xRebel666x's Adventures

Replica Prop Gun Commission Details

2012-09-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

Replica Prop Gun Commission Details

Made from EVA Foam or Nerf Modifications

Current Commission Requests: OPEN

How to commission me:
Send me an email at stars_spikes@yahoo.com
Describe in detail what you want, pictures are great!
Tell me your price range
Once we agree on something, I will send an invoice.

Things to remember about prop making:

They do require some time to make. These are not things that can be done overnight. So please keep in mind that it can take anywhere from one week to two months to create one.
There is only one person working on this. I don't have a team at my disposal to create these. Because of this, there may be some delay in photo updates and email responses.
Depending on what you are requesting, I may not always be able to keep the Nerf functioning. Some modifications do take away the ability for it to fire.
A lot of the modifications made are strictly cosmetic. Scopes, additional barrels, etc will not function.
EVA foam guns/props are non-functional from the start.

I am available for:

Everything from simple to complex

Creating any kind of weapon from any sort of media

Custom creations that you designed

Painting any Nerf gun to your color preference

I may deny a commission request due to:

Complexity
Supplies available to me
Time constraints

What you will get whenever you commission me:

A unique, one-of-a-kind weapon. Everything I make is done by hand and will always be unique from the others. I don't have any fancy machines or high-tech tools to mass create these things. I put a lot of love and time into each creation and you will see it for yourself.
Progress photos whenever available and emails on how far along it is. I like to keep whomever commissioned me updated on the progress of their weapon.
A sturdy prop that can handle the wear-and-tear of constant conventions. Every one of my creations is durable and made to be shown off for multiple events.

Also remember to please be gentle with my creations. They may be able to handle the rough tumbling through crowded convention centers but they are not completely damage-proof. Some will be slightly more fragile than others, depending on the design. Treat my creations with care and love and they will show you the same in return. I cannot be held responsible for anything that happens to them when they are handled inappropriately.

Shipping:

Unless you live in an area near Monroe, Louisiana, I will be shipping my creation to your home. I do go to a variety of events during the year all across the US so it is very possible to meet up at these conventions to avoid shipping costs. If you need a list of which ones I will be attending, please ask me or check my Upcoming Events section to the right of this blog.
Shipping costs will depend on the size of the completed prop.
I always include a tracking number and will monitor its destination on a daily basis.
As of right now, I am only shipping domestically with the United States (Hawaii and Alaska are included). I am unsure of how customs will react to a foam replica or a modified Nerf gun, even though its a toy some countries have strict restrictions. If you live outside of the United States and want to own one of these, please check into your countries regulations and if they allow it, we can work something out.

Payments I accept:
PayPal
Google Checkout
AlertPay
Cash (on only a few circumstances)
I am available for payment plans!!!

EVA Foam Replicas

Minimal - Typically Handguns & Pistols - Roughly $80-$120
Moderate - Typically Shotguns & Assault Rifles - Roughly $120-$300
Heavy - Typically Sniper Rifles & Heavy Weapons - Roughly $300+

(In alphabetical order)
(Prices do not reflect shipping costs)
(Some may not be available for purchase or commission but are shown as examples of my work)

Borderlands Zer0 Assault Rifle
Coming Soon
Moderate Construction
$160

Nerf Modifications

Minimal - Paint with no modification - Roughly $60-$100
Moderate - Paint with slight/custom modification - Roughly $100-$300
Heavy - Paint with heavy modification and replication - Roughly $300+

(In alphabetical order)
(Prices do not reflect shipping costs)
(Some may not be available for purchase or commission but are shown as examples of my work)

Mass Effect M-920 Cain Heavy Weapon

Heavy Modification
Possible for commission in the future.

Mass Effect M-97 Mantis Sniper Rifle

Heavy Modification
Working model: $300

Mass Effect Custom N7 Shotgun

Moderate Modification
Non-working model: $180

Team Fortress 2 Force of Nature Shotgun
Coming Soon
Moderate Modification
Working model: $100

Star Wars: The Old Republic Blaster Pistol
Coming Soon
Heavy Modification
Non-working model - $100
Dual Matching Pistols - $180

San Diego Comic Con 2012

2012-08-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

Another year at SDCC, another wonderful experience I will never forget. This time we stayed with a fellow Mass Effect cosplayer Ashley Ruhl who created her Commander Shepard armor in three months!
You should check out her progress shots in her gallery! With Matt Jolly dressed up as James Vega,
Ashley as ME3 armor femShep, and myself as ME2 uniform femShep... we were the Mass Effect trio!

Preview Night of SDCC:

We retrieved our passes and headed to the Convention Center. We arrived with only 15 minutes left of Preview Night. I didn't get to go in (since I didn't have the pass) but Matt had a brief window to run in and grab me the limited Skelanimals Batman plush. Then it was off to prepare for the next day...

Day 1 of SDCC:

We arrive at the Convention Center, fully dressed up as Commander Shepard (from Mass Effect 2) with my prized M-920 Cain and Lieutenant James Vega (from Mass Effect 3). Our first stop was the Dark Horse booth to harass the evil Chris Priestly and to nab a Garrus lithograph and bronze Normandy. Chris saw my progress of the Cain on facebook and told me how great it looks. It was funny when one person came up and thought the Cain was for sale since I was resting it on the counter. After nabbing my goodies, we began our walk around the exhibit floor and immediately bumped into some fellow BioWare cosplayers
as well as people who were eager to take our photo.

Courtesy of SmugMug

We stopped by the I-Mockery booth and saw his new print, which looked amazing! We dropped by the Behemoth/Newgrounds booth to play some Battleblock Theater and watch some people play
Castle Crashers and we went to say a quick hello to Maddox at his spot. Where we snapped this pic...

Then we came across a booth advertising a movie I've been looking forward to seeing for a few years now. Iron Sky is going to be a movie of epic proportions. If you haven't seen or heard anything about it,
click this link and find a way to request it to a theater near you!

