Boston Genshin Pop-Up Store Event 2024: A Gamer’s Adventure in Teyvat IRL
Day 1: The Unplanned Adventure Begins!
So, imagine this: I’m chilling at home, scrolling through my phone, and BAM! I find out there’s a Genshin Impact pop-up store opening that day. Guess what? It’s practically next door! (Okay, maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but still walkable.) With the excitement levels of pulling a 5-star character, I grabbed my camera gear and bolted out the door.
The weather? Cold enough to make Dragonspine look like Mondstadt in summer. Snow and ice covered the sidewalks, making me dodge and weave like I was in Spiral Abyss. The store had already opened by the time I got there (rookie mistake, I know), and there it was—a glorious sight with banners, character cutouts, and cosplayers bringing the world of Teyvat to life.
Genshin Everywhere !!!
The Line Saga
The line was as long as the wait for your Resin to refill—about three hours. Thankfully, the staff handed out timing tickets, but I was too hyped to leave. Standing there, I struck up a convo with the guy in front of me. Soon, a small party formed: me, him, his shy cousin, and another Genshin fan three spots ahead. Together, we bonded over character banners, our pulls, and the line that felt like it wasn’t moving (spoiler: it wasn’t).
Highlight of the line? A stunning Anby cosplay from Zenless Zone Zero showed up behind me. I hadn’t played ZZZ yet, so I didn’t recognize her until later (more on that in a bit). Oh, and shoutout to the cosplayers braving the cold in their epic costumes—true dedication.
Finally Inside
After what felt like farming ascension materials for hours, we made it in. The vibe? Amazing. Employees were cosplaying as Xiao, Yanagi, Furina and Katheryne and the merch was everywhere. Sadly, no freebies were left for us latecomers (F in the chat), but I couldn’t leave empty-handed. So, I rolled the real-life gacha: the mystery bag. Decent loot, but no character card. RNGesus strikes again.
Cosplays (Especially Furina, Katheryne and Yanagi ❤️)
Day 2: MIA (Missing in Adventurer)
Couldn’t make it because of an event with friends. (Apparently, someone cosplayed as Klee, and now I have FOMO.)
Day 3: Early Bird Gets the Primogems
Determined to dodge another long line, I arrived early. Only four people were ahead of me, and since the staff was still setting up, I helped out like a good Adventurer’s Guild member. Bonus? I met an Arlecchino cosplayer who was absolutely killing it.
The Kanve, Bangboo and Cutouts!
Inside, I live-streamed the store for my friends in India (shoutout to Discord!) and pulled two cards from the activity zone. First, pull? Furina. Second pull? Also Furina. Déjà vu of my in-game summons. Katheryne was super nice and let me reroll, and this time, I scored Zhongli! #GeoDaddyFTW
Bonus Round
Later that day, I swung by again (because why not?). Met a trio cosplaying as Furina, Chongyun, and Xingqiu. We vibed, clicked pictures, and geeked out over Genshin.
Fun and Photos !
Products, Staff, Staff as cosplay what else do you want? (Oh wait, someone like child who pays your expenses)
To Be Continued...
Days 4 and 5 promise a huge cosplay event, and you bet I’ll be there. Stay tuned for more adventures, more photos, and hopefully, more epic pulls.
Ad Astra Abyssosque!
P.S. I’ve started streaming ZZZ and Genshin Impact on Twitch! Catch me at Twitch.tv/ank221199. VODs are uploaded to YouTube. Let’s geek out together!
Pro Tip: If you’re ever at a pop-up event in winters, bring snacks, and warm clothes, and always roll the gacha. 😉
© 2024 Ankit Sinha. All content, including images, is either created or owned by me. Unauthorized use is prohibited.