Manifesto XV: Watching Orange Road at 2 AM
by otaking on Jun.20, 2009, under Manifesto
I’m an optimist about the local otaku scene. This doesn’t mean that I see it through rose-tinted glasses. I see it with all its blemishes and foibles. I know how cliquish and insular and fractious it can get. I see groups working at cross-purposes when things could be so much better if they worked together.
That’s not what optimism is. Optimism is simply the belief that things can be better. And I believe things can be better. I’m not saying things are bad. In fact that’s the reverse of what I’m saying. I’m saying things are better now than they used to be.
When I started collecting anime, playing RPGs and CCGs, things were really bad. You couldn’t find originals everywhere. The only way to get anime was to either tape it from the Chinese Star channel (Kimagure Orange Road in Mandarin during the wee hours, anyone?), borrow from someone else or buy exorbitantly-priced copies from specialty stores — and this was before Tenchi, which was the first anime Pioneer used to sell their new DVD format. I used to drive from Quezon City to Marikina just to find the one VHS rental place that had anime. The new Ranma 1/2 OAVs. UC Gundam. Orange Road. Even Otaku no Video!
To buy Magic: the Gathering I had to go to the house of the guy who was breaking the game into the country, somewhere in Cubao, where he personally taught small groups of people. You couldn’t even find starter decks in stores at the time, just Fallen Empires boosters sold by salespeople who had no idea what they were selling.
And RPGs? Fortunately there was a small but obstinate subculture that I found myself plugged into, but no one else seemed to know anything about RPGs except that they were played by socially-maladjusted Satan worshipers. Ask the lady on my interview panel for UP Law. When she said ‘Talk about anything’ to me, I said, “Let’s talk about role-playing games, then,” and she replied, “Mr. Sawit this is a serious interview.” No surprise I got rejected despite acing the entrance exam.
Things were bad. Things have gotten better. I know, some of you dislike the fact that anime and cosplay and CCGs and RPGs and computers and whatever niche hobby you’re into suddenly hit the mainstream. I have some advice for you.
Deal with it.
Seriously, if your niche hobby is as wonderful as you think it is, it’ll stay wonderful even if newbies learn about it. Do you see me whining about everyone having a PC just because I was the only kid back in elementary who had a PC AT? Do you hear me cry out for the good ol’ days when the only way to watch Ranma 1/2 was to watch some 4th generation copy that CATS charged me 450 pesos for? Of course not! Things are great now! You can get D&D rulebooks from mainstream bookstores. You can get new anime fansubs off the Internet. And every kid knows about CCGs. Anyone who draws their self-esteem from the exclusivity of their hobbies needs to get their heads examined.
We have choice now. We have convenience. We have a large community to share these things with. Despite all the flaws of today’s otaku scene, things are good.
But they can be better. I believe it. I’m an optimist.
But how exactly can they be better?
Well, stay tuned. I’ll tell you. I’m the Otaking, after all.
(to be continued)
Like
June 21st, 2009 on 4:59 am
I occassionally do feel nostalgic for the “good ole days” when trying to find material and information for our hobbies was an adventure and a half, but I’ll admit I wouldn’t go back to those days again for anything. You’re right things are better now than they were before. More people who love the same things I love gives me more people to talk to and gush with. Newbies do not ruin it. Newbies help keep it alive.
June 21st, 2009 on 11:46 am
Exactly! And people who insist on sticking to their own cliques and doing the same old things and THEN complain loudly about how things were better in the good old days have no one but themselves to blame for why things suck for them now — because they’ve forgotten that the reason things were awesome then is because of the novelty, the adventure, the newness of it all when THEY were newbies, and they haven’t added any value to the hobby for the newbies to come.
June 21st, 2009 on 4:11 pm
You’re right. Trailblazers don’t whine about how easy the trail is now. They keep looking for new trails to blaze.
June 21st, 2009 on 12:41 pm
I hold my breath for the next installment. *holds breath. cutely of course*
June 22nd, 2009 on 2:18 am
Of course. Stay sassy
June 22nd, 2009 on 8:12 am
Back when FFVII pushed the console RPG scene to the mainstream, a lot of RPG fans were whining and complaining about how their niche has been exposed to “those who are less worthy”, and by that they mean the people who play other genres. I guess they didn’t realize then that it will enable RPG companies who normally don’t translate their works to the Western audience to actually take the plunge. So now we have classics like Shadow Hearts, Valkyrie Profile, and the MegaTen games, all because the niche has been exposed to a larger audience.
June 22nd, 2009 on 10:58 am
I know what you mean. Can you imagine something as quirky as The World Ends With You being brought to the US ten years ago?
June 22nd, 2009 on 9:05 am
Yiz, your majiztee.
June 22nd, 2009 on 2:55 pm
Admittedly, I have been like an elitist one time or another. Perhaps even saying that I miss the good old days. But when i look back and reflect, it is true that the sudden surge of new otakus to different kinds of fandom opened doors to easier access of “resources and materials” from our selected fandom.
In fact, one of my fandoms (Vampire the Masquerade RPG and Vampire the Eternal Struggle CCG), still suffer from a lack of support here in the country due to the lack of people who know about it and are interested in it. Hopefully in the future, this would change.
June 22nd, 2009 on 9:40 pm
Well hi there.
I’m the Ventrue childe of Charlie and Haig who won a tourney a while back. 
June 23rd, 2009 on 2:09 am
LEL. And suddenly, I feel old. XDDD
I see myself years from now, “Listen up kids! Back in my day, I had to starve myself for weeks and walk from Sampaloc to the shadiest areas of Recto and Quiapo, dodging pickpockets, muggers and college prostitutes along the way, just to buy an overpriced copy of the Rurouni Kenshin soundtrack! In cassette format!” XDDDD
June 23rd, 2009 on 10:05 am
Haha! I didn’t have to risk my life to buy cassette copies of the Ranma soundtracks, but I totally get what you mean.