KATSUCON
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=2870
Less than 2 weeks away!

WHEN - FRIDAY 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Public Gathering Time)
Encore is Saturday 10:30 - 11:30 AM (Just in case you want MOAR)

WHERE - Initially hotel lobby. Since none of us know the layout of the
place, we'll meet there first, then move to somewhere else.

WHY - Because I wanted to make a movie called Stakes on a Plane.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww the month of Valentines.
New Acy's and Ace's Pick selected for great justice!
http://www.acparadise.com
Nico's Pick is at http://www.facebook.com/acosplayparadise

AOD 2010 coverage is coming online:
http://www.acparadise.com/acs/cons.php?cyid=3199&t=4

Ohayocon 2010 coverage may come online? >.>
http://www.acparadise.com/acs/cons.php?cyid=2863&t=4

Our next contest, to give you a head start, submissions will close on 02-28-2010 11:59 PM EST
ACP and AKSYS Games will be celebrating the release of Blazblue PSP Portable!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php

Feel free to ignore our fun post on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/acosplayparadise?v=wall

American Cosplay Snapshots will have it's FIRST anniversary 4.1.10.
Since things are settling down in regards to American Cosplay Paradise/Experience's overhaul, it's now time for us to get ready for upgrades to ACS. We like to conduct surveys/polls to see how we're doing, and where we should be going cos we actually care about that sort of thing and we can't read the minds of photographers yet.

So, in order to pile MORE work on genjitsu, who was planning to catch up on One Piece, we're running the ACS Meme. If you have suggestions, be specific and upload screen examples where applicable so we can possibly steal them. Because you can't just hammer down poor Henry with requests, you're required to write something to puff up his ego.

If you agree with a particular comment that was made above you, simply copy-paste the comment and write I second/third/etc soandso's comment. The higher the support for a comment will be noticed more. Obviously we won't be able to do everything, but we'll see what we can do.

THE ACS MEME
http://acparadise.livejournal.com/66291.html
Click the above link and reply with the following content:
I. Write at least ONE thing about ACS you really like.
II. Write at least ONE thing about ACS that we could add or improve, that DOESN'T involve making celestial benefits standard/basic.
If you like a comment someone posted, then second/third/etc it!

EXAMPLE:
I. I like having other people tag series of my convention coverage for me.
II. I'd really love individual cosplay photographer RSS feeds that I can add to my twitter or cellphone for minute by minute stalking updates.

Due to a variety of circumstances including:
1. Unexpected expenses due to Project RVB
2. Upgrade plans for ACS
3. One Piece and Reborn backlog
We will be scaling back a little bit on conventions for the first quarter of 2010 in order to maintain financial solvency. Remember, Project RVB came out of our own pocket without industry backing.

This means that:
genjitsu will no longer be attending Ohayocon 2010.
waynekaa will no longer be attending Katsucon 2010.

Thus, next up for ACP Coverage is Katsucon 2010 by genjitsu along with the Umineko Gathering.
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=2870

You know, it's after a con (*kaff* ALA), and you'd like to write up a report and show off all the costumes you wore, maybe a skit you were in. Perhaps even all the tagged photos of you. But guess what. You're LAZY. Well, ACP supports your laziness!
Check it out! http://www.acparadise.com/ace/display.php?a=10001&t=cons&conid=183
Just add text! And instant convention report! Your costumes, tagged photos, videos, all there. You input text through your control panel, conventions section, then pick the year, and the con.
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/tools.php?t=cons
Standard users don't fret tho. You are able to input all your convention text, and later if you upgrade, it will all be visible! That way you don't have to try to do major recall from cons long gone by when you finally upgrade. which you should

While Standards get a regular list of their conventions, Celestial Members enjoy data mining.
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/display.php?a=14273&t=cons
Besides the regular list, ACP automatically tells you how many conventions you've been to, and your top 5 most attended. It also breaks down which convention you wore the most costumes to, tagged photos, and most worn costumes.
Great for those end of the year convention summary reports, but all the number work has been done for you.

