For the last 11 years, the yearly China Digital Entertainment Expo has been "entertaining" China and the world's gamers. Commonly known as China Joy, the show is usually known more for its booth companions—in fact, this year's China Joy was more about the gamers and geeks taking photos of young women.
Over 200,000 people attended the four-day event, which is arguably one of the largest gaming expos in the world, second in Asia only to the Tokyo Game Show. Despite the massive turnout, this year's China Joy seemed smaller. Perhaps due to the possibility of a lift on the console ban, major companies such as Sony and Microsoft didn't even have booths at this year's show.
The game selection was also slim pickings. In lieu of the bigger companies, smaller companies operated huge booths. Companies such as Tencent and NetEase showed off older games, which have already been either announced or released. Tencent had about 20 computers dedicated to Monster Hunter Online. The coolest booth this year was probably the Glorious Mission booth attached to the Giant booth.
Ah screw it, there's nothing more to say about China Joy this year other than that it was more of the same and not much about the games. Time for some pictures!
There are loads of pictures of beautiful women, scantily dressed women and booth companions everywhere. Those photos are literally the same everywhere, so this time around let's go with some fun photos. Some of my photos are totally creepy too but that's just China Joy!
An exhibitor poses next to a Master Chief cosplayer.
A steampunk robot exhibit for Snail Games' new RPG called Black Gold.
A cosplayer showcasing a game at The 9's booth.
This company had their booth companion "hand out" fans. The fans make up a dress...
Chinese gamer tests out Rocksmith at the Intel booth! The INTEL BOOTH!
Players test out a multiplayer online battle arena game.
This guy is playing the augmented reality game Kazooloo on an iPad. The booth companions are holding up the AR cards.
China Joy was an incredibly sweaty mess... I must've salted at least four t-shirts.
Two booth companions were caught off-guard during their break.
There were no free hugs to be given...
Hot Dog Toyz showed off some of their newest toys and figures.
A booth companion tells a mascot to stop following her. It wasn't malicious or anything, it was all in good fun.
Giant, the company that made Glorious Mission, pulled an "AMD"—instead of a booth of women they went with men!
Can someone identify who this cosplayer is portraying?
Paid cosplayers perform a skit at Sohu games booth.
The Glorious Mission had its own booth! Fully equiped with "tough guys".
I'm confused... This is a game about the Chinese People's Liberation Army, why is one of the booth companions dressed in US Navy fatigues?
Two guys cosplayed as Chinese fantasy characters. Can you identify who they are? I couldn't, even when they told me.
"Acolytes" walked through the exhibition halls promoting Shenzhen BaoFeng company's iOS/Android action role-playing game, "Dark Ages".
This cosplayer towered over the crowd at China Joy! Portraying Jiraiya from Naruto, this dude stood at at least 6'9. I'm a tall Chinese guy, and this guy was at least a head taller than me.
A lucky kid playing Fruit Ninja Kinect at the Le Yue Games booth.
Check out this guy's intensity!
These are just too cute!
A moment with Portgas D. Ace. This cosplayer was making his way through the exhibition halls to the cosplay competition.
A photographer explains to a Kakashi cosplayer how to better portray the character.
This cosplayer, portraying Ichigo from Bleach, takes a moment from posing to take pictures of his lady friend.
Two of the six Chun-li's walking around China Joy 2013.
I was surprised to find only these two cosplaying as Attack On Titan characters.
Tencent booth lady poses for pictures behind Tencent's "VIP" booth.
Check out these Naruto cosplayers! There's Naruto, Kurenai and Orochimaru!
Final Fantasy X's Yuna wears a feather, which seems to be the accessory of choice at this year's China Joy.
A small sampling of the trash found at China Joy's exhibition hall. It was nigh impossible to walk more than a meter without stepping on or kicking some garbage.
I found a staple of old China Joy outside the exhibition! Mr. Kotex is back baby!
Bonus Photo: Here's Mr. Kotex with Sina's booth companion - in my opinion, arguably the best booth companion in China Joy this year. (Sina's booth had about four women! The smallest number, apart from the ones that didn't have any at all.)
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Eric is Beijing based writer and all around FAT man. You can contact him @FatAsianTechie@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @FatAsianTechie.