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      Argh! Whatever. That was the worst thing that happened though, now comes the bad thing. After my friend and I got out of the subway station, we proceeded to walk to the location. After walking a good six or seven avenue blocks, we look for the number of the venue. 311. I do not see it. I see a 300 and a 317, but where the heck is 311? After asking a mailwoman, she said it was that way and we did follow her simple instructions only to be at that 300 - 317 thing. So I ask another person and he was not much of a help, only stating the obvious. Then, suddenly something hits me. The way we walked was going up meaning we will leave the West side and go to the East side. Making sure of this, I looked up at the street sign and saw E. 34. I was like, ‘….’ Then I power walked back to the West part and checked the watch, I was already an hour and a half late. The screening was to be shown at 5:30PM and I was still walking at 6:30PM (Yes, I know it is only an hour difference, but I wanted to be there at 5:00PM). Anyways, my friend and I kept walking down and finally saw a big crowd. I knew immediately it was it. And to my surprise when I got there, the screening has yet to start! Maybe because they saw how important I was and had to hold it off until I arrived (Just joking!).

      Anyways, when we got in, we got greeted and some raffle tickets handed to us. As we step into the main area, the place was filled with computers in the front and umm geeks :P. I noticed the big NYT sign and their station so I proceeded to walk over and looked for Taeko, who invited me to the whole thing. Nope. Did not see her, then I took some posters and stuff and played a little Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: 2nd Gig on the PSP and left to search for Taeko. Walked around a bit, and then I saw her. Approached her and stuff and when she said to me that there were issues with the IGPX screening, in my mind I was saying, ‘Cool, I have not missed a thing.’ Since IGPX was not going to show until the person on stage finishes up with his prize giveaways I waited and it was funny how in order to get a prize, the contestant must act out a video game that the crowd screams out… uhh, how do you act out Dead or Alive? Or Initial D? The only person that made a great effort was the Super Mario dude. Okay anyways, yeah yeah, here is where Dave Chappelle’s ‘Wrap-it-up’ box comes into play.

      So after a long time standing around, we finally get to sit as the show finally commences!!!! IGPX’s Eastern premiere!! The people grab their seats while my friend and I grabbed those same seats, we then later on moved onto these big single couches. Man was that nice hehe. While those people are sitting on those uncomfortable chairs, we were sitting on these ‘at home’ type of chairs.

      When the lights dimmed and the episodes rolled, I was immediately taken by of course, the animation, as things that look good always have a lasting appeal to a person’s mind. Production I.G. deserves some props. But just because something looks good, it does not mean that something will be good. What I thought of IGPX? Nothing much actually. It is like Nascar mixed with those speed ice skaters. I mean, the whole Immortal Grand Prix is a metal skating, offense and defense racing course for mechas piloted by different teams. Sure it is an original anime for the Cartoon Network, but has this type of anime never been done before? Nothing should be dubbed original, unless it is something that nobody has done. Well, that is what I believe in. Now as for the down low or low down. Takashi of Team Satomi (the main character, I assume) is a rookie racer and has yet to prove himself on the asphalt. The first two episodes scroll back and forth between cuts of the races and scenes of his background. While I find it hard to pay attention to the screen during the story development I found no problem at all when the speed comes into play. You can just feel the adrenaline rush from watching the races. The mecha design is amazing. Add the transformation feature and it will grab your attention even more.

      The music is right on for the action sequences. Blockhead did their job on it… but only if they had shortened their live performance after the screening was over. I do not know how anybody can stand hearing an endless loop of techno music for thirty minutes and above. Dude, everyone needs a rest. The crowd starts splitting, yet you are still spinning the turntable. I did not want to move, because I like to give people chances to impress me, but they had me at five minutes. When they stretched it to twenty minutes, I again, had to question where that ‘Wrap-it-up’ box was. Now my friend was crazy. He shouted out ‘Yo WRAP IT UP!!!’ But I guess nobody heard him except me.

      When Blockhead finally decided to stop, we cheered and walked around a bit more to see what was left. Nothing much. Most vendors had closed shop, and most people had gone off to either the ‘Players Lounge’ or wherever. Even the event host had to say that the raffling would be drawn out the next day. Well dude, here is a news flash. Not everyone has time to come the next day! You are being unfair to those who stayed till the end.