Today's profiled figure: "A professor of archeology, expert on the occult, and how does one say it? Obtainer of rare antiquities." You already know who it is, but grab your hat and whip, anyway, and meet us past the post break for some look-alike treasure.
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.
We've already seen cosplay outfits for Nintendo DS figures like Dr. Kawashima, Link, and even K.K. Slider -- it was only a matter of time before a pair of kids decided to dress themselves up as Nintendogs! Chase us past the post break for the canine costumes.
We've talked a lot about cosplay this week, and noticed some interesting discussions in the comments. Who knew people felt so strongly about cosplay? What is it about the hobby that gets such a rise out of people on both sides? Sure, some people take it to extremes, but the same can be said for just about anything from crafting, collecting, and oh, hey -- playing games.
Have you ever done any cosplay? No, we're not talking about dressing up as Mario for Halloween when you were eight (but that raises a good question: do Halloween costumes count?). Any of your friends dabble in the hobby? Do you have a strong opinion about cosplay either way?
As far as Link cosplayers go, these two are easily the best we've come across. It's especially impressive when you consider that they're both wearing the Link'sFour Swords outfits and not his traditional green garb.
Why is it that women seem to find more success in mimicking the Hylian hero's image? Is it his boyish frame? His unwhiskered cheeks? His effeminate, pointy ears?
Whatever it is, this pair captured it with a bug-catching net, stuck it in a bottle, and put it to work with these photos. Hit the gallery below for more action shots of the girls posing with boomerangs, miniature bows, and, uh, cell phones.
Here's a cheap, easy costume you can whip up for your next Halloween/convention/boxart-head meetup -- dress up as Dr. Kawashima's disembodied head! Here's all you need:
some white posterboard
a pair of scissors
a sharpie marker
a pair of glasses
an aging Asian man
Flickr user ClockworkGrue spotted this character last weekend at WonderCon 2008. Girls must have swooned over it, as there are lipstick kiss marks all around the Brain Age mascot. Why else do you think he goes around calling himself LL Cool K (Ladies Love Cool Kawashima)? Step past the break for more video game related costumers spotted at Wondercon 2008.
With its outlandish (yet easily portrayable) cast and one of the most compelling soundtracks in gaming, we're not surprised that cosplayers are so drawn to Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. In the video above, a highly enthusiastic crowd is treated to a performance by the Singapore-based "Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan Cosplay Group" at the annual EOY '07 Event at Singapore Expo. If only the same amount of effort was ploughed into all cosplay performances.
A warning before you hit play, however: as this is the last song from the secondOuendan game, consider this to be spoileriffic.
In recent times, we've shone the Fanboy spotlight on cosplay experiments that have ranged from adorable to slightly surreal. This Samus number effortlessly trumps the lot, however.
For starters, it's Samus. Samus cosplay is not a walk in the park, kids. We can only begin to imagine the sheer frustration involved in accurately recreating the Power Suit, with all of its peculiar angles and ridges (not to mention those awkward shoulder spheres). Which makes this effort, featuring Swedish student Jenni Källberg, all the more admirable.
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.
There's a right way and a wrong way to start off your day. This is the right way.
As we've proven many times over, what with our posts on cowboy pigs and mutant cats, we have a penchant for the non traditional. Take Play Digital's Phantom Hourglass review, for example -- it completely reinvents the standard video review conducted by some dude, updating the formula with a video review conducted by some, uh, dudette.
Alright, so female gamers are nothing new (we happen to have a coupleof them on our staff, so I'm told), but the video still stands out for its success at appealing to people with two different, specialized fetishes: girls with British accents and girls who cosplay as Link. Even without those selling points, the review and its cutaway clips are entertaining enough to warrant watching.
Katharine, Play Digital's English critic, has put together about a dozen of these videos, her other pieces covering titles like Jam Sessions, Naruto Ninja Council 3, and Sonic Rush Adventure. Before you run to see what furry outfit Katharine suited herself in for that last one, keep in mind that she doesn't usually dress up for these reviews; you'll have to yiff elsewhere.
