How to Cosplay like a Pro

Costume play, or "cosplaying", has evolved into an important part of what many gamers consider the convention hall experience. At events like PAX and Comic-Con, individuals have the liberty to dress like their favorite characters without the social stigma normally associated with emulating a giant bear that molests children. But there are important things to remember when cosplaying to ensure that you get the most out of your efforts, and so that you don't end up on some hack blogger's top ten worst dressed list. Below are some essential tips that will help separate the cos-playas from the cos-posers.

- Match the Tone of the Event
Most do this automatically, but not everyone truly captures the spirit of the event they're attending. Going as a Klingon to E3 or Comic-Con is certainly acceptable, but Star Trek was not borne of the mediums that either of those events were intended to endorse. It would be more appropriate to go as characters within those IP's but created for mediums that respect your convention, like Force Unleashed's Starkiller. Additionally some events cater to younger audiences, so consider that before slipping on that g-string/gun-holster combo.

My 9 Favorite Survivor Mistakes

Clearly taking my love for Left 4 Dead a bit too far, I decided to write about some of the mistakes that entertain me the most.
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1) Failing to Heal Each Other:

In a survival situation, our instincts are likely to best benefit our own interests, so I can see why this is such a common mistake. But by not healing your teammates, you inhibit your own ability to stay alive. For each person lost, a significant portion of the odds in one's favor are forfeited, and with the Infected typically focusing on the weakest enemies, it will not be long before they overcome you. I also take special pleasure in watching Survivors wait for their limping comrades when they could be healing them, which gives me more time to spawn and make matters worse.

2) Shooting When You Should Be Swinging:

As a Survivor you will constantly be pressed to quickly decide between punching and shooting to free a captured ally, yet people often seem choose the one that takes the longest to be effective. Each strike brings your team one step closer to losing and they add up quickly, so you want to release allies as soon as possible. I offer this as a general rule of thumb; always be running towards captured teammates while shooting, and once you reach them, melee to save them. If you are stationary, you get two shots before you must resort to punching. I chose two because you do not want anyone to die while watching you miss more than two potentially point blank shots...