attending the expo, there was a lot to be seen. Various actors and actresses from many different TV shows were on site, including Ronny Cox, Tom Baker and Craig Charles.

Alongside all this were vast amounts of stalls dedicated to all things Japanese, from toys to foods the likes of which every young anime fan dreams of experiencing. But be warned, boys and girls, because as tempting as those toys are they come with a hefty price tag, so be sure to spend your money wisely. That said, part of the experience of attending the Expo is being able to see the many things on offer, including toy – and metal replica – swords as tall as yourself and, of course, the crazy costumes worn by the general public. From ‘Azumanga Daioh’ to ‘Zombie Loan’ it seemed like just about every character from every anime was being represented, as well as various characters from films, games, comics, and even appearances by Pac-Man and Godzilla. And everyone is willing to have their photo taken, so don’t be shy to bring a camera and ask for a pose. Ever wanted to see your two favourite anime characters in a mock-fight? Well at the Expo, anything is possible.

So did I personally enjoy myself? Absolutely. Would you? I don’t doubt you would have. Could you afford to buy anything? Sadly, that’s a different matter. Although the actual tickets were relatively cheap, everything else came at a much greater price, so make sure to start saving up early! One of the main reasons for going is the souvenirs, so don’t be the only person leaving without one. You’ll also want plenty of money for food as there is lots on offer at the centre, including traditional noodles, burgers and everyone’s favourite, Pocky! Alternatively, if you want to save your money for the stalls, bring your own lunch.

Interested? So you should be! The Expo is a fantastic opportunity to meet your favourite actors/actresses, meet new friends and have a great time. So now I bet you’re asking yourself “How do I attend such an event?” and, well, it couldn’t be simpler. To begin with, you’ll want to check the route before leaving; whether travelling by foot, train or car, checking and double-checking the route you’re taking is vital. The last thing you want to do is get lost and show up two hours after you planned on arriving…only a fool would do such a thing…*nervous laughter*. Tickets are easy and cheap to buy; general tickets start at £10 for adults and £5 for children, but if you want to arrive early and beat the queues why not buy an Early Entry ticket? These start at £13 per person per day, or you can buy a weekend ticket for £24.

With so much on offer at the Expo, it would be a good idea to plan the main attractions you want to see beforehand. The Expo website – http://www.londonexpo.com/ - contains all kinds of useful information designed to help you get the most out of your Expo experience, with full listings of what’s on and what to expect to see. And once you’re there, don’t be afraid to ask one of the many staff members for help on finding your way around. There are plenty seating areas too, just in case you get tired – after all, it is a pretty big place! Planning on bringing small children, or a large group? Well don’t worry, because there are meeting points throughout the building in case you get separated. Whatever you plan to do however, make sure you plan to enjoy yourself. And even if you forget to add that minor detail, don’t panic, because you’ll definitely have fun, and I dare anyone hoping to attend next year not to.

A new beginning

S0 here we are, David’s Review. And what exactly will I be reviewing? Well, to begin with I’ll be offering my own tips on how to get the most from your World of Warcraft experience. Later on, I plan to do video game reviews, or possibly anime reviews, I haven’t really decided yet. For now, anyway, I’ll be focusing completely upon WoW