Favorite Games of 2017

2017 has been an odd year, even for someone who doesn’t live in the States. I’ve been reflecting the last couple weeks over this weird year. I sort of feel like I am just parroting everyone else who has said this, but at least we had a lot of kick ass games to distract us. There had been some really awesome games that came forward, and a lot that came forward with kick ass female leads. Actually most games I played this year were either by default, had a female protag, or had the option for a female. It's a nice change to be able to relate more so to the playable character in my games. Even the games that didn’t have female leads still had very strong stories, accessible to a variety of people. So, lets steer away from the conversation of cosplay for a bit as I go over some of my favorite games this year.

Mass Effect Andromeda - March 21

I’ll get this one out of the way. Despite this game being highly criticized, and having problems with it myself, I still really enjoyed it. What can I say, I’m a bioware fangirl. Combat was natural and fluid throughout the game, the open skills never tied you down to a “speciality” which gave me freedom that other Mass Effect games never gave me. As always they had characters I fell in love with in and out of game. It’s unfortunate that this game fell victim to pre-order culture. Industry and consumers need to stop being afraid of date push backs, and let game developers have more time to give us better products. Despite all the flaws that came with rushing this game, I still really appreciate it for what it is.

You can buy ME:A on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrafice - August 8, 2017

Hellblade is a short game, that took me a very long time to get through. It did some really great things in it’s gameplay that I would love to see implemented more in other games. Ninja Theory managed to take Senua’s story and psychosis and tie it into their game mechanics and puzzles in a really interesting way. There was constant breaking of the 4th wall, which incorporated you into the game, rather than just the player. It was an emotionally exhausting game to work through, but I think it was so worth it to see the love and passion that this small studio put into this game.

You can buy Hellblade for PC here at Humble Bundle

Dream Daddy- July 20

I played this game non stop when it came out. I loved the amount of representation this game had. I got to play as this awkward bindered bi daddy, and like, what other game lets you do that?! The art style was so cute, and the fact that all the daddies you could date had vastly different personalities, got me playing over and over again to experience everyone’s relationship.

You can buy Dream Daddy for PC here at Humble Bundle

Horizon Zero Dawn - February 28

HZD might be my favorite game of the year, which surprised me. It took a couple of months for me to get to this game. From looking at it, my brain couldn’t wrap around the different themes they seemed to be trying to shove into the game. It seemed like it would going to be incoherent and messy. I did however borrow it from a friend, wanting to give this female protagonist lead game a try, and then fell in love. Guerilla Games managed to blend the “primitive” post apocalyptic themes with robotic sci-fiction flawlessly. The more I played it the more invested I became in Aloy’s story. I can also really appreciate it as a trophy hunter, how easily they have made it to get 100% of the achievements in basically one play through.

You can buy HZD on PS4 here on Amazon Canada

Northgard - February 27

Technically Northgard is still in beta, but it's still on this list. In struggle of trying to find games that can run on my laptop that my partner and I could play together, we decided to grab this game on steam. In the game you make a little viking village and go head to head with other viking clans. The art style is to die and the soundtrack and effects just shows how much love has been put into making this game. It’s great if you like simulation/strategy games, but find that you desire something that is a little more simple and shorter than something like Civ or Stellaris. For under $25 I would say it’s on my must buy list.

You can buy Northgard for PC here at Humble Bundle

Prey - May 5

THIS YEAR WAS SO FULL OF GAMES I DIDN’T THINK I’D ENJOY BUT LOVE, and yeah, prey is for sure on that list. Female protage, check. WOC protag, check! Queer WOC protage!?!?! CHECK! Beyond the representation, the story kept me guessing throughout the entire game, with twists I didn’t see coming. The crafting system was also oh so satisfying. Being able to collect anything, and have a use for it catered to a very organized part of me. I am so excited to see what else Bethesda has in store for this franchise.