Since we had some time before our first panel of the day, we headed over to the BioWare Base to try out the new characters for the ME3 Multiplayer. I immediately fell in love with the Fury. I cannot wait to unlock them all on my XBOX. I took a stab at the new Platinum difficulty and our team was the first to make it to Wave 6! The first out of the entire world! Well, apart from the BioWare dev team. We met some of the awesome people working at BioWare and I began my quest to fill my Mass Effect Art Book with as many signatures as possible. After nabbing a few and meeting some people who loved our costumes, we ventured back to the Convention Center to see our first panel... the Mass Effect: Paragon Lost panel. The new animated feature from Funimation about James Vega and his story. We will see what happens first hand at Fehl. The best part is when they revealed that Freddie Prinze Jr was going to voice James Vega again. I am definitely okay with this. ^_^ They had the composers of Paragon Lost come up on stage and one of them was David Kates... a man who has been making music for Mass Effect ever since the first! As soon as the panel was over, I rushed to the front to get the composers autographs. David Kates immediately loved Matt's James Vega outfit, claiming, "You brought me James Vega! I need a picture!" What started with me asking for his autograph ended up with him asking for our picture...
*insert fangirl squeal*

Courtesy of Mass Effect: Paragon Lost

After Paragon Lost, we headed towards the Hilton for our last panel of the day... RIFFTRAX! I can never get enough of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys and I'm looking forward to seeing a live Riff of Manos: The Hand of Fate in theaters August 15th! Since we had some time, we looked through the beautiful Batman vehicles parked on the lawn. I wanted to take them all home...

Day 2 at SDCC:

First thing we did was stop by my friend's work. She had been working on her Commander Shepard armor since April and all her fellow coworkers wanted to see the end result. The best part is that she works at Trion! The ones who did Rift as well as they are working on Defiance!

After taking the quick detour to her workplace, it was time to head back to the Convention Center to play around for a few hours. We bumped into some other BioWare cosplayers and saw some unique costumes. Also during that time we got to meet Danielle Rayne who was in the Portal: No Escape video on YouTube!

Courtesy of my good friend Jerome Mabrey

Determined to another take a stab at the Platinum difficulty, I returned to the BioWare Base. Learning that another group made it to Wave 10 but couldn't finish the objective, I worked on getting a good group together. That's when I met up with some great players, including some that I play with on XBOX today!
We sat down and began our pursuit to victory. We had a good plan and were very vocal about where we needed help. Then we were on Wave 10... all we had to do was complete the objective and we would beat the record! We all waited to find out what our objective was when a cry of despair wailed out... it was an escort mission! We took out the remainder of our rockets and killed off every banshee/geth prime/atlus they threw at us. Then... we did it. We completed the objective! We were officially the record holders again!
We unfortunately died before we could make it to Wave 11 and attempt our luck at a Full Extraction but because of our record, our team received the Collectors Edition of the Mass Effect
XBOX360 Razer Controllers!

Feeling like a superstar, we went to meet up with some fellow Newgrounders at the Fox Sports Bar.
That's where we spent the rest of the evening having fun and goofing off... spending time with
Kevin Fletcher, Ross O'Donovan, and Fernando Zamora.

Day 3 of SDCC:

The day started off with the bus having a flat tire. It took us a little longer to get to the Convention Center but that's okay... there was Batman... As well as Zod supporters and Betelgeuse.

Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

We headed straight to the room showing the annual Quick Draw panel, which is followed by the
Voice Actors reading. Matt and I attend these every year. If you ever go to SDCC, it's definitely
something to go see! We laugh so hard every time. This year was even more special since Steve Blum was one of the voice actors on stage as well as they had a special guest show up... a legend among voice actors who began their career in 1944... Stan Freberg! The voice of Pete Puma, Tosh the Gopher, Junyer Bear, and other characters from the original Looney Tunes. Here's the best part... he's still doing voice acting! It was amazing hearing the legend at work and how he started his career.

After the panel, Matt and I raced off to the BioWare Base to meet the voice actors from Mass Effect.
While waiting in line, I noticed someone speaking to Chris Priestly. I immediately recognized them and walked up with a huge grin on my face. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I need your signature," I said, trying to keep my composure. "You know who I am?" he asked. I nodded yes, "I am a big fan of your music. In fact,
I listen to the Commander Shepard song every time I suit up in my costume." I couldn't believe that I was talking to Gavin Dunne aka Miracle of Sound. The mastermind behind the Commander Shepard Song, Normandy, Crucible, and Take Earth Back. He was actually a bit amazed that I was the first person
who recognized who he was, even with him wearing a shirt that said, "Miracle of Sound N7."
When the line was finally coming to a close, we could see the amazing voice actors of Mass Effect.
There was Raphael Sbarge (the voice of Kaidan Alenko), Kimberly Brooks (the voice of Ashley Williams), and Courtenay Taylor (the voice of Jack "Subject Zero"). We were last ones in line and they were already staying well past their allotted timeframe so we were super thankful to meet them.

After getting their autographs, one of the awesome BioWare people advised me that Corey Gasper was there and that I should show him my M-920 Cain... he is the senior combat designer from Mass Effect!
I showed him my modified Nerf gun and he said, "The M-920 Cain. And it has some weight to it! It actually looks and feels like it could launch a nuclear projectile." He was really impressed with my creation and receiving his praise is priceless. While we were on our way to get Steve Blum's autograph, Sylvia Feketekuty asked to join us! She is the writer behind Liara and Samara! We headed straight to the booth where he was located and it was a different experience seeing one of the writers get as excited as any of us Mass Effect fans over a voice actor. Sylvia had to rush off to get ready for the Mass Effect panel so Matt and I went to meet up with Tom Fulp (the mastermind behind Newgrounds) for dinner. We knew we wouldn't be able to get into the Mass Effect panel so we went straight to the BioWare Base to wait for the Purgatory Bar to open. I noticed that the line was getting a little messy so I decided to help the BioWare team out (since everyone was at the Mass Effect panel). I stood at the front and said, "Everyone listen to Cerberus Shepard, we need to organize the line to make it easy for people to come through as well as gain easy access to the back of the line." "We don't have to listen to you, you're renegade!" "I'm not a renegade yet. Give me a few drinks and then I'll start punching reporters!" The people laughed and then preceded to follow my crazy directions, thanks to the help of some great Mass Effect fans near my spot in line. I noticed Gavin Dunne came showed up in the line and went to talk to him once more. That's when I finally got my pic with him and when he gave me one of his limited CD!

