Hyatt Regency O’Hare & Donald E Stephens Convention Center
Do you have a cosplay picked out yet? Any particular events or panels you're hoping to catch? What part of the convention floor are you most drawn to? Are you traveling in from out of town or staying nearby? Will you be attending solo or with friends?
>>10964825 No she's a respectable nice kind and thin person, if I see the person who told her birds of a feather as a "light hearted line" and no I don't by the "it was about finding other gulls joke. It's revolting. I will lay down some hell.
>>10964831 Can you do burger king rei again? I know you out jew'd the jew Reisen that was EPIC!!! especially when you went on about the "haters" you have. Never met anyone who never fucked up in their life before and has so many haters. especially when walked into my room party, stayed an uncomfortably long time, annoyed the women, and I had to message the guy you told me you were. Why did you wear his bow man? I get nigga never coming back to acen since he moved to Japan or something but like man what gives?
How do you guys meet up with people? Ill be going solo for the third year, feels kinda sad seeing everyone with friends. The official ACEN discord seems so strange/weird to wanna make friends there.
>>10964905 It is. Now people have discord and they meet with people they already know. At night you can talk to randos in the common area, even Thursday sometimes. Otherwise you might have to go through the discord. If you have any cons before then try making some contacts at those and join servers and ask who plans on going to Acen. Use common sense and be safe
How lame, another year alone. I did meet up with some people from here 2 years ago, last year I did but it was awkward. Time to make friends IRL? fuck.
>>10964905 do NOT meet up with anyone from these threads. They're all groypers, pedophiles, and nazi's with none of the fun that comes with that and all the drama/doxxing/drugging.
>>10964978 None are okay those groups openly give passes to rapists/pedophiles I’ve heard “but he’s my friend” after a dude statutory raped a 14 yr old LOL They don’t see a problem with that because he’s the party guy
>>10965061 ACEN is retarded because they completely shy away from idol culture and vtubers. One of the organizers when asked about idol guests just went "lol, lmao".
ACEN also classically lacks in panels because everything is more "scrutinized" so the interesting panels go to midwest/magic/CAD instead because atleast they'll get accepted.
>>10965088 She was only 19 when she said the 12 year old was cute. And that's all she said. Also, 19 was consider to still be a minor in Japan at that time.
>>10965101 Acen 2022 had vtubers but hey were comically bad that year and so they've been effectively blacklisted from a lot of groups after they sold their guests on vivid mask mandates, then undid them right before the con.
>>10965398 It's the same thing every ACEN thread and pretty much all the Illinois cons.
>Noting but drama because of those groups >mods nuke all the comments >ACEN finally comes >That group just starts more shit and it goes critical. >Mass deleting of comments. >Thread dies.
>>10965384 they werent blacklisted, theres just a member of their parent organization who hates vtubers and idol culture. Which is why they NEVER have idols OR vtubers OR maid cafes...
when the magic is gone but you keep going to the con sometimes ppl who took too much get delusional and think their life is an anime their friends are the characters and they make up dramatic plots
>>10965401 >>10965398 i'm here to talk about cons and ignore the retarded schizo shit. Unfortunately theres so few non-schizos here that it's just me and like 2 others...
>>10965591 I have no fucking idea what "color temperature" means. I'm gonna assume like... how bright they are? I dunno, the stephens could use brighter lights cause it gets REALLY hard to see out of a mask sometimes lmao. Personally the best quirk of the Stephens compared to other centers like McCormick is that it has that 1 mile long walkway where the parking garages are on the completely opposite side. Genuinely, ain't nothing like a comfy half mile walk from the hotel at 3 AM back to my car
>>10967031 Probably just the pedo gulls making it so they can infight like always. All the threads from Illinois just got like 80% of their posts purged.
>>10967031 unironically the 2 retards who fight eachother in these threads made it to stir up drama. Theres really only like 5 of us who arent schizophrenic and post in these threads
QUIC: to the Chicago 'nons actually in Chicago rn, dak of any place I can get the foundational Jirai Kei outfit at? You know the one, the black overalls and off-white shirt one. I want to wear it for AMKE next week. I know I can buy one of the slop mass produced ones on Amazon, but umm, I already have like 3 of those lmfao and they are really shitty. I walked around today after going to WWE SuperStore since it was gorgeous out and did some window shopping but couldn't find anything worthwhile. I did get some things I can work into a "casual" Chihiro (Danganronpa) cosplay but I'm not the biggest fan of "casual" cosplays, plus I really do want another high quality foundational jk fit.