You can buy Prey on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada

You can buy Prey for PC at Humble Bundle

Pyre - Aug 3

Pyre is a strange mix of visual novel, and a ritualistic soccer game. Like previous Supergiant Games releases, Pyre has the company of a fantastic soundtrack, and art style. Within playing this game for an hours, there was already 3 characters I wanted to add to my cosplay to do list. The game is set up with most of the game play being within the rituals you must play and win in order to leave exile. Between the rituals you can stop by your companions and chat with them, giving them benefits later in the next challenge, and learn more about them and the world that Pyre inhabits. Pyre manages to continuously be challenging, without being overly difficult, and still rewarding with every challenge you finish.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider- Sept 15

The Death of the Outsider was like finding an old comfy sweater you forgot exactly how comfy it was. When asked about it you go, hey yeah that sweater is pretty comfy. When you finally find it and put it on after months of not wearing it, damn, it’s so cozy. The stand alone DLC for Dishonored was exactly like that. Returning to the same world, it didn’t take me long at all to think to myself, gosh I love this place. DOTO also allows for a different view into the world Bethesda has created. You play as Billie Lurk, instead of someone part of the royal family. Which seems a little more fitting seeing that the Dishonored franchise is about the garbage that is the class system and aristocracy.

You can buy DOTO on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada

You can buy DOTO for PC at Humble Bundle

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Geek Travel to Anaheim

Anaheim, known for being the home of Disneyland. At the end of October this year, me and my friend Nicole spent some time in Anaheim and Orange before moving onto Los Angeles for a convention. We had flown in late on Tuesday evening, and then drove out Friday morning. This gave us 3 whole days in the city. Here are some things you can get up to if you have some time in Anaheim, whether it's for a convention, or just a trip in the general SoCal area.

Where we stayed : Clarion Hotel Anaheim

The Clarion is your basic hotel. I booked this through air miles because they were offering special pricing and bonus miles when I was looking. With the special pricing they ran we got 2 double beds for approx $100 CAD a night.

The nice thing about this hotel is that it put us roughly a 15 to 20 minute walk to the front gates of Disneyland. There was a Starbucks in a neighboring hotel, and a CVS down the road. Bonus, if you are attending something like Wondercon, or Blizzcon, you can see the Anaheim Convention Center from the front doors.


Where We Ate

Watson’s Soda Fountain & Cafe. This retro styled soda bar/pharmacy was a great place to stop by in the 40 degree heat. They had inexpensive lunch options. I personally grabbed myself a strawberry caprese salad that ended up being way more food than I could handle. I also grabbed myself an orange creamsicle pop that matched a little Halloween owl I had just bought at target. If I wasn’t dealing with a stomach ache from milk I had consumed earlier, I would have grabbed an adult malt or float.

The Pizza Press. Exhausted from spending the day in the heat, Pizza Press Delivered what we needed. Legit, we ordered delivery not wanting to leave our hotel. Menu items are named with a newspaper theme, with a range of ingredients. There menu also gives you an option to just create your own pizza, picking toppings, cheese, and sauce. As two picky people, this was right up our alley.

Where We Shopped

Elsewhere Vintage. A short uber ride from our hotel, Elsewhere in located in a more historical district of orange. The area is populated with antique, vintage, and thrift shops. One shop that stood out was Elsewhere. Elsewhere carried a range of femme/women’s vintage clothing. Where I live, we lack curated shops like these. I love how clothing was organized by decade, with more valuable pieces up on the walls for display. They had stuff from turn of the century, up to the 50s. In the photo above, this the fantastic top I found at Elsewhere. The great thing about this store was all the reasonable prices. This plaid button top fit me perfectly, and was only $40.

Joyride is situated right next door to Elsewhere. Joyride carried more masculine vintage clothing. We swooned over suits from the turn of the century, and their selection of wool plaid. In that back of the store they also had a milliner, displaying all sorts of hats, and offering repairs. Nicole ended up picking herself up a cummerbund to go with a tailcoat that she had.

What We Did

Disneyland. The main reason we stayed in Anaheim for a couple of days. We ended up not going to their specific Halloween party, but the parks were still all decorated up with pumpkins and bats. I don’t know how we survived 12 hours in almost 40 degree weather, but we did it. First stop was mickey ears, and then space mountain. I finally got to ride the freaking tea cups, which was closed when I went to Disney world when I was 16 with my family. Haunted mansion also got a Nightmare before Christmas decorating. I never got a mickey shaped pretzel, but I did get a witch Minnie themed candy apple with is way more my aesthetic anyways.

These are just the best of the stuff that we did while we were in Anaheim. If you are ever in the area I would totally suggest checking out any of these places. They are all places I am totally going to hit up again if I find myself in the Anaheim area again sometime soon.

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9 Cosplay Gifts Under $40

So It appears that the gift giving holidays are right around the corner. I know that trying to think of things to put on your want list can be hard, and it can be even harder to get that special cosplayer in your life something if you aren’t part of that hobby yourself. Your average cosplayer already has things like a heat gun, or a sewing machine. So what do you get a cosplayer if they already have their basic supplies? Well have no fear, here are nine great gifts from amazon that are no more than 50 dollars.