As the time came closer and closer to the opening of Purgatory Bar, more and more fellow BioWare cosplayers began showing up. I met up with people from the costume contest BioWare held the year prior as well as I met new faces in the BioWare costuming community, many of which I am friends with on facebook. When SubitoAllegra showed up, she told me that she found a good friend of ours... Rana McAnear!
The face of Samara! That's when everyone started taking pictures...

Courtesy of MTV

As soon as Purgatory Bar was officially opened, it was non-stop fun! The voice actors were there, playing ME3 multiplayer and having drinks with all of us! Since Ross O'Donovan was there with his fiance
Holly Conrad of Crabcat Industries, other Newgrounders showed up as well... like Arin Hanson. We played a lot of games, drank a lot of drinks, took lots of photos, and had a blast together!
It was a night many of us would never forget.

Courtesy of WDogg590

Courtesy of KendoSilverGhost

Courtesy of WDogg590

You can view more photos at this album!

Day 4 of SDCC:

The last day of San Diego Comic Con and the last chance I would have to take a stab at Platinum until I got back home July 30th... since I had time to burn, we walked the floor for any last minute buys and met up with some friends for lunch at a Mexican restaurant located off the beaten path. Right after lunch, we headed straight to the BioWare Base to concur the Platinum match. The first time, we didn't get as far as before... but then we managed to get the original team together, the one that completed the objective on Wave 10. We were confident that the next time we played, we would be able to finish it. We were set to be the next ones to take our stand when the current group beat us to the punch. Even though I wish it was our team, I'm glad my friend Jerome Mabrey was part of the team that defeated it first. He was playing it all weekend long, even longer than I did, so he definitely deserved the title of being the first. It didn't stop us from playing... now we were doing it for personal gratification... being one of the only people to beat it before it was released. I took my seat in the corner, picked the Phoenix (ex-Cerberus), and got ready to Smash everything. Thirty minutes later, we defeated it. We finished it faster than the first group by one minute! It wasn't going to get us the front page of anything but it was enough to know we completed it... as well as we got some more goodies from BioWare.

I finished gathering the last of the signatures for my book (let's see if you can identify them all) and then we were off... ending another great year at the great SDCC.

For more pictures from SDCC, check out this gallery.
For more pictures from Purgatory Bar, check out this gallery

MLP: FiM Craft Commissions

2012-06-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Craft Commission Details

Some items are available in my Etsy Store to order!

I will be doing the mane six characters from MLP: FiM

and I am available to do other characters and even OC's.

Armwarmers - $16


Applejack - Fluttershy - Pinkie Pie Rainbow Dash - Rarity - Twilight Sparkle

Derpy Hooves

Knit Beanies - $10

Applejack - Fluttershy - Pinkie Pie
Rainbow Dash - Rarity - Twilight Sparkle

Derpy Hooves

Crochet Beanies - $30-$40

Applejack - $35

Rainbow Dash - $35

Scarves - $30

Rainbow Dash

Twilight Sparkle

Derpy Hooves

Tails - $30

Applejack

Rainbow Dash

Amigurumis - $15

Derpy

Original Ponies:

M-920 Cain Progress Report

2012-04-09T10:02:00.006-07:00

You can also favorite my props on my DeviantART

04/07/12: Started on the Cain project.

04/08/12: After two days of solid work, I'm happy to show off some progress shots! I still have a long way to go but it's actually starting to take shape now.

04/09/12: It's looking more and more like the Cain. Just need more magic pixy dust...

04/15/12: Finally got both sides of the modeling clay finished.

04/16/12: Began working on the front bit around the barrel... it will be the death of me.

05/01/12: Continued working on the front bit and began sanding/detailing the base.

05/06/12: The front bit threw a big hissy fit and I had to start over. Getting new pieces that were heavier but stronger to get the job done.

05/07/12: Spent the entire day sanding, gluing, and attaching the new pieces... I am dead now...

05/10/12: Finally attached the front bit to the base permanently. Now onto the best part... PAINTING!

05/14/12: Painted both sides the base color, a flat black.

05/16/12: Began painting the front bit and added most of the details to the base.

05/17/12: Did more details today. It's looking fantastic!

05/23/12: Worked on details and made the other side catch up a bit.

05/24/12: Nearly complete with one side, just have a few places that need touching up. The other side is nearly there as well.

05/25/12: After almost two months since I started, roughly sixteen days worth of work, weighing nearly ten fucking pounds, and possibly giving me the first of my grey hairs... the M-920 Cain can finally be deemed as done! Now to celebrate!

End Result:

Day One

Nerf Recon - Right out of the box.

Before Any Alterations

Sawed off the barrel tip and sanded down all the logos.

Day Two

Sawed/sanded the area around the magazine clip, removed the slide, and added a modified stock.

First application of modeling clay.

Applied slider and spare barrel to the top.

Day Three

Altered the spare bit I had from a previous build.

Attached the modified part.

Added more clay and set up support for handle.

Finished handle and applied next layer of clay.

Day Four

Attached a support to the front for the barrel.

Applied modeling clay to opposite side and made it identical on both sides.

Day Five

Began working on the bit around the barrel.

The barrel consists of 3 different pvc pieces put together with modeling clay.

All together now... roughly. Still more work ahead of me.

Day Six

Began sanding/detailing primarily this side.

Did a little sanding on this side before the sun set.

Attached the bits.

Added modeling clay.

Front view.

Added the barrel.

Side view.

At the end of Day Six, it's coming together perfectly.

Day Seven

Due to issues with the previous front bit, I had to start over... with something more sturdy... and heavier.

Glued pieces together and began sanding.

Finished the top parts before calling it a day.

Day Eight

Reattached the new bits to the barrel and secured them on.

Side view of the new pieces.

Day Nine

At last! The two pieces are fastened together and are ready for painting!

One side of the completed process.

The other side of the completed process.

Day Ten

There are 25 bottles here... I will be needing more...

The end result of day ten, base color completed.

The other side, flat black color base paint is done.

Day Eleven

Started painting the front and detailing the base.

Went ahead and started painting the base too. Hopefully will do more tomorrow.