Ever thought it was dumb to be associated to a random number? You have enough numbers to memorize, Driver's License, Social Security, who wants to memorize what your cosplay number is? Celestial members are lifted of that mental burden!
For Example: http://www.acparadise.com/loves/animeangel
Now you have an easy to remember URL that is basically acparadise.com/loves/ (INSERT NAME HERE) that you can pimp freely, place on cosplay cards and tell your friends.
Custom URL is defaulted to your forum log in, and can be modified here:
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/tools.php?t=profile
No special characters, only alphanumerics allowed, spaces will be transformed into _ (underscore)
If you are a standard user, but would like this option, consider an upgrade to Celestial, by clicking the tab on the upper right of your page, it's only a one time fee (not annual).

Since we busted out this new fangled ACP, some of you are still confused about how to import con coverage into your account. Updating your ACP/ACE account without actually uploading something, MAGICAL. Photo credit done for you? MAGICAL!

( Onto the exclusive ACP Tutorial Walkthrough: Import Convention Coverage )

Besides offering commissions, Celestials can easily list costumes/props for sale!
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/display.php?a=10001&t=store
Just edit an existing costume in your profile and just click that it is available for sale and the minimum price. It will show up in your store and also, the ACP Search Engine.

To see, just do a search for Cheese
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/search.php, and you'll see it show up!
Before you can sell stuff, you do need to do a few things.
1. Be a Celestial Cosplayer
2. Open your store from your Tools. Tada!
If you are a standard user, but would like this option, consider an upgrade to Celestial, by clicking the tab on the upper right of your page, it's only a one time fee (not annual).

If you aren't slave_to_anime or darkain, you might find that the new RSS feeds are confusing, and what is this new fangled thing that I can use to automatically pimp out my ACP updates for me?

Try it out! The future is here! (and we'll still do some tweaking too)

( Onto the super neato ACP Tutorial Walkthrough: RSS Integration into FB, Twitter )

http://www.acparadise.com/acp/display.php?a=20715&t=store
The ACP Plaza has been renamed to Commissions / Sales and should be more intuitive. We've brought back this perk for our upgraded members and combined it with the commission display, so they can show off previous works! Credits from last week's Tip of the Day now show up in Celestial's stores. You don't have to worry about someone fraudulently taking credit for other people's works since the commissionee has to credit the commissioner in order for this to show up. On the left are past works, and on the right are things up for sale currently.
Even if you aren't currently taking commissions, you can still open up your store so people can view your past commissions! If you made outfits for your boyfriend, just consider that a "free commission" and credit away!
Before you can have this display you do need to do a few things.
1. Be a Celestial Cosplayer
2. Open your store from your Tools. Tada!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/tools.php?t=store
If you are a standard user, but would like this option, consider an upgrade to Celestial, by clicking the tab on the upper right of your page, it's only a one time fee (not annual).

We are entering the modern age, where we want everything instant and mobile. ACP is moving ahead! Some of you lamented that you can't instant updates anymore when went to digest version notifications. Now it's back and better than ever. RSS Feeds to your mobile phone, your twitter, LJ, however you want it. Your ACP updates can automatically be posted on your Facebook page using RSS. Track your favorite series on the go!

Say you're slave_to_anime and just need to know the very second rukawagf even breathes at her ACP, all he has to do is add the RSS Feed button at the upper right of her page
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/display.php?a=29925 and BINGO.
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/rss.php?cosplayer=29925 <- EXAMPLE RSS FEED LINK
RSS Really Simple Stalking Syndication IS AT ACP!

Ever thought how tiresome it is how to pimp your updates after you make them? ACP can now do that automatically with RSS! Read how ->
( How to Integrate your ACP updates into all your social networking sites LiveJournal, FaceBook, Twitter )

So in between our massive site upgrade, we took some time out for Anime LA

Video Coverage is coming online now
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=2695&t=3
If you have the name of your Construction Division award, please let us know so we can fill that in.

Currently 753 Photos but more expected on the way
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=2695&t=4
Hime no Toki, you're rockin the sorting this time around!

