Visitors try out the latest game technology (Jiji)

Next-Generation Consoles Fight for Position
There were exhibitors at the show not only from Japan but also from Australia, Canada, France, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. New records were set for both the number and scale of the exhibits, as well as for attendance, which totaled approximately 192,000 visitors.

While the PS3 was expected to be significantly more expensive than its rivals, Sony announced at the show that the price would be cut from ¥62,790 ($523 at ¥120 to the dollar) to ¥49,980 ($417), surprising the industry insiders present and delighting game fans.

Of the PS3's rivals, Nintendo's Wii is expected to hit store shelves in December, while in November Microsoft plans to release a cheaper version of its Xbox 360, which went on sale in 2005. Competition among the three ahead of the Christmas shopping season is expected to be fierce. Exhibitions of these next-generation consoles were packed with fans.

Along with the new machines, there were numerous exhibits of the software that gamers will play on them, which were notable for looking crisp and detailed even on a big-screen TV.

Demographic Diversity
The next-generation consoles were not the only reason why this was the biggest Tokyo Game Show so far, however. Since the introduction of the handheld Nintendo DS game machine, video games have won fans among middle-aged and older people who might never have picked up a game controller before, meaning that the overall audience for games is expanding. Many exhibits at the show featured games geared more to an older crowd, such as those that involve "brain training" or learning about investment in the stock market. Another trend has been the rapid growth in online gaming sparked by the spread of high-speed Internet connections that can handle large volumes of data. There were plenty of exhibits dedicated to this sector of the gaming market.

Gamers flocked to experience Sony's PlayStation 3. (Jiji)

Also noteworthy is the development of new types of games designed to be played on cell phones. While many models have in the past featured rather simple games, there are now games that make use of the increasing computing power of mobile handsets to facilitate online play. Makers of cell phones have no intention of playing second fiddle to handheld game consoles.

With the appearance of the next-generation consoles, new types of software, online games, and games made for cell phones, this year's Game Show left visitors with the distinct impression that the gaming audience is growing in both scale and diversity. While the prevailing view in recent years was that the game industry had peaked, the arrival of new users and platforms indicates that it has instead entered a new stage of development.

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Copyright (c) 2006 Web Japan. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.