Day Twelve

Continued working on the front bit.

Mostly finished the front bit.

Began working on other details.

Put primary colors in their locations.

Day Thirteen

Added more details today.

Feeling awesome with how far its come... it's almost ready for E3.

Day Fourteen

More details and made the other side catch up in progress.

Day Fifteen

More details.

Added the radiation symbol to the back.

Almost done with the other side. You can see how it looks from this angle.

Day Sixteen:

Yes, I do all the painting by hand.

Every detail all done by hand... so much love went into this gun.

Madness Combat Project Nexus

2012-03-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Krinkels and The-Swain have finally finished their game, "Project Nexus!"

Please go play it. ^_^

Madness Combat: Project Nexus

Spread the word, share the love, enjoy the madness!

Mass Effect 3 Ending Hypothesis

2012-03-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Now before you continue having your panties in a bunch, take a moment to think about all the subliminal messages BioWare left in Mass Effect about the endings. If you think about everything, the ending makes complete sense and it also throws in a sense of completion. What on Earth am I talking about? Well… hear me out:

In Mass Effect 1, Saren’s final conversation with Shepard mentions, “The relationship is symbiotic. Organic and machine intertwined a union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, the weaknesses of neither. I am a vision of the future, Shepard. The evolution of all organic life. This is our destiny. Join Sovereign and experience a true rebirth. – We can’t stop it. Not forever. You saw the visions. You saw what happened to the Protheans. The Reapers are too strong.” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk5r8aHr8MU Meaning that he is mentioning synergy, one of the options Shepard can choose. It is something the Reapers want… especially from strong opponents. Implant them, succumb their thoughts, and let them think they are still in control.

The Illusive Man is no different except he believes that controlling the Reapers is the only way. As he says, “Control is the means to survival. Control of the Reapers and of you, if necessary. – This is the way humanity must evolve. I’ve dedicated my life to understanding the Reapers, and I know with certainty the Crucible will allow me to control them. – This isn’t about me or you. It’s about things so much bigger than all of us. And who will you listen to Shepard? An old soldier, stuck in his ways, only able to see the world down the barrel of a gun? And what if he’s wrong? What if controlling the Reapers is the answer?” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHXN3xtUu44 Even the Catalyst makes you believe this is the correct answer… only because they know the outcome.

Coming to the conclusion that Shepard is indoctrinated. If you go to the Codex, the definition is: <i>Organics undergoing indoctrination may complain of headaches and buzzing or ringing in their ears. As time passes, they have feelings of "being watched" and hallucinations of "ghostly" presences. Ultimately, the Reaper gains the ability to use the victim's body to amplify its signals, manifesting as "alien" voices in the mind. </i> Those dreams… the one Shepard has been having… what do you think they were? They are nothing more than the side effects of indoctrination. Another way to confirm this hypothesis is by visiting the virtual reality for the Geth Consensus. Legion states, “We have installed filters to allow you to make virtual sense of this server’s raw data. Your mind perceives our world as something familiar. – You processed our memories by using your own.” Shepard may be stronger-willed than Saren and the Illusive Man but it was bound to happen. They have been around Reapers this long and are part machine… it was only a matter of time before any effect of indoctrination would take place. The Reapers could make superior viruses and upgrades to the geth immediately… I’m pretty sure they would make one for their greatest opponent. “Infection programs are increasing, we will stabilize.” If the Reapers can quickly adapt a change in geth programs… how easy would it be for a person who is part machine already?

The Catalyst – the kid… that damn kid… I knew the moment I laid eyes upon that child that something was different. Why wasn’t anyone helping him into the Alliance Kodiak? Why didn’t anyone pay attention to him? Any human with paternal instincts would have assisted… so I immediately knew there was something wrong with it. The child was Shepard’s interpretation of the Catalyst… and the Catalyst was nothing more than a figment created by indoctrination. The Catalyst represents god/creator. Whenever the species came to questioning their creator, they were wiped out. If they didn’t, the species would become too strong and figure out a way to cancel out the Reapers. “The created will always rebel against their creators.” Because humans have progressed to this point, the kid gives Shepard three choices – control, synthesis, and destroy. Saying they cannot choose the final outcome… but secretly they are aiming for two of them.

Control – Shepard “controls” the Reapers. But if they choose this option, they will die. How can one control the Reapers if they are dead? They will leave but for how long? This is a false sense that Shepard can save both synthetics and organics, which they are both. To think Shepard can control the Reapers is only a dream. The Illusive Man believed he could control the Reapers… a lot of good that did. “So… the Illusive Man was right after all.” “Yes, but he could never have taken control because we already controlled him.” If Shepard chooses this, the Reapers win.

Synthesis – Shepard merges the two. Synthetics and organics are now one entity. Taking away the image of a person’s being. You are no longer a human, you are no longer a synthetic, you are no longer an individual… you are a hybrid like Shepard. “I think we’d rather keep our own form.” This is also a false sense that Shepard can save both synthetics and organics but again… she will die. Saren believed this was the only way for it to end, that is why he allowed Sovereign to implant all those upgrades. “Synthesis is the final evolution of life but we need each other to make it happen.” Yet the Catalyst also stated, “We helped them ascend so they could make way for new life, storing the old life in Reaper form.” It may shape the DNA of humans… but it would in turn make us no different than what the Reapers originally intended for us. If Shepard chooses this, the Reapers win.

Destroy – Shepard destroys everything synthetic – Geth, EDI, Reapers, and herself. She leaves the universe with only organics, saving Earth and the identity of human beings. This is the option the Catalyst does not want you to make, giving you the false sense that you will die if you choose this option and that you will kill any friends and allies that are synthetic. They also falsely reassure Shepard that the peace will not last with this option. But how come this is the only ending that Shepard lives? This is because if Shepard chooses this… Shepard wins.

Now onto dying… Before Shepard’s death, they receive flashbacks, much like anyone does in their final moments. But some people idealize how their outcomes affected others. In Shepard’s case, they thought about the safety of their crew. There is no way for someone who was by Shepard’s side to magically appear on a vessel miles away… think about that for a moment. If Shepard is anything like me, my last thought would be the safety of my loved ones and that is what the final scene is. Just knowing Joker and my LI made it, would give Shepard the peace of mind to pass on. In reality, they know that their LI is waiting where they last parted… waiting for Shepard to return victoriously.

