Tokyo Game Show 2003
(Originally posted on adventurasia.freezope.org)
After much convincing and ‘arm twisting’ by my boss and friends, I decided to attend the Tokyo Game Show 2003 billed as the World’s largest game and entertainment event. Even though I’m not a big ‘game’ fan*, I was thoroughly entertained by the bright lights, sounds, live stage acts, and not to mention the booth bunnies.
*At least not now. That may change in the near future…
Going from booth to booth, one can only imagine the type of marketing and promotions budgets these companies have; although given that there was an expected turnout of 150,000 people over the 3 day event, it probably didn’t matter too much. Companies such as — ATI Technologies (Japan), Excite Japan, SNK Playmore Corporation, NCsoft Corp, NTT Docomo, Electronic Arts, Enterbrain, Capcom, Game Infinity, GungHo Online Entertainment Inc., Genki, KOEI, Konami, Sammy Corporation, Square Enix Co, SEGA Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment, Solid Networks, Taito Corporation, Takara, TOMY, Namco, Nexon Japan, Hudson Soft, Hamster, Bandai, Microsoft, and a host of others — were all well represented. Each one outdoing the other in terms of stage talent, light shows, performances, loud music, and the ‘hired talent’.
We got to see sneak previews of games such as: Medal of Honor: Rising Sun; Lineage II The Chaotic Chronicle; Final Fantasy XI; some sort of racing game for the XBOX; and even classic board games such as Monopoly!
One thing I didn’t expect to see so much of, but I suppose isn’t really all that surprising was the abundance of young men and women dressed up in various costumes (cosplay). You see these people all the time in Harajuku and near the International Forum in Yurakucho.
Looking at the people dressed in costume at the booth, one can only imagine that some of these cosplay participants are aspiring to be future booth models for the large gaming corporations.
Well if I get a chance, I hope to attend the upcoming CEATEC Conference and the Tokyo Motor Show.
Photos will be posted in the coming weeks. I also took about an hours worth of video footage and maybe in a few months time try to edit it down to capture the highlights.
Filed under: Japan, Technology
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