Quite a thing these conventions. Sensory overload meets sensory deprevation.
I don't have access to a computer made since 2002 while in Tokyo, so this report comes through no small taste of frustration. The photo gallery may have to wait.
EDITIZE POST GO!: Flickr .:. Picasa
The commute out to Kaihim-Makuhari is slightly farther than Tokyo Disney, outside of Tokyo itself. "If there's a bright centre to the universe... yadda yadda." It's pretty much the boonies for a central Tokyo resident. Very rarely is the Japan Rail system stymied, but this isn't the largest station by any means, and the crush of Japanese and Gaijin alike was equal parts amusement and gridlock.
The event and the hall itself is what you'd expect. Booths, fans, noise. It's a reasonable point to make that companies serve up the "booth companion" factor simply as a distraction. In some cases neither the product nor the booth itself warrants particular attention, and in others they simply do not want photographs taken of the actual merchandise, which may indicate back to the first point.
To be fair, Sony's products are not yet on the market, and everyone else just wants to build secretive hype. True to past form Nintendo was absent from the event in body, but not in spirit. Many other vendors were delighted to showcase their Wii offerings. And the crowd was appreciative. If you don't plan to enjoy the Wii on principle, prepare to become the have-not minority. And when you do finally get one, build up a thick crust around your ego so your neighbour and their grandkids can show you how to use it right.
Microsoft however can't get enough advertising, which also explains why they had the Common tote bag. Every convention has bags with covet-ability. 360 bags, or "blues" for the Blue Dragon logo, were everywhere. Sony bags required a trek to the farthest edge of their booth; Semi-common but highly coveted when you spotted them, they also happened to be the smallest bag, which is quite helpful in a maze of corridors with 70,000 people also with bags slung on their 140,000 shoulders. (Actual numbers may vary.) Ultra-rare were the ginormous cloth totes from the Funtasia vendor. Couldn't even find their booth on the second day.
I'm truly impressed by everything Sega is doing this year, which is rare for me. I haven't enjoyed a Sonic game in a looong time. There's nothing in their Q4/Q1 lineup I would intentionally skip. I can probably lean towards Microsoft very soon. There is no arguing DOAX2 is going to sell a LOT of systems; more than they believed N3 would. It looks utterly fantastic whether you like the content or not, and honestly your choices right now are zombie blood, winter parkas, or swimwear, so just look yourself in the mirror before you make that call, and proclaim it with gusto. I will likely buy the console on X2esday. Gyahar.
Oh, Ninja Gaiden on PS3?! d00dz! The Team is double dipping.
The North American market is missing a truly massive market of portable games. I really want to buy a DoCoMo cell phone, load it up with software and bring it back to Canada and my province's castrated service, like Marco Polo with cocoa and spices. If you only play games in front of a TV, I guess that's okay. There's bears outside, I know.
One of the games I attempted to wait in line for was Coded Arms. Yes, I apologize. I wanted the glowing wristband to complete the set. The loudspeaker sports commentary was crushingly painful, and after 10 minutes I realized I had seen the entire game. But I like Tron, so I'll give it a rent.
Speaking of loudspeakers, you can't truly appreciate the music in Phoenix Wright until you've heard it at 2000 watts. HOLD IT! And you do.
-V-
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