Tokyo Game Show 2009

Finally, a chance to post about TGS 2009.

So, where to begin? Where to begin?

Let's start with the crazy amount of people I was crammed in the train with just to get there; it was insane. I waited outside in line for an hour (already had a ticket BTW) and got in around 10:30 (that's actually late for these kinds of things).

By the main entrance there was the main stage, a few mobile phone stations, capcom and a stand that promoted Assassin's Creed and the new Avatar movie (no, not Avatar: The Last Airbender).

The next hall over was where the real action was::

KONAMI


When you first walk in, you've got SEGA on your left and KONAMI on your right - but if it weren't for the bright white lights, you might not have even noticed SEGA was there. Konami's display was amazing and the crowd around the stage quickly grabbed your attention.





Each company had it's prize winner in the spotlight, front and center. For Konami that was Metal Gear Solid : Peace Walker (PSP). Its display was asthetically pleasing, and the cute girls in uniform definitely catered to those soldiers at heart, who at the sight of a new MGS game, were already drooling.



When I got a chance to play the game; I was put in a group of 4, and although I didn't really interact much with the players during that particular trial, I know I would want another chance to try out the co-op features included in the game.
Did I mention that the box in the game is called the "Love Pack"? Appropriate since more than one player can hide under the box at one time - truly co-op.

Behind the huge MGS Stage, props, fan mass, etc, were the rest of the Konami games. Three small stations were set up, one of which was for Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (PSP, Wii, PS2 - yay!)

Sadly enough I did not get to play :(
However I did get a flyer for the game, can't read most of it though, just mostly stare at the picture of the creepy frozen little girl on the swing, but... the good news is, the preview for the game was in English - yay! Looks like this game might be the prequel for Silent Hill 1. (yes? no? anyone know?)

Very excited for this game to come out, and if get a PSP GO I could always make sure to play the scary creepy game around others, so as not to be so spooked. :)



And that reminds me... Biohazard: Darkside Chronicles - anyone know much about that? 5 seconds of video clip and I could tell right off that bat it was a Resident Evil game.

SQUARE ENIX

First off let me start off by saying that the Square Enix staff were hardcore on their mission to make sure NO ONE took pictures or videos of the game commercials. So I apologize for the lack of visuals; however there is lots of tell.

FINAL FANTASY!
Yes, so Final Fantasy is coming out with 3 games! FFXIII is coming out this year (December) for the Xbox360 & PS3.
The gameplay graphics are hard not to enjoy on a 1080 Flat Screen TV. (Definitely youtube to check out the summons)

There's also FFXIV coming out sometime in 2010. So far I only it'll only be available for the PS3 and the PC. Wonder why the Xbox360 got excluded in this one? (correct me if I'm wrong, peeps)
And last but not least, Final Fantasy (Crystal Chronicles) The Crystal Bearers for the Wii coming out in 2010 (? I'll double check myself later)

Then there was Dragon Quest VI. I know of it's existence, but I've never been very interested in checking it out. Someone, tell me. Am I missing out? - The flock of fans tend to think so. Similar to the sea of open cellphones at a rock concert, Dragon Quest VI fans held up there DS's, games turned on of course, while patiently and eagerly waiting for their downloads.

Just another reason why I'm sad I don't have a GOOD Japanese cellphone, my DS, or a PSP in my possession at the moment. At the convention, there were LOTS of opportunities to download demos, wallpapers, graphics, ringtones, ETC. *le sigh*

[Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep update later...]

Anyways, let's continue...

PLAYSTATION

Don't understand Nintendo's absence from the game show, but I suppose that could explain why I didn't see any pokemon stations set up anywhere.

So yes, Playstation~ Had many of their newest toys on display including the slim PS3, the cheaper, colored PSP's (16,800 Yen), and of course the PSP GO.




Interesting fact about the PSP GO:
While I was checking out the PSP GO, which was attached literally at the hip to this very cute Playstation worker (damn cutsey lady staff), a friend of mine asked another staff member about the release date of the PSP GO and the price. We were surprised to find out that it will be released in Europe and the US a month before it's release in Japan. From what he told us, or better yet, from what we were able to understand, the PSP is not as popular in Japan as it is overseas. Maybe the hype from overseas will get some Japanese to shell out the cash for this new HELIO-ish PSP. Hey I'm not complaining - I want one myself, but...

PSP GO (26,800 Yen) vs. (Slim) PS3 (29,900) ?Which one?



I know for a fact there are a few things missing from here, so I'll make sure to include them tomorrow in another post! For now, enjoy the pictures - sorry guys they're on snapfish, so if you don't have an account, you'll have to make one (I think). I'm considering putting them on photobucket. (I should get a flickr huh?)

Out.

UNIQLO

So far, I've only been to two UNIQLO stores in Japan: Shin Urayasu 's & Makuhari 's .

Besides house slippers and a small towel (to carry around) I haven't purchased much, until Friday when I was finally able to buy the sweater dress/shirt I wanted since my first week in Japan. Good thing I waited because the price dropped from 2,000 yen to 990 yen! (*^_^*)
So here's a picture for ya:


I heard from plasmamonkey (via twitter ) that the Harajuku UNIQLO has some really cool graphic tees, so I'm definitely going to have to check it out soon.
I really hope the dollar picks up some strength before the week is over.

Oh, and remember those UENO markets I mentioned earlier? Well here's what I managed to spend some money on, besides the delicious pineapple on a stick:

I'm actually uploading Tokyo Game Show 2009 pictures as we speak and I will write a post (hopefully later tonight) with all the updates that I get from the 4-5 booklets I was handed.

Time for some Japanese homework and soothing music.

BAI バイ

Square Enix

I'm really excited about going to the Tokyo Game Show tomorrow.

Quick story before I'm off to bed...

A girl I know from the program gets onto the same train as me as I'm heading back home tonight and tells me she has exciting news. Apparently she bumped into a foreigner on the train and apologized in Japanese, the foreigner tells her that Japanese is not necessary since he speaks English. From here a conversation begins. One thing leads to another and she finally asks him how he had learned to speak Japanese so well since she wants to be a game translator and he says, " Well that's what I do. " Soon after she finds out he's currently translating FFXIV. She gets his business card and that of his boss. She's got one of her own on hand and gives it to him. Finally she gets to her stop and before she leaves, he tells her he'll give her a call when he arrives at the show tomorrow.

Here you are on the other side of the world, in a place where barely anyone speaks your primary language and here comes along an opportunity in the most perfect package imaginable.
LUCKY!~ :)

Never give up, cause you never know!