>>10968831 Well, considering most everyone "involved" only ever got BINO'd (Banned In Name Only), it goes without say no, they are not still banned and WILL be there unfortunately. At AMKE too.
>>10968863 Unless the Baird Center and the surrounding hotels have partnered with Palantir or even ClearView AI for RT OD facial recognition or unless they drive there and one of the FLOCK ALPRs in the parking lots and surrounding area catches their car, they're getting there. So it's really up to you anon to make sure they're not there bothering anybody! I believe in you! You can do it! -^.^- You'd be the con hero!
>>10968865 >Unless the Baird Center and the surrounding hotels have partnered with Palantir or even ClearView AI for RT OD facial recognition and even then, this is an event specifically DESIGNED to wear costumes and masks at, so facial recognition AI would have trouble identifying people
>>10968866 Matter of fact, if you really think about it, most people at a con are either wearing cosplay (and thus shoes and other garments that they don't usually wear) or carrying stuff (like their haul from DH/AA or a bag, purse, backpack, etc.) all of which alters gait so if it really comes down to it, gait recognition wouldn't really be that effective either. Damn, Makes you think, makes you think.
>>10968898 Don't worry hopefully they get their comeuppance Soon^(TM) whenever they manage to scrounge up enough money to visit the shitty ahh cons in their shitty ahh home state
>tfw you're too tall for a platelet cosplay >tfw you're too short for a red blood cell cosplay I got this really cute set of overalls and immediately thought of doing a rbc cosplay from Cells at Work but I'm too short :/ it'll look like I'm cosplaying a long lost rejected genderbend AU Mario lmaoooo
>>10969501 what the fuck are you talking about? I'm talking about an actual fire pit that was hosted on Saturday night by the back of the Hyatt that they allowed for some reason. There were weenies and smores and shit
>>10965343 Five months to the MINUTE later and I STILL don't know what to cosplay. Aaaaaaa sooooo manyyyy things I want to cosplay Aaaaaa :D What are you guy going as? Does acen have one of those little graphics for cosplans? I haven't seen a 2026 one yet.
My wife and I will be there, hoping our stuff gets finished up by then. Kinda lost a bit of interest in the whole trip once finances started being bitched about despite the extensive list of cosplays & ravewear that was suggested. Oh well, c'est la vie. Hopefully I can find some decent merch this go around while trying to be the "scary dog" for my wife in her skimpy cosplays. Come say hi if you see a Hypno and Misty.
>>10970264 im no expert even with 4 big cons under my belt. Make sure to look and double check any events you want to attend. Stay hydrated, get food for your hotel unless you want to spend a lot of money on con food. Be polite ofc. The con backrooms are long hot and confusing so be careful in there.
>>10970264 Panels and Events are all free (unless stated otherwise on the website), look at the schedule and go to the shit that interests you! Don't forget to bring your ID to get your badge for the con!
ACEN was my first con 3 years ago and now i'm addicted to going to them, they're fun as fuck with like minded idiots (and are generally funner then comic cons). Don't get overwhelmed and just explore and compliment cosplays and look at hot cosplayer butts from a distance.
GUIDEBOOK IS UP theres actually a fuckton of interesting panels and programming. But no capcom or metal gear meetups is sad but i guess nobody organized it this year
>was originally planning on just going without a badge and hanging with friends/ going to room parties >Yuki Kajiura and FictionJunction concert announced "Well, it sucks that I'll have to miss out on that, but $80 is a lot--" >iDOM@STER concert announced >with best girls Chihaya and Miki WELP Didn't have a choice. Had to break down and get a badge.
>>10970519 Oh, I remember. Been on this godawful site since 2004.
>>10970519 >stayed up to 3 in the morning listening to the worst djs to see W.T. Snacks last year >he start playing the same bs as the other djs a lot of people seemed to like it but me i guess. was kinda cool to see him but not really worth it. especially since i can just go to his sets in vrchat.