If your Shepard survived, then the indoctrination they received will become severed. You get a brief glimpse of them waking up in a pile of rubble… where exactly is this rubble? And wasn’t Shepard in space? If she died where she “thought” she was, wouldn’t she be drifting in space… with no way to survive? Even if this room collided into the atmosphere, she would have burned before reaching the ground. Even if my theory is not accurate, Shepard would not stop until everything is right again. If they defied the odds of surviving Suicide Missions, if they were able to take out the “indestructible” Reapers, if they could reunite species who have been quarreling for centuries… they can make things right again. Mordin says it best, “Anyone else would have gotten it wrong.” The same goes for Shepard… anyone else would have done this wrong. If the relays are damaged, she’ll find ways to fix them. If her crew is stranded, she will find them. If the Reapers return in some way, she will defeat them again. Shepard can never die… their spirit will live forever. Their name will mean “hero” for the krogans, their legacy will be remembered across the universe, and they will become the savior for their time.

My conclusion… I loved the ending. It leaves it wide open for interpretation still. What I think happens is when Shepard wakes up in the rubble, they will discover that they are either back on Earth or back on the Citadel. Their choices have completely destroyed the Reapers. Through this rubble they will need to discover everyone who has survived… which depending on your stats would determine the actual outcome. All in all, if you have successfully played since ME1, then all you loved would have made it… with the exception of those who sacrificed themselves on the way. And another story would begin… as was mentioned at the end of the game. Another story of the great Commander Shepard.

2012 Builds

2012-02-27T16:53:00.001-08:00

So it's that time again... time to get ready for all the kickass conventions I will be attending this year. I know for certain I will be going to the International Comic Convention in San Diego aka SDCC as well as a few others in New Orleans. Depending on how well things go, I want to attend more than last year... we'll see how well that goes.

Here's the list of costumes/props I am working on:

Mass Effect 3 femShep Casual Uniform
Mass Effect 3 James Vega Casual Uniform (this will be worn by my partner)
Mass Effect 2 M-920 Cain
SWTOR Gunslinger - Me
SWTOR Gunslinger Blaster Pistols

I am also working on one other costume that I will not announce until its completion. Primarily because it is a very difficult build and I will do my very best to make it happen. All I can say is that it's from a video game that will be released later this year.

Project Statuses:

Mass Effect 3 femShep: I am currently waiting on EdenX of Eccentric Tortoise for the jacket. Once I know the exact colors she's using, I'll be able to start on the pants.

*************

Mass Effect 3 James Vega: Completed and ready to show off at SDCC!

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Mass Effect 2 M-920 Cain: It's done! Finished! WOOT! You can see the progress shots HERE.

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SWTOR Gunslinger: Have been gathering screenshots and sketching up the jacket.
Just purchased a jacket that I will be modifying for this costume.

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SWTOR Gunslinger Blaster Pistols: I have all the pieces and have started disassembling the revolvers.

I should have pictures fairly soon of the completed pistols.

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Super secret project: It's still in its rough stage... lots of planning/sewing/constructing lies ahead for this one. I will only give you a teaser image... until I reveal more, keep your fingers crossed for me.

Mecha Con

2011-08-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

There is no better feeling in the world than driving through the streets of the city you love. For me, my heart belongs to New Orleans. I love everything about NOLA, from the food to the culture. The city's history... my family's history... could never be burned or drowned. My ancestors fought against the British and the Union to protect this city... our home, needless to say our roots run deep for Louisiana. So when it came to attending this event, it was really easy to twist my arm.

Day 1 at Mecha Con:

This was the quiet day. Mostly hung around the booth and talked with the other exhibitors. There were a few awesome cosplayers but I didn't get a chance to get their pictures. I did take some pics of the city...

Day 2 at Mecha Con:

Today was much busier. It started off with the Voice Actors Panel with great talents like Steve Blum, Johnny Yong Bosch, Kyle Hebert, Scott McNeil, and J. Michael Tatum. It was hilarious watching them up there. I mostly came to listen to Steve Blum but it seemed everyone wanted Johnny or Michael to speak... oh well. Right after the panel, I had to go prep for the costume contest... missing out on getting the autographs of these amazing voice actors.

I really didn't expect many people to recognize who Commander Shepard was. Especially since I was approached by a lot of people asking what my costume was... and most of them confessed they don't play video games. But one of the judges was thrilled about seeing a femShep, she apparently wouldn't shut up about me to the other judges. I had a tough act to follow as well. The people before me did Delta and Big Sister from Bioshock 2... impressive costume and even the drill spun around! I was thinking, "Well damn, no one will cheer for me now." The moment they announced who I was portraying, I could hear the crowd being just as loud as when Delta turned on his drill. I get up on stage acting super serious and when I get down the runway, I pointed my gun at the crowd and then started doing Shepard's bad dance moves. When I got backstage, one of the Team Fortress 2 cosplayers came up and said they loved my act. I didn't win but Shepard did get a lot of hugs that night.

Day 3 of Mecha Con:

The final day. I started with Cosplay Chess, playing as a pawn in the first round and a knight in the second. I love doing cosplay chess because I can get away with trash talking... in fact they encourage it!

My team from Round 2. I stood next to Alphonse Elric. And yes... that's Neo.

For the first time I didn't get to attack anyone... which is sad because I did work up an epic kill. No one took me out in the first round but Vash the Stampede defeated the knight. They stuck their finger down my barrel and no matter how many times I attempted to get medi-gel, I still ended up with Critical Mission Failure.

Right after the cosplay chess was another chance to get Steve Blum's autograph. They were lining up people and I got in right behind the Vash that took me out. Since I had a few minutes to burn, I decided to show a certain cosplayer who is the best in the galaxy...

