Fallout cosplay scene in Russia

Check out the astounding, elaborate Russian cosplay scene for the game Fallout II (~~mangled Google Translate text below~~ Thanks to Denisvi in the comments for a much-improved translation; you do indeed pass the Turing Test!)!

On June 21st, 2009, at one of the abandoned air-defense bases in St. Petersburg region, a game based on "Fallout 2" universe took place, organized by "Albion" workshop. Some 300 people participated in the game, working with workshop group, tech support group and emergency/medical services. And, of course, the players themselves, who prepared for the game over the course of many months. Much was accomplished by the workshop crew: sealed military bases, including the memorable Sierra from Fallout II, were built; plot and game coordination accomplished, including rapid response by the creators to changes in game environment. Players were hard at work as well. They made authentic costumes, modified airsoft guns to the point of being unrecognizable, outfitted a special car, operated establishments such as cinema, working radio station, few bars, hospital, casino and much more. Combined efforts of workshop people and players made the world come to life for two short days.

Fallout 2009 «НиÑ‡Ñ‚Ð¾ Ñ‡ÐµÐ»Ð¾Ð²ÐµÑ‡ÐµÑÐºÐ¾ÐµÂ» (Thanks, Bill!)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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Anonymous

So “fuzzies” are engaged in cosplay, then? (Unless they introduce a plotline?)
Anonymous

to use a movie analogy i would say this is the silent,black and white movie version of what we will see in a few years from gamers and fans world wide..just wait untill China gets into it!
GleepGlop

Cory, you don’t know what LARPing is? This is LARP, not Cosplay.
dculberson

Arguing about whether an activity is LARP or Cosplay is a sure sign of something…
mdh

There is a venn diagram here – imagine it:

all LARP is cosplay, not all cosplay is LARP.
Trent Hawkins

We call it LARPing, they call it ‘practice’.
Anonymous

In Soviet Russia, the role plays YOU!
Pantograph

But MDH, what if I LARP a game set in everyday reality, so I could LARP in my day-to-day clothes? Would this invalidate your diagram or will my clothes magically transform into a costume?

This is all very confusing.

But back to the main subject. Those Russians sure do take their post-apocalyptic costumes seriously. I’m impressed.
arborman

Imagine how cool it would be if they mimicked a game that wasn’t so sucky & disappointing as Fallout 2.
EricT

Geez so much geekish hair splitting. I love that they took the time and put the energy into this. Looks like it was fun
Anonymous

My rough translation of the article (sucks, but still better than google, i think)

19-21, june, 2009 At the site of one of abandoned military anti-air bases in Leningrad region, a great role game took place, based on Fallout II universe. Organising were taken by Â«ÐÐ»ÑŒÐ±Ð¸Ð¾Ð½Â» group, numbers participating were about 300: game master group, support team, emergency and medical teams, and, of course, players themself, whom it took a lot of time to get the game ready. They’ve done a lot: tightly closed military facilities, Sierra base from FII, well-thought coordination and plot development, fast real-time responce to a field events. Players also tried hard: costumes were designed, strikeball weaponry modified to be almost indistinguishable from the Fallout one, cars prepared specially for the game, as well as a range of other facilities: movie theater, a couple of bars, military hospital, casino, etc.
For two days, common efforts of players and game
masters made this world alive.

//deathoxy
DenisVi

Here’s a non-machine (I passed the Turing test) translation:

On June 21st, 2009, at one of the abandoned air-defense bases in St. Petersburg region, a game based on “Fallout 2″ universe took place, organized by “Albion” workshop. Some 300 people participated in the game, working with workshop group, tech support group and emergency/medical services. And, of course, the players themselves, who prepared for the game over the course of many months. Much was accomplished by the workshop crew: sealed military bases, including the memorable Sierra from Fallout II, were built; plot and game coordination accomplished, including rapid response by the creators to changes in game environment. Players were hard at work as well. They made authentic costumes, modified airsoft guns to the point of being unrecognizable, outfitted a special car, operated establishments such as cinema, working radio station, few bars, hospital, casino and much more. Combined efforts of workshop people and players made the world come to life for two short days.
Anonymous

Stalker, such an amazing movie.

s.t.a.l.k.e.r., a good game.

Anyone ever hear of a stalker (the film) LARP?

That be interesting.
Anonymous

It’s not “workshop” – replace it for GM or game master
Daemon

From the description it’s a LARP and not cosplay. They’re not the same thing.
erzatsen

right.
because they’re NOT wearing costumes NOR playing…
JL Bryan

“Would this invalidate your diagram or will my clothes magically transform into a costume?”

Not only that, but all objects will become props, all places become sets, and all people become characters. God Himself becomes a Dungeon Master. You will have utterly transformed the universe–LARPing is just that powerful.
Spikeles

Those russians get up to some crazy things :P They did STALKER last year.

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/05/14/real-stalker-cosplay.html
Trent Hawkins

#23 They did, it’s called STALKER. Someone’s already linked to it above.
Adam Stanhope

Back in the Soviet days, these kids’ mothers would have had to wait in line ALL DAY to get the cardboard tubes from which they built their airsoft guns…
harry_harrold

“because they’re NOT wearing costumes NOR playing…”

That’s just it – it looks like they’re wearing costumes _and_ playing. Cosplay is about the costume not the play – cosplay isn’t a game.

A LARP is a game, it’s about the experience of play, with costumes helping immersion.
mdh

Would this invalidate your diagram or will my clothes magically transform into a costume?

Matters of transubstantiation are best left to clergy and dungeon masters.
Pantograph

So what you’re saying is that you can’t play without a game even while dressed in costumes?
mdh

“LARPing is just that powerful”

I laughed. Thanks.
Anonymous

It’s beautiful *tear*
Anonymous

NERRRRRRRRRRRDS!!!!!!!!

Sorry. Had to get that out.
harry_harrold

@pantograph Nope – I’m saying that it looks like the point of what they are doing is the game, not the costume.
Lobster

#8, I agree it looks super-realistic, from the post-apocalyptic dense green foliage to the little tiny adorable minigun.
Anonymous

#10, Maybe they were in Vault City at the time :P
Jerril

#7: “Cosplay” as in “costume play” is “playing by dressing up in costumes” – it’s like the sort of freeform social play that happens when you leave kids alone with a makeup kit, with a bit of an adult spin on it.

LARPing has written rules, tracks statistics, and has formal referees and/or arbitrators. It’s the grown-up version of running around playing cops and robbers – the rules are for handling the inevitable argument caused by “Bang bang you’re dead!” “No I’m not, you missed!” “No I didn’t!” “Yes you did, I’m a ninja!”

There’s a pretty significant difference between the two, and anyone who does Cosplay or LARPing can spot it immediately.