>>10970557 Use your eyes and ears, friend. I say that with no sarcasm or disrespect. Cons in Cornfield, Indiana have parties, this one's playing on easy mode
I hope more drama happens this year because I LIVE for drama that has no impact on me but means everything to two schizo groups who are both a danger to the public
>>10970580 Oh hey, I met you once in VRChat. I hope I can eventually meet up with you, again. I'm also gonna be volunteering at ACEN, so maybe I'll see you there as well.
>>10970580 >maybe you just don't like raves?? probably. friend of mine has dragged me to the rave there every year. I think im just picky when it comes to music.
>>10970580 >we actually have a non schizo entertainer who's here very funny. con raves aren't my thing (and when I have gone to them they've been dead as fuck) but keep doing what your doing bro.
Going to acen for the second time with my friend. Last time (2024) i had a super cool cosplay and had so many people asking to take my picture. But this year the cosplay I put together seems a bit drab in comparison. Also I waited way too long so my hotel placement FUCKING SUCKS. Last time I went my hotel was a 10 minute walk right up the main street, it was comfy as fuck. But this year my hotel is a 10 minute bus ride away, and im nervous about getting on the bus with my goofy cosplay. I guess i'll just have to become a stoic during the ride but I really wish i had gotten my hotel earlier. If you see a guy in kimono looking like the most busted up samurai you've ever seen, thats me!
cgl acen has been crap ever since the site shut down for 2 months. The thread a year prior was the best. Wish I would had been here for the years I attended.
>>10970948 It's 2 buildings literally across the street from eachother. They're connected by a literal mile-long skywalk that half the time smells dank and doesnt even have working AC. Otherwise you can cross the street but ACEN doesn't rent out the diner they have on the hotel side, so your walking around the outside of the convention center anyways. The schedule will tell you where it is, and you just have to find it.
If it has a fucked up name, it's in the Hyatt. If its "live events" it's in the convention center. If its a BIG event its at the Hyatt.
>>10971020 In this map >>10970948 the C dip in the map by Live Events Ballrooms/Convention Registration at River Road is the entrance (kind of weird it's not marked on here)
New Cosplay group i was supposed to meet and get lunch with yesterday ghosted me and only after i left mention that they where at the place 2:30 hours before the agreed time and now today absolutely nobody is responding to me again. I think imma just go home and cry now instead. Saturday at the Hololive shoot was going to be my first time cosplaying at a con
>>10971088 >Letting retards ruin your con experience this is why when I go with friends I tell them "Im going to do my own thing, your welcome to tag along but you can also leave if yuo want"
>fucked up the concert queue time >fucked up the queue itself >fucked up the bag policies twice >fucked up the VIP autographs that people paid $150 for >fucked up badge pickup today >only halfway through
>>10971103 I strait up don't even want to go back into the con, its a Hololive group i was apart of so theres no way im going just for it. right now we’re supposed to have met up and get ready together and i have not been told where or asked where i am.
>every year try to find the most unapologetic brazen and bright anime girl shirt possible >every year leave disappointed Yes I could probably find them online or in Japan itself or something but that's against the spirit and point
We’re having a few drinks at Hyatt 2nd floor, come by and join us. Feel free if you’re solo or looking to make friends. Look for someone with a red wig on
>>10971124 >Hololive group was it the kiggy's? I'll kick their plastic heads in for you anon. Those were really the only "groups" I saw, if not then its the holostar fags.
Anyways, you should have gone instead of playing a pity party for yourself bro. It was fun and I coulda been your friend through our bonds of vtubers
>>10971157 It was in fact them yes. I couldn't go out on my own, I had a panic attack trying as last year when i did try solo i got cornered and harassed not 30 seconds out from my room and that not one of them have checked on me at all dispute me telling them in our discord is just awesome. I ended up staying with other kig group who hear about it whats going on from a non attending kig friend
Anyone know what the deal with those cosplayers roaming around in like full uniforms or combat gear and also carrying painted but basically full on airsoft or replica guns? I thought I read in the program and other policies that not only does Acen not allow guns of any kind even fake or airsoft, the city of Chicago doesn't even let you no matter if it's painted or not? Am I misunderstanding something here?
