Hi guys! LU LIVE Day 2 was a blast as well 😀 I had a great time judging for the Cosplay Competition — there were so many intricate and well-made costumes to choose our winners from. If I could, I’d have given most of them prizes just for being awesome ❤ Oh, I have to say that I would rather judge forty excellent costumes, than one hundred horrible ones

My favorites include the four ladies pictured below, from Level Up titles RF Online, Rohan, Grand Chase, and Ragnarok Online. The Cora cosplayer from RF Online was not just pretty and well-put together, she was also humble and witty and had a great sense of humour. Meanwhile, the Rohan cosplayer in her elaborate black dress stole the ramp show with her dance number that had people laughing in surprise and applauding in their seats.

Many of this year’s cosplayers are first-timers, since they are avid gamers who have been exposed to cosplay as opposed to veteran cosplayers who also happen to play video games. Several cosplay contestants are also backed fully by proud parents and guildmates, who where at LIVE to help with make up and wardrobe. I find that fact incredibly gratifying and it helps restore my faith in cosplay as fulfilling and fun, and not just about the money and fame.

I’m still in the process of compiling the list of winners from not just the cosplay event but the game tourneys as well, so all I have on hand at the winners for the RF Online NES Tourney — which went to The Immortals, and the KOS Secrets Operations Sign-ups Tourney — won by HOA. Incidentally, this is The Immortals second NEST trophy in a row, while HOA is composed of members from RF Online top-ranked guild Masterminds.

Level Up Games and Nokia are the co-presentors of “Level up LIVE 2009: United We Play!” on the 7th and 8th of November at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. LIVE 09 was packed to the rafters with game tourneys, guild booths, activity areas, video and cosplay competitions plus a concert by KAMIKAZEE.

Thank you very much to Level Up for the invitation.