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Armageddon Preview

Published By: Morgan Bates, Tristan Clark On: 12/04/2005 12:00

This year's Armageddon Expo promises to be the biggest yet, with a whole slew of

Armageddon: to Christians, it's the end of the world. However, to those of us living in the Gaming, Anime or Sci-Fi world, it's the biggest event on the NZ calendar. Armageddon has been going since 1995 and has seen some of the biggest Sci-Fi, comic book and Anime stars in its 10-year history.

The very first Armageddon Expo was at Avondale Raceway in Auckland on the 2nd of December in 1995 and made its Wellington debut in 1997 at Victoria University. In 1998, the Auckland Expo at Alexander Raceway marked the start of celebrity guest appearances at Armageddon with comic book celebrities Kurt Buisek, Mark Waid and Devin Greyson signing autographs. The same celebrities also appeared at the Wellington expo a few days later.

Although it is usually later in the year, this time around the Wellington Armageddon is coming earlier than usual, on April 16th and 17th. Featuring anime guests: Milton Lawrence ('Knight' Duel Masters), Amy Birnbaum ('Tea Gardner' Yu-Gi-Oh), Jonathon Ross ('Marik' Yu-Gi-Oh) and Sean Schemmel ('Goku' DBZ, 'Amidamaru' and 'Rio' Shaman King).

Marvel Comics guest: Writer - Scott Lobdell whose work includes Uncanny X-Men, Generation X, Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Along with NZ based comic creators including, Dylan Horrocks, author of the graphic novel Hicksville. He has also written Batgirl and Legends of the Dark Knight for DC Comics.

Celebrity guests: Ray Park ('Darth Maul' Starwars Ep 1, Toad X-men), Daniel Logan ('Boba Fett' Starwars Ep 2), Devon Muray ('Seamus Finnigan' Harry Potter films) Connor Trinneer ('Trip Tucker' Star Trek Enterprise), Walter Koenig ('Chekov' Star Trek 'Bester' Babylon 5), Raelee Hill ('Sikazu' Farscape) and Rebecca Riggs ('Grayza' Farscape). The cast and crew of Bro' Town will also be there. (click here to comment on the upcoming gam? - ok I'll let the joke die now.)

Among the goodies to spend your money on; Toy World will be there with a massive toy sale, Madman will be their with some great deals on Anime DVDs and t-shirts, as well as a few booths selling anime figurines and manga (Japanese comics).

Armageddon certainly won't be lacking in the events department with a Cosplay contest in which anime fans dress up in strange costumes for the rest of us to laugh at. A 'Kamehameha' contest - where people shout 'Kamehameha' as enthusiastically as they can while holding the arms out in a dodgy fashion. There will be an advanced screening of the new Dragon Ball Z movie: Broly Second coming, as well as English subtitled and English dubbed Anime rooms.

There will be training card game demos for Magic The gathering and Duel Masters, for people wanting to learn how to play and Trading card tournaments, which include Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Marvel VS, Dragon Ball GT, Duel Masters and Magic The Gathering. Each tournament will feature prizes and a small entry fee is required for each tournament.

Leading the line-up of video games is Rugby League 2, the sequel to 2003's critically acclaimed Stacey Jones Rugby League. Developed by Wellington-based Sidhe Interactive, Rugby League 2 builds on its already polished predecessor with a load of new features, including online play, advanced gameplay options, and hundreds of licensed players and competitions. Players will now be able to take part in a new 'Franchise' mode, which includes contract management, injuries, judicial hearings, and much more. As an added bonus, the developers will be on hand to present the game and answer your questions. Armageddon 2005 marks the first time the public will get to play Rugby League 2, so don't miss out!

For fighting aficionados, look no further than the New Zealand premier of Tekken 5. Boasting more than thirty fighters including all the old favourites, Tekken 5 doles out fast-paced action by the bucket load. Following on from the slightly disappointing Tekken 4, the latest in this venerable series has been hailed as the best yet. Flawless controls, beautiful graphics, and an intuitive yet deep fighting engine have been combined into one stellar beat-em-up - this is one game you don?t want to miss, and you can catch it in action at Armageddon.

Ok, so the Nintendo DS has already come out, but at Armageddon you'll get to see it presented by the Nintendo DS Girls! They'll be showing off the system and its unique features, as well as a slew of current and up-and-coming games. So if you're still unsure about buying your own DS, Armageddon will be the perfect time for some hands-on playtime! After all, touching is good...

In all likelihood, Lego has played a prominent part in your childhood. The same goes for Star Wars as well. So why not combine the two into a video game? That's what the crazy people at Traveller's Tales thought, and the result has received acclaim from all corners of the gaming industry. Guide Obi-Wan, Anakin, and over twenty other characters through the highlights of Episodes I, II, and III - all depicted with wonderfully blocky Lego bricks!

For all you speed freaks out there, make sure you check out Juiced. This new racing game features both arcade and simulation-style driving, ensuring that there is something for every type of player. The game features more than 50 licensed vehicles, stunning graphics, and realistic physics, along with full online play.

For the more dedicated racers, make sure you play Forza Motorsport. Eschewing arcade-style gameplay for a more realistic simulation of motor racing, this game looks set to take on Gran Turismo! Forza Motorsport also features a fully-integrated physics engine that allows you to damage your car and really feel the effects. Other highlights include amazing graphics, intuitive controls, and AI that learns from your driving habits.

Throughout the years, the human race has been threatened by so many alien species that it's a wonder there?s enough room left in the universe for them all. You've probably played countless games fighting off alien hordes - but did you ever stop to look at it all from the aliens' point of view? Well, now you can, thanks to Pandemic Studios' Destroy All Humans! Taking the side of the little green guy with the ray gun, Destroy All Humans lets you run around causing havoc on Earth - whether by abducting humans, controlling their minds, or simply blasting them to pieces from your UFO. Time to teach those men in black a lesson or two!

From the creators of Baldur's Gate and Knights of the Old Republic comes a brand-new action-rpg set in China's mystical past. Jade Empire features an innovative and deep fighting system - utilise combos, styles, stances and whatever you can get your hands on to defeat the rising evil in ancient China. In proper Bioware tradition, you can choose your path through the epic story - and all your fighting moves will be dependant on whether you choose to be good or evil. Jade Empire is one of the most anticipated Xbox games ever, and you can catch it in action at Armageddon!

So what are you doing this weekend? Going to Armageddon? We thought you would be. This year's event has got it all - whether you're a fan of anime or comic books, or out to get Ray Park's autograph. Maybe you're planning on buying up all the toys you can afford, or maybe you just want to play some amazing videogames. Whatever your preference, the Armageddon Expo is sure to keep you satisfied. So remember: it's at the Queen's Wharf Events Centre on the 16th and 17th of April. We?ll see you there.