For a while now, we've allowed you to easily link credit an ACS photographer who took your cosplay photo. But duh! What about your costume construction. What if someone else made your costume? We've added that in! Now under all your costume info in your Tool Box, you'll see Costume Construction Notes.
Default setting is that you made your costume yourself.
But if another ACP/ACE member made your costume, then click that and select their name from the drop down menu!
Say you made the costume, but someone else did your wig, you can credit the wig stylist too, provided they're on ACP/ACE. And if that user is a Celestial member, these credits will show up in their commission gallery!
And no, we don't have this drop down option for props, because Celestials already have a prop display to show off their works, and it would be double dipping. Please credit your prop maker in the construction details. Your details box can take simple HTML like links so feel free to pimp out your propmaker there.

Also, lionboogy asked us to help him remember who he borrowed his costumes from, so if he wore your costume, can you chime in on which costume should be credited to who? (Include the costume link and the ACP user name)
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/display.php?a=40102&t=costumes

http://www.acparadise.com/acp/tools.php?t=fans
Yes we had some bugs with this yesterday, sorry, but those are fixed now!
This function is somewhat analogous to Cure's fanclub function but styled to ACP.
The VIP section is a subsection of My Fans in the Celestial Control Panel. Anyone can be a VIP viewer, if selected.
In the My Fans page, you can designate which of your fans shall have VIP access.
Instead of favoriting and applying to a fanclub separately like is done at Cure, whenever someone favorites you, it is assumed they would like to be in your VIP room as well. However, you as the owner of the VIP room, determine who you want to give VIP status.
As VIPs you get special access to VIP only photos. The viewer, when granted VIP status will see a special VIP only sort function on your Costumes page. They can click that to see the exclusives.

Why have exclusives? Say you had photos you wanted to upload but only for some of your friends to see, then VIP them! Say you had in progress of a costume but didn't want it showing up in the database, VIP! If a costume consists of only VIP photos, it will not show up in the database. It will show up as "In Progress" to those not on the VIP list. But VIPs will be able to see those photos. You can pick and choose which photos you want to have VIP under your photo management section of each costume.

You can also send newsletters to all your VIPs. Say you're Kaname and coming to AX, got some exciting update, or you have a shiny exclusive costume for them to see, you can your VIPs a newsletter to let them know! Build your VIP room today!
If you are a standard user, but would like this option, consider an upgrade to Celestial, by clicking the tab on the upper right of your page, it's only a one time fee (not annual).

http://www.acparadise.com/acp/display.php?a=13943
As you can see, one of the major upgrades was to give cosplayer profiles a homepage feel to it and make things dynamic and fresh to attract viewers to your page. A little sampling of everything your page has to offer on the front, with easy navigation to where you want to go. Both relevant to the cosplayer themselves and users browsing their page. Your most recent costume updates are displayed, random favorites, your most recent comments on costumes you thought were comment worthy, upcoming conventions, tagged photos and unsorted photos. All straightforward and intuitive. All with links to take you to their respective pages. Like when you click to see more costumes, your costumes display in your chosen order. Clicking Favorite cosplayers takes you directly to your favorite cosplayer list. Conventions takes you to your convention history. Visitors to your page won't get bored looking at the same display over and over since it's ever changing.

http://www.acparadise.com/acp/display.php?a=17955
But some of you prefer Classic Coke ACP, where things were simpler and it was just your bio and your costumes. The costumes are in the order that you decided just as it was in 2009. It is a more static set up than the default. Hey, we aim to please, so you all have the OPTION to flip back and forth, as your mood permits. Don't worry, there's no hard feelings if you prefer ACP Classic, it just means we did things right back then too. So say you're still working on hiding your tagged photos, you may want to sit on ACP Classic temporarily until you're done. Or maybe you need some time to let the changes sink in. You've got the flexibility.

