SCC Social Club News

February 2015
Edition 1
SCC Social Club News
Sugar City Con 2014 Overview & 2015 Aims
By Grant Robinson.
President Sugar City Con
@herecomesrobbo
Image from: Rogue Snapper Photography from Sugar City Con Facebook
I know it’s a bit late but happy New Year everybody!
What a year 2014 was for SCC. We hosted some cool
events throughout the year which led to us hosting the
biggest regional Pop Culture Event in Australia, Sugar
City Con! A huge thank you to everyone who came and
we hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did!
So now that 2015 is here, we are working hard behind
the scenes to improve the 2015 event and our first
announcement has already been made. We are moving
to a bigger venue, the Mackay Show grounds AND we
are going over two full days! So mark your calendars
now because the 29th and 30th August is going to be a
weekend to remember.
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We listened to the feedback from attendees, exhibiters
and guests and although it’s more work for us, the bigger
venue and two day event will further showcase the
region’s geek community and bring us all together for
even more fun. We had over 1200 come through the
door in 2014 and we expect that number to grow even
more this year. We already have plans for more events
spread over the 2 days as well as even more exhibitors
to browse and purchase cool swag from.
So that’s what we have planned for 2015. But what
about this newsletter your reading? Well it’s just one of
the new initiatives the team has in store for 2015. By
becoming a member of the SCC Social Club, you will
receive this newsletter monthly full of all the latest SCC
news, as well as movie, comics, book, anime and other
geeky reviews and news. Being a member also entitles
you to discounts on future SCC events and promos
leading up the Con as well as being the first to access
ticket sales when they come out for 2015. One of the
other cool things about membership is that it will allow
you access to our members only Facebook group which
will provide the community and fans an avenue to share
your love for all things geek and nerd related. Want to
talk about what happened in the latest episode of
Arrow? Want to know which Anime is worth watching?
Need advice on your cosplay? You can do all that in the
new group as well as getting the inside track on our
events before they are announced anywhere else!
So welcome 2015, welcome to all our new fans and a
big thank you to everyone who assisted us in last year’s
event and to every one of you who attended!
February 2015
Edition 1
Cos We Play
By Vicky-Vic
Aka Chelsea Marrinan
Events Co-ordinator
Hi Guys! Welcome to this small part of the newsletter
where I can chat about cosplay, or what is better known
as Costume Role-play! My name is Vicky-Vic; I am a
cosplayer from Rockhampton, Activities Co-Ordinator
for Sugar City Con and also an Emergency Registered
Nurse. Cosplay is a favourite hobby of mine from back
in 2012 and have since continued to this day. I enjoy
working with groups for charity fundraisers in hospitals
and at cons. When I started cosplay, I knew no one.
These days I have friends from all over Australia and
some from other countries. It’s a hobby where you can
make friends and learn from others.
Image from: American Dream - Photo by Carlos Mayenco Cosplay
Photographer
I have worked in multiple fields for cosplay now;
including latex, EVA foam, Worbla and sewing. The
world is an open book of learning and I want to share it
with you. If you have any questions or want to know how
to do something; I will write about it. I tend to take a
heap of photos of what I am doing and love to share
what I know; I am still learning from friends of mine
about new things all the time. The reason I love cosplay;
learning. This is what cosplay is about; it is about sharing
and community.
Image from: Supergirl 52 - Photo by Firman Junus
Cosplay is a combination that is used to describe the
participants whom dress up to represent a character or
idea with in a subculture. Most common ones include
Anime/Manga, comics, popular shows/movies, books
etc. The term covers so much in the pop-culture world
when it comes to choosing a character to cosplay. By
personal preference for me, I choose a character I love
and know; this way I can tell others about them and act
out the same way they do. This makes the character more
convincing.
Image from: High Summoner Yuna (Gunner Sphere) - Photo by Lorenzo So
Photography
Next Newsletter; I’ll start with basics. Buying Vs Making
and what it all means in the cosplay community.
Vicky
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February 2015
SCC Volunteer Profile
Name:
Toby DiPaola
Are you Game?
Edition 1
By Peter Dahms
Social Media Coordinator
Have you always dreamed of making your own video
game? Of course you have, it's every gamer’s dream.
Many years ago it was fairly hard to pursue this dream.
