Gamertell

Thousands of game, anime and comic fans filled the lobby since the day before of the Hynes Convention Center in Boston to register for the many panels, activities and concerts at Anime Boston 2008.

Opening ceremonies for the convention introduced special guests including voice actors Christopher Aryes, Greg Aryes, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke, Monica Rail, Michael Sinterniklaas and Brad Swaile, industry guests Tom Wayland, David Williams and Studio Capsules Robert and Emily DeJesus and musical guests The Pillows, MC Frontalot, Tokyo Pinsalocks and Luv and Response.

If you wanted to hear the loudest roar of adoring fans that rattled the doors of the convention, you had to attend the Gaia Online panel at the Boston Hynes Convention Center. So many fans showed up to hug the giant Kiki Kitty and talk with Gaia’s own DJ Helsing about all things Gaia that thousands of people were left standing in line. The room can only seat 300, leaving many to press against the doors to hear what Helsing had to say and sneak to the front of the line for a chance to grab a special early item that can only be acquired at the convention - the battle ring (which gives them a jump start in the anticipated upcoming MMO).

During the panel, Helsing explained the different features, avatar items and games coming to Gaia including some of the various aspects of development. During his presentation (just like in Gaia) a random present box appears on the screen and prizes were handed out to fans dancing in their seats as they hoped Helsing would run with an item in their direction. One of the games that was announced during the Gaia panel is an upcoming pinball game.

Although the hundreds of fans were excited about the new items and arcade style games, they stuck with their main question: “When will be able to play the new RPG-style game?”

I caught up with Helsing and asked the same question myself, mainly because it’s hard to hear the answers with all the screaming fans in the room. It was much louder than the crowd attending The Pillows concert downstairs and the young girls screaming pledges of love to Aaron Dismuke throughout the convention center.

“The working name is project battle,” he said and added that Gaian users were asked to submit a name for the project during a contest on the site. “We’ve gone through that list and we’re still finishing up the legalities ... once they announce the official name we will hopefully go live shortly. In addition to being able to battle a lot of people have asked me about the Gaian features.”

Helsing went on to explain how the system would work once it’s ready to release.

“In addition to being the hangout Gaia already is, it will be an MMO that improves on the hangout aspect in that they’ll be able to run around killing stuff and do it with their friends like going on quests ... do what you would normally do on Gaia in the same environment,” he said before addressing some of the concerns the fans about the new system during the panel. “All the equippable items you dress your avatar with and the items you use in (the battle project) will be completely separate. Items used in the game will be ring based.”

He added that though the avatars will still wear the outfit Gaia users dressed them in, the only addition that’s only wearable in the MMO is the battle ring which allows them to build on their skills, weapon use and another feature announced during the panel. The ability to collect items in the MMO world and create special items within the game and are only acquired by building them.

During the panel fans got a glimpse of the many creatures they will encounter and quests they can participate in as well as how to acquire special items in the game.

Not to give away too much of the new game and ruin it, Helsing said those Gamertell readers who live in New York or planning to attend the New York Comicon will be invited to try the game.

Site [Anime Boston] Site [Gaia Online]