While Sony's 2006 Tokyo Game Show keynote speech was something of a letdown for gamers looking for announcements of anything PlayStation-3-related, the same could not be said about Sony's press site. Shortly after the keynote speech concluded, Sony made screenshots and info available for 32 PS3 games, including five that were previously unannounced.

Leading the pack is the official announcement of Ninja Gaiden Sigma for the next-gen system. The game will once again be developed by Tomonobu Itagaki's Team Ninja, and will be the first Ninja Gaiden game since Ninja Gaiden Black for the Xbox. Few details have been released about the game, other than its Japanese release date--spring 2007. However, screenshots released indicate that the blonde-haired Rachel will be a playable character.

From slicing up bad guys to slicing golf balls, it also appears that there will be another golf game to choose from for PS3 owners. In addition to the previously announced Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 07 and next-gen version of Hot Shots Golf, Sega is offering up Sega Golfclub featuring the Miyazato Family. The game will feature the Miyazoto siblings, a trio of famous Japanese golfers, on real-life courses such as St. Andrews. The game will be a launch title in Japan.

Another new game announced was a PlayStation 3 version of the Flash-based Web game flOw (working title). According to Sony, the game features "a new style of entertainment provided by the download capability of the PlayStation 3," and players will be able to "dive into the blue with the 6-way motion-sensing controller." The price and release date of the game were listed as TBA.

Next on the list is Genki's driving game Wangan Midnight, based on the Japanese comic of the same name that runs in Young Magazine. Slated for release in spring of 2007, Wangan Midnight will have players racing through the streets at speeds over 300km/hour. Genki has previously developed games based on the license for the PlayStation 2 and arcades.

Japanese consoles love their mahjong games, and Konami is bringing another one to the PS3. Arriving day-and-date with the system in Japan will be Mahjong Fight Club Online. The game will allow gamers to test their mahjong mettle against one another, or one of 48 computer players based on real-life experts from the Japan Professional Mahjong League.

One previously announced game was also given a tentative subtitle. The next Monster Kingdom game will have the suffix Unknown Realms (working title) tacked to its name, and will be released in spring 2007.

Some of the listed games had new features confirmed for them as well. When Sony first unveiled the PS3 controller's motion-sensing capabilities, Warhawk was the only game confirmed to make use of them. However, a number of other games included variations of the phrase "new motion-sensing controller" on their feature lists.

Among them is a trio of Sony titles: the action-slasher Heavenly Sword, the dragon-riding Lair, and the first-person shooter Resistance: Fall of Man. Third-party titles making use of the motion-sensing feature include Capcom's Monster Kingdom Unknown Realms and Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 7. Both of those games, as well as Lair, will also support downloadable content.

[UPDATE] Two mysterious black boxes initially labeled "coming soon," were revealed to be Gran Turismo HD, which had been conspicuously absent, and Shirokishi, a new role-playing game from Level 5, the studio behind Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King. ...

A long line of jet-lagged foreign journalists lined up at the overseas press registration booth in the cavernous lobby of the Makuhari Messe, longtime venue of the Tokyo Game Show. Today marks the opening of the show, which was presided over by two of the Japan's most prominent and outspoken game executives: Sony Computer Entertainment President Ken Kutaragi and Square Enix president Yoichi Wada.

Starting off the day was Kutaragi's keynote, which many expected would be a massive download of PlayStation 3 information. Simply put, it wasn't: the executive talked mainly about "big picture" issues for the console, showed a few game trailers, and avoided speaking specifically about the console's upcoming launch. However, after the event, he did tell reporters the lower-end, 20GB-equipped version of the console would come with an HDMI port--and enjoy a significant price drop in Japan.

Kutaragi ran a bit late, postponing Wada's address to the crowd. When the latter took the stage, though, it was clear he was there not as the head of one of the world's biggest role-playing game developer, but as chairman of the Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA), the game-industry lobby which is roughly Japan's answer to the Entertainment Software Association.

After first taking the stage, Wada joked that he "had absolutely no surprises in store," eliciting laughter from the audience. He then gave an overview of the current state of the worldwide game industry, which is now worth an estimated 1.9 trillion yen (about $16.3 billion) annually. Despite some analysts' gloomy predictions, international retail games sales have expanded an average of 9.3 percent annually over the last four years. If income from online games is added to the equation, that growth rate shoots up to 11.9 percent