You no longer have to rely on a giant publisher to get
your work out there into the hands of gamers. Indie
developers are independent game makers who rely on
themselves to fund their projects and not have a giant
publisher like EA or Activision fund it for them.
Sugar City Con Volunteer 2014:
Set up, pull down and the arcade machines.
Sugar City Con 2014 highlight:
After party, of course.
Why did you decide to become involved with SCC?:
Cause I had lived here for like a week when I heard
about it, thought it'd be a good way to meet some likeminded oddballs.
What are you looking forward to the most for SCC
2015?:
Wearing a suit that doesn't show my junk so prominently.
Image from:
http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/642/6422750/253623713872034164_37ff8d48dd_o.jpg
Right now digital distribution is the best way for these
studios to get their games out to the people who want to
play their games.
What's your favourite movie?:
Gotta go with Mallrats or Batman Returns.
What's your favourite comic?:
Top 3:
1. Mad love by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini
2. Batman year one by Frank Miller and David
Mazzuchelli
3. The Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle run on detective
comics.
What's your favourite game?:
Crash Team Racing.
Image from:
http://wind8apps.wind8apps.netdna-cdn.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/windows-8-indie-games.jpg
Indie games tend to think outside the box; indie
developers are willing to make the risks that big
publishers aren't willing to do. Some of the most
innovative and creative games are made by indie
developers.
What's your geekiest past time?:
Avidly playing Pokemon Trading Card Game.
What is the most shameful geek thing you have
done?:
Buying Pokemon for trading on eBay OR getting comics,
then refusing to touch them and buying the digital copy
so I can't bend or tear them.
If you had to choose between comics, gaming and
movies, which would be the one:
You can't beat comics. All the big movies are based on
them anyway.
Who would win in a fight between Batman and
Superman:
Batman (refer to dark knight returns).
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Image from:
http://videogamewriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/fez.png
One of the most popular games to date is an indie game
called Minecraft, which was sold to Microsoft last year
for $2.5 billion. Crazy, I know. For a long time indie
games have been given a bad name in parts of the
gaming community because a lot of people don't see the
true potential they have, when really indie gaming is the
way of the future for creators and gamers alike.
February 2015
Book Spines & other stories
By Jaala Beauchamp
Young Adult Librarian
Mackay Regional Council Library
The Freeman review
Edition 1
By Morgan Stream
Convention Coordinator
Book Spines, the Young Adult (YA) book club with a
difference, is set to start early February 2015. The YA
Librarian, Jaala, can't wait to hear about what you have
been reading and what you loved or hated about what
you read.
There is no set book to read in this book club, it is an
opportunity to share and relax with other readers.
Zines and other Scenes, the YA writing group, is also set
to start in February 2015. It will be a great opportunity
to share your stories, delve into your creativity and try
out different styles of writing all with other like-minded
people.
Are you a young adult in the Mackay QLD area and
interested in joining us? Keep an eye on the Mackay
Regional Libraries Council Facebook site (click the f in the
top right corner) for details about Book Spines, Zines and
other Scenes and many other programs to come. Or use
the contact form on this site to contact Jaala for more
details.
Oh I almost forgot, there will be snacks, aka brain food,
available during the book and writing clubs.
For further information go to
http://bookspinesandzines.weebly.com/
Image from:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2695221760/tt2013293?ref_=tt_ov_i#
Title: The Wind Rises aka Kaze Tachinu
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Genre: Drama
Company: Studio Ghibli
Format: Movie
Australian DVD/Blu-Ray release: 10/12/2014
Synopsis: The wind rises follows the life of a young man,
Jiro Horikoshi and his dreams of flying planes leading to
his career development as an aircraft engineer with
Mitsubishi producing the A5M and the A6M commonly
known as the Zero. (Utilised as the primary Japanese
Navy aircraft in WWII)
Artwork: The artwork in this film is everything that has
come to be expected of Studio Ghibli. Typically of
dramas produced by Hayao Miyazaki the art is softer
pastel tone work, which really helps to set the mood of
the film as opposed to bright joyful works such as Ponyo.
Simply drawn characters with the ability to convey so
much emotion.
