Tokyo Game Show had special stickers on all the PSPs on display. Joystiq showed you the awesome PaRappa system (which would look great with your PaRappa pouch), and now we're here to show you the rest. Read on to see the rest...
The people of Games Radar speak about Tokyo Game Show in their latest podcast. They speak a little bit about PSP, and talk about the impressive Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, and lament about how the PSP might've been more successful if such beautiful, fully developed games were released, or announced, earlier in the PSP's life cycle. They seem to have come to a conclusion that Japanese developers believe that the PSP isn't in the process of failing... it's already failed. They quote a Clover Studios producer (guys behind the awesome Viewtiful Joeand Okami) as saying "Sony's lost this generation. I'll be real interested to see what they'll do with PSP2. I think that's where they have a chance to come off a failure and really succeed."
It's been no secret that the PSP has struggled to keep up with the DS Lite in Japan, although one Sony exec says otherwise. Former EGM editor turned part owner of the Japan-based localization firm 8-4, John Ricciardi, was recently interviewed by Gamasutra on the state of gaming in Japan, and he shed some light on why the PSP is losing the portable gaming war.
"I think there's some kind of disconnect between the people who create the hardware and the people who sell it." He said the PSP started off strong, but have been hindered by some fundamental hardware issues. "I felt like I was holding the future," but the game-based ramifications of the hardware are not well thought through. Another problem with the PSP is it "costs almost as much to make a [PSP] game as to make a PS2 game," he said.
Well, Ricciardi didn't really say anything we didn't already know about the PSP, but it's interesting to hear industry insiders express the same complaints most of us gamers have. However, Sony made a pretty damn good showing at the Tokyo Game Show, so let's hope things are on the up and up.
Tokyo Game Show 2006 has come and gone, and left a whole slew of game news and previews in its tracks. If you were unfortunate as to have been gone this weekend, here's a recap of everything that happened on the site. Don't forget that you only have one more day to enter our TGS contest, where you can win a free bag from SFBags.
Keynote Ken Kutaragi launched the Tokyo Game Show by wasting an hour of our lives spewing absolute BS about the internet and Afrika. By failing to reveal any significant information on either the PS3 or the PSP, the gaming media walked away disappointed, and incredibly pessimistic about Sony's future. Thankfully, through the weekend, Sony has impressed us by showcasing solid PlayStation 3 and PSP support. Here's a look at the TGS weekend we had:
There are way too many PSP games at this year's Tokyo Game Show. Because not all of us have time to read all the impressions and previews of all the games coming out, PSP Fanboy has created this nifty guide for all the games that were previewed. You'll get a thumbs up or a thumbs down from the major video game news sites. If a game looks like it might be a real winner, we'll award it "The Official PSP Fanboy Entranced Korean Award." These are the games that'll end up in Korea on giant PSPs, luring people to their eventual doom. And, that's pretty cool. Read on to see all the previews!
Unlike the now-defunct E3, Tokyo Game Show has always been an event for the masses. The public could wait on enormous lines to get their hands on upcoming video games (something I'd love to have here in the States!). The general success of an upcoming product can usually be seen by the approximate wait for the product.
Enter Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, the sequel to Japan's top-selling PSP game so far. The Japanese absolutely love this game, and according to Gamespot, were willing to wait for two hours to get their hands on it. Wow. (And they say the PSP is dead in Japan. Wrong!) Although the sequel will not feature any online gameplay, it does appear that the beautiful graphics will be enough to make the game an instant bestseller in Japan.
The mighty Computer Entertainment Software Association of Japan revealed the eleven titles they thought were the "best in show." Of those titles, two were exclusives for the PSP. Here are the winners, in no particular order:
Elebits (Konami) for the Wii
Gyakuten Saiban 4 [Phoenix Wright] (Capcom) for the DS
Gran Turismo HD (Sony) for the PS3
The Eye of Judgment (Sony) for the PS3
Seiken Densetsu 4 [Dawn of Mana] (Square Enix) for the PS2
This should come as no surprise. There are so many excellent games at TGS this year, that it must've been nigh impossible to even narrow the list down. But, for those of you that are battling a fanboy war, you might want to note that PSP got two titles, and the DS only got one.
We've been avoiding sleep to give you the best coverage of the Tokyo Game Show possible. There's so much to go through that it may seem a bit daunting to read all the news that's pouring in. Well, don't give up! Here's a nice incentive that should provide enough motivation for you to keep it locked to the Fanboy.
Post a comment in any story with "TGS 06" in the title and you'll be entered to receive one of TWO PSP gear pouches from SFBags. These bags range from $29 to $39 and let you carry your PSP, UMDs and accessories in one convenient bag. Tokyo Game Show continues all weekend long, so make sure you're always checking in.