We recognize that some people like their frozen yogurt with 4 different flavors and fresh lychee, strawberries, mochi and sprinkles on top, but some just want their plain tart. Don't you want some Yogurtland right now? At ACP 2010, you can pick! And switch between the two freely at anytime. Just visit your tool box link on the upper right, then scroll to user preferences to toggle your Display:
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/tools.php
Cosplay Home Page Display: Default Classic

After a year of sorting photos from various collections like A Fans View, Linus Lam Network News and other convention coverage, now you can see all the photos that were tagged to you!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/tools.php?t=photos&s=tagged
It's sorted by the most recently tagged to you, and organized by con on the right.
Let's face it, some of that con coverage is good, and some, not so good. But it's still your memories and nostalgia.

ACP has given you several options with what to do them:
1. Cosplayer pages show random tagged photos of you. Say you are a standard and hit your limit, this is a good way to have extra pictures of your costume floating around.
2. Say that tagged photo is actually pretty good! You can now import it into one of your costumes, and it will automatically credit the photographer for you. Click the button in the upper right.
3. Say that tagged photo isn't that good. Hide it! Click the button in the upper right. If you hide your tagged photo, it will no longer display on your cosplay page, and you cannot be tagged again. This is better than untagging, because someone may end up tagging you again, and your picture pops up again in your profile.
Yes, hiding tagged photos might be tedious because OMG there's bunch of photos! It only seems high because you have 10 years worth of backlog all at once. Clear it and it should be quite managable. And if you don't like tagged photos at all, perhaps you need to do a better job hiding from photographers at a con ^_-. Tell lionboogy, no, you can't take my picture. :P
4. If you're a tagging machine, you can also tag your friends that were in the picture too! It's a good way for you to ring up your cosplayer tag scores (as opposed to series tagging which is easier on our photo roulette).
5. If you find that you (yourself) was incorrectly tagged, then click on Direct Link to Picture, and check off the X to remove the tag to yourself. If you find that someone else or the series was mistagged, please respond here.
Enjoy revisiting your memories!

ACP is always upgrading, and thanks to many of your suggestions from the ACP Meme. That only took us a month, not like other sites sweltering in stagnation. The new general theme to ACP "emphasize the photos as quickly as possible, as much as possible". You see that the display has drastically changed to show more photos than ever before.

( General Improvements )

( Featured Additions )

( Celestial-Specific Upgades )

For those of you who need to get acquainted with the New ACP, we prepared a PDF walkthrough outlining all the essentials.
http://www.acparadise.com/Getting_Started_with_ACP.pdf
We'll be talking more about some of these features later, but this week will be spent preparing for Anime LA!

Feel free to poke around the site, and report any bugs
(AFTER you hit clear your cache of the old ACP and hit F5/refresh)
http://www.acparadise.com/
We'll make formal announcements in the morning but until then play around!

PS. You all might get alot of E-mail spam in the next few days, but it'll settle down after everyone's settled in ok? So just please bear with it.

Since waynekaa came up with the idea, he is tasked with writing up the history report for the impending 10th Anniversary. Judaime!

On 1/1/2000, I was browsing Japanese cosplay photographer sites, and wondered, why doesn't the USA have a site like that? So I snagged genjitsu because I knew I'd need someone I can trust to help me manage such a site. We tossed around some names, and came upon Cosplay Paradise, but found out it was a site in France. So we added an American to the front of it, decided we'd take cosplayers from all the Americas (North and South America) and went with it. The other reason we chose American is so alphabetical searches would show us first. XD. Yes I was pondering that even back then.
Problem #1. Japan is a smaller place than the US, and for such photo coverage to occur, someone would need to be incredibly rich and have plenty of time on their hands. So to counteract that, we derived the idea of user submitted cosplay photos to a central site.
Problem #2. I'm a poor cosplayer. Don't got any money. Let's open it at a free webhosting service!