$21 Packing Cubes. These soft zippered cubes are a must need for any cosplayer that traveling for cons. I got mine just before my last con, and they saved my freaking life. I could separate my real people clothing from my costume stuff, while keeping my suitcase organized.

$45 Bill Doran’s Foamsmith Books. This year the foamsmith books came to Amazon Canada. At last! An inexpensive shipping options for Canadians. Both Volume 1 and Volume 2 are great books to have on hand for reference and inspiration. Volume one goes over more armor builds, where two goes over things such as weapons and props.

$35 Rotary Tool With Flex Shaft. I personally have myself a one speed dremel brand rotary tool with no flex shaft. I know lots of people who have purchases and love this Wen. It has a variable speed control, and a flex shaft, allowing for more finite control. So even if your cosplayer has a rotary tool, this might be a nice alternative.

$17 Silicone Craft Mat. These little mod podge mats are great for laying under your hot glue gun. I’ve also used mine for mixing paint, and mixing epoxy sculpt. It allows for easy clean up, as most products just peel off.

$33 A Blade Sharpener. Even cosplayers I know who have been doing this for years, still don’t have a blade sharpener. A couple of years ago I picked myself up this kershaw branded one and it does me just good.This will save cosplayers money, preventing them from replacing their blades as often as they would without.

$40 RZ Dust Mask. I’ve seen Evil Ted sporting these slim fit masks on his youtube videos and livestreams. I believe they are made of cyclists to wear so they are safe from gas fumes from their bikes. They would make great alternative to traditional respirators. You can get it in black, but personally I want to pick myself up one of these spitfire patterns.

$32 A Dotted Notebook. I have officially been using my Leuchtturm for bullet journaling for a year. Really this is a great gift for anyone. For cosplayers though, this can give them a place to collect fabric samples, reference photos, to do lists, and whatever else they need for their cosplay planning. The dots are great for both being able to write nicely as one would in a lined book, but don’t have the nasty lines running through drawings.

$30 Spring Loaded Scissors. Whether you sew, or do armor smithing, these scissors will save your life. It will save your life twice over if you work with worbla. These scissors help keep your a lot of pressure of your hands, preventing that terrible hand cramp that happens when cutting a lot of anything.

$8 Chalk Wheel. I don’t know anyone who likes those fabric pencils. They never show up on any fabric, no matter the color of the pencil, or fabric. For years I’ve been using chalk pastels to mark my fabric. Recently I have discovered the joy of chalk wheels. They essentially have a tiny little pizza cutter like wheel at the tip. When dragged across fabric it leaves a thin chalk line behind.


If you are looking for any other ideas to get that cosplayers in your life, or looking for ideas to add to your own wish list, you can also check out what is on my own personal wish list here.

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Ways to Boycott a Con

Have you ever attended a con for a few years in a row, and watch it slowly change to do crummier and crummier things. Have you wanted to speak up about something they are pulling over their patrons but aren't sure how to get your voice heard? I’ve seen the cosplay community band together to make significant changes before with past cons. Whether is was removing an abusive con staff member, or demanding change in prop policy, when the community works together we can make change. So what can you do to make change in a convention that shows itself hostile towards their patrons? I’m going to go over ways you can boycott a convention

Don’t attend. This is the most obvious and will hit them the hardest. Show with your money where you stand. If you haven’t bought a ticket to the convention, don’t. If it’s before the refund cut off, return your pass. This is especially important if the convention you are boycotting is a for profit convention.

Don’t pay for a ticket and/or ghost. Obviously this doesn’t work for all conventions. Some are more ghost-able than others. Weather, and convention location are some factors that make a convention more ghostable than others.  I am not saying sneak into conventions. Stick to locations that are accessible to the public. I’ve been to cons with large outdoor parks that many cosplayers and photographers hang out at, and I’ve even seen some where artist alleys can be accessed without a pass. This is a nice option if you still want to see friends and dress up, or if you already have your time booked off for that weekend.

Don’t allow your photograph to be taken by convention staff or volunteers. If you do choose to pay for a pass to maybe support friends in the artist alley, you have a free one, or if the convention throws something shady after ticket refund window, there are still things you can do. If someone from a convention asks to take you photo kindly decline. Don’t allow them to use you as free advertising. I find this is really important when it comes to conventions being hostile towards cosplayers, but then still heavily rely on them for advertising through the year.

