It's Tokyo-time!

Hey hey, how're y'all doin'? :)

I was pretty busy preparing my trip to Tokyo lately. So, well, yeah, I'm still packing and stuff. And at the same time, I got to finish and send my applications - wanted to be already finished, actually, but one of my Senseis took quite too long to hand in some important documents, so I just can start now. 

Additionally, I lately heared that Maestro-EMV-chipped cards will temporarily not work in Japan, because their ATM-system is updating. AND on top of that, 7-Bank (known for their convenient-stores all over the place, in which you usually find international ATMs which are free to use) is currently messing with MasterCard, because they kinda changed their terms and conditions regarding cooperational companies - and 7-Bank just don't like them. Well, so, to speak clearly, it's not possible to withdraw any money at 7-Bank-ATMs via Maestro, MasterCard and Cirrus. So I had to check things for that issue, too, since I don't want to be in Tokyo without any money |'D

Well, let's just say "s**t happens". orz

But thanks to a nice Japanese friend of me, I know where to get money even if there are these problems ☆ Thank you so much for your help!  (I also asked at our bank's office, but they just didn't know anything about that issue. At all. lol (ノω；｀) ).

Nevertheless, I'm totally looking forward to go! (≧▽≦)☆ It's like I was waiting for years. 

We'll go by Etihad, so we'll have a stop at Abu Dhabi. I'm totally nervous about that, since I heared that the Airport was so big and luxurious, haha ^^;

It's the first time I travel via Etihad, and of course it'll be my first impression of Abu Dhabi  (even though I'll only see the airport σ(･´ω｀･) ). Of course I'll try to take lots of photos in Abu Dhabi as well!

I'm looking forward to see all my friends over there, and I'm so looking forward to meet new people as well :) 

I will try to update my blog more often to share some impressions and photos with you! ☆

So, what else to say... I'm not quite sure whether I'll write another entry BEFORE I go, so... I'll keep it that way and feel allowed to say "See you next week in Tokyo!" (*´ω｀*)

GamesCom 2013 - Wednesday (Trade Visitor- and Press-Day)

I was kinda tired and my feet still hurt, but I didn't want to miss this year's GamesCom, especially if I was able to enter without buying any ticket |'D

So we arrived at Cologne at around 12:30 and decided to enter at Congress Center Ost (East Entrance), so I would be able to avoid the crowd entering at GamesCom's main entrance (South). Even though it looked rather full in the entrance hall as well, I think it was a good choice to go there. Of course I had to wait for my companions, since they only had "normal" Trade-Visitor tickets, and were only allowed to enter when GDC was officially closed. Anyway, it worked pretty fast! ^^

First, we entered Hall 10, which was rather boring, actually. We just wanted to get some ribbons which would allow us to enter 18+ booths, but the queue was SO long, so we decided to go on without wearing a ribbon. And to be honest, I'm quite happy I didn't try to get one either, since we totally didn't need them, haha! ^^; 

So we left to Hall 9.1 , where there was the Square-Enix booth! It's so flashy!  (๑•ᴗ•๑)♡ Square-Enix had lots of games with them this time - "Kingdom Hearts", "Final Fantasy X" (and X-2), "Lightning Returns", "Murdered", "Thief" and of course "Final Fantasy 14 - A Realm Reborn".  We even gave it a try to play "Lightning Returns" - but I got to say that unfortunately, that's a game I'm not looking forward to. I don't like the main character, to be honest, even if I like her design... but she looks and appears "soul-less" in my opinion. She's not one of those characters you directly fall in love with. She's just... boring? I don't know. And also the new battle system is rather weird for me. I don't like "half-agile" battle mechanics, to be honest. But it's just like that. The player got to change Lightning's outfits several times within a battle, and by doing so her 'class' changes automatically (e.g. "warrior", "magican" and so on). The artists did a very great job on this game anyway, especially on the monsters. Kudos to you, guys.

Some more impressions from the booth <3 

Well, after checking out the Final Fantasy-part of SE, we decided to attend a presentation for the game "Thief", which actually is just a remake... anyway it looked so cool, and I'm totally looking forward to this game! Especially because I already thought that the old Thief-games were totally great! Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any photos during that presentation, BUT I totally felt it's the same team workin' on this title which also was responsible for "Deus Ex: Human Revolution" (and, oh you can't imagine how I loved this game!). 

Right after the presentation finished, we headed back to the back side of the booth, where there was another presentation... a presentation about "Final Fantasy 14 - A Realm Reborn" by Naoki Yoshida !! ❤　He introduced some innovations and even fought against one of the bosses, allying with some random attendees :'D He obviously had fun! Unfortunately, he already left the stage quite early again, but I was able to ask for an autograph and additionally I could have a little chat with him in Japanese! He was visibly surprised about that, though ( *´艸｀) ). 

