As Culture of Gaming grows, our ability to bring our readers better coverage of gaming, anime, and comic book events grows with it. Recently, the staff of Anime Los Angeles was kind of enough to give us press access to cover this year’s anime con located in Ontario, California. As it stands, Anime Los Angeles 2020 was an amazing event that I would recommend anyone to attend; even against bigger venues like AX. ALA2020 felt massive but still maintains a welcoming community vibe among anime fans, content creators, industry reps, and voice actors.
What impressed me about ALA2020 other than its community is the variety of fun and informational panels. Fans could attend panels that included idol concerts, time with your favorite voice actors, controversial topics for an 18+ only crowd, or making your own cosplay armor. Within a four day span, you could sample tons of information both as a fan or someone who wants to know more about the industry of anime production. All while navigating the stellar community events and cosplay gatherings within the halls and outside the convention center. One community-building aspect definitely got its claws in me, and in a form, I would have never guessed. Ribbons!
The Ribbon Game
Every convention that is a big enough fosters a community-building trend or collectible game. Several cons love creating exclusive convention merch, and in the case of Transformers/Star Wars toys, they create unique collectible toys. PAX and other gaming conventions love the pins and will give out pins for fans to trade among themselves. Before Sony pulled the plug on PlayStation Experience, you could collect a series of trading cards at each booth for either participating in the demo of a game or through other means. At ALA2020, it’s all about the Ribbons!
Brianna Knickerbocker, and Laura Post For more great interviews, reviews, editorials, and news stay tuned to CultureOfGaming.com or check us out on OpenCritic.com.