Image from: http://bookspinesandzines.weebly.com/book-spines.html
Voice Acting: The English voice cast performed
exceptionally well, the ability to convey the passion and
conviction of the characters, which can often flounder
upon translation from Japanese. Martin Short was a
stand out as Kurokawa.
The Wind Rises overall for me was a very enjoyable
final Studio Ghilbi instalment. The film a very beautifully
embellished tale of the early life and career of Jiro
Horikoshi (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The film portrays Jiro
as the aspiring pilot, boy dreamer with his head in the
clouds let down by health issues making him unfit to pilot
an aircraft, so he studies to become an aircraft engineer.
Throughout the film Jiro enters many dream states where
he encounters Giovanni Battista Caproni (Stanley Tucci)
the famed Italian aircraft designer and gains inspiration.
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February 2015
During his design training he gains employment with
Kurokawa (Martin Short), the lead on a Navy aircraft
contract build for Mitsubishi where he befriends fellow
engineer Kiro Honjo (John Krasinski). The story follows
historical events of the time with Jiro meeting his to be
wife Naoko Satomi (Emily Blunt) during The Great Kanto
earthquake in 1923, their relationship is a bittersweet
tale.
Edition 1
Shu-sensei’s Super Happy Kawaii Funtime Column
Japanese and Asian Pop Culture Review
By Mark Shew
Advertising & Media Coordinator
Hayao has developed a story that has blended factual
historical events with fictional inspiration from other
written works of the era namely "The Wind has Risen"
by Hori Tatsuo which follows the events of a female
character suffering from Tuberculosis in the late 1930's
which is merged into this film by Naoko suffering from
TB. In Jiro's historical personal life there is no record of
his wife suffering these aliments, never the less it still a
beautiful story.
The dream sequences in this film are a typical boisterous
fun filled moment that are seen throughout Hayao's films
from Ponyo the storm wave running sequence and Totoro
when Mei is happily chasing down the small trolls through
the garden. Caproni is featured as a whimsical dream
state character that is mentoring the Japanese boy
designer through his development to becoming a
renowned Japanese aircraft engineer. These scenes are
an interesting take on the day dreams of an engineer,
though there is no evidence that the real Jiro drew any
inspiration from Caproni. Director Hayao himself is
known to have a love of planes, which he delved into
with the film Porco Rosso (aka Red Pig in Italian) so the
introduction of Caproni could be construed as just a
general nod by Hayao to Caproni.
From a technical standpoint initially I was surprised to
see a Dolby Digital soundtrack listed as mono, though
this is a Ghibli production and everything is done for a
reason. There is so much going on in the film visually and
plot wise there is no requirement for needless surround
tracks with interactions of off screen room effects, once I
started watching and became engrossed mono audio
was not noticed at all.
Hayao Miyazaki reminds us with The Wind Rises, just
how fragile an existence life is and to cherish the special
moments. The realities of his stories really hit home. A
fantastic final entry from the studio, if you're unfamiliar
with Studio Ghibli's works kick off your anime journey
with Howl's Moving Castle
Image from:
http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire2/9e8550dd5fe4dfbbe7accdb24de
70a5b1302295729_full.jpg
Konnichi wa my little Sugar Con-sama. Welcome to Shusensei cultural review. Come sit by Shu-sensei’s feet each
issue to find all the best, worst and of course weirdest
pop culture straight out of Asia. This issue will examine
the Seven Deadly Sins of Blue Exorcist.
Seven Deadly Sins of Blue Exorcist
Now Con-sama, Shu-sensei has committed his own
deadly sin in writing this review and bought the entire
season of Blue Exorcist on Google Play only to find that
it was the DUBBED VERSION. Shu-sensei deeply
apologizes for this lapse in judgment and will check next
time before spending seventy bucks on a pretty awful
dub. With that in mind we will look at Blue Exorcist and
see if an anime that tells the tale of the Son of Satan
turned good guy is devilishly divine or belongs on the
bottom of the Sea of Galilee.
1. Luxuria (lust)
Let’s start with everyone’s favourite sin, Lust. Now I don’t
mind a bit of innuendo occasionally or even a bit of fan
service but Blue Exorcist has all the awful tropes
crammed in there for lonely otaku. It has a pointless side
episode where the crew goes to the beach (with bikini
and gravity defying boobs), onsen episode and not one
by TWO characters that are know for their jiggling
knockers and not much else. These types of filler
episodes add nothing to the plot and just distract from
the interesting bits.
