Tokyo Game Show 2009

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:

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All of the video game industry (except you and me!) are in Tokyo right now, gearing up for the Tokyo Game Show taking place later this week. Here at TheFeed, we're going to be bringing you tons of coverage: Previews, videos, news, screenshots, trailers and more! But one of the most exciting things we'll feature is live-blog coverage of Sony's keynote address.

Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai, the Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, will be speaking to the entire game industry this Wednesday at 6pm Pacific. I am expecting PlayStation 3 and PSP related bombshells, here, people.

You do not want to miss this one-of-kind event, so make sure you point your internet browsing apparatus to G4's Tokyo Game Show coverage 

Travis Touchdown had a roster of colorful "friends" to go through in No More Heroes. In what looks to be following the same route, Red Steel 2's latest profile video examines the punk-looking Payne.

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Billy Berghammer looks for a delicious coffee drink. We settled on chocolate.

As of right now, it's 11:00 am in the Excel hotel in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan. That's a strange sentence to write. I've been looking forward to experiencing Tokyo for a great many years. Finally, it's happened. I'm in Tokyo. I've passed on previous opportunities to make the journey because Tokyo Game Show tends to fall on the same weekend as my girlfriend's birthday. She gave me the go-ahead this year, though, and here I am, dumping pictures and video from my travels so far in the land of the rising fun, searching for sleep.

That's the big thing about your first day in Japan -- deciphering the secret of jetlag. But before I reached this point, I had to travel to Tokyo, a ten-hour journey in the sky that proves monumentally stressful, as you try to balance remaining awake to catch the two light meals that pass through and sleeping enough to last through the rest of the Tokyo nightlife that awaits you when you land.

I'll do my best to narrate the first day of my experience in Tokyo through pictures. It's better than words. Especially when you're tired. Pictures below!

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Microsoft in Japan is always a wildcard. Who knows if the company will make a big push in Japan this year or scale things back to focus on North America and Europe where its exclusives tend to actually sell. Oh, sure, every once and a while Microsoft releases something (Blue Dragon) in Japan that moves a boat load of consoles, but what will it be this year?

Halo 3: ODST will be getting a worldwide release this week. Will Microsoft try to pimp Halo in Japan again or is it time to let it go? I'm guessing that the game will probably be playable on the show floor, but don't expect a massive showing. Beyond that, there aren't any major exclusives that I can think of that would do big business in Japan. Splinter Cell: Conviction probably doesn't stack up against Metal Gear Solid there... just a hunch.

Forza 3 is set to release at the end of October and could be a good bit of counter-programming to Sony's inevitable push for Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 5. You know, the full version. I can tell you what I think will be a big no show... Final Fantasy XIII running on an Xbox 360. Recall, the game will only be released on the PS3 in Japan.

Who knows, though? As I said, MS is a wildcard in Japan. If they decide to take this year seriously we could see a major exclusive announcement that Japanese gamers will be excited about or at least another established PlayStation franchise going multiplatform.

Either way, this could be a good opportunity for Microsoft to show off a bit of Project Natal in the land that birthed the Wii. Will it impress a Japanese audience, though?

What do you want to see from Microsoft in Japan this year?

Square Enix reveals a new trailer for their mysterious action adventure game Neir. Grab your book of awe and find a cure for your ill daughter. This baby releases 2010 on the 360 and PS3.

Welcome to "Morning Hangover" -- an excellent way to start your day with the crew at TheFeed...no matter what you're recovering from. Every morning you'll hear musings from two of TheFeed's editors and have the chance to share your thoughts on what's going on in the gaming world. So buckle up, break the Internets, and keep reading!

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This fall, X-Play takes you to the biggest gaming events in the world, and brings you exclusive, inside previews and information about the most highly-anticipated game titles before their release. We’re covering BlizzCon, Halo: ODST, Pax 2009, Modern Warfare 2, Tokyo Game Show 2009 and much more.

Don't miss any of X-Play's fall specials.  Next up is BlizzCon, which premieres tonight at 6:30PM ET. Get the scoop on the newest World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, and Starcraft 2 news straight from the source.

And then, make sure you stay with us through the fall, as X-Play brings the world of gaming home to you. Here's the schedule.

