Features

This is how you survive a Comic Con

A survival guide

Published

November 3, 2022

Luigi Leonardo

NYCC 2022 on a Friday

Going to a Comic Con is the pinnacle of a geek’s fandom. More than a simple gateway for all things comic books, conventions are now bastions for everything you can find in pop culture including anime, gaming, television, and film. Surrounded by a throng of cosplayers, celebrities, exhibitors, and geeks, it’s a paradise, a surreal experience.

Back in 2018, I attended my first New York Comic Con. Having just moved into the city, I was little more than a tourist, gleefully taking in the sights and sounds. There’s nothing brighter than a geek’s grin. It was the first time I felt one with a larger community who understood my quirky tastes.

Now, five years and three conventions later, I’ve grown a tiny bit wiser. Though the touristy sparkle has since left my eyes, I still approach each show with the same level of excitement while navigating the labyrinth of a show floor perhaps more adeptly than when I first started.

I am, of course, not an expert at everything at Comic Con. However, while other people might tell you the best way to haggle down a price for an extremely rare comic book or charm exhibitors into bringing out some secret stock, I can tell you how to make the most of your experience, especially if it’s your first time.

Never go over your budget.

This is one of the first lessons I’ve learned even before going to a single Con. While I was in line for a ticket to my first event, a more seasoned goer shared a tip with me, in hopes of saving me a lot of hassle going into my first time. “Set a budget, and never go over it,” he said. I never got his name, but his tip is one that I always hold close to my heart (and my wallet) before every major event. So, thank you, kind stranger!

A Comic Con, particularly the show floor, has dozens of exhibitors ready to peddle their wares. Most are definitely worth pulling your wallet out for. However, it’s exceedingly easy to lose track of your expenses amid all the sweet loot you’ve already bagged. Before entering those hallowed halls, set a budget that works with what you’re willing to part with.

Also, keep browsing. While one booth might offer a 20 percent discount for a sweet book, another might offer you 30 percent off. Unless it’s an item that’s flying off the shelves, there’s no harm in coming back once you’ve looked around more.

NYCC 2022 on a Sunday

Plan and pick the best day to go.

Most Cons happen across multiple days leading to a weekend. Not every Con offers all days with every pass. Some, like the New York Comic Con, has tickets that correspond to each day. Regardless of whether you have a four-day pass or only for a single one, it’s important to know which days are the best to go to.

Obviously, if you’re looking for the most excitement, the first day — which, in the New York Comic Con’s case, is Thursday — is always the best day. A lot of the more hardcore fans take the time off just to go to the Con. On a similar note, other goers can’t skip work, so you’re looking at a relatively smaller crowd. Also, nothing has sold out yet. At the very least, you’ll only hit daily caps, and you’ll have to go back another day.

The in-between days, Friday and Saturday, offer a different type of excitement. In my experience, most of the big panels and signings happen on either day. A lot of people are off work, so the crowd is identifiably larger. You’ll likely find yourself standing in line a lot more. It’s a trade-off, but it’s likely worth it if you want to experience the most that the Con has to offer.

Finally, Sunday, the most underrated day for goers. Because a lot of people go on either Friday or Saturday, most are way too tired to go on Sunday. It’s also historically called family day because families take their kids on this day. It’s a more laidback experience with smaller crowds. Also, because this is the last day, exhibitors usually want to get rid of their stock a lot more quickly. Expect bigger discounts and easier negotiating. This year, I even nabbed a new mechanical keyboard for 50 percent off 20 minutes before the Con ended.

Bring your own food.

After walking around the floor for half a day, the last thing you want to do is stand in line for another hour for a bite to eat. Besides saving your wallet from more expenses, you’re also saving your feet from the pain by bringing your own food to a Con.

Get something easy to eat, too. Free benches are scarce with everyone else resting their feet. An easy bite, like a sandwich, means you can easily eat while sitting on the floor or standing up.

Similarly, bring your own bottle of water. Walking around all day, especially when it’s hot, can dehydrate you.

Take photos but ask respectfully first.

Another constant of a Con is the huge crowd of cosplayers. From easy, ready-to-wear suits to impressive builds, it’s always a sight to see while walking through the show floor. Don’t worry; they appreciate the attention. If you find a costume or character that you’re particularly enamored with, you can stop them and ask for a photo. You might even get a chance to talk to them about how they made their cosplay.

