Detroit, MI October 31 - November 3
Cobo Hall & The Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI October 31 - November 3
Cobo Hall & The Renaissance Center
We at Youmacon are dedicated to bringing our attendees a fun and safe atmosphere to enjoy our convention. To accomplish this, we have set forth a few guidelines and rules that we ask be adhered to.
We are working with the hotel to address everyone's feedback. You can expect more information on this issue when the hotel block opens up in a few months.
No metal weapons, real firearms, or props loaded with high-velocity projectiles. Realistic weapon props may be peace-bonded at the discretion of security or masquerade staff. Props should be carried and posed with in a way that does not inconvenience or injure other attendees. Costumes must be tasteful and cover appropriate areas of the body. If you wish to participate in any of our costuming events, costumes must be of Japanese game, anime, manga or media (Sentai, music, J-rock, etc.) origin. No original characters are permitted. Korean media may be accepted.
Youmacon 2013 will be held at both The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, and at Cobo Center.
In the past seven years, we've grown from about 1,000 attendees at the Detroit / Troy Hiltion in 2005, to becoming the first event to ever fill the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center to capacity in 2011 ? marking Youmacon as one of the fastest growing fan events in North America. Although Youmacon is larger than most Anime Conventions, we're not as big as San Diego Comic Con, Otakon, or Anime Expo. TL;DR: Just the right size.
The convention runs non-stop 24-hours a day from 8pm Thursday evening through 6pm Sunday afternoon. Majority of our panels are scheduled from 9am through 3am, and we are once again featuring our 24-hour video gaming room, tabletop gaming room, video/audio track (anime music videos) room, and our video screening rooms.
We will post most of the information to the website as soon as we have the information finalized, so you may want to check back often. Major website updates are often announced on our Twitter feed @Youmacon and on Facebook.
For the first time, Youmacon will be featuring an open application process for those who wish to be on staff, although previous volunteering experience at Youmacon, or similar conventions is preferred. Being a staff member is a little different than being a general volunteer, as you will report directly to a Department Head and work a fixed schedule. We will also have Volunteer sign-ups in advance for the first time this year as well.
More details on Volunteering and Staff Requirements will be available on the website as the convention draws near.
Before asking a question, please search the appropriate section(s) on our forums first. If your question is still unanswered, please feel free to post your question on the forums, or if it's more of a private nature you may e-mail the appropriate department on the contact page.
When you purchase an attendee badge from the Youmacon website, you no longer need to be registered on our forums, nor do you need to enter the personal information for each badge purchased. This year we will be mailing out redemption codes which will replace the 'confirmation number' we've issued in previous years ? think of these like registration codes you may get when you purchase a new video game, or computer software. This allows Youmacon Admission to be purchased as a gift, since the redemption codes are transferable until redeemed. These codes may be redeemed on the website , or physically at the convention. Either way, you will still need to bring your redemption code (preferably the printed confirmation e-mail) to receive your badge at the Convention.
Please note that if you choose to Redeem your code at the convention instead of online, your name will not be printed on the badge, and there may be some special opportunities you might not be eligible for. Platinum Attendees must fill out the redemption forum online to guarantee the proper sized t-shirt.
We reserve the right to change this later. (if we do we will notify you via Twitter, Facebook, and Email).
For more details, please visit the Registration page
At the door prices for Youmacon 2013 are as follows:
Platinum Badges and 3-Day (Weekend) Passes are able to be purchased in advance through our pre-registration and online payment system. More details can be found on our Registration Page. Platinum badges are only available for purchase in advance.
At the door, Cash (in USD) is the only accepted form of payment, however we are exploring the possibility of accepting credit cards.
For Online Registration, all major credit cards are accepted (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and Diners Club), however we no longer accept PayPal.
Why is it a "three-day" badge? Shouldn't it be "four-day"?
Thursday Night's programming is open to the public, and no badge is requried.
Parents or guardians of all youths attending the convention must complete the Youmacon parental consent form and the attendee must bring it to registration. The Parental Consent form will be available online in the near future.
Refunds are permitted only within 15 days of pre-registration. Send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. within the 15 days and we'll issue a refund back to your card.
If you're uncertain after reading the general cosplay rules, e-mail cosplay to get a solid answer. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A signup form has been posted in the cosplay forums. If there are still pieces available when the con arrives, Shougi signup will also be available at the cosplay signup desk. Follow the procedure in this forum thread.
Not at all. In fact, only a small portion of cosplayers do. Unless you're competing, the only rules you have to worry about regarding your cosplay are the general cosplay rules.
The Battle Opera is the name we are giving to our collective fighting game tournaments. We will currently have 17 different tournaments, spanning 4 event stages, in a dedicated 21,600 sq ft tournament room. The entire tournament will be live streamed by Level Up, Bifuteki, Clash Tournaments, Get Salty tv, and top fighting game commentators still to be announced.
Payout structure is to be announced. We are considering top 3 or a poker styled pay out. Regardless, the 5 tournaments will still receive a $1000 pot bonus each.
Super Street Fighter 4: AE 2013, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, Street Fighter x Tekken, Mortal Kombat 9, and King of Fighters 3 all have $1000 pot bonuses. What this means is in addition to the tournament entry fee pool, that $1000 will be added before paying out said prizes.
No, your normal Youmacon badge INCLUDES admission into the tournament room, there is no additional charge for Youmacon attendees outside the normal tournament entrance fees.
Yes, it is. Last year we invited pro gamers from Dominion Method Gaming out as guests at Youmacon 2011, and we saw such a positive reaction from our attendees that we decided to go all-out and host a major tournament.
