Virtual Journal #13: METAFES 2025
Tag: Virtual Journal »
Summary
A new round of hide-and-seek in METAFES, browsing a world of 3D models, illustrations, and music.
Content
I had a bit of time to explore this year’s METAFES, with its new set of creators and their works, all while surrounded by cute blobs everywhere.
Honestly, looking at where all the little green mascots are and watching what they do is half the fun in this experience, haha.
The event ran for over a week, spanning a few worlds with an elemental theme. Each one had a day and night version, as well as having a different background music per world.
Compared to other VR events that I’ve been to—even including a past METAFES—one thing that worried me in this one is that my PC kept almost overheating just from walking around.
Even the Virtual Market VR events didn’t give me as much trouble as this one, despite having more interactions.
Standees were used for showcasing most avatars instead of displaying 3D models, so I wonder what made the worlds this heavy…
They did have a world that was especially made for mobile devices, so there’s that. The design for it didn’t change as much though, compared to the last time I went into this event.
In any case, here is a catalog of the event’s participants. I’ll be listing a few that I liked, as per usual.
Booths are separated into floors, with each one having those in the same category. My window shopping started on the first floor, containing avatars designed for VRChat.
The pastel colors of Laetia from Candle House might be a bit too strong for others, but I always have a soft spot for this kind of style. They also have another similar avatar in their shop, with an equally-fluffy design.
Steller’s Nanase Noir had a very well-designed base model which took my interest. Looking at the product page, they also made a lot of extra features for it, with previews that present them in a fashionable way.
Kirisaki by YukiLens had a homely and casual getup, making her own unique place alongside many other detail-filled models. I feel like they perfected the next-door neighbor vibe with this avatar. I hope more people would use it, and take more balcony images with her.
Walking up the stairs, the second floor highlighted various avatar clothing and props, like the elegant, mermaid-themed Lueur Marine from Enchanted_tim. It comes in many colors, and based on the previews, it can be used on plenty of the popular avatars in the market.
Feather_Magician by kamony_land dresses you up as a fledgling mage, ready for a new adventure. It’s definitely something a protagonist could wear in the beginning of a fantasy RPG.
The earrings from STELLAR WALKER, Starry Tonic, provided a comforting glimpse into your own mini galaxy. There were more accessories of the similar theme in their shop. Wearing them all together might make you feel like a transcendent being.
CAFECUBE’s VIGNETTE01 was a set of well-made dioramas with differing themes. They were displayed in such a small scale that it makes me want something similar in real life… I want to place some figures at the center…
Illustrations on the next section were showcased through large standing panels. At the bottom was a smaller panel, with the artist’s information. It felt like looking at their business cards, haha.
The visual flair of Coyura’s illustrations took my attention instantly. The way they used patterns and textures on the cutely-drawn characters was just mesmerizing.
Bolumesalt’s artwork in the event was professionally clean and charming. Their style had a certain lively energy to it. I hope to see more of their art in the future.
Two beautifully-rendered characters were drawn on Fuwafuwamanju’s booth. I believe they’re customized avatars from VRChat. They seem to take commissions for them, drawing the characters in different styles.
Chilling at the music section which had tracks from many genres, I found the three-person band Alternoise, with their first full album on display. Looking into it further, you can even experience a spectacular preview of the album inside a VRChat world!
AMOKA’s fifteenth single was too high-quality that it felt like an opening song of some anime. The duo had their sixth-year anniversary live a few months ago, which sounds amazing. Listening to their previous songs would be fun.
Cinematic Neon Club had one of their recent singles put you into a trance with its vocal harmonies. The cover art had good composition, and I liked the character design for the members.
The final section of METAFES had booths for VRChat worlds. I didn’t look at them too much because it might take time, but there were a few interesting ones, like a museum, a dog park, or an underwater area.
A secret area also exists, similar to my last visit to the event. There’s also places like the usual event stage, and little areas for sponsors. I’ll let you play around with those yourself.
The event has already ended, but you should still be able to access it through VRChat.
It was a good place to spend a short break in! There were a few instances where I would see someone promoting NFTs in their SNS, or only having links to their Twitter accounts, which is disappointing. Other than that, I’m still glad that I get to hang around in this world for a bit once again.