Tokyo Game Show BABY!

So, on Saturday I went to the biggest gaming convention in the world, the Tokyo Game Show in Chiba. Let me tell you that if you aren't a fan of congested places, you aren't going to like the convention too much, but most people don't mind because it's the shiny new games they get a chance to play that officially makes up for any short comings to the fact that it takes double the amount of time it should be to get from one edge of the convention floor to the other because of the amount of people that arrived.

Kou-san and I woke up at 4AM to catch the first train to Ueno at 5:10 from Oyama. I was ready for the convention, and despite not having coffee, I was able to withhold from sleeping on the train (yay, taiko no tatsujin) for most of it. We made it to Ueno and had to make a switch to get to Tokyo, which wasn't too hard. But once we got to Tokyo, we had to make a switch to the keiyo line, which was a bitch compared to anything else I have had to do at a station. From the location of the Yamanote line to the Keiyo line seemed to be nearly a half mile. Tokyo station is quite possibly the largest train station in the world and its size is definitely apparent. It took only 10 minutes or so to get to the line (with the help of several people movers and such of course), but it was quite exhausting. On the ride to get to Maruhari Messe the location it was at, I noticed the same line also serviced Tokyo Disney Land (now I know where to go, if I can ever confess to one of the girls I like :-| ). Anyway, the ticket said it wasn't supposed to be open until 10AM, but we arrived a full two hours early. We first went out the wrong exit to the station, but after asking a person handing out fliers, we were pushed in the right direction. When we arrived, I could only think "OMFG, it's so damn huge!" And it is.

http://www.m-messe.co.jp/facility_exhi1-8_e.html (a link to the stats of this behemoth site)



(Front)



(Back)

We got in line, but weren't part of the first set of people in line, so we were a decent distance back. A two hour wait wasn't bad, but that's only because I brought my R4 and some Kirby Super Star Deluxe to keep me entertained while I and Kou-san waited. Earlier I saw some other foreigners there and one of them asked me a question. I was expecting them to probably either speak English or Japanese or something, but instead he asked if I spoke French in French. I was confused because of my previous expectation, but apparently they (as it was a group) went off to some place else. Anyway, the line began to move and I started to see how really freaking massive this building really was.




For some reason, one of the security guys cut off the line just in front of us and allowed the others to continue on. At first I was pissed somewhat, but I figured it was better than crowding, and we eventually caught up with the rest of the line soon after being released. But, I think that had something to do with our failure to be first in the line for some of the hottest games (i.e. Monster Hunter 3 for the Wii). Anyway, funny thing is they made us go all the way around the circumference of the building, but the line was long enough to merit such a reason. We gave our tickets (strange we weren't given any stubs back from them, but I guess it's because of volume) and made our way into the place. It seemed almost a mad rush of people grabbing the broachers and making a bee-line to all the must-play games, but we decided first and foremost (because we had no clue, never being at this convention before of this size and magnitude) to fill out forms for our free game (btw, I am fucked if I get the game I picked, that being Monster Hunter 3 for the Wii, I don't have a Japanese Wii). We should have made our way to play the games we wanted to play first (Monster Hunter 3), instead though.

Monster Hunter 3 was the exception at the entire convention. I'd say within 30 minutes of the place opening, there was already a 1 hour wait at the booth, and within 1 and a half hours, the booth had to start limiting people from trying to get to the game. If only they had the space Microsoft or Sony did at the convention, they could had more machines, but then again, Capcom's booth seemed eclipsed by the Monster Hunter portion. They had far as many people than most other games and that area was a clusterfuck when both a SquareEnix's game and Capcom's Resident Evil 5 both gave special preview trailers at the same time. But, given that it's the 1st (or 2nd, depending on whom you talk to) gaming convention in the world for it's size, I should really not be surprised about the crowding. It's....I am used to having room in my conventions.

Other than that, the convention was good. Our tastes weren't really for a specific game, but I'd say that RPGs had the most dominance of all the items at the convention (duh, it's Japan). Just about every major (and minor) developer had an RPG of some sort (Hudson was lonely without a real one). We barely played much due to the long wait times (and either tiredness or hunger making it a pain to wait), but I did get a chance to play Taiko no Tatsujin for the Wii. Let's just say I want this thing to come to the state side. Considering the Wii's market in the states right now, I'm giving it a 70% chance of coming over here. They just need to work on the drums; I felt that I had to beat them to death sometimes to get them to register the Don (or for all of you that don't know Japanese and/or Taiko, the red notes). Other than that, I hope for downloadable tracks on the Wii (for fucks sake, Hudson is releasing a Joysound Karaoke game for the Wii with nearly 30000 tracks available online, so it's possible to pull off a system like that Namco).

In other news, I am working on acquiring an account on a Japanese blog site where I will post things in Japanese (also, following the format that most Japanese bloggers do, I'll be taking lots of pictures of my meals, shorting the hell out of my speech, and making like 4 posts or more per day.....well maybe ; ) ). Someone suggested this to me a while back, so I finally decided to do it. Maybe I'll have translations on my B-side blog (that would be ridiculous, because I'd be translating my own thoughts xD).



(I thought SNK was dead! Oh, that was in the states. Hopefully, more than half the titles AREN'T fighting games.)



(I so wanted to play this game. I would swear it is like a Tales of game, but Tales of Hearts was already on display at the convention).



(The convention "joystick" blocked all the potential gamers that wanted to play Monster Hunter 3. And, yes this was a picture of the first time we passed by the booth. The sign says in Japanese "We're limiting new entry people")


(Part of Sqaure's booth. They had a gallery dedicated to Crono Trigger, which is set to be released next month. They had a playable version at the show if I remember correctly. Pretty damn popular too.)


(I said capcom should have had a bigger set up for Monster Hunter, but with games like Capcom vs. SNK and Resident Evil 5: Degeneration, it was kind of hard to give up more space).


(Another game I wanted to play, but there wasn't any type of demo around for it. But damn it's going to be a nice addition to my DS when it comes out next year.)


(Proof of Taiko no Tatsujin for the Wii. Damn I am too excited about this game. >__<
(Another nice game that looked a lot of fun. It actually feels much like the MGS game for the PSP
. It too had long lines and some kind of tourney was also taking place.)


(Do you know the IdolM@ster? This incredibly popular game in Japan (with almost the same sized audience as Monster Hunter I'd say) was promoted with a live mini-concert by several of the famous seiyu or voice actors from the series. Took me be surprise that there was even a concert, but the song the sung was one from Taiko no Tatsujin, and I knew it >___>;;;; lol)

More pictures from 2008's Tokyo Game Show can be found here.