Robin's put up her Cosplay photos from Tokyo Game Show 2004! The kid near the end is just the cutest. Robin points out that there was more cross-play this past year (crossdressing cosplay) and I agree. You always had women dressing like male characters - Cloud Strife from FFVII is a perenial favorite, and I am always amazed what the girls can do to their hair - but this year I saw men dressed as schoolgirls and fighting vixens.

I love the TGS maybe more than E3, because of the fanplay aspect. You just have so many eager kids and so many men and women who've spent hours dedicated to makeup and costume to recreate their favorite characters. For some, I think it's a break into a modeling career; but for others, it's sheer exuberance and love for the game.

I often wish E3 would have one day open to the public; but I think unofficial cosplayers (as opposed to the men and women payed by companies to stand around in costume) are considered too otaku, too geeky for the ultra-cool slick event that E3 tries to be. Sometimes I think the videogame industry has a little contempt for its hardest-core fans. And that's a shame.

If you can ever make it to Tokyo Game Show, you should try. This year it's running from Friday Sept. 16 to Sunday Sept. 18; tickets aren't that expensive (about ten bucks) and it's a good time.