>>10971176 Most of us have just been doing it for a while, I’ve been cosplaying girls with guns for like 7 years and I don’t really plan on changing that. If im in full cosplay and want to have a prop gun that’s my god given right and no con janny will take that from me
>>10971178 But what about the local Chicago police since it's a law that owning even deactivated fakes, no matter how much they're painted or orange tipped, are illegal?
>>10971180 I don’t know, the rosemont cops around here saw me a bunch and never said shit. Tbf the bans are for Chicago only, so the suburbs are different? That being said I had no clue Chicago banned replicas that’s so cucked
The real post-con depression is while it still happening. looking at how empty and low energy Sunday gets >>10971163 with my first attempt, no. The second one, yes
>>10971189 Ended up missing the final day because I had to go to a baseball team with the family. I always thought the Cubs were better but it looks like it the White Sox. That ending was like something out of baseball anime.
>>10971176 The Finns probably deactivated panzerfaust got through security you’re fine
>>10971219 Most perverted thing I saw him buy was essentially letting one of the workers at Hen Da Ne humor him at Cad 2024 in his panzer outfit. If I remember correctly: “Anything that interests you officer, we have it” Finn: “You have anything that matches the fit?” “One moment”
He was presented with what a believe was some SS battle maid doujin? Had some red eyed maid styled girl on the front with a gun and the lightning bolts on the cover. Genuine awe of how smooth it was, he bought it on the spot.
Other than that he mostly browses for art books that are sometimes hidden amongst the boxes.
>>10971220 Post your rarest most unexpected cosplays For me I'd have to give it to this lady I honestly was so blindsided when I saw it, I didn't even know people knew what digimon was anymore in 2026. And for good reason. I bet she was walking around with people thinking she was some sort of gacha game character or something
>>10971221 I didn’t get a photo but I saw a haruhi which made me happy. I saw someone else post photos of a chrysalis mlp cosplayer and that made me happy too.
>>10971240 I didn't play it myself but it was pretty popular, especially when everyone was dunking on that Pokemon game; though one friend said it's tailor made for Digimon fans.
Honestly the Theater of Suzumiya Haruhi was, forgive the near pun, absolute cinema. I wish even if we don't get a proper S3 we can at least get an OVA for the Theater it was that good
>>10971259 I feel like there's some falsehoods or general confusion in this whole conversation so far. Just look at >>10971224 and >>10971212 nothing happened to them. Nobody got arrested, there's nothing illegal. I don't know where this myth is being perpetuated.
>>10971250 >Towa Kig you werent the dude who had Towa merch at the con were you? Literally the ONLY guy with Towa Merch?
Cause if you were, I fucking HATE you for not bringing your Towa Kig out you mother fucker. You BETTER bring that kig out for Anime Magic bro. we NEED more vtuber enjoyers in this scene.
>>10971276 Some Towa merch but my bag is mostly Faumei( I also had the official bibi hat on most of the week). I might be going to ANYC not so sure rn because while im a lot more calm now it was overall such a dog shit week i might just call off con session this year
well for my second acen that went much better than last time. And better than any others I've been to so far this year. Allah willing, I will finally make it to magic
>>10971292 cuz it's the last notable Chicago con I've never been to, people seem to like it and I'm not interested in Kopfcons. Nothing political, just don't like him. Simple as
>>10971293 I dont like Kopf I think he's a greasy, fat, creepy weirdo. But sometimes his cons like Con Alt Delete are actually very fun. Midwest is a tossup between "panels for literal children" or "actual fun con with interesting things to do" The ONLY thing Midwest does that I like is renting out the Expoterra restaurant.
>>10971224 >>10971220 the finn is a cool dude, I talked to him like a year or 2 ago about his cosplay and he's autistic (the good kind). If he was the dude hosting the militaria meetup I want him to know it's appreciated because I like military cosplays (especially historic ones) at cons.
>>10971221 >rarest cosplay I saw an SS13 cosplay (but the fag said it was from SS14 instead) which was cool. I also saw the final princess from Castle Crashers (the clown one)
>>10971300 Can confirm he organized the meetup. I believe it’s the first one he ever did. Seeing the success of this, which he feared that it would either be full of the ‘black tacticals’ which I believe to be his description of the generic airsoft/Cod people. Or no one showing up at all. The Finn plans to do more, which is great. I liked his preparation in making sure everyone is documented and will be able to see the photos once posted. (unlike some other people).