Yes, just purchase the Battle Opera pass, which provides the Battle Opera tournament room access only.
We would love to, however logistically it's not going to be possible this year. We may expand in the future though.
No. A Battle Opera pass will only grant admission to the Battle Opera tournament room. If you want to attend the rest of Youmacon, consider purchasing a 3-day or Platinum badge online, or upgrade your Battle Opera pass at the door for $35.
Tournament sign-up will begin Thursday evening at the convention, and will continue until Friday morning. Tournaments will be run from Friday morning throughout the length of Youmacon.
Entry into a video game tournament is $10 with a valid admission pass. Either a Battle Opera pass, or Youmacon Badge is required for tournament participation.
Tournament rules will be located in the Youmacon video gaming forums once most of the tournaments have been decided upon. We will also have tournament rule literature at con for your viewing.
Please speak to the Tournament Organizer. The will either have your prize or direct you to the tournament sign up table to claim said prize. Verification of your placement must be done through the Tournament Organizer.
Tournament sign up will be located just inside of the ambassador ball room. This is on the second floor of Cobo Hall.
Your tournament only badge can be picked up just inside the ambassador ballroom, next to the tournament sign up area.
Yes. There will be a limited supply of gaming pads for those that didn't not bring them. Please bring your own pad and/or fightstick if you plan to participate in a tournament.
There will be a limited supply of gaming pads. No extra fightsticks will be available.
Yes. All bags are acceptable (medical, purses, equipment, dealers room purchases, camera, etc)
If seeing people dressed nicely or in frilly dresses gets you hot and bothered, well, more power to you. There will be no flashing panties, kissing, or otherwise acting like a bizarre otaku strip joint.
Both girls and boys staff the cafe. The Youmacon maid cafe combines the elements of both maid cafes and host clubs to appeal to both genders.
The proceeds compensate the cost of the caterers and their food, and also go towards future con events.
No, alcohol is not served or permitted in the cafe.
Some guests may be nice and do this for you, but it's generally discouraged. Autograph sessions are the recommended time to request autographs. Pictures are permitted, but make sure you ask nicely first.
If you'd like. It's not required, but the maids and butlers do appreciate any donations for their work.
E-mail Artists' Alley expressing your interest and you'll receive a short application to complete.
Sign-up for panels and events will be submitted through an online forum later this year. You must be Registered Online (Pre-Reg), and have an active forum account to sign-up for a panel.
Sometime in June.
The VAT is essentially Youmacon's dedicated AMV room, however, it doesn't contain only AMV programming. The VAT focuses on all fan-created videos, such as AMVs, Flash videos, parodies, and any other types of fan-created video work.
The contest showings are prepared weeks in advance, so we cannot accommodate at-con submissions. However, the VAT staff will gladly accept videos from individuals who bring them to the convention and we will try to show them during Free Play blocks.
It is the responsibility of the creator of the video to release their video for distribution. A list of videos in the contest including winners will be posted to our forums to aid in your search for videos.
Generally, any music video shown during the convention can be easily downloaded from the Internet; VAT Staff can't burn discs or copy videos for you. If you don't know the title, our staff can help you identify it so you can find it when you get home.
Requests are gladly accepted any time during Free Play showing blocks. All other panels and events will not be request friendly unless stated otherwise.
Yes. On Sunday, the VAT holds its own closing ceremonies, where we will wrap up our business for the weekend and hand out awards that have not been claimed in past years. We will also announce Guest Awards, a special award that a video can receive from any attendee at the con. You are limited to one award to give out, so choose wisely. To give one of these awards simply fill out the form provided by VAT Staff anytime during the weekend. Keep in mind all Guest awards will need to be approved by VAT Staff to ensure they are not derogatory in any way.
Youmacon is a popular culture event similar to most “Comic Cons”, however instead of focusing on comic books, Youmacon is a celebration of Japanese popular culture and its influence on our own culture over the past few decades. Common themes throughout the event are Anime (Japanese animation), Video Games, Japanese style artwork and comics, and the rising internet culture influenced by all of the above.
Youmacon brings a unique all-ages mix of interactive events, celebrity guest panels, and live musical performances to Downtown Detroit. One of its most popular events, “Live Action Mario Party”, emulates the video game experience – often filling the room to fire code capacity. Players participate in gameshow-like mini-games to help their teams advance and win.
Wearing costumes, or “Cosplay” as it's known at conventions, is very popular with attendees of Youmacon. It is not uncommon to walk into a pair of Italian plumbers in overalls on the escalator, only to meet someone dressed as Edward Elric or Master Chief from Halo minutes later.
When is Youmacon 2013?
October 31 - November 3rd.
Where will it be?
Cobo Center & The Detroit Marriott at the Renascence Center in Downtown Detroit, Michigan.
Do I have to wear a costume (cosplay)?
Costumes are in no way required, but they can be a lot of fun. It's up to you!
When / how can I reserve my Hotel Room?
Hotel reservations are now available for The Marriott at the Renaissance Center & Greektown Casino Hotel. Click here for more information.
I still have more Questions!
Be sure to check out the FAQ Page. If your question is still unanswered, feel free to ask us on our Discussion Forums.
Online Registration for Youmacon 2013 is now open, where 3-day & Platinum badges can be purchased here.
At the door prices are as follows:
Sooo I know Youmacon just ended but I'm already not so patiently waiting to buy my ticket for next year :)
Crystal J. via Facebook