If you feel comfortable enough you can let them know why you won’t let them take your photo. Say something along the lines of “No sorry, I am not comfortable being free advertising for the convention.” or “Due to ____ policy that the convention has put in place I am going to have the decline.” You can also just say “No sorry.” and move on. Just don’t be rude about it.

Keep in mind that most conventions have a policy in place when you buy your ticket you agree to have a photo or video take and used for advertising. So if you see a staff member taking a hall shot and you happen to be in frame, they are technically in the right, and there isn’t really a whole lot you can do. If you notice someone is taking a sole picture of you just politely ask them to not take photos of you.

Don’t enter contests. Drop from contests if you have already registered. Whether it is a cosplay, AMV, video game, or any other competition, don’t enter. Once again when on stage the convention is allowed to take any photos or videos of you and use them for future promotion. This is another one I would suggest if a convention is being actively hostile towards cosplayers or the cosplay community.

Things like this also affect other people's opinions on the convention. Cosplay and contests are huge draws for conventions. Even if other patrons are unaware of the issues that is causing you or others to boycott the convention, going to a half empty cosplay contest is going to make them think. Even if that thought is just “Wow, that kind of sucked. Maybe I won’t go next year.” That is something.

Don’t pay for photo ops with celebrities. Let’s be honest, autograph sessions are much more personable for lots of cons anyways. You have actual time to talk to your favorite celebs, lots allow photos to be taken at their table, they tend to be cheaper, and the convention gets less money from that. Try to limit how much money you are giving to the convention and support local artists instead.

Spread the word and get in contact with the convention. yell on twitter, get in contact. Be vocal about why you are upset with whatever they are doing. Tell your friends the crummy thing they are doing, go on local Facebook groups and share your frustration, through email or social media with the convention about why what they are doing is making you boycott their convention. If you don’t tell them what they are doing is wrong, they are going to assume otherwise. Remember it helps no one to just yell “YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF IDIOTS THIS IS STUPID.” It paints a bad picture of a community if everyone does that, and doesn’t get the point across of what is actually upsetting to you. Be constructive, encourage others to do the same and don’t be rude. You can be mad without being insulting. You can encourage change without being abusive.. Post open letters to your social media. Most importantly

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Working With a New Photographer - Keeping Yourself Safe

Beginning a new creative relationship can be an exciting thing. When you do a photo shoot with a photographer for the first time it can be the start of a flourishing partnership. Sometimes, if you don’t cover your basis, it can be not so pleasant.


With cosplay popularity growing, the amount of photographers out there is growing alongside with it. It’s important to get the service you want and pay for. It’s also more so important that you are keeping yourself safe when meeting up with new people. I’ve heard horror stories of cosplayers finding photos of themselves on sites that they’ve never agreed to be on. I’ve heard even worse of stories of straight up inappropriate behavior from photographers that people have agreed to working with beforehand.

Yet if you try to find resources on how cosplayers can better protect themselves against these sorts of things there is very little. Wedding questionnaires and professional interview questions can only go so far. So I have compiled this list of questions to ask a photographer before working with them.

Can I See Your Portfolio? If you haven’t see any of their work yet, I find it’s best to ask to see a portfolio of their work beforehand. This way you know what style you can expect, or get a vague idea of the work that you will receive from the final product. This is especially important when paying for a photo shoot.

What is your experience? Ask how long they have been doing photographer in general. How long have they been specifically doing cosplay photography.

Can I see some references? If you have a friend who has worked with them before, you can also just ask about their experience working with this person. Were they respectful? Is there any reason you shouldn’t work with them? Sometimes you might not know someone who has worked with them before. Don’t be afraid to ask them if they have any previous cosplayers or models they have worked with before that you can talk to.

What Is Your Cost? Cover cost before hand. The last thing you probably want after a long shoot session is the surprise of a high bill. Many photographers have different packages for different budgets. A Lot of cosplay photographers have this information put together on little infographs.
If they don’t have the information listed, it is always good to ask if they require any deposit fee before the shoot. If the photographer does a lot of preparation and research before the shoot expect that to be reflected in a non-refundable deposit.

Sometimes photographers also charge extra for more people. If you think you might have more than yourself let them know, and ask what the cost is.

Also consider currency exchange. If an american photographer is traveling to Canada for a con, their price might not be in CAD.

