5 Apps to Help You Survive San Diego Comic-Con 2017
Navigating through a sea of 130,000 nerds isn't as simple as it seems.
So, you got your tickets to San Diego Comic-Con 2017. Everything’s ready; your cosplay is almost finished and you’ve got your hotel booked. But how the hell are you going to make it through the sea of insanity that is the convention floor without going a bit nuts? How are you going to take care of yourself or find your way around? Luckily, there’s an app for that (sorry).
On top of the official SDCC app, which makes an appearance on this list, these apps are going to help you navigate your way through the convention halls and take care of yourself. SDCC is a lot like a theme park in that there will be way too many people for comfort and you’re bound to be exhausted by the end of it all, but you’ll probably have a blast throughout the weekend — if you know what you’re doing, that is. Let these apps help you have the best Comic-Con experience yet.
5. Official Comic-Con App for scheduling and general info
Okay, so this one’s pretty obvious. But, for some reason, a lot of people don’t realize that Comic-Con has an official app to help you plan out your events throughout the weekend and that keeps an up-to-date schedule of everything going on. There are a lot of knockoffs out there that will still get the job done, but the official app is free, includes maps of the event halls, and you know it’s going to be reliable.
4. CosPlanner
Cosplanner is just that: an app that helps you plan your cosplay. If you’ve gone all-out on a cosplay before, you know how complicated it can get. And with SDCC staring you down, now’s the time to really get moving. CosPlanner puts all your reference images in one convenient place, helps you track the progress of your current costume, and can help you plan your next one. So, if you’re walking around the convention floor and feel inspired by someone else’s work, you can start plotting right away.
3. Plant Nanny to take care of yourself
When you’re pushing through a crowd of nerds oversaturated with flailing Deadpool cosplayers, you have to stay hydrated. Plant Nanny and similar apps are a great way to remind yourself to drink water so you’re not collapsing on the convention floor. Users are “given” a plant to take care of and, depending on the plan you put in at the beginning, are required to water the plant every so often. The point is that when you water the plant, you take a drink. It’s easy to cheat, but the little plant is just so cute that you won’t want to lie to it.
2. Kitestring or other safety apps for peace of mind
While it’s not technically an app and Comic-Con is a relatively safe place, Kitestring might be something to invest in and download, especially if you’re attending the convention alone. A self-described “personal safety service,” Kitestring will send you texts at predetermined times (you don’t even need a smartphone) to make sure you’re doing okay. If you don’t respond, Kitestring sends an alert to your predetermined emergency contacts to let them know. Over 130,000 people attended the four-day hullabaloo in 2016, and alerting your loved ones that you’re safe and sound will be worthwhile, especially if they’re easily worried.
1. Internet Movie Database (aka IMDb) for when you think you see a celebrity, but you can’t remember their name
This is for that moment where you might see a celebrity and can remember their character name or maybe what episode of what show they were on, but not their actual name. SDCC will be overflowing with celebrities, from actors and directors to comic book writers and artists, as well as novelists, voice actors, animators, and everyone in between. So, don’t miss a photo opportunity just because you can’t remember someone’s name in the throes of excitement (just don’t be a dick about it, okay?).
San Diego Comic-Con 2017 is running from July 20 through 23.
