Tokyo Game Show 2007

The first weekend over here and I found out there is the Tokyo Gameshow 2007. This is a game conference where the big names showcase the new games. The journey there was long as it was at Chiba-Mukuhari Messe hall. Upon reaching, the whole train station was filled with people. I don’t really need to ask where was the location, just had to follow the crowd. Along the way I saw a factory outlet building for products like Nike, Adidas, Coach etc. I will probably check it out if I have the time next time. The crowd was insane, we had to queue up under the hot sun; forming about 8 queues as the entrance was not big enough.

Never in Singapore will you see tons of game makers all lined up in booths. Each booths with many booths for you to try the games. You get retro games on new consoles and you have to queue up to 45mins to try the games. Some popular games will take you an hour of waiting. That is even after they have 10 stations to try. A few games I saw were, Metal Gear Solid 4, Winning Eleven 8, Devil May Cry 4, Grand Tourismo 5 etc. Overwhelmed by games and people. They even have a system where you can literally do the actions of Dragonball and play the game. It really takes gaming to a new level.

Like the PC fair in Spore, they have gals trying to sell you the products. But over here, the gals actually pose for you. You can ask them for a picture, and they will strike a kawaii pose, sexy pose and even alternate poses for different cameras. Many people are armed with digital SLR cameras with tripods, videos and even reflectors; how professional. I swear the gals go through training before they are allowed to take the job. Took some pictures, but ALAS….my battery ran out ¼ way through the show. The stupid indicator is not accurate and the life span is not very good. This is why my number specs I look out for is battery life. There were so many gals I wanted to show you all, but could not. Too bad. There were lots of cosplay people. They actually dress up and come for the game show. In between the halls, there is a place where they will just stand there and wait for people to take pictures. There were queues forming everywhere to take picture. This is as kinky as it gets when you have gals dressing up as characters in DOA. I really wished I can explain the experience to you all in words, but it is really something you have to go and see for yourself. Not only for the gals and cosplay; the games are really mind blowing.

We went to the Chiba Pod Tower, which was really nothing much. About 130m and you get a 360 degree view. The skies were pretty foggy, as such we could not see Mt Fuji. The place is an area for shipping business. But I feel that the mayor is really trying hard to get visitors to come. They have their own LRT like system where the wheels are on the top instead, the roads are nicely paved and they have a pod tower which you don’t get a beautiful view.

We popped by an onsen (Japanese public bath) which was near Disney. Upon exiting the train station, the feeling of happiness and being a kid overtakes you. As I stepped into the Disney store, I recalled the time I visited HK Disneyland with my good friends and the girl. Sigh.

The onsen cost about $30. You have to get naked and shower on a stool. Then you hop into the different pools. Hot, warm, water channeled from a hot spring, water bed, Jacuzzi, cold water, steam room and sauna. After soaking for an hour plus, we headed for a rest on a reclined chair with TV. You can pay extra to get massages and there is place to eat. I think if we knew the time the fireworks for Disney is showing, we probably could see it too. The onsen relaxes the body so much, that the entire journey back was in a semi-sleep state; like you were on weed.