---

2000 Vintage Black ACP (some images are broken because they're archived)

( Cut for your sanity, click here for some good time reminiscing and history lesson! )

Happy New Year from ACP! You know what that means!
New Acy's and Ace's Pick selected! Starting off the new year with some Blazblue!
http://www.acparadise.com
Kano's Pick is at http://www.facebook.com/acosplayparadise

This also means that in 4 short days, ACP/ACE will celebrate our 10th anniversary! We'll be posting some memoirs in the next few days to get ready for the big 1.4.2010! Keep checking back for updates. Thanks to all your suggestions from the ACP Meme, we won't list out all the upgrades, rather we'll let you find them like Easter Eggs, maybe even all the way til Easter! :D

When the hangover is over, we'll post the results to the Vocaloid contest too :P
Vocaloid Results are IN!
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=40&t=1
Congrats to our winners and thanks to all our great contestants for showing their love of Vocaloid!

LAST CHANCE to transfer photographer information to an ACS account. About 20 photographers worth tracking info is on the chopping block. There's been plenty of warning for this, and the time to set up an account is minimal. http://acparadise.livejournal.com/59531.html
Don't worry, you'll still be able to type in their name in the open credit field, they just won't show up on the drop down menus if you can't get them to join. The list will be cleaned off to only ACS Photographers in 2010.

LAST CHANCE to vote for your favorite Vocaloid Costume!

Voting ends 12-31-2009 11:59 PM EST (8:59 PST)

Vocaloid contest sponsored by ACP has started. Thank to all our wonderful entrants!

Voting ends 12-31-2009 11:59 PM EST (8:59 PST)
You may want to spread the word, since there's only THREE DAYS OF VOTING.

Hey, are you one of the photographers on this list, or know of them, or have they taken photos of you?
Before we had ACS, we had a cosplay photographer list to help tag photographers. But now with ACS, we're planning on phasing this old list out in favor of our ACS list. What does this mean?
It's high time you encouraged your photographer friends to sign up for ACS accounts. They just need to set up the initial account so their name will remain on our drop down list of photographers. If you like having them on that list, then bug them to join. If not, you'll still be able to just write them in. Perhaps you're such a GOOD friend that you can set up the ACS account for them, transfer it over and upgrade them.... for Christmas... tee hee.
Here's the instructions: http://acparadise.livejournal.com/28492.html

Why would they want to establish ACS account?
1. Show up on the drop down list of photographers for easy crediting
2. Reverse tracking on photos, photographers can track which ACP/ACE cosplayers have used their photos.
Example: check out Lionel http://www.acparadise.com/acs/display.php?a=40102 253 cosplayers use his photos, with more detailed information on the control panel on which photos were actually used.
3. Contribute to convention coverage, where other people sort out your pictures for you by cosplayer and series.
4. Photos are viewed on a site that is specifically catered to cosplay.
And plenty more reasons!

Here's the list of photographers that aren't represented on ACS and are at risk for phase out. Spread the word, it'd be a shame to lose out on their pre-existing stats that we already have on them.
( Here's the list of photographers that aren't represented on ACS. )

First of all, thanks to oshidori and caloris for sending ACP some LJ Upgrade coupons for our account! (which had just expired) <3

Next, we have some cleaning to do, this time on videos section. (you can report mis-cat photos as well if you want).
If you find a video that has the wrong cosplayer info (you were tagged and you're not in that video, it's your team but some weirdo is tagged in your skit, etc)
Or there is a wrong series attached to your video, here's your chance to reply to this post we can clean it up for the new year!

We need:
1. Link to video in question.
2. What's wrong with it.
(The Katsucon 2009 Hetalia video is already reported, and we're tracking down the people who mistagged it since it seems to be intentional)

Our friends at FUNimation bring you their Christmas Edition of Always Be Cosplaying, featuring ACP Cosplayers! (Remember this great series of articles is what brought you MOE Henry)

Vocaloid Contest Update:
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=40
We've added a second prize to our Vocaloid Contest, the regular Nendoroid of Miku Hatsune.
Remember, first prize is a copy of Project Diva, with the Limited Chibi Edition Nendoroid of Miku Hatsune.
Entry Deadline: 12-28-2009 11:59 PM EST
Also we'll go ahead and announce that voting for Vocaloid will be accelerated and only THREE days, with the voting ending when 2009 ends, EST.

P.S. You know what to do for all your online gifting this year right? upgrades

http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=41
Congratulations to the winners, and thanks for everyone for participating!
We shall contact the lucky individuals by E-mail shortly.