After that, we didn't attend lots of presentations or tests, since most of the queues were already too long (so I don't wanna know what it'll look like on Saturday .... _ _'! ). Anyway I met lots of press people who also did recognize me with a huge smile :) Thank you so much, you made my day! ww And I also met Mohamed and Vicenzo :) (I hope you guys will have a save trip! ).

Later on that day, we were invited to have some drinks at the business area, where we stayed until GC closed :'D I was able to take some "Monster Energy"-drinks with me for free, and well, since I totally love "Monster Ripper", I didn't need to think twice! (￣∀￣)

Nevertheless, we saw a lot. Too much, maybe, to put it into words without hurting my fingers, haha :') But since I want to end this entry with picutres... here we go! ^o^

 

(The Last of Us)

(Assassin's Creed IV - Black Flag)

(World of Warcraft)

(World of Warcraft)

("Rain")

(the "Flying Steps" at the PS4-booth)

 

(Castlevania 2)

Düsseldorf with Caro and Raya ☆

My weekend started quite ... strange and annoying, to be honest. Actually, we planned to have rehearsal today, but we couldn't realize that because both Raya and me were quite busy. As for me, I had to manage some things that dealt with my freelancer job as a news writer for an online game magazine. And to be honest, I wasn't amused about that. Especially when I heared that they wanted to change the team, without telling us ANYTHING about that. Everybody but one from our team will quit posting for that site. But there's a problem with that: they refuse to credit us for our postings when it was decided we'd leave =A=' What cheek....!! 

Because of that, I didn't have to write any important news anymore, even though I already started several papers which should be posted within the next week, which were "urgent", actually...... Of course, now I won't do it. I just won't hand them in -.-' But since I finished the discussion with my boss late at night, I didn't think I could re-invite the vocalist we wanted to test... because I can't assume him to be available again just after I said I'd be busy. 

Nevertheless, 

therefore I was able to enjoy some "freetime" ☆　So I went to Düsseldorf with Raya and Caro (●´ω｀●)

(I already look tired in this one, don't I ? x_X) 

We met at the station and went right to "Maruyasu Don", which is a Japanese restaurant. Actually I wanted to eat a Gyoza set menu, but unfortunately, they didn't have enough in stock. And because Caro also wanted to eat some, I declined and chose "Torikara set menu" <3   ("tori" means bird or chicken). It was totally delicious as well! .w.! 

(It was torikara, some salad, rice and miso soup <3)

After that, we decided to take some purikura. I didn't take any since visited Japan in March this year (・・;　

Caro and Raya look so cute! .w.  Unfortunately, I look kinda tired in all those pictures, and I failed looking into the camera, too.... xD Fail fail fail, I thought purikura can make everyone prettyyyy...? ;A; 

Before we left, we went to the asian stores in Düsseldorf to buy some random stuff |D As for me, I bought frozen Gyoza, because I still was kinda sad that I couldn't eat them at Don ^^  I already bought them once, so I know that they're delicious anyway. Buuut, I also bought some random stuff (●´ω｀●)

Haha, as you see, I bought some Hello Kitty Jelly-Drink. It's apple taste. I actually wanted to buy some drinks by Weider, but they didn't have any in stock, unfortunately... so I bought this one. ... I already drank it |D But it tasted great, though :'DD
And about the can... isn't it just great?? ;A; It's Piccolo from DRAGONBALL, and it contains orange soda ☆　I'm totally looking forward to try it! There are several other motives as well, but I just thought that Piccolo would be the coolest one to have (；´∀｀)　(Sorry for being such a fanboy xD).

At our way back home, we met some "almost drunk" girls who were actually kinda nice xD They said they'd love to add us on facebook, and because they were nice, we just thought we could give it a try anyway ^^; I mean, I don't see a huge risk in doing so. 

When we arrived at Cologne, we noticed that our train back home was already gone because our train has been late... so we decided to have a drink at Starbucks ☆

I had "Java Chip Chocolate Cream" (without lactose ^^) and Raya had some Strawberry Cream shake! By the way, Cologne Main Station already looks so... sparkly! They started to decorate the station with lit strings! It's so obvious that we're getting closer to Christmas!!　＼(^o^)／　 (I'm kinda looking forward to that... I didn't do so since a few years, to be honest! That's kinda instresting ^^;; ). 

Well, it's already half past 1 (a.m.), and my head starts to hurt... I think it's because I'm lacking of sleep (/_;) Anyway I reeeeally enjoyed my unexpected free-time ☆　Thank you, Raya and Caro, for spending it with me!　I hope we can repeat this　(^^♪