If you like Japanese games like Final Fantasy and Castlevania, then you should probably pay attention to the Tokyo Game Show. This week, publishers and developers from all around the world flock to the Makuhari Messe in Japan and showcase their latest games for international press and an eager throng of everyday consumers. IGN is sending an elite task force to the show in order to cover the games and announcements that emerge. In other words, we're there for you.
But a show like TGS can be confusing for the average gamer, so IGN has assembled this handy dandy FAQ for your reading pleasure. If you're new to the scene and you don't quite know how to get the most out of this week's events, then check the information below to get started. We want you to have almost as much fun as the people that actually fly across the world to play the latest and greatest from the Land of the Rising Sun.
What is the Tokyo Game Show?
The Tokyo Game Show, or TGS, is a tradeshow now held annually at the Makuhari Messe in Japan. Just like its U.S. equivalents, including E3, the Tokyo Game Show features a number of videogame publishers and developers that showcase their games and hardware for both press and the public to enjoy. Although this is an international show, there is obviously a strong presence of Japanese games on the floor.
When is the Tokyo Game Show?
This year's show spans a period of four days, starting on Thursday, September 16th. Both Thursday and Friday are intended for press only, whereas Saturday and Sunday are open to the general public. The show ceremoniously starts off on Thursday morning at approximately 10:30 AM with a special keynote delivered by Microsoft executives Takashi Sensui and Phil Spencer.
Where is the Tokyo Game Show held?
TGS is held at the Makuhari Messe, which is in the city of Chiba on the eastern coast of Japan. The convention center is surrounded by hotels and the entire area fills to the brim with travelers during the course of the show.
What games will be there this year?
There will be hundreds of games on display at this year's show, though a number of them will be Japan-only titles not available in the United States. With that said, several companies have already revealed their plans for the show, including Sony, Square Enix and Ubisoft. Expect some high-profile titles to make an appearance, including Final Fantasy, Sonic and maybe even more news on the Last Guardian.
Who goes to the Tokyo Game Show?
There are plenty of attendees at the Tokyo Game Show, from both the press and public, but IGN is sending a whole crew across the ocean to provide you with solid coverage. From the editorial department (the ones writing the articles), IGN is dispatching Ryan Geddes, Erik Brudvig, Ryan Clements and Kristine Steimer -- a talented group of folks indeed. There's also a full contingent of video team members coming along, and probably one guide parrot for good measure.
Can I go to the Tokyo Game Show?
Probably not, because you ran out of time! But for future reference, you can attend the Tokyo Game Show, assuming you have the resources to get to Japan in the first place. As TGS features two days open to the public, international guests are more than welcome to attend. Check out the official TGS home page for more information.
Who puts the Tokyo Game Show together?
The Tokyo Game Show is organized by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) and is co-organized by Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. There is also support provided by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. And judging by how crazy TGS gets, we imagine that a top-secret organization that controls powerful bio-mechs (like NERV) is also involved.
How long has it been going on?
The show was first held in 1996 and was originally put on twice a year. Now, the show is organized only once every year.
How many TGSs has IGN covered?
Not enough. But seriously, IGN has been in attendance for many years. Probably since the beginning of time.
What do the IGN editors do at the Tokyo Game Show?
The main goal of the IGN editorial team is to bring the content of the Tokyo Game Show to you. The editors will traverse the convention center looking for cool things to write about, conduct interviews, and attend demos for games that haven't even been announced yet. Anything worth knowing will be covered and will appear on IGN.com for your viewing pleasure. Also, the team will do a lot of drinking.
What is the "show floor" and what goes on there?
The term "show floor" is the easy way of referring to the massive collection of exhibitor booths that dominate the convention center. When you hear "show floor," think of a bunch of videogame companies that have filled a convention room with countless kiosks, bright lights and giant screens playing the latest game trailers. This is the place to be at TGS, and it's where a lot of our coverage comes from.
What happens at "behind closed doors" meetings?
A "behind closed doors" meeting is usually a short demonstration or interview regarding a game that's not quite ready to be shown to the public, for whatever reason. So if a videogame publisher like Microsoft wanted to show off a new game but didn't want to stick it on the show floor for all to see, the Microsoft representatives would arrange a meeting with us to meet privately, or, behind closed doors.
What are booth babes, and will they be at TGS?
"Booth babes" is the not-so-discreet term to describe the attendants that videogame publishers hire to populate their exhibitor booths. In the grand scheme of things, these attendants are part of the advertising process. After all, most gamers that attend the Tokyo Game Show are male, so what better way to get their attention then with a beautiful woman that plays a game with them? Booth babes will most certainly be at TGS this year and IGN will probably take pictures of them (as appropriately as possible).
How can I keep up with the show?
If you want to keep up with the events in Japan, you've come to the right place! IGN will be covering TGS for the entire duration of the show and we'll also have a full automated index that highlights our coverage as it happens. Keep your eyes peeled, and we'll bring TGS to you.
How often do IGN's TGS predictions come true?
It all depends. Some of our more conservative predictions tend to come true, while others could be a total miss. Most of the predictions in our predictions piece are very possible, but with the whimsical world of Japan, we can never know for sure.
What's the best TGS?
The best TGS will be this year's TGS, because the IGN team covering it is just so unbearably beautiful.
You probably have a ton more Tokyo Game Show questions than we could possibly imagine. So don't forget to follow IGN on Twitter and hit us with your #TGSIGN-tagged questions. As we get more and more, we'll update this FAQ with our TGS wisdom.
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