Le Chevalier D'Eon Cosplay contest sponsored by FUNimation voting is about to finish. Thank to all our wonderful entrants!

Voting ends 12-06-2009 11:59 PM EST (8:59 PST)
Be sure to cast your vote and get your say, cos random voters may also win!

While you're at it, don't forget to enter our Vocaloid Cosplay Contest
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=40

Thanks to everybody who volunteered for our ACP Umineko Gathering at Katsucon! We have sent an introductory email already to all the members we chose for our characters. We will be sending another e-mail to our chosen applicants sometime between today and tomorrow with some updated information - if you received it, please reply back so that we know you can commit to it!

Here's some additional information for everybody else, since I have a feeling these questions will come up.

( ACP Umineko Gathering FAQ )

If you want to ask something about this that isn't covered, please reply below - COMMENTS WILL BE SCREENED.

We'll announce the times for the gathering as we get closer to the con, so stay tuned!

New Acy's and Ace's Pick selected! And they're both CELESTIAL being
http://www.acparadise.com
Nico's Pick is at http://www.facebook.com/acosplayparadise

2010 marks the TENTH anniversary of American Cosplay Paradise. Didn't you know? We predate all those other cosplay sites. We're planning a major celebration, and because of that waynekaa gave genjitsu a huge to-do list to get ready for the 1/4/10 anniversary.

Every year, American Cosplay Paradise conducts surveys/polls to see how we're doing, and where we should be going cos we actually care about that sort of thing. Last year, we rolled out American Cosplay Snapshots for our photographer friends and implemented the wildly popular tagging feature.

So, in order to pile MORE work on genjitsu, it's that time again! We're going to be open ended this time, and comments completely unscreened. So if you're inclined to say "I want to see more stupid Henry tricks next year", he will know who you are. If you have suggestions, be specific and upload screen examples where applicable so we can possibly steal them. Because you can't just hammer down poor Henry with requests, you're required to write something to puff up his ego.

But now that things are unscreened, and you agree with a particular comment that was made above you, simply copypaste the comment and write I second/third/etc soandso's comment. The higher the support for a comment will be noticed more. Obviously we won't be able to do everything, but we'll see what we can do.

THE ACP MEME
http://acparadise.livejournal.com/57539.html
Click the above link and reply with the following content:
I. Write at least ONE thing about ACP you really like.
II. Write at least ONE thing about ACP that we could add or improve, that DOESN'T involve making celestial benefits standard/basic, genjitsu to make oppai tensai free or asking that waynekaa be less evil.
If you like a comment someone posted, then second/third/etc it!

EXAMPLE:
I. I like having all my cosplay viewable on one page without having to next page over
II. I love e-mail digests of updates that save my inbox but I'd really love individual cosplayer RSS feeds that I can add to my twitter or cellphone for minute by minute stalking updates.

Are you having a hard time making up your wishlist or figuring out what to get your friends?
Why not an upgrade of their ACP/ACE account?
Perhaps you're already a Celestial at ACP/ACE and want to dabble in some photography. Then perhaps a nice ACS subscription is in order! ACS Subscriptions are a year at a time, so you can keep adding time on to your favorite photographers. Get your upgrades in before 2010, so you'll be able to start the new year as a Celestial when we roll out our site revisions!

For more details and instructions:
ACP/ACE Upgrades (Forever)
http://acparadise.livejournal.com/989.html
ACS Subscriptions (Annual)
http://acparadise.livejournal.com/30625.html

Todays not only a good day to catch up on updating your costumes to ACP like Vartan did, but also your convention lists for 2010. Log in, and click:
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/tools.php?t=cons
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/tools.php?t=cons
http://www.acparadise.com/acs/tools.php?t=cons

Why is it important to keep this information updated?
1. So your friends won't have to ask you each time and you can just link them when they ask you, hey, what cons are you doing?
2. So you can be stalked by all your fangirls and fanboys!
3. We don't always do open call for events, and we use the ACP convention attendance for reference
4. Conventions that don't have that much ACP attendance are at risk for getting cut from our line up.
5. It's what any good ACP citizen would do! before waynekaa bites you to death
6. Shameless excuse to use this icon and further make you think of ACP when you see Edgeworth

