And our 2006 Tokyo Game Show coverage officially kicks off this afternoon with Microsoft Japan's Media Briefing at Shibuya's super swish Cerulean Tower hotel. Press continue to filter in, and we've got our seats front and center (well, not center center, but centerish). As the console wars begin to kick into overdrive, and with a competitive Japanese market just about to get more so, we're expecting Microsoft to counter with something. Anything.
![[IMG]](http://www.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2006/09/xboxjapandude.jpg)
The doors just closed, and the Evian water bottle trolly was rolled away. On the screen is a loud pumping clip of some dude kicking Xbox 360s. He is not wearing a shirt. "Customize" is the message. Now, he is flipping around the faceplates and grabbing a wireless controller. More kicking. He's all sweaty. Now, he is shadow boxing Xbox Live. More kicking. Xbox 360 console float around him.
First on stage is Xbox Japan honcho Takashi Sensui. He said they will talk about what developments you can expect from Xbox Japan. Now, he's going on about the Xbox 360 community that has been established since the product launch. He's saying that the community is growing that is due to higher tech game consoles. But, under the current circumstances, a new change is needed. Such as Xbox Live. He's talking up the software, and saying that because the Xbox 360 was made by a software company and easy to develop for.
Hit the jump for more.
Now, he is going to talk about Xbox 360 in Japan. Says when we look at the game industry in Japan, and that there is a generation change. Do Choice. Do Games. And Do Live. That's the motto for the console here. It is possible for each individual to personalize and make choices.
Those three marketing concepts are embodied in that do!do!do! ads.
Regarding do!Game, he says that by Christmas, there will be over 100 titles, including Japan-friendly titles. Thus, the image that the games are for Western gamers will hopefully be erased. Says they believe they will have the strongest lineup.
For do!Choice, personalization is the key, Sensui says.
Next up, do!Live, he says the game goes from an individual activity to a community play. It's more social.
These three things are what will make the console a success in Japan.
Now, he's going to talk about do!Choice. The chore system will be priced at 28,381 yen. And go on sale November 2nd. "For many users, this will have the power to induce them". ? For a limited time, there will be a core system bundled with Project Gotham Racing 3 and Ninety Nine Nights. "This will be the cheapest next-gen console, even compared to Wii and the PS3."
Xbox Live Vision. Some lady is holding it up. The camera will be packaged with Uno. The lady is still holding the camera. I bet her arms hurt. It will go on sale from November 2nd. For 4,200 yen.
Sensui is now holding the wireless headset, which he says is very stylish. This will go on sale November 2nd for 6,300 yen. EVERYTHING HAPPENS NOVEMBER 2nd.
Oh, wait. There's a wireless steering wheel. But, no release date. Not yet. We must wait.
There is a Hard Dive (20GB) for 9,975 yen. It also goes on sale, guess when, November 2nd. A remote too for 3,150 yen.
Now, HD DVD player. If it is connect vis USB cable, you can view HD DVD via your console. It looks 6 times better. It is full HD DVD 1080p. Now, how he wants to see how it works.
![[IMG]](http://www.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2006/09/hddvdpride.jpg)
Some Universal Pictures movie. Oh, Fast and the Furious. Ick. Tokyo Drift. It is out in theaters now in Japan. Don't see it. Some other dude is showing us how it works, not Sensui-san. Mike doesn't know his name.
So, the screen is HUGE, making it nearly impossible to tell how it looks. But, while you are playing the film, you can get access to various things, including bookmarks, enabling you to jump around. Read: skip ahead if it sucks.
HD DVD lets people watch behind the scenes features with a little window. And there's video chat, which is pretty cool. Once again, if the movie isn't so hot.
So when does it go on sale?
November 22nd.
It will bank for 20,790 yen.
Peter Moore has just walked on stage, but hasn't shown us his tats yet. He says this TGS is making him the "most excited."
Peter Moore now says Microsoft is ready to finally deliver on its promise to Japan. 50 exclusive titles to Japan. He is talking about how important Japan is. He is wearing a green tie. Now, talking about how Microsoft won't give up on Japan. Next week, Moore is going to India. And then South Africa. He's talking about the global business.
Moore is going on about downloads, the power of demos (Dead Rising), TGS downloads, etc.
Next year, Xbox Live will hit Vista. Xbox Live Arcade, which has been embraced the most by Japanese publishers, Moore says.
We're watching a clip with loud, pumping music. Five new games for Xbox Live Arcade. Exclusive to Japan: Yir Ar Kung Hu. Not Japan only; Gyruss, Rush n Attack.
At Bandai Namco, Ms Pac Man and New Rally X.
"They are our heritage," says Moore.
Pac-Man. Instant hit. Old people are good at it. Moore is happy. In early 2007, Microsoft is holding the Pac Man World Championship in NYC. Microsoft will fly out the ten best players. "Time to start training," he says.
