Spring TGS 2001: Bill Gates' Keynote Speech

A parade of Japanese development houses appeared on stage, one after the other, to state support for Microsoft's Xbox video game console during Bill Gates' keynote speech at the Spring Tokyo Game Show today. Microsoft is hoping to build Japanese support for its console after what has been a lukewarm reception thus far.

Gates began the presentation with a short description of the Xbox hardware. Gates also unveiled the Japanese Xbox controller that featured smaller handles and altered button placement when compared with the North American model.

Toshiyuka Miyata, senior manager Xbox games production group Japan, then took the stage to demonstrate four North American Xbox titles that he felt would be appropriate for the Japanese market. Clips were shown of NFL Fever 2002, Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding, Halo, and the first-party Xbox adventure game, Azurik: Rise of Parathia. The footage shown was similar, and in some cases identical, to footage shown at Microsoft's Gamestock show earlier this month. Miyata then showed a brief demonstration of Project K-X, an Xbox fighting game currently in development by Dream Publishing. Miyata claimed that the demo was being rendered by finalized Xbox hardware. Miyata stated that the Japanese Xbox team currently consisted of 70 members and would grow to 100 employees by the summer.

The next segment of the presentation was designed to demonstrate Xbox support by Japanese game developers. The segment began with a brief clip of Airforce Delta 2 and the next installment of Tecmo's popular fighting series, Dead or Alive 3. As the Japanese third-party segment continued, Konami officials were shown on tape touting the virtues of the Xbox. Short but impressive clips of Konami Xbox games Silent Hill 2 and World Soccer Winning Eleven 5 were then shown.

Gates took the podium once again to announce Tetsu Kayama, COO of Sega of Japan. It was announced earlier in the day that Microsoft had signed an agreement with Sega that would bring 11 of its properties to the Xbox. The announced games include a follow-up to Panzer Dragoon, Jet Grind Radio Future, Sega GT, and a first-person shooter that has been in development for the Dreamcast for some time, Gun Valkyrie. Kayama claimed that three Sega development houses are currently underway with Xbox projects including WOW Entertainment, Smilebit, and the developers behind NFL 2K1 and NBA 2K1 for the Dreamcast, Visual Concepts. Brief gameplay clips of Gun Valkyrie were shown along with a short introduction to Jet Grind Radio Future that depicted a dog on inline skates.

Gates concluded the presentation accentuating what he believed to be the unique features Xbox will provide for consumers. Gates stated that the Xbox hard drive will allow for gameworlds that constantly evolve and that the console's built-in broadband capabilities would provide the opportunity to see and hear competitors during online gameplay. He also stated that updates via cellular phone and PC would keep players perpetually involved in Xbox games.