2. Gula (gluttony)
Image from: http://geekdad.com/2013/05/howls-moving-castle-blu-ray/
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I understand Japanese people love food. We get it. But
to devote an entire episode on bento boxes when there
are demons to be slain is just gluttonous. I do like that the
February 2015
central character uses cooking as a plot device (“It’s the
only thing I don’t screw up,” as he is often fond of saying)
but when your episodes are essentially 15 minutes when
you take out the recap and opening and closing credits,
there is little point devoting so much time to food. For
some fantastic food porn scene try Butler Black instead.
3. Avaritia (avarice/greed)
Seventy buck for an anime season is just ridiculous,
especially for one that is dubbed. Poor form Google
Play, poor form.
4. Acedia (sloth/discouragement)
This series gets realllll slow towards the end of the arc.
It almost gives up on itself. I also found that some of the
episodes were out of order on Google Play. After a very
intense and exciting start to the series, going from slice
of life to Son of Satan, it is sad that the series loses a bit
of steam for such a short (25 episodes at 24 mins per
episode) story.
5. Ira (wrath), 6. Nvidia (envy) and 7. Superbia (pride)
Because Shu-sensei got so discouraged and lazy at the
last sin (and he is running out of word space) we can
wrap the last three sins together. Wrath in a series about
the Son of Satan seeking vengeance against his father is
a good thing. Having characters continually shout this
fact I suppose is part of the course for anime but it gets
old fast. Blue Exorcist is enviously trying to be a Black
Butler or Chrono Crusade and it just doesn’t get there.
The characters proudly spout Bible passages that don’t
relate to the action, and the voice acting is all a bit
hammy in the dub and the ‘plot twist’ are seen from a
mile away (I mean seriously, you give the two characters
who turn out to be demons pointy ears and fangs from
the get go). If you are looking for demon hunting
goodness banish Blue Exorcist and give Chrono Crusade
a go instead.
Edition 1
SO YOU ENJOYED THIS NEWSLETTER AND WANT TO know
MORE…
Want to be the first to know about SCC's upcoming
announcements, first to buy tickets, first to know about
our other upcoming events or be the first to throw up your
hand to be a volunteer?
Than join the Sugar City Con Social Club!
For only $5.00 (annually) you get all the above
information as well as a monthly newsletter filled with
news, reviews, competitions, and all sorts of geeky
goodness. You also get exclusive access to our members’
only Facebook page where you can interact with the
organizers and other nerds and geeks from across the
world! Need help with a cosplay your building? Want to
know what anime is hot and which comics you should be
buying each month? Want to complain about the last
episode of Gotham? Than ask away in the group and
one of the other friendly members will join you in the
discussion!
Social Club members also get the chance to join the
organizing committee for future SCC events!*
To join, simply complete the SCC Social Club Application
Form at the back of this newsletter or go to Sugar City
Con’s website, download the application form and email
or mail it to the details listed their along with your
membership fee and you’re in!
*Social members must meet set requirements to be
eligible for management committee including being a
social member, of good character, enthusiasm and
approval by existing management members.
