Tokyo Game Show 2009 - What To Expect From Sony

30 Comments

Posted September 21, 2009 - By G4Sterling

PlayStation 3 Slim Unboxing Gallery!

Since Nintendo seldom makes big splashes at TGS, it's Sony's show to lose, year after year. Although Microsoft has made some strides on the Japanese market thanks to exclusive Japanese role-playing games like Star Ocean: The Last Hope, PlayStation 3 still has more of the mindshare of the Japanese market -- that is, the part of the market that hasn't been swept away solely by the Wii. It'll be a curious year for Sony. One could argue that the publisher has Western audiences' attention with games like Uncharted 2 and MAG, but what can the publishing giant do for its home audience?

We'll know more on Wednesday night (that's Thursday afternoon in Japan), once Sony unveils some of its plans for 2010 on the first press day of TGS. Since I've been asked to break out the crystal ball and fake my worst Miss Cleo voice, here goes:

Don't be surprised if we get more details about Sony's motion control plans. A non-gamer friend told me on yesterday's subway ride that the tech buzz around Tokyo is that Sony is also planning some 3D content for games, but until Kaz Hirai shows up onstage with fugly glasses, get those grains of salt ready. Motion controls should be on display prominently, and hopefully, we'll see something with some universal appeal for worldwide audiences. How crazy would a God of War tech demo look if you could use the hand sensors as virtual Blades of Chaos?

Hopefully, we'll see some more information, or a new trailer for The Last Guardian. Although Team ICO's efforts have often seen critical acclaim, but limited sales success, hopefully we'll see something mind-blowing at the show that'll get more people interested in the developer's efforts. A new God of War III level would warm the cockles of my heart as well.

Also, it's a year of "home stretches." There's first-party games that we saw back in 2006 that are finally nearing release.

I also expect a full bombastic display for Gran Turismo 5. It's a popular series in the US, but it's huge around the rest of the world, and I anticipate some good stuff out of Polyphony Digital's game at the show. Brian Leahy mentioned that he thinks Microsoft will break out Forza 3 to counterattack GT5's presence at the show. I wouldn't be surprised if you see some ridiculous booth setups for both games, especially with each game getting close to the finish line.

The other big first-party game that we've seen seeing for years is White Knight Chronicles. Level-5's last PlayStation-exclusive JRPG was Rogue Galaxy -- a game I'm personally fond of -- so I expect a big show for this one. There's lot of big buzz around White Knight's potential, so look for a decent final push for it.

Quantic Dream promised that it would reveal a new character from Heavy Rain at E3, GamesCom and TGS. It's time to finally learn some more about the characters we'll all inhabit when this new evolution of adventure game comes out next year. I'm personally curious how the Japanese audience will respond to this style of game.

And then there's PSP. Monster Hunter has the same cultural impact as World of Warcraft, minus the $15 per month subscription. Why? You can pick up a raid while commuting to work in the morning. There are a lot of PSP owners in Japan, and with PSP Go coming soon, look for more information regarding Sony's wider strategy regarding its handheld platform.

What are you hoping to see from Sony at this year's Tokyo Game Show?

Tags: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Move, PlayStation Portable, Tokyo Game Show, Tokyo Game Show 2009, Videogames

Comments are Closed

Comments

Newest First

Displaying 21–30 of 30

1 12

SneakySnipes1

I'm fine with sony coming out with exclusive titles slower then the 360 aslong as their quality stays really high...Killzone 2 can keep me going for atleast a year, and I'd much rather have it then Gears 2 and Fable 2 combined (I've owned and sold both (liked them too just not as much as KZ2)

I can't wait for MAG footage, a new trailer for FFXIV (13 idc about cus it's not an MMO), and best of all something about THE AGENCY, i've been waiting for a good quality MMO (that intrests me) let alone a first person/3rd person shooter on the PS3 or 360 since the consoles debuted.

BTW for all you warhawk fans (not really me) the guys who made warhawk bought the rights to the name starhawk like 5 months ago so your definatly getting a sequal, most likely with that name. And that name sure is revealing eh?

*Crossing fingers* for some big home updates or party chat/cross xmb chat even though i know it's prolly not gona happen.

Posted: September 21, 2009 7:51 PM
PS3fears360

What I expect from Sony is a lot of empty promises and bs to get its fanbase all excited and hyped up only to make the Sony fanboys look foolish. Like last year when Sony said they were going to show 15 new exclusives and all the Sony fanboys were making all these claims and predictions and beating their chest then come to find out it was just a bunch of games only to be released in Japan and I believe a couple of PSN titles. Man that was hilarious. Oh and a bunch of titles that problably won't be out until the end of 2010 or sometime in 2011.

Posted: September 21, 2009 7:29 PM
XwingVmanX

I am PRAYING for a new trailer or game footage of Final Fantasy XIII Versus

Posted: September 21, 2009 7:26 PM
FLP_B01

yea that would be awesome if they did a demo with the motion control/s and God of War!
I wanted to see some Final Fantasy XII: Versus and Kingdom Hearts 3. . .but i think Square Enix will focus more on FFXIII, which is kinda sad (for me).
or maybe Team ICO rerelease Ico and Shadow of the Colossus for the PS3.
jeeez theres so many games i want Sony to announce.
guess ill just have to wait for TGS.

Posted: September 21, 2009 7:16 PM
ricky047

to cloverfeild

Kojima said there wont be anything news on mgs rising probably until next e3.

Posted: September 21, 2009 7:11 PM
cloverfeild

metal gear solid Risng: super raiden lightning tokyo smash fist all the way baby

Posted: September 21, 2009 6:29 PM
maher1

Nice

Posted: September 21, 2009 6:28 PM
GaToL0c0

I really would like to see how Sony is going to make motion control different..... or at lease a game that would make as much sense doing motion control as a normal game with the standard button pushing.

Posted: September 21, 2009 6:27 PM
PSpepper

I don't care I WANT SYPHON FILTER DAMN IT!!!

Posted: September 21, 2009 6:09 PM
RRODisBack

I'm hoping for them to announce Twisted Metal, Warhawk 2, and Siphon Filter. Also, show more God of War 3, Heavy Rain, and MAG.

Posted: September 21, 2009 6:03 PM