[Weekender] Subculture pageant in Seoul transcends gaming

“Tech otakus save the world” is a motto from Hoyoverse, the Chinese language recreation large behind the worldwide subculture gaming phenomenon Genshin Affect. Whereas it might sound exaggerated, the sentiment isn’t totally off the mark. Subculture gaming, as soon as thought-about area of interest, has exploded right into a mainstream cultural drive — as is particularly evident in South Korea.

Subculture video games — video games that initially focused small, devoted communities with particular cultural pursuits typically rooted in anime aesthetics — have step by step grown out of their area of interest origins. Right this moment, they attraction to a broader viewers, attracting not simply hardcore avid gamers and anime fans but in addition informal followers who respect the artwork, storytelling and group these video games foster.

This inclusive and quickly rising fandom was on full show on Sunday, Aug. 25, on the Seoul Commerce Exhibition & Conference in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Regardless of temperatures peaking at 33 levels Celsius, followers flocked to Illustar Festa, Korea’s largest subculture gathering occasion organized by the Korean gaming firm Starlike. The occasion was a celebration of the multi-faceted world of subculture, bringing collectively followers of video games, anime, and extra in a single area.

All through the 2 days of the weekend occasion, greater than 20,000 attendees stuffed SETEC. To handle the huge turnout and forestall overcrowding, ticket gross sales and admissions have been tightly regulated. Even so, the queue of followers stretched over tons of of meters, with many ready patiently for an opportunity to buy extra tickets.

The pageant, already in its fifth version since final yr, featured over 1,000 cubicles, the place particular person creators offered handmade artwork, merchandise, and different subculture-inspired items. By the afternoon, among the hottest stalls, akin to these of Nexon’s Blue Archive, have been already displaying “offered out” indicators.

Amongst these in attendance was Yoo Da-young, a veteran subculture vocal artist in Korea’s subculture scene who performs beneath the stage title Danya. Whereas she’s sometimes seen on stage, this time, she was there as a participant, mingling with fellow followers.

Yoo defined how subculture occasions like Illustar Festa have advanced into multi-entertainment hubs, providing one thing for everybody. “Complete subculture occasions like Illustar Festa in Korea have grown to embody varied types of leisure — not simply video games and anime, but in addition the creation and sale of distinctive items, cosplay, musical performances and even appearances by underground, or chika idols,” she stated, referring to unbiased pop artists working outdoors of Japan’s mainstream music business. One might come right here as a fan of chika idols and depart with a newfound curiosity in a Korean subculture recreation, she stated.

Yoo, who began as a singer and had little curiosity in gaming initially, acknowledged how these numerous components of subculture — music, video games, merchandise and cosplay — are intertwined. “As time handed, taking part in subculture video games grew to become a pure a part of my expertise. The whole lot from music to cosplay is related on this world,” she added. Yoo’s voice, as an example, was featured in a chapter of the Korean subculture recreation Ragnarok On-line.

Some of the notable features of Illustar Festa was the sheer variety of cosplayers. The conference heart was teeming with followers dressed as their favourite characters from manga, anime and video games. In contrast to skilled cosplayers who are sometimes employed to advertise particular cubicles, these have been on a regular basis followers — college students, workplace staff and hobbyists — who crafted or bought their costumes merely for the love of it. They reveled within the consideration, fortunately posing for pictures with fellow attendees.

“The overwhelming majority of subculture fans are common folks with day jobs or faculty commitments. But, they’re extra prepared to spend on their hobbies than followers in lots of different sectors. At occasions like Illustar Festa, they indulge of their passions, typically spending appreciable quantities on their favourite characters and associated merchandise,” famous one of many occasion’s organizers.

A big portion of the cosplay on the occasion was impressed by widespread subculture video games, significantly Genshin Affect, Goddess of Victory: Nikke, and Blue Archive. The latter, a cellular role-playing recreation from Korean developer Nexon, has garnered a major following, not solely in Korea but in addition in Japan, which accounts for over 74 p.c of the sport’s market share. In actual fact, Korean subculture recreation merchandise is now a standard sight in Akihabara, Tokyo’s mecca for anime and gaming tradition.

Through the occasion, the Korea Herald reporter encountered a trio of teenage cosplayers with their detailed Blue Archive costumes. The group, who most well-liked to be identified by their on-line aliases — Yujin, Hehe, and Nini — had dressed as the sport’s characters Umika, Kikyou, and Azusa, respectively.

Blue Archive provides a mixture of tactical gameplay and narrative depth, the place gamers assume the function of a trainer guiding superpowered college students by means of varied missions within the fictional metropolis of Kivotos. The sport’s attraction lies not simply in its strategic gameplay but in addition in its richly developed characters, every with a singular backstory that unfolds by means of visible novel-style interactions.

“The sport’s anime-style aesthetics and narrative complexity are what actually draw me in,” Nini stated. “The characters are extra than simply fight models — they’ve personalities and tales that make the sport really feel alive.”

Yujin and Hehe, each male, have been dressed as feminine characters from the sport. Yujin mirrored on the adjustments he’s seen locally. “5 years in the past, I attended these occasions with out cosplay. Now, not solely has the variety of individuals grown, however there’s additionally been a noticeable enhance in curiosity in subculture video games.”

Hehe identified a humorous remark. “A number of the Blue Archive cosplayers I’ve seen won’t even play the sport. As an example, I’m carrying glowing headbands, which within the recreation point out a personality’s well being. However I’ve seen some cosplayers with out them — it’s like they’re strolling round as zombies,” he joked.

“Nevertheless it’s all good. Even when they don’t play the sport, they may simply love the story or the characters, which implies extra consideration for all of us.”