Continued from previous post, here comes the second part of 2011 C3 in Hong Kong coverage.
Will add captions later!
HGUC 1/144 Gunpla lineup for Gundam UC (Unicorn) series
Diorama of HG 1/144 Gunpla from Gunpla Builders miniseries
The 2 metre Unicorn Gundam in Destroy Mode. Seeing this guy several times before (e.g. ACGHK & Gundam Expo) makes it seem like seeing an old friend again XD
1/100 MG lineup for Gundam Wing series
Huge poster for the new Gundam Wing manga: Glory of the Defeated (敗者の栄光)
A prototype of MG 1/100 Shenlong Gundam (or "Shenron Gundam" as suggested on the tag there ^^;). Note the missing dragon hand on the right arm.
Diorama display for HGUC Gunpla lineup for Gundam UC (Unicorn)
C3 event exclusive Gunpla on display
HGUC 1/144 Unicorn Gundam Destroy Mode Platinum Finish version, to be released soon.
Event exclusive 1/144 HG 00 Gundam Seven Sword/G Inspection Type + Special Action Base
Event exclusive 1/144 1.5 Gundam type Dark + Special Action Base
Event exclusive 1/144 White Sazabi as seen in Gunpla Builders miniseries
Event exclusive HGUC 1/144 OVA limited Sinanju "Red Comet Spark" ver
RG (Real Grade) 1/144 Gunpla on display
Prototype of RG 1/144 Aile Strike Gundam on display. Looks pretty good I have to say.
PG 1/60 Gunpla on display
PG 1/60 Astray Red Frame
PG 1/60 Aile Strike Gundam
PG 1/60 Strike Freedom Gundam
PG 1/60 00 Raiser (well here it's just 00 Gundam with GN Sword III without the O Raiser)
Upcoming MG 1/100 00 Raiser on display
HGUC 1/144 Dreissen on display
SD Sangokuden Gunpla on display
Bandai's event shop at the back of the exhibition. Event exclusive stuff are sold here as well.
A small corner of Bandai's exhibition features an art collaboration from Austrailium illurtrator Ashley Wood
Some of the works by Ashley Wood displayed on the Ashley Wood x Bandai corner
Ashley Wood's impression of the Zaku II
Zeon bikes in one of the shop. Only one each are available for buying, but it appears that no one was willing to buy it even on the third (and last) day.
A poor image, but people are playing on Gundam Extreme Vs arcade machines. The Gundam Vs series is pretty popular in Hong Kong, and since the Extreme Vs is not available in Hong Kong (at least not yet), not surprisingly there is a mass queue of gamers eager to try it out, while another mass crowd surrounds the area watching live and past matches. I stood there and watched for whole half an hour too ^^
SHF Kamen Rider W action figures on display
One Piece figures on display. Some are fixed statues while others are action figures.
SHF Kamen Rider Faiz action figures
SHF Dragon Ball Z action figures
GFFN (1/144 scale) ReZEL and Full Armor Unicorn Gundam
GFFMC (1/100 scale) Unicorn Gundam. The one on the left is pearl coat version, while the one of the right is the normal version.
Very similar to the one seen in the Gunpla section, but here is the Robot Damashii lineup for the Gundam UC (Unicorn) action figures
Upcoming Metal Build 00 Gundam Seven Sword
Upcoming Composite Ka Exbein
Event exclusive GFFMC RX-78-2 Gundam Roll Out Color on display
Square-Enix booth
A banner showing all sorts of merchandise available for purchase. One of the most expensive one to buy was Serah Farron's necklace (from FFXIII).
Play Arts Kai Metal Gear Solid Snake Piece Walker action figures
Final Fantasy trading figures
Final Fantasy VII Advent Children posters
Play Arts Kai Ezio Auditore da Fironze action figure from Assassin's Creed II
More Play Arts Kai action figures from Final Fantasy series
Play Arts Lightning action figure holding Odin's blades
Play Arts Kai Dante and Nero action figures from Devil May Cry
Play Arts Kai Halo action figures
A customised Anaheim Electronics desktop tower
Various Macross Frontier merchandise
Action figures on dispay from Medicom Toys
Distributor EliteToys showcasing figures from ALTER, Good Smile Company, and Max Factory
ALTER Nanoha series figures
ALTER K-On! figures
Other ALTER figures
Black Rock Shooter merchandise
Nendoroids and figures from Good Smile Company
Nendoroid Puchis and actsta 1/8 Nanoha from Good Smile Company
figma action figures from Max Factory
More figma action figures from Max Factory
Crowd of people shopping at EliteToys' shop area
End
Thoughts? Well this is the 2nd time C3 has happened in Hong Kong, and it's the first time being held in HKCEC. Compared to annual ACGHK events, there surely aren't as many people going around in C3, which on the good side means it's much easier to cruise around from one booth to another. I have a feeling that the C3 event isn't as heavily promoted as ACGHK, so not as many people have become aware of the event as expected.