Winners for the Sakura Wars Contest sponsored by NIS America have been posted!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=36&t=1

However, you have less than a week to enter Le Chevalier D'Eon sponsored by FUNimation!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=37
ENTRY DEADLINE: 11-30-2009 11:59 EST


Also, we're still Scouting for Umineko at Katsucon 2010
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=2870
We'll notify the chosen participants within a week of the post closure (12/7/09) by E-mail.

ACP DELIVERS rukawagf jumproping in booty shorts

http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=1993&t=4
Get to sorting series and cosplayers!
Report any new series or errors here

PS! ACP's new commercial for Dragonaut here!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/vid/5633/h
MUST SEE and you cannot unsee

Voting ends: 11-24-2009 11:59 PM EST (8:59 PST)
Be sure to cast your vote and get your say!

While you're at it, don't forget to enter our
Le Chevalier D'Eon contest sponsored by FUNimation
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=37

And our newest contest: VOCALOID.
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=40
There's only gonna be ONE winner for the Vocaloid contest.
They'll get the new Project Diva game plus the CUTEST NENDOROID EVER (1/2 size of a regular nendo)

(Business card as point of reference for size)

ACP is coming back to the East Coast for Anime USA 2009
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=1993 ADD YOURSELF.
PS. This is what genjitsu looks like, so you can take pics with him.


We will be promoting FUNimation's Release of Dragonaut"
Come to the FUNimation booth for the BrEaST view!
Be sure to bring your VIDEO camera and DSLRs to catch the maximum EXPOSURE.
Everyone's just bouncing with excitement!
ACP has a well ROUNDED cast of cosplayers this time around, and promises to be big BIG fun!
It's a pirate's bounty with plenty of CHESTS everywhere!

This approved message has been brought to you today by Oppai Tensai

Contest submissions end tonight!
Join the 8 cosplayers that are currently entered!
P.S. Sakura Taisen Musical entries are allowed
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=36
ENTRY DEADLINE: 11-17-2009 11:59 EST <- NOT PST

We'll also have another contest announcement shortly that we hinted at a few months back.

Le Chevalier D'Eon Cosplay Contest sponsored by our friends at FUNimation
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=37
1st and 2nd Place will get the COMPLETE Box Set + Poster
Entry Deadline: 11-30-2009 11:59 PM EST

Also find us some Sakura Taisen cosplayers to enter the Sakura Taisen contest
P.S. Sakura Taisen Musical entries are allowed
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=36
ENTRY DEADLINE: 11-17-2009 11:59 EST

The complete masquerade is online for viewing at
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=2425&t=3

259 Photos from PMX are available at
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=2425&t=4

ACP is coming to PMX this Veteran's Day Weekend.
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/cons.php?cyid=2425


But! There are 4 other cons going on too!
Aki-Con 2009
NekoCon 2009
Anime NebrasKon 2009
Zenkaikon 2009
We hope that some of you attending these cons will snap up some photos to post up at http://www.acparadise.com/acs/!

Congratulations to lauramichelle & Adam Hero Kid, for each winning a copy of Hero's Saga.
Also! AKSYS sent some bonus Hero's Saga artbooks so we ran the numbers again, and those will go to reifan & Bur Loire!
Check your E-mails for mailing instructions!

Don't forget to enter the Sakura Taisen contest from NIS America!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=36
ENTRY DEADLINE: 11-17-2009 11:59 EST

New Acy's and Ace's Pick selected!
http://www.acparadise.com
Kano's Pick is at http://www.facebook.com/acosplayparadise

A chance for a free copy of Hero's Saga: Laevatein Tactics sponsored by AKSYS ends soon!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=39
Entry Deadline: 11-04-2009 11:59 PM EST

And then there's Sakura Taisen!
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=36
Our threefive entries on there are getting lonely!
ENTRY DEADLINE: 11-17-2009 11:59 EST

Time for you guys to update our Facebook with your favorite past time. TAGGING.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=151481&id=186347407264&saved#/album.php?aid=151481&id=186347407264
We've uploaded 5 pictures from each event we had since we started doing industry sponsored events, from Ouran/Lucky Star/Gurren at AX08 to Soul Eater/Kannagi at NYAF09.
There's lots of people to be tagged, so get busy! Comment to your hearts content!