• PAX 2009 - September 8 & 9
• Halo: ODST - September 10
• Brutal Legend - October 1
• Tokyo Game Show 2009 - October 5, 6 & 7

To get ready for tonight, check out G4tv.com's BlizzCon coverage here.

Okami fans, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that Capcom’s acclaimed action-adventure title isn’t making a next-gen leap to the PlayStation 3 (at least not now). The good news is that a new Okami game is on the way in the form of Okamiden: Chiisaki Taiyo for the Nintendo DS.

Kotaku received a picture of the upcoming issue of the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, which shows some screenshots from the game. According to 1UP, the game takes place a short time after the events of the first game, and players will assume control of Chibiterasu, a younger looking version of Amaterasu, the original game’s wolf-god protagonist.

Gameplay is said to be similar to the first game, but with a new emphasis on using various “partners” to overcome obstacles and solve puzzles. Obviously, being able to draw on the DS screen fits in perfectly with the game’s brush mechanic, and that’s expected to once again play a significant role in combat as well as puzzle solving.

As for why Capcom decided to develop the follow-up for the DS, the game’s director, Kuniomi Matsushita, who also oversaw last year’s Wii port of Okami, explained:

"The original idea was to take what makes this game special and expose it to more people. That was why we chose the Nintendo DS -- being on a portable system will allow people to easily pick up and play it, and you can also use the touch pen as a brush."

The game is scheduled to be released sometime next year in Japan. However, Capcom is expected to have a playable version of it at this year’s Tokyo Game Show (September 24-27), which means you can expect more details over the coming weeks. I'm currently waiting to hear back from Capcom about all of this, so stay tuned.

Is an Okami game, regardless of platform, a must buy for you? Which version of the original game did you prefer, PS2 or Wii?

Source. Source.

A lot of readers are clamoring for more information on Kingdom Hearts 3. Some readers are hot for more details on Final Fantasy Versus XIII. One reader idiotically asked why TheFeed hasn't asked Yoshinori Kitase about Versus XIII. Some of you will be getting your questions answered, as Square Enix director/designer/deity Tetsuya Nomura has revealed what the company will be showing off at Tokyo Game Show 2009. Andriasang has translated an interview with Famitsu that said:

"Additionally, Nomura said that Square Enix probably will not show new footage of titles that are further off, including Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Final Fantasy Agito XIII, and The Third Birthday.

On a more positive note, Nomura's comments do appear to confirm playable FFXIII and Birth By Sleep at the show! Those two alone should make a trip to the Square Enix booth worthwhile."

Gamers waiting for the big Kingdom Hearts 3 announcement will have to wait a while longer. Players wanting to see more Versus XIII in action will be disappointed. The genius that wanted Versus XIII answers from Kitase needs to understand that it would have been moronic to throw those questions at him.

I know this isn't what some of you wanted to hear, but I'm totally down with FFXIII and Birth by Sleep at TGS. How do you guys feel? Excited? Disappointed? Meh?

Source

This fall, X-Play takes you to the biggest gaming events in the world, and brings you exclusive, inside previews and information about the most highly-anticipated game titles before their release. We’re covering BlizzCon, Halo: ODST, Pax 2009, Modern Warfare 2, Tokyo Game Show 2009 and much more.

Don't miss any of X-Play's fall specials.  It all gets started as X-Play presents Gamescom 2009, starting Monday, August 31st at 6:30PM. Catch a preview of Mass Effect 2, Castlevania, Star Wars: The Old Republic and a hands-on demo of Dirt 2.

And then, make sure you stay with us through the fall, as X-Play brings the world of gaming home to you. Here's the schedule.

• BlizzCon - September 4
• PAX 2009 - September 8 & 9
• Halo: ODST - September 10
• Brutal Legend - October 1
• Tokyo Game Show 2009 - October 6, 7 & 8

In the meantime, check out G4tv.com's Gamescom coverage here.

While the latest trailer for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker just being shown at the Konami Press Conference at GamesCom, we’ve caught wind that the game will see its first playable debut at Tokyo Game Show 2009. This isn’t all too surprising, however. Historically, a Metal Gear Solid game will see a short trailer debut at E3, then at Games Convention in Leipzig (now which is GamesCom in Cologne) see an expanded trailer, and then the following Tokyo Game Show that same game will be playable. History will most likely repeat itself again this year.

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