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.
Is that who we think it is, plopped over there by the steps and playing a DS? You'd think he'd have one of the newer models, right? And doesn't he look a lot "portlier" on TV?
This video was just too funny to resist; when it turned up on Boing Boing, we knew we would have to borrow it for this week's video spotlight. What happens when two guys (we assume) dressed as Tetris pieces decide to get into it? See for yourself after the break. Frankly, we think Mr. Blue Piece cheated through the power of his extra block.
We should also warn you, there's a little swearing in the beginning, but what else can you expect from Battle Tetris?
GayGamer's Fruit Brute happened upon these three Animal Crossingcosplayers at Comic-Con, dressed as three of the franchise's most enduring and beloved characters: "Girl," Girl," and "Girl." He then persuaded them to allow him to take their picture, presumably by taking all of their borrowed glasses cases back to Hopper's house.
It's the details, of course, that make these costumes work-- much like the actual game, all of the fun is in the items. The be-K.K. Slider-'d Girl is carrying one of Animal Crossing's ubiquitous Presents, and they actually presented Fruit Brute with an authentic Animal Crossing-style letter.
If you must dress up in costumes imitating those of video game characters, we would recommend mimicking a Phoenix Wright character. It is, of course, the natural progression from wearing a PhoenixWrightt-shirt. And if you're going to dress up in such a costume, why not do it for the benefit of the games' producer, Minae Matsukawa? Oh, right, because that would be really embarrassing.
But that's us. Maybe you're bolder and more assertive than we are-- in fact, it's basically a given that you are. Since we're too meek to do it, you should go to the San Diego Comic-Con and compete in Capcom's official Ace Attorney Cosplay Contest, judged by Matsukawa. You should also-- and this is the most important part-- take lots of pictures for us.
It must be hard, getting your friends together, making costumes, and getting props set up in under a week, if the story posted along with this video is true. Time constraints didn't prevent these Zelda fans from getting their send-up on film in time for the contest's deadline. The costuming looks pretty good, too, but we can't help but wonder if groups like this fight over who gets to be Link. Are they hiding bruises under those robes and tunics? We'll bet yes, but judging from the choreography of the fight scenes, it's likely no one got hurt too badly. Swing those swords like men, Zelda fans (or like angry women; we're all about equal opportunity swordsmanship around here)! But props on the setting, costumes, and music -- not bad for a rush job!
We've talked a lot about cosplay this week, and noticed some interesting discussions in the comments. Who knew people felt so strongly about cosplay? What is it about the hobby that gets such a rise out of people on both sides? Sure, some people take it to extremes, but the same can be said for just about anything from crafting, collecting, and oh, hey -- playing games. 
As far as Link cosplayers go, these two are easily the best we've come across. It's especially impressive when you consider that they're both wearing the Link's Four Swords outfits and not his traditional green garb.
Here's a cheap, easy costume you can whip up for your next Halloween/convention/boxart-head meetup -- dress up as Dr. Kawashima's disembodied head! Here's all you need:
In recent times, we've shone the Fanboy spotlight on cosplay experiments that have ranged from adorable to slightly surreal. This Samus number effortlessly trumps the lot, however.
This video was just too funny to resist; when it turned up on Boing Boing, we knew we would have to borrow it for this week's video spotlight. What happens when two guys (we assume) dressed as Tetris pieces decide to get into it? See for yourself after the break. Frankly, we think Mr. Blue Piece cheated through the power of his extra block.
It must be hard, getting your friends together, making costumes, and getting props set up in under a week, if the story posted along with this video is true. Time constraints didn't prevent these Zelda fans from getting their send-up on film in time for the contest's deadline. The costuming looks pretty good, too, but we can't help but wonder if groups like this fight over who gets to be Link. Are they hiding bruises under those robes and tunics? We'll bet yes, but judging from the choreography of the fight scenes, it's likely no one got hurt too badly. Swing those swords like men, Zelda fans (or like angry women; we're all about equal opportunity swordsmanship around here)! But props on the setting, costumes, and music -- not bad for a rush job! 