I am not exactly sure how successful this event has turned out to be in the Japanese's eyes. There sure could have been more people, but sales seem to have gone pretty well, with many event exclusive items got sold out by the end of the 2nd day. But I won't be certain whether this is what the big firms and exhibitors think. Well, should we see C3 coming back to Hong Kong for the 3rd time next year, then we know that this year has been a success, and the Japanese firms sure would like to continue to share the hobby outside their own market.
Full set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quentinlau/sets/72157626273176228/
This is so happening! Wished I was there. Thanks for the sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the meal. ^^
ReplyDeleteThat HGUC Dreissen is a calling me. =D
@ LEon:
ReplyDeleteNo problem! It's my first time attending a C3 event so it's quite something to me! I'm glad that you like the content ^^
@ bd77:
It's my pleasure ^^ The Dreissen is very tempting I gotta say, and it's much bigger than I've expected too!
How awesome that you attend this. Although, it looked like there was less people then past events. Kinda wished that Bandai would show some newer stuff, but I can't blame after what's happened.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pictures buddy, nice work! Man, I forgot how awesome the Roll Out Colors are for the RX-78-2. I want to get my hands on a Gundam kit now to use those.
ReplyDelete@ Tom:
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like that there isn't as much promotion on C3 as there is on ACGHK, so I guess not as many people are aware of it as the exhibitors may have expected. As for the 'new' stuff, we'd have seen them announced on the Internet already, but it's still great to see a fullly coloured and assembled MG 00 Raiser, as well as prototypes of RG Aile Strike and HGUC Dreissen for example!
@ korewagundam:
The Roll Out Colour scheme is quite a unique colour scheme. Apparently this is very close to the original design that Tomino wanted before Sunrise wanted it to be more colourful to be like other super robots at the time :o
Yeah, I've heard that Q, they wanted it to be more flashy and eye catching for the kiddies. Meh, it worked, I like the original just fine, but the Roll Out scheme sure is cool too!
ReplyDeleteI like that exclusive Dark type. Also, the new commenting thing is much better :D
ReplyDeleteI really wish we had these type of fairs in the US. I really love seeing the variety of Gundam figures.
ReplyDeleteSuper beautiful displays! I'm not really into mecha, but I did find the various Gundams gorgeous. I also loved those shots with a bunch of them lined up. So neat!
ReplyDelete@ korewagundam:
ReplyDeleteI guess Sunrise felt the audience is not too ready for such "realism" back then, but funny enough Gundam was also one of the few series that helped stem the so-called "real robot" genre these days :o One way or the other it's good to see that Tomino's originally preferred colour scheme made a comeback as HCM-Pro and GFFMC.
@ Persocom:
The Dark Type is very different from the original, which was blueish purple with white (rather than red with black). I was thinking about getting it but refrained from doing so as I have a lot of Gunpla in my backlog already ^^;
Btw thanks on the feedback on the commenting box. Good to know that it's better than the old system!
@ bluedrakon:
Given that this is the 2nd time C3 got held in Hong Kong (and outside Japan), it may be likely that the Japanese will continue to do such events overseas in the future, and hopefully to more places too to share them out to fans in different areas.
@ Yi:
Glad that you like them ^^ Having a lot of units lining up, especially those in the Sangokuden display, can be quite impressive indeed!
great post and blog..
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you can help me..
I am doing my degree here in Hong Kong..
Can you list me gundam/anime expos/conventions in Hong Kong and their usual date?
I only know some like Gundam expo or Asia Game Show..
Also, in Hong Kong where to buy Gundam kits?
I mainly went to the Tai Yuen Street and Kwong Wa Street
@ Diaz Arcrossito:
ReplyDeleteThere's ACGHK that takes place around end of July / beginning of August, and Comic World, which apparently takes place every February and August.
ACGHK is the most well known one (and most crowded too) with basically a bit of everything, whereas Comic World (which I actually haven't been to one yet) focuses primarily on doujins and cosplays.
Um... As for Gundam kits, Kwong Wa Street is a good choice. I personally go to Wai Le Model Centre in Wan Chai Road in Wan Chai near Oriental 188 mall (Wai Le also has a shop in Kwong Wa Street but they seem slightly pricier). As for newest kits some shops in Sino Centre in Mong Kok and 188 Oriental in Wan Chai will have them too.
Hope that helps.