The Gay Geek (June 12, 2008)

Rumorrama Contines:
Toykopop’s woes weren’t the only rumors flying (that BEA seems like a gossipy place) in the past couple weeks as the grapevine has been buzzing about the possibility of Japanese comics publisher Kodansha making a move into the US market and taking away their titles from publishers like Del Rey (who imports Kodansha titles like Nodame Cantabile, Air Gear and The Wallflower -- the last being a title I've got to discuss at some future date) and Tokyopop.

For a little while, those rumors seem quashed since Del Rey Manga’s Ali Kokmen insisted that he was discussing future deals with Kodansha. Still, I can’t help think that a publisher as well-established as Kondasha certainly has the resources to enter the US market without cutting off its US licensees.

Funny, I remember Candy Candy always looking like
she was on the verge of tears...

This story has my attention since Kondasha owns one of my personal childhood Obviously Gay Traits (hello fans of All Over the Guy), the super girly period romance Candy Candy. As a kid growing up in Hawaii, my cartoon watching included anime shows on the local Japanese channel and Candy Candy (episodes focused on her adult years as a nurse) was a part of that. Interestingly, since those shows were subtitled and I hadn’t yet learned to read, my love of Candy Candy was all about watching the heroine’s big hair and her endless concerned and conflicted looks (I mostly remember her giving sad looks at empty hospital beds). I know there’s at least one other gay comic fan who remembers Candy Candy with a bizarre feeling of nostalgia for the series.

Meanwhile, Heidi MacDonald points to the troubles the Wizard World comic conventions (which includes one of the year’s biggest cons, Wizard World Chicago) have been facing of late. Heidi adds rumors that Wizard might get out of the convention biz next year, either by just bowing out or by selling the business. I’ve seen Wizard World rack up the complaints for not doing enough to include indie comics and manga and for focusing too heavily on pin-up models and wresting – overall, for putting up the “No Gurlz Allowd” sign (which includes the gays) too often associated with comics. If true, I have to admit those rumors inspire a bit a schadenfreude, considering how Wizard ignored the way comic readers have become more diverse over the years.

The Sims 2: Urban Boogaloo

The latest expansion pack (probably the final one before The Sims 3 hits the stores) has been announced and the immensely popular game is going uban in its final bow. The Sims 2: Apartment Life will add apartment buildings into the mix – a concept that didn’t grab me right away but is slowly winning me over... especially after reading rumors about some of what might be in the game – landlords, NPC roommates, the ability to visit other sims in their homes, playgrounds and a long anticipated new secret creature.

Officially the expansion pack will feature a reputation meter that feeds into some kind of social networking and social groups, breakdancing (see, I had a good reason for trotting out that old, old joke) as well as new items that have previously required a fan-made mods (judging from the screenshot above) like spiral stairs and ceilings.

I usually go through stages that start as mild disinterest to excitement with these expansion packs, but since there usually turns out to be more going on I keep looking and get more interested as details emerge. This one is following the same pattern. Am I alone in the sentiment?