![[IMG]](http://www.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2006/09/moore_with_pacmanman.jpg)
Toru Iwatani (Pac Man creator) is on stage. He's not wearing a tie. He never does. He is talking about all the people that have enjoyed it. With the 360, you can upload your score to XBL and compete with the score ranking board. This is unprecedented. Iwatani is pleased about the World Championship. He said that people in 40s started playing and now can be enjoyed by their children, thus making it a communication tool.
Iwatani is teaching at Tokyo Polytech University and will be teaching game design. Four Japanese universities, including Todai, Ritsumeikan, Osaka Denktsushi University and Tokyo Polytech will be using XNA.
Moore thanks all the retailers that have believed in them, the hardcore Japanese gamers and the Japanese publishers.
Moore has left the stage. No tats. Boo HISS.
Sensui back on stage and got in trouble for not providing a photo op with the HD DVD player. Now, he is talking about do!do!do! Yes, again. He says the most important one is games. By the end of the year, there will be 110 titles (including XBL Arcade). Currently, there are 69. Two thirds of them are developed in Japan. He is showing DoA Xtreme 2 as an example of a popular "sports" game. He cannot show us game visuals of Winning Eleven. Regarding price and launch, announcements will be "soon."
Now we are looking at DoA visual. EVERYONE'S CAMERA JUST WENT UP.
...
...
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Okay, back.
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This clip is WAY TOO LONG.
"We hope you enjoyed it. There is really nothing we can say," says Sensui. Yep. DoA Xtreme 2 will go on sale in November, but not November 2nd. The dates are 11/15 (US) and 11/22 (Japan).
They just popped in a trailer for Lost Planet, looking rad as ever. Can't wait for this one. Now, there are showing what looks to be the multiplayer, equally cool. The game will go on sale 12/21 (Japan).
For the first time ever, they are showing the visuals for Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream, which *gasp* has Chopin music in it. This clip is very relaxing and making me sleepy. Everyone has been feet. Oh, you can kill people. And there's fighting. And Chopin! This game looks trippy. The release date hasn't been decided yet. "The narration is heartwarming," points out Sensui. The piano bits are played by someone famous.
Now, Microsoft Japan game studios.
Tri-Ace's Infinite Undiscovery. Big RPG title. No details at the moment. Sensui says he cannot show us game play but asks us to imagine it from a still. Uh. Okay.
Now, Hironobu Sakaguchi is on stage. His 'stache is huge. He said he was making adjustments until 1AM. Things are moving smoothly for Blue Dragon. The launch is 12/7. He is going to play the game for us. First, he is going to play Lost Odyssey for ten minutes or so. The demo is an hour. I bet he kicks ass.
Long clip at the beginning. Sakaguchi is not playing yet. In this darkness, Mike tells me he can still make out Sakaguchi's stache. Soldiers fighting. Giant tanks things. Swords. Lots and lots of swords. And dirt. There is dirt. Looks kinda medieval.
Now, he's gonna play. There are like a thousand bad dudes against Sakaguchi. Lets see this cowboy rock and roll. He says this is all playable in real time. Looks impressive. Lots of fire. Hey, guess what? Sakaguchi is pretty good!
He just has destroyed some big medieval tank thingy. Now, the soldiers are ganging up on him. The sky is making noises, and this red lava starts pouring out. The soldiers run away. There is loads, I mean, loads of CGI. I feel like I'm watching a movie. But Sakaguchi is here. And his 'stache.
Piano music. The lava destroyed everything. Now violins. Okay, I am so sad.
Now loading...
He's going to stop for now. But, after this, there is 40 minutes more. He said the game's system is pretty simple. Demos will be bundled with Famitsu in October.
![[IMG]](http://www.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2006/09/sakaguchi_bluedragon.jpg)
Blue Dragon. Sakaguchi said loading hasn't been optimized as the game is still in development. Crab monsters! This game has robotic crab monsters! The design and battle scenes are really cool. With rock-like organ music.
Mike says: Screech metal rocks the room. They take on a huge Dr. Wiley-esque robot. Harumaru's genie dragon is shown. Another character, Jiro, whips out a bull dragon.
HAIR METAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FF-style summons, with the dragon going apeshit.
He is talking about Lost Odyssey, the character cannot die for 1,000 years. He talks about the challenges and how fresh the game is. He's mentioning Toriyama (Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest creator) and his work on Blue Dragon. He says the story has a little drama. The game will take 40 hours. "If we can make you cry, then the game will be a success," he says. He says there is a lot of customization. He compares some of the scenes to Pixar.
Sakaguchi is showing us a promotion video for Blue Dragon, and has left the stage.
Sensui has returned. He said each titles will be representative of next-gen RPGs. To mark Blue Dragon, Microsoft will launch the Blue Dragon Core System Premium Pack for 28,391 yen on December 7th, when the game console launches.
Back to do!do!do! Everyone is getting ready to leave. Perhaps, its because Sensui is going on about do!do!do! again? And we're wrapping up and clapping and looking at a clip of Xbox 360 TGS games. With the do!do!do! music.
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