When we got into the room for autographs, I immediately went to the line for Steve Blum. I'm glad I did too since he was going to be leaving fairly early too. When it was my turn, I couldn't contain my giddy fangirl side from coming out. You have to understand one thing, Cowboy Bebop was the first anime I ever got into and Steve Blum is the voice of Spike Spiegel. Not only did he voice so many other animes/games/etc but he voiced Grunt in Mass Effect 2 and Oghren in Dragon Age, so he became even more epic to me. He was on my list of "People to Meet in My Lifetime" and I finally got my chance. I asked him if he would be willing to do a quick little skit with me and he agreed... (*squeals in delight*)

That will be by far my favorite video I have ever recorded! Thank you Steve Blum!

The last thing I attended at Mecha Con was an auction benefiting the NOLA Japan Quake Fund. Steve Blum, who does a lot for charities, donated an autographed copy of the script of Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, if I had more money I would have totally gone for it, as well as his voice acting for 30 seconds. I bid on three items and actually ended up walking away with one. The Black Lagoon Second Barrage collectors tin signed by the voice actor of Rock, Brad Swaile. After that, Matt and I packed up and headed home. Another successful convention and another great time spent doing what I love...

Sometimes it's worth all the driving I do...

See you space cowboy...

Featured Artists

2011-08-23T00:29:00.000-07:00

This is dedicated to all the great artists who have done something for me. I thought this would be a good way to say thank you. Be it commission, trade, request, gift, whatever… I love you all for making these for me. This is the ENTIRE list of everything I have received. (I organized them by when I received it and I am only putting up finished items. Just so you know.)

ARTWORK

LadyGrush

Krinkels

Nyhgault

Agirl3003

Pyromaniac03

Cobyfrog

Dragonsmoke

CallMeMina

AbsoluteApril

Helenovision

Hanyogirl

COSPLAY

OoEdenXoO aka EdenX Cosplay

TheyCallMeWeirdo

ACCESSORIES

Jadiekins

Katlinegrey

SolarDiamond

Thank you everyone! I will update this list once I get more!

See you space cowboy...

Chicago Comic Con

2011-08-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

First off, I have never been to Chicago... and driving there is NUTS! It's one thing to weave through traffic, it's a completely different thing to drive 20 miles over the speed limit in a construction zone! I did get lost the first night while trying to find the TGI Fridays... went the complete opposite direction and ended up at the restaurant 2 hours later than expected. I made it up to myself by getting a Chicago Dog, which was delicious! That said, let's talk about the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con!

Day One at CCC:

I was attending with Dee Dunn, it was her first time ever going to a Comic Con. So I figured a smallish one like Chicago would be a good way to start the convention addiction, or pop her cherry. The first day was a short one, only being open for 4 hours. Mostly it was to see some of the vendors and take a gander at the artwork in Artist's Alley. I knew Aaron Goodwin from Ghost Adventures was going to hang out with Adam Michaels. Aaron immediately recognized me and we had to get a pic of us Big Steppin'.

Aaron and I

Big Steppin'!

Artwork from Adam Michaels... now I owe him 100 Nazi scalps.

After walking around some more and seeing some great cosplayers. I notice a very particular name in Artist Alley. The artist was away from the table but as I checked out their artwork, it was definitely them. I am speaking of none other than the great James O'Barr. If you need to google who that is, please slap yourself. James O'Barr is the creator of the Crow, the mastermind behind the comics that inspired the movies. When he walks behind the table, I freeze up... then blurt out, "You're James O'Barr!" "Yeah, I am." He was one of the coolest people you could ever talk to. And REALLY humble! I tell him how amazing his artwork is and how he was the first person to get me into the darker style comics. He was flattered. We talked about a bunch of things and in the end he gave both Dee and I a little Crow pin. What an epic way to begin Chicago.


James O'Barr and I... (goes and squeals in the corner)

Day Two at CCC:

I actually had to spend that morning fixing the plug in my oil pan on my Volkswagen. The threading was shot and the rubber was chipping away. One of the people at AutoZone helped me since the plug was stuck. We got it fixed right there in the parking lot. Nothing beats a dirty morning covered in oil and grease.

The second day seemed to be our quiet day. We attended a panel with Alan Goldsher and his discussion about Scary Funny novels. He read a snippet from his book "Paul is Undead: The British Zombie Invastion" and a little bit from his new piece which is "The Sound of Music" with vampires. As well as we hit the rest of the tables at Artist Alley where I picked up Headless Horsewoman and had it signed by the artist.

Headless Horsewoman by Tommy Castillo

Day Three at CCC:

The busy day. First thing on my agenda was to meet the Boondock Saints. I had the chance to meet Sean Patrick Flannery at last year's SDCC. He is as stunning in person as he looks on the screen... I will say that. This time, not only did I get to say hello to Sean again but I got to meet Norman Reedus and David Della Rocco, which BTW he is just as scatterbrained as in the movie but loves hugs.

Norman Reedus and I

Sean Patrick Flannery and I

David Della Rocco and I

Just before the Costume Contest, the 501st Legion was doing a raffle. If you got caught with their badge, they would give you a ticket. At 5:01pm (lol) on Saturday they picked about 23-25 winners of random Star Wars memorabilia. I had a total of 3 tickets and I actually won something, Micro Machines collectables! One was a set of three vehicles from Return of the Jedi (a Speeder Bike with Rebel Pilot, an Imperial Shuttle Tyderium, and an A-Wing Starfighter) and the other one is an Imperial Landing Craft diecast.

When it came to the Costume Contest, there was roughly about 150 contestants. There were some awesome cosplayers like Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, underwear model Dead Pool, Ed from Cowboy Bebop, and a Joker with a flower that actually shot out steam. By the time they got to me, they had to rush the contestants. Most of us had to wait until they were on stage to announce their costume. When I stepped up in line, one of the judges immediately pointed at me, knowing exactly who I was. I took a single step forward and she announced, "Commander Shepard!" The crowd actually cheered, typically they applauded but they cheered for me! So I decided to give them a show. I do the epic fail dance all the way to the stage. I get up there and after doing some poses for the photographers, I say as loud as I could, "I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite store on the Citadel!" I took a bow and exited the stage. I knew I wasn't going to win but I was going to make one hell of an appearance, as well as have fun doing it.

