I like the way blogs allow people to express different sides of themselves. Some blogs express what seems like a full personality, while others hone in on one area of interest, showing us just the enthusiast aspect of the author.

Recently, I read through the entirety of Wataru Maruyama's blog, Costume GET! devoted to "the finer points of videogame character costumes." It's a wonderful example of an enthusiast blog. One of the things I like about it is that it has rules. As anyone who has ever had an obsession knows, it is often necessary to establish rules ("I will allow myself to drive by her house only three times on my way home") as a way of establishing boundaries for one's interests. Costume GET!'s philosophy and rules are prominently posted in the blog's sidebar.

Maruyama places an emphasis on female costume, but there is definitely attention given to male costume as well. In his costume reviews, Maruyama points out inconsistencies in costumes and is particularly attentive to practical issues. For example, he'll mention if a character is wearing armor or an outfit that would make certain in-game activities, like crawling through a cavern, difficult or impossible.

Some of my favorite entries are Maruyama's descriptions of him playing games. I have to hand it to a guy who is willing to play the same scene over 40 times just to unlock every possible costume combination for a given character. Before reading his blog, I didn't even realize so many games come with unlockable costumes.

Although I don't consider myself obsessed with game costumes, I feel like the site provides me with plenty of interesting game information I want that I don't find elsewhere. For instance, because of his interest in costume detail, Maruyama provides a unique perspective on console game graphics. His dedication to a single topic also makes Maruyama an excellent scout for game information I might not have found otherwise. Without Costume GET!, I never would have found the awesome Japanese-only Rumble Roses XX website.