Contest ends 9/26/06. Limit 1 comment/entry per post. No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only. Thanks, SFBags!
Posted Sep 21st 2006 10:14PM by Andrew Yoon Filed under: News
Getting ready for Tokyo Game Show where Sony's press conference is about to begin. They will obviously speak a great deal on PlayStation 3, but will they mention anything about the PSP? Keep refreshing this page throughout the hour to see updates as they happen.
9:45PM EST Ken Kutaragi says the internet has gotten much, much faster now. WOW! Thanks!!!
9:58PM EST PlayStation 3 will feature downloadable PlayStation games, akin to PSP's ability to download PS1 games. Also, Turbografx and Genesis games will be available for download, a la Wii.
10:10PM EST Sony officially has worst press conference ever. Afrika is the only "game" shown.
Internet, please start flaming Sony. GO! Just in case it wasn't obvious, that was it. One hour of absolutely nothing. It's going to be hard to be a Sony fanboy after this...
Hopefully these TGS demos will eventually make their way to the internet so that all of us can enjoy them. Who doesn't love game demos?
[Update 1: Actually, some of these demos should appear online because some of them will be saved to your Memory Stick. Previously, Spot downloads will be erased from memory once the system was turned off. Notable game demos that will be saved on the disk include Bounty Hounds and Exit.]
With E3 seemingly now a shadow of its former self, the gaming industry's focus may shift to the Tokyo Game Show, which just so happens to be only a mere seven days away. TGS 2006 goes from Sept. 22 through 24 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. And to whet your appetite, Sony has released a preliminary list of the PSP lineup that should be in playable form at the event.
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (Namco Bandai Games)
Bounty Hounds (Namco Bandai Games)
Boxers Road 2: The Real (Ertain)
Gundam Battle Royale (Namco Bandai Games)
Homestar Portable* (Sega)
Jan-Sangokumusou (Koei)
Jeanne D'Arc (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel (Konami)
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops* (Konami)
Minna no Golf-jou* (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom)
Navigation Software* (working title) (Edia)
Ratchet and Clank Portable (working title) (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Tales of the World Radiant Mythology (Namco Bandai Games)
Tenchi no Mon 2: Busouden (Sony Computer Entertainment)
(* – supports GPS)
In addition the already mentioned games, Sony will show new video of 35 more titles. I believe the big story here is how effectively the GPS games use the add-on. If Sony can get software that show the peripheral is more than a gimmick, the PSP may be able to gain some ground on the DS.
I think I can actually begin to feel the excitement of the Tokyo Game Show emanating to me through the internet. And it seems Gamespot feels the same as they've listed their most anticipated games to be shown at TGS.
They listed four handheld games they are most excited about are Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Lumines II, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, which just so happens to be the only Nintendo DS game to make the list.
NOTE: This editorial is the opinion of Andrew Yoon, and does not represent the opinion of PSP Fanboy, Joystiq or Weblogs, Inc.
Every video game convention, there's a "winner" of some sorts. It's pretty safe to say that the Nintendo Wii "won" the last E3, proving that waving around our hands can be fun. Not only did the Wii prove that the control scheme works, there was an amazing list of exclusives, from Nintendo's own Mario to third party efforts, like Red Steel. Nintendo wowed the crowd at E3 because of the amazing quality and potential of the games for its system.
Did Nintendo pull the big win at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany this year? No. Did Microsoft? No. Sony took the win for this year's show, but not because of a great showing of PlayStation 3 goods (there were none at the show), but because of Konami's absolutely excellent lineup of upcoming PSP games. Yes, you heard me right: PSP "won" Leipzig.
The Games Convention is Germany has just begun, but that doesn't mean we can't look towards the next big gaming event: Tokyo Game Show. Sony will have a huge presence there, ready to show off the bleeding edge PlayStation 3 and maturing PlayStation Portable lineup of games. Here's what PSP fans can expect from the show:
PSP
Boxer's Road 2: The Real Monster Hunter Portable 2 Jan Sangoku Musou Metal Gear Solid: Bande Dessinee (Graphic Novel) Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Jeanne D'Arc Sarugetchu Piposaru Racer Tenchi No Mon 2 (Kingdom of Paradise 2) Ratchet and Clank Portable Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception Gundam Battle Royale Tales of World: Radiant Mythology
PSP GPS Software
Navigation Software (temporary title) Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Homestar Portable Minna no Golf (temporary title)
I can't wait to see Metal Gear Solid and its newly announced GPS support in action. Jeanne D'Arc, Monster Hunter, Ratchet and Clank, and Tales are all pretty high-profile, and as you should know, Gundam will eat Japan. Go to Siliconera to see PS3's lineup.