Nyan Cat onstage at the Costume Contest

The contestants waiting around in the lobby for the winners

After the Costume Contest, Dee and I went to see Unicorn City. A new movie that should be released by the end of this year or early 2012 and it is a total gamer movie. We were rolling on the floor laughing and we especially love the Centaur. It's about some d20 gamers who make a utopian city where they are their characters. I highly recommend seeing it, definitely check out their trailer: http://www.unicorncity.com/

Dee and I with the Centaur from Unicorn City

Some of the people from Unicorn City invited Dee and I to join them for dinner at The Ram. We agreed, of course. Ended having a blast with them. One of the kookiest bunch of people I have ever had dinner with... I'd say they are nearly as kooky as dining with the newgrounds.com people.

Day Four at CCC:

Final day at Chicago Comic Con. The first thing I do is get in line for the Boondock Saints panel. Because of the pass I had I actually got to enter first (thank you Dee) and have front row seats. I was laughing so hard the entire time. Sean Patrick Flannery just kept cracking out one line gems and doing the funniest things. Norman Reedus started playing songs on his cell phone and putting it up to the microphone. And David Della Rocco said a joke just as epic as in the movie. I hope to upload it to youtube when I get a chance so keep an eye out there. It's just too funny to not share!

Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, and David Della Rocco

During the final hours of the convention, I decided to walk the floor again. I found Christopher Mitten who made the Kane & Lynch comic that takes place in between the games. I picked up my copy (which was on my list of things to buy) and he signed it for me. It's always nice finding other people who love video games as much as I do... speaking of that... As I was going around Artist Alley, someone recognized my Commander Shepard costume and asked me to come to their table. They told me that one of their artists was a big Mass Effect fan. When they pointed at them, it was the judge who announced me at the Costume Contest! Her name is Mina Sanwald and she is one hell of an artist. She told me how she voted for me to win, apparently so did one other judge, so I was actually one of the best ones there. YAY! Since we share a love for Mass Effect and for a certain turian... she made me a quick sketch of me hugging Garrus. What a perfect way to end another convention.

Garrus & I by Mina

See you space cowboy...

San Diego Comic Con

2011-08-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

So I am finally getting around to starting my own blog. With all the places I travel to and all the conventions I attend, I figured it was about time. So why not start with the biggest convention this year... San Diego's Comic Con.

I have been attending SDCC for 5 years now. Every year I become immersed in the crowds of other dorks, nerds, and geeks to enjoy everything from comic books to animes to video games. Most of the time I cosplay. One year I went as an original character from the anime Bleach, another year I was Sniper from Team Fortress 2, this year... I was Commander Shepard from Mass Effect. I have been in love with the Mass Effect series since the first game released. My husband brought it home one day and when he began playing it, I was immediately hooked. Ever since then I joined the Bioware bandwagon. I have played other Bioware games prior, like Jade Empire, but Mass Effect was the one that took my heart.

My Commander Shepard outfit is the Cerberus uniform she wears while on the Normandy. My friend Gena Hernandez helped me with the jacket and I did the rest. Even modified a Nerf gun to look like a custom N7 weapon. The whole costume was complete by 05/25/2011.

Cerberus Jacket

Custom Weapon

While traveling in Colorado, I get word that Bioware was going to hold a costume contest at SDCC! I was beyond excited and couldn't wait to participate! Not only that but it was my chance to play the demo for Mass Effect 3... which I have pre-ordered ever since December 2010 (as a birthday gift to myself).

Day 1 of SDCC:

We arrive on Thursday morning, settle into the hotel and wait for Luis Castanon from Newgrounds to join us. Once we are all together, I get dressed up in my costume and we take the shuttle to the Convention Center. I look out to the left from the bus and there it is... the Bioware Base at the Hilton... with a gigantic sign showing Commander Shepard. We grab our badges and start walking the exhibition floor.

First we stop at the Saints Row 3 booth. Taking a moment to see the preview, we go inside and I couldn't stop laughing. The new additions to the game will certainly make it even more fun to play. And I am really REALLY looking forward to the hover jet. Oh and hitting people with a big purple dildo.

Next stop, the I-Mockery booth. They have been working on Abobo's Big Adventure, something my husband Matt got to help be a beta in. It's looking great so far and I cannot wait to see the final product!

After lunch... it was time to finally go over to the Bioware Base.

You could see this all the way from the Convention Center

While standing in line for the demos, I got to play with the N7 Rifle Volpin Props created for SDCC and take a seat in the Illusive Man's chair (which I did his exact pose, even held my cigarette the way he does). And then the stage came to life, showing previews from the demo while being recorded for BiowareTV. Casey Hudson, the executive producer of Mass Effect, came on stage and talked a little bit about the demo we would be playing and about the game I'm so eagerly waiting to play. While he was walking away, Luis and Matt "helped" push me into going up to him and asking for his photograph. I introduced myself and said how much of a big fan I was... even told him how excited I was to be meeting him (my heart was literally pounding against my chest this entire time). Then he said, "I actually know who you are. I've seen your pictures online." O_O <--- that was my face. He knew who I was... HE KNEW WHO I WAS! Hearing him say that topped the list of most memorable moments, knocking meeting Adam West last year straight out of the ballpark.

Casey Hudson and I

It took a good ten minutes for my heart rate to slow back down, which was fine because we were still standing in line. My husband and Luis left to go see the Batman: Arkham City panel while I stayed in line. In the words of my husband, "It looked awesome! And there's penguin with a posh-British accent!" So needless to say, another game that is looking promising. I was nearing the front of the line when I see out of the corner of my eye... Garrus. Well, someone dressed up as Garrus but still! The costume was done by the great Holly Conrad of Crabcat Industries. I immediately knew I had to get my photo taken with him, after all what is Shepard without her turian vigilante (especially my Shepard who romanced him). So I have the person I was speaking with in line take my camera and take a photo for me. The moment I stood next to Garrus, all I could hear is the clicking and flashing from cameras. I guess everyone noticed how in-game we looked. : 3

Due to time constraints, I had to leave the line to meet up with several people from Deviant Art. So I wasn't able to play the demo but I would attempt again the next day.