What Is Included In Your Package? If they don’t have the information posted, or they didn’t cover it in your cost, ask what exactly you are getting with your packing. This can cover things such as; How long will the shoot be?  How many edited photos will I receive? Will I get the unedited raw photos? How will I receive the photos? One drive, google drive, and drop box are all very popular options. All of this information will help you decide if their fee and your time is worth what you are getting out of the package.

Will I get to review proofs before editing? To me this is something that is really important. After all it’s your face and costume that is being shown. Most of the time way more photos are taken than photos that ever reach the editing table. Ask if it’s possible to choose the photos that get moved editing. This will make sure that you get the images out in the world that show off your work how you would like.

Will I get to review the edits before publishing? Remember, photographers are human too. Sometimes it takes another set of eyes to see that they missed something in editing. Ask if you can see the photos before they publish them to their own social media or websites.

How long will it take to get the final product? REMEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE HUMANS TOO. I see too often cosplayers harassing photographers for not having a quick turn around. Often cosplay photographers do this as a side gig, or a hobby. Expect them to prioritize their day jobs, school work, or family first. Ask before you go in how long it will take. If you need edited proofs to make business cards in a couple of week, but their work take 3-6 months, maybe look at someone else or lower your expectation. The more popular an artist, the more demand, the longer wait.

What will I be allowed to use the photos for? Some photographers have strict rules on where and how you can distribute their photos. My experience has led me to some lovely photographers that have no qualms in how you use their photos. It’s still best to ask rather than get in trouble later. Will you use them on your social media, website? Can you use them printed for marking purposes? (such as banners and business cars) Can you sell prints? Ask how they would like to be credited. Sometimes their watermark is enough, sometimes they would like things to be linked back to their own website.

Also if you ask for raws with the intention of editing them yourself please make sure you okay that with the photographer.

How will they be using the photos? Distribution of photos goes both ways. Ask in what ways they will be using the photos to make sure you are alright in how they will be used. Make it clear in what ways you would be uncomfortable.

What costume would you like to shoot? If you have more than one costume that you want to shoot, you can always ask what they would prefer shooting. This give them the option to maybe choose a character they are more familiar with.

Are you familiar with the character/series? I find when working with someone who has a passion for the same thing I do it shows in their work. It’s up to you if you want  photographer who is familiar with the series your costume is from.

Do you have any sort of themes or concepts you’d like the explore? This is useful to ask if you yourself are completely lost in what you want out of the photos. I’m someone is particularly open to what the photographer would also like to do. If you would like to do a more romantic photo shoot with a love interest, but the photographer is only interested in doing a gritty action shoot then maybe they are not the person to work with at that moment.

Do you have a location in mind? When working with a photographer for the first time, especially without a group, I would suggest doing your shoot in a public area. Public parks, school grounds, and parking lots are all good options. Have a conversation on what sort of setting you would like for the shoot, and brain storm some ideas that work for both of you.

Can I bring an escort/handler? Any good photographer will have no problem with this. If they say they have a problem with this turn tail. You should be allowed to have someone to make sure that you feel safe meeting someone for the first time. Also let us be honest, lots of us have costumes with limited mobility where we need a handler to drag around water, purses or other junk.

Will you be bringing an assistant? Just as you should be allowed to bring a friend along, the same goes for the photographer. Often they will have someone carrying equipment or help with lighting. If you are like me, you want to be emotionally prepared and know with how many people you will be working with that day.

How much direction will you give me? Some photographers are much more hands on than others. If you are clueless at posing, then it might work better to work with someone who gives a lot more direction than someone who comes in expecting you to be coming prepared with a list of poses you want to do.

Ask how they will direct you. Remember that no one should physically touch you unless they ask for permission before hand and that you are allowed to say no.

When can you meet to shoot? This should go without saying, but ask when they are available. Make sure your schedules like up and plan something!

How would you like to sign a release/contract? One final thing you should remember is to ask about contracts and releases. Cover your bases. Some photographers will have a pre-made release contract for models to sign that go over this. Other times I have had people fine with just having everything written either in messaging systems, or email. Either way keep a copy for your own future reference and don’t sign anything you are uncomfortable with.

Do you have anything on your must ask list for photographers that I haven't listed? Give me a shout and let me know if you do!

Sept 7 2017

I would like to add that all of this is written in the mind that under Canadian Law that Photographers are the owners of the copyright to any photos they take. Your checklist may differ if your country's laws surrounding photo copyrights are different. In Canada this is why its especially important to get a signed release and contract saying that you are allowed to distribute the work as you have both previously discussed. 

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