Of course, ask for a photo respectfully. There will be particularly revealing costumes out and about. While they appreciate the attention, a cosplayer with a skimpy outfit isn’t a goer’s permission to be weird.

Also, you might bump into famous personalities on the floor. Again, approach them respectfully if you want a photo.

Buy more than just collectibles.

While this connects to the first tip, the absurd variety of goodies at a Comic Con needs its own bullet point. The main show floor is filled with the standard fare of geeky delights like Funko Pops, posters, and — of course — comic books. As tempting as they all are, there’s more to love at the Con.

For example, the New York Comic Con has an Artist’s Alley, another hall dedicated to acclaimed and independent comic writers and artists. Signatures are naturally on the table. However, it’s a lot more memorable to grab remarques (custom sketches on a comic book’s cover) or even commissioned art from your favorite artists. I even got a mini portrait of my cat from webcomic creator Hannah Hillam!

Another interesting purchase is a ticket to an external show outside of Comic Con. Not every event can happen inside the halls of the convention center. Some special events, like parties and bigger exhibitions, can happen outside both the venue and the usual times allotted for the Con.

It’s cliché to say this, but the best way to enjoy a Con is to just have fun. Outside of the event’s schedule, no one can really anticipate how much fun they can get out of a multiple-day convention. If you find yourself wandering on a show floor, just take in the sights, and revel in the fact that you’re with people who understand.

Related Topics:New York Comic Con 2022 NYCC 2022

Features

LOQ and LOAD: The Lenovo LOQ 2024 is for gaming and more

Your entry to PC Gaming

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Get your game on with the Lenovo LOQ 2024. This capable laptop is your entry point to PC Gaming and a lot more.

It comes an absolutely affordable price point: PhP 48,995.

You get capable hardware and the hood to support gaming and more. The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I runs on the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and Intel Arc Graphics.

Those are key to bringing unreal graphics to this segment. Supporting latest tech like DirectX 12 Ultimate, players are able to enjoy high frame rates on the Lenovo LOQ.

Creating content? It comes with AI Advantage to help boost performance. Engines and accelerators boost the media processing workloads especially for creatives. It also works with Intel’s X Super Machine Learning, Leading to images that are as close to reality.

The laptop supports a configuration of up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD Storage.

As for its display, the device has a large 15.6-inch, Full HD panel that is more than enough for gaming, video editing, content consumption, and whatever else you do on a laptop. This display has 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness, and anti-glare.

Videos come out clear, crisp, and realistic. Audio is punchy and as loud as it gets. Windows Sonic elevates it more when you use headphones. And it just takes a few minutes to render HD videos on editing software.

As it runs on Windows 11, if you are going to use it for work, you can take advantage of various features. The Lenovo Vantage Widget is there for constant reminders, Copilot will help you organize your tasks, and Microsoft Edge is there for casual browsing.

There is an assortment of ports at the back for easy connectivity. And as this is meant for gaming, we put it to the test. Racing that looks better with high frame rate? Check. Shooting titles that require heavy work? Not a problem. You can play all your favorites and not worry about performance.

Best of all, it takes less than an our to juice up this laptop all the way to 100%.

So, whether you’re looking to get started with PC Gaming, or an upgrade for work and entertainment needs, the Lenovo LOQ has you covered.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Lenovo Philippines.

Buyer's Guide

2024 Samsung TV: Buyer’s Guide

Which 2024 Samsung TV is your GadgetMatch?

Published

April 21, 2024

GadgetMatch

With all the options available in the market, shopping for TVs can get overwhelming.

One brand Michael Josh recommends whenever someone asks? It’s none other than Samsung.

They have TVs for every price point and every feature a user might prioritize.

But which one is right for you?

Keep watching our 2024 Buyer’s Guide to find out the latest Samsung TV that best matches your needs.

Features

Why choose the MSI Claw?

Is it the gaming handheld for you?

Published

April 18, 2024

GadgetMatch

The MSI Claw is the latest gaming handheld from a major PC and laptop brand. The competition in this emerging gadget segment is tighter than ever. So, what is it about the MSI Claw that can scratch your gaming itch? Here’s a quick list.