Image from: Rogue Snapper Photography from Sugar City Con Facebook
Image from:
http://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film625417.html
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February 2015
Edition 1
2015 Events
Calendar on upcoming events
1 February 2015 – SCC announces new Social Club
1 February 2015 – First Ed of SCC Social Club News is
released
3 February 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
12 February 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young
Adult Writers Club – City Library (booking preferred –
contact Library for details)
15 February 2015 – MCRM Fresh Meat - Mackay
Leisure Centre (see Ad Page 9)
26 February 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young
Adult Writers Club – Gordon White Library (booking
preferred – contact Library for details)
3 March 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
7 March 2015 – Great Zombie Escape – CQU
Rockhampton (see Ad Page 8)
12 March 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young Adult
Writers Club – City Library (booking preferred – contact
Library for details)
26 March 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young Adult
Writers Club – Gordon White Library (booking
preferred – contact Library for details)
14 May 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young Adult
Writers Club – City Library (booking preferred – contact
Library for details)
22-23 May 2015 – Gamma.con – Canberra Woven
Hellenic Club
28 May 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young Adult
Writers Club – Gordon White Library (booking
preferred – contact Library for details)
1 June 2015 – Early Bird Special phase two on ticket
prices ends
2 June 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
11 June 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young Adult
Writers Club – City Library (booking preferred – contact
Library for details)
19-21 June 2015 – Supanova - Sydney Showground,
Olympic Park
26-28 June 2015 – Supanova- Perth Convention &
Exhibition Centre
27-28 June 2015 – Oz Comic-Con Melbourne
Convention & Exhibition Centre
11 July 2015 – Tropicon – PCYC Cairns (check out their
webpage/FB for further details)
31 March 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
14 July 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
7 April 2015 - Mecha Mecha Music workshop
(Workshop 1) – Gordon White Library for 12 to 18
Year olds - (booking essential – contact Library for
details)
4 August 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
9 April 2015 - Mecha Mecha Music workshop
(Workshop 2) – Gordon White Library for 14-25 Year
Olds (booking essential – contact Library for details)
9 April 2015 - Celebration Concert – Mackay PCYC
(please contact PCYC for more details)
13 August 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young Adult
Writers Club – Gordon White Library (booking
preferred – contact Library for details)
21-28 August 2015 – Book Week
27 August 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young Adult
Writers Club – City Library (booking preferred – contact
Library for details)
29 - 30 August 2015 – Sugar City Con (of course)
Melbourne
1 September 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
11-12 April 2015 – Oz Comic-Con Perth Convention &
Exhibition Centre
10 September 2015 - Zines and Other Scenes - Young
Adult Writers Club – Gordon White Library (booking
preferred – contact Library for details)
10-12 April
Showgrounds
2015
–
Supanova
–
17-19 April 2015 – Supanova – Gold Coast Convention
& Exhibition Centre
18-19 April 2015 – Oz Comic-Con Adelaide
Showgrounds
5 May 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
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19 - 20 September 2015 – Supanova -Brisbane
Convention & Exhibition Centre
26-27 September 2015 – Oz Comic-Con - Sydney
Exhibition Centre & Glebe Island
17-18 October 2015 – Australian Movie & Comic Expo
– Melbourne Showgrounds
February 2015
3 November 2015 – Book Spines – Mackay City Library
(booking essential – contact Library for details)
Edition 1
27-29 November 2015 – Supanova - Brisbane
Convention & Exhibition Centre
20-22 November 2015 – Supanova - Adelaide
Showground
Keep checking your newsletters and the SCC Social
Facebook page for further details about these events.
21 November 2015 – International Games Day
Our Facebook Page
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February 2015
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Edition 1
February 2015
Edition 1
SOCIAL MEMBERS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION - $5 PER PERSON PER YEAR
2015-2016
Full Name:
Date of birth:
Phone:
Current address:
City:
State:
Post Code:
Email:


By ticking this box, I agree to accept emails and other promotional material from Sugar City Con Inc
By ticking this box, I agree to received emails and other promotional material from sponsors, vendors and supporters of
Inc. (I understand I can opt out of this option at any time)
Sugar City Con
I agree by being a SOCIAL member of Sugar City Con Inc, I will obey and support the objects of the Association the Model Rules, Social Club
Policy, Code of Conduct and By-Laws of this Incorporation and I am over the age of 16. This means that I am not eligible to vote in Committee
meetings, nor to be eligible for election to the management committee*
Signature:
Date:
Payment can be made either via:
Paypal general@sugarcitycon.com
Direct Deposit: National Australia Bank
BSB: 084789
Account Number: 732497032
Account Name: Sugar City Con Inc
Reference: First Initial and Surname
In person at Mac’s Comics & Collectibles, 172 Shakespeare Street, Mackay
Please return form to
Sugar City Con Inc
C/ 4 Stott St
Bucasia Qld 4750
or
Email: socialclub@sugarcitycon.com
* A social member is not able to vote in Committee meetings, nor be eligible for election to management committee, without meeting the
requirements under Sugar City Con By Laws. This includes, but not limited to, by being a current social member of Sugar City Con Social Club,
of good character, enthusiastic and nominated and approved by existing management members.
OFFICE USE ONLY
Receipt Number:
Date of Admission as Member:
Confirmation Letter Sent:
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