Day 2 of SDCC:

We started the day by walking the exhibition floor some more. Then we attend the Legendary Pictures panel with information about the new Mass Effect movie. I am typically against video games being turned into movies and when they announced the Mass Effect movie, I threw up my arms and screamed, "NO!" I still attended the panel to see if maybe Casey Hudson could persuade me to change judgement or at least give me some hope that this would not be a total failure. Upon hearing that it will be based on the events in Mass Effect 1 and following around Commander Shepard, I opened up a little to the idea. The thing I enjoy most about Mass Effect is the ability to have your own story. In the movie adaptation, it may or may not be what I decided to go with in the game and I understand that. I'm still a bit skeptic but I have changed my opinion from refusing to see it to going on opening day.

After the panel, we stopped by Maddox's Best Page in the Universe booth. He has a new book coming out titled "I Am Better Than Your Kids." Both Matt and I are fans of him and enjoy meeting him at SDCC every year. Even Matt made him some artwork to get graded... it didn't end well.

Matt received an F+... his gem was lumpy.

Matt's failure left us to wander the floor again. At this point, I had a chance to meet Jennifer Hale (the voice of female Shepard), Holly Conrad (the one who made the Garrus costume and is known for her great Shepard armor), and Rana McAnear (the face model for Samara). Every single one of them were extremely wonderful to speak with! They were down to earth and I would love to meet them all again (which I got to later on at the Bioware Base). It was getting closer to the time for the Costume Contest so we headed over to the Bioware Base to try and play the ME3 demo. Again I didn't have a chance to because I needed to register for the Contest but I had a blast hanging out with the other cosplayers. Made friends with a bunch of them, they are that awesome! (BTW, Shepard loves her Isabellas!) I also got to chat with Jesse Houston, producer for ME3. We swear we know each other... but to this date I still can't figure out how or where.

A bunch of the cosplayers for the Costume Contest.

The Bioware Costume Contest was a ton of fun. I didn't win but that's okay. According to Nick Clifford, assistant project manager at EA, I was his favorite Shepard and that was enough for me. ^_^ Okay, so I'm a pushover! I was about to go back to the hotel (just from the sheer exhaustion of walking around nonstop in my costume since 9am) but since so many people wanted me to stay... I stayed. I got interviewed a bunch for BiowareTV and for PopChips, had lots of photos taken, and people were actually coming up to me saying they recognized me from online! I'm an internet celebrity now! There goes my 15 minutes of fame. =P

Day 3 at SDCC:

Still exhausted from the prior night, I was debating on wearing my skater shoes instead of my military boots. But since Saturday at SDCC is when everyone is completely dressed to perfection, I stayed true to the costume. Many of us from Newgrounds went to see the Quick Draw! Panel and the Cartoon Voices Panel, kind of a tradition with us. This year Robin Atkin Downes, the voice of Medic in Team Fortress 2, was on it. As soon as we were finished with the panels, we made our way to the Bioware Base determined to play the ME3 demo. This time, due to my involvement in the costume contest and making friends with the people at Bioware, I was bumped to the front of the line. Matt and I walked into the room, listened to the introduction conducted by EDI telling what Shepard needed to do, and proceeded to play the demo (both as soldier). The best part was playing the demo dressed as Commander Shepard... priceless.

First thing I did was allocate the squad points. I maxed out Concussive Shot, my favorite power in the whole game, and made it bone-shattering. For Garrus, after squealing like a fangirl when I saw him, I maxed out his Turian Rebel ability and placed the rest in Concussive Shot and Proximity Mine. For Liara, I maxed out her Biotic Training and placed the rest on Singularity. Then I started playing the best demo I laid hands on. I enjoyed hearing the explosion each concussive shot made... and the shock wave of destruction from maxing it out! When I discovered the omni-blade, it was addicting. No matter how close I came to reaching "Critical Mission Failure," I enjoyed the feeling of stabbing Cerberus operatives! Matt and I even had a contest going on who stabbed the most people with the omni-blade. I won... that's because Shepard always wins. The demo ended when the Atlas Mech dropped in. I wanted to start the battle with it right then and there but alas I have to wait until March to take him down. On the way out, we chatted with Chris Priestly, community coordinator for Bioware, about our reactions. It's looking amazing so far and the dedication Bioware has put into it can clearly be seen with every improvement.

I stuck around the Bioware Base to do the Mass Effect March while Matt went back to the convention floor to play other demos like Dead Rising 2: Off the Record. He says Off the Record is extremely slow at the moment, poor frame rate. There was still a lot of work that needed to be done with the demo. The March consisted of a bunch of us going around the Gas Lamp District in San Diego, holding up our inflatable omni-blades and screaming "Mass Effect" and "Save the Earth!" I would occasionally throw in "Vote for Commander Shepard" and "I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite march in the solar system." At the end of the March, they revealed the 6 candidates for the default femShep. My vote goes to the blonde Shep... but I love the black one too. Many of us stayed around afterwards for the after party, I couldn't stay too long due to a meetup with the Newgrounds peeps, but had a blast with my fellow Mass Effect nerds.

Me, Nick Clifford, and Holly Conrad

Just when I was leaving, I noticed Ross O'Donovan (from Newgrounds) and some of the Crabcat Industries people. I sat down and chatted with them a bit. The person who was cosplaying as Garrus was taking a break and I found this as the perfect opportunity to ask him to recreate, in my opinion, the best scene in the game. He agreed. After getting Garrus's head back on, we did the headbump...

Achievement Unlocked: Paramour

Of course, Holly Conrad had to add the fact that we just had the Bioware version of turian sex. XD From what I can tell, this was the only photo taken the entire Comic Con with the headbump so I feel really special. (It's amazing what being nice can do.) I made it a point to say goodbye to all the people I met and thank them for a great time before leaving, just the way I am. Then headed to meet up with the Newgrounds people for our annual get-together. We all ended up at the Fox Sports Bar at the Hilton next to the Convention Center. What happens when you get a bunch of animators, programers, and fans together? We just sit around drinking and talking. Nothing wrong with that.

The next day, Matt and I left the beautiful city of San Diego. I look forward to it every year and SDCC never ceases to disappoint me. This year easily tops the previous ones. I got to spend all three days dressed up as my favorite video game character. I got to meet so many wonderful people and be a part of the events Bioware was holding. I couldn't have asked for more.

Goodbye San Diego... until next year.

See you space cowboy...