We simply need more people like him, /k/ has blessed us with the Finn.
>>10971167 Kigger please, I've seen the messages. You literally just demanded that someone escort your princess self from a hotel no one else was staying at to the meet on rather short notice, then raged when everyone else was busy getting ready. Though most those acen holo kigs are incredibly self absorbed even by kig standards, theres reason many other kigs dont really fuck with them. No comment on the harassment bit, you might need to git gud and stop looking so male when in kig.
>>10971309 Wouldn't say asking since wed to meet with anyone so i can figure out whats going on short notice but mkay. Nor did i “rage” at anyone i had a legit panic attack, damn near tore my hada off. i didn't tell anyone what happened last year bc it wasn't appropriate to put that on the group but the vicim blaming is a nice touch, thanks. So tell me strait Joy, do you all want me out or not? Not the nice lip servicey horseshit after the con is over about how everyone was just soooo busy because every single other person was coordinated together just fine. Even if you want to try to claim i didnt give enough notice on Saturday 9:30 AM is a lot of fucking time and then i tried to offer to go over to you all at 3
>>10971319 And to be clear i am perfectly fine letting this whole week just be water under the bridge, shit happens Its fine i have no intention of holding this over anyone or to continue bringing it up in the server. my problems aren’t yours or anyone else from the groups. All i want is a sorry from literally any one person or that they should have tried to communicate better. It shouldn't have taken someone who wasn’t even at the convention dm’ing an entirely different group for any movement to have happened
>>10971319 really your only mistake was trying to be friendly with other people and ask for a handler. Which I assume your a first time kig if your asking.
If not, then kinda weird and you should know when you need a handler atleast. Plus the comment about "just going home" makes the entire chat awkward bro. But overall nothing detrimental unless you DID throw a random fit and your just not showing it.
>>10971321 I live extremely close by so me going home was not really a big thing, i didnt end up leaving i tried to go out solo and thats when it got real bad. The messages i cut out from that day was the other groups person pinging me to check dms, while simultaneously me informing the group i had a panic attack trying to go out solo. Next day trying one last time to meet and get things hashed out and then just trying to figure out what the hell happened, why I was ignored the whole time. My last message is the only time i mention in the group i had a really bad acen last year so thats why i needed help.
I should feel bad about posting the groups msgs but fuck it, it’s almost all just me.
>>10971309 Actually you know what. I am actually going to keep the vicim blaming part on you though. You can DM me an apology over that directly bc you clearly know who i am or im turning it into a whole server problem. Everything else, is whatever people get busy ya I'm sad but I’ll get over it. Multiple in the group already know don't try running to a mod and get me targeted.
>>10971349 more juicy than the regular drama we get unironically. I hope the Towa Kigger finds a handler cause I wanna see his kig, and that he stops being so sensitive.
>>10971360 kigs are cool. But the people (much like furries) who wear them are so far up their own ass for something they just commission it's insane. Same with some 3D Printer fags, like YOU didn't craft shit, all YOU did was upload a file and hit "start" on the printer bro.
>Go to an anime screening >the door of the screening is left open the entire time >light is shining onto the proctor and can hear everyone in the lobby >leave after 15 minutes Are all con anime screenings like this? I don’t know how anyone would willingly watch something like that.
>>10971381 close the door retard but yes they're all like that because con goers dont respect anime (especially if its some shit that everyones seen 1,000 times)
>>10971191 It's been a few years so I forgot just how overrun ACEN is with crossplayers. My favorite type to hang around platonically and more-than-platonically
Resident karaoke gull here. I didn't even make it in this year cuz on Friday, they capped entries after only 2 hours and I was too busy Saturday. It woulda been hella gay. Thankfully, bro at the room party pulled up with his karaoke machine and saved the day
>>10971613 Gonna be real with you, couldn't figure out half the songs you were playing during the rave because of the bass. Otoh our whole group started missing your set after ape escape man's AI sumo men came on
>>10972114 AI visuals != AI music all the music that Soichi Terada performed live was made in the NINTIES lmao, including music from the soundtrack to the Playstation game Ape Escape
>>10972077 lmao I figured that was you, I noticed the avatar at the beginning of the set