There's 90 photos total in that gallery, so that's 18 events so far? D:, and Anime USA will be 19.
We had 6 in 2008, which means we'll have 13 in 2009.
And 2010 will be even MOAR. Thanks for all your supports everyone!

For those of you who are FB savvy: http://www.facebook.com/acosplayparadise

So it's time to outline what each of these sites will be used for.
twitter:
-Phone posts from when we're on the road
-Contest reminders
-Quick little updates imported from Facebook

Facebook:
-Nico/Kano's (ACS) Pick of the Month
-Daily Choice link from either ACP/ACE/ACS
-Quick little updates
-Mascot/Staff pictures
-FB Networking

Livejournal
-Contest Announcements
-Scouting Events
-Site Upgrades
-Big updates
-Polls
-LJ Networking

(Note - this post is part of a series from Genjitsu's personal LJ, but since it is cosplay specific, people would probably be interested in reading and discussing it here)

( Japanese Cosplay - Observations from an American Cosplayer )

That's a lot of material for you to digest, but feel free to reply with any questions - I'll leave off with two humorous observations:

1. The trademark ACP shirt works even in Japan - when I approached a pair of cosplayers, they told me they were taking a 30 minute break. I went and took some other pictures, and when I came back, there was someone already waiting. As I lined up behind him, a person who I assumed was their escort started telling us that they were no longer accepting pictures. The cosplayers saw me and called out to their escort, "Ah, pinku daijoubu desu! Kochi Kochi!" (Oh, pink is ok! Come here!)

2. Omi is actually super nice and friendly! Seriously, I was a little scared of meeting her because I thought she was going to be glaring at me and being the mean psychotic girl, based on what she usually cosplays. That's not to say the huge line of photographers WEREN'T glaring at me as I skipped the line and spent about 15 minutes chatting with her...

Winners for two ACP contests are announced
Eureka 7
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=34&t=1
1st Cepia
2nd CeruleanDraco

The Story of Saiunkoku
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=37&t=1
1st sailorkagura07
2nd nessabutterfly
Those lucky random voters will be individually contacted by genjitsu
You better make sure your E-mails are valid at ACP!

Don't forget that we have a Sakura Wars contest still ongoing!
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=36

New Acy's and Ace's Pick selected!
http://www.acparadise.com

Saiunkoku Monogatari sponsored by FUNimation has started!
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=37&t=1
For this contest, 6 random voters will also get prizes, so be sure to vote!

D. Gray-Man, Round 2 Contest Results are announced!
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=38&t=1
Congratulations to:
1st AsanoPhoenix
2nd LtCommanderRichie
3rd greyfinch
And thank you to everyone that entered!

Eureka 7 entries END TODAY
ENTRY DEADLINE: 10-01-2009 11:59 EST <- EASTERN TIME
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=34
Last chance to get it in!

FIRST PLACE:
Renton, Talho, and Eureka Voice I-Dolls


SECOND PLACE:
Terminus typeR808 and Terminus typeR909


All prizes courtesy of Bandai Entertainment

Remember, Eureka 7 Movie registration closes in a few days!
http://www.acparadise.com/ace/contests.php?cid=34
ENTRY DEADLINE: 10-01-2009 11:59 EST

American Cosplay Paradise brings you full Live coverage of the NYAF Variety Show and Masquerade online
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=1777&t=3
Includes special Soul Eater FUNimation Panel skit
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/vid/5584/h

Also 452 Photos on American Cosplay Snapshots that have already been sorted.
http://www.acparadise.com/acp/cons.php?cyid=1777&t=4
So there's a hint for you guys with NYAF photos to ADD MORE