Best grip in the game

One quick glance and it’s hard not to compare the claw with another popular gaming handheld. But a closer look and actually holding the thing will reveal that its grip easily feels better.

It has a slightly deeper groove that makes it easier to hold. So, MSI’s “Grip and Game” tagline isn’t all talk. Its design truly does provide one of the better feeling handles among its competition.

The overall design makes sure it’s made for extended gameplay sessions. The buttons are where you expect them to be. That includes the four mini buttons on the upper edges of the screen. These are the View, MSI Center M, Menu, and Quick Settings buttons.

In addition, the face buttons and d-pad all feel great. The face buttons, in particular, feel comparable to those of regular console controllers.

The rest of the buttons and triggers have a very satisfying tactile feel. It also uses Hall Effect technology to get rid of any stick drift issues.

Up top, you’ll find the power button, MicroSD Card slot, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, audio jack, and the volume buttons. These are intuitively placed and just makes sense given the overall design approach.

As cliché as it sounds, you’ll really think you got your money’s worth once you hold, touch, press, and grip the MSI Claw.

Dragon Vision

Now, MSI isn’t really calling it that but I thought it sounds pretty cool. A big part of the whole gaming experience is the display. Balancing resolution and frame rates is always tricky but the MSI Claw does it convincingly.

With this gaming handheld, you get a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Looks great on paper and it’s even better in real life. It’s the sweet spot in terms of both size and performance. There’s enough here to immerse you all while delivering a satisfying level of crisp and smoothness.

It’s comfortable to view whether you’re on the couch, on a desk table, or lying down getting a quick game in before you get some shut-eye.

Battery Life

At 53Whr, the MSI Claw has a 36% larger battery capacity than its contemporaries and promises 50% more play time.

MSI claims “elevated performance with extended endurance” using the Claw with faster charging capabilities.

These percentages are hard to measure in real life usage. What we can say for certain is that you get the expected performance and playtime typical of a handheld. That’s a little under two hours for graphically demanding titles, and close to four hours on less demanding ones.

The charging claim is legitimate. The MSI Claw juices up faster than most other handhelds, going from 20% to 100% in about a little over a K-Drama episode (roughly a little over an hour).

MSI Center M

Any self-respecting gaming handheld has its own software to make navigating the thing more manageable. While its direct competitors have an armoury crate and a space, MSI went with Center M.

The best part about MSI Center M is it puts your installed games front and center. Right when it launches, you get immediate access to the titles you have available on your machine.

MSI Afterburner is already the most commonly used app for taking a look at how your machine is performing while you play. That functionality is built-in to the MSI Claw. You can access it view the Quick Settings buttons.

Layout and functionality-wise, the MSI Center M is certainly one of the better Gaming Handheld softwares available right now.

Competitive Performance

A defining trait of the MSI Claw is that It’s the first gaming handheld to be powered by Intel Core Ultra. With it comes Intel XeSS tech. What it does is leverage AI upscaling to boost the fps of select titles.

As of launch, 50 notable games are supported. That number will certainly grow throughout the device’s lifespan. Some of the titles include Hi-Fi Rush, Dying Light 2, Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty Warzone 2.0, Returnal, and many, many more.

Naturally, results will vary depending on the game mode you’re using. But in general, AAA games get anywhere between 10% to 45% better frame rate performance with Intel XeSS.

For our part we played TEKKEN 8 and the recently launched Horizon Forbidden West. Both graphically demanding games played relatively well on the MSI Claw. Frame rate performance on TEKKEN 8 is crucial and we got a relatively consistent fps, never dropping below 40.

Horizon Forbidden West is a much more graphically demanding game. We were able to run it in Medium Settings and while it doesn’t look as incredible, it still played relatively well with a frame rate surprising for a gaming handheld.

Extras

MSI made sure that if you wanted to, you could get some extra stuff with the MSI Claw. Its separately sold accessory set includes the Claw Travel Case, Nest Docking Station, Claw Lanyard, and Claw Keychain.

On paper, the MSI Claw lists its ergonomic design, AI Engine, and App Player as distinct advantages over its competition.

Whether it’s the Gaming Handheld that matches your needs is still ultimately up to you. If you have the opportunity to test drive the device, we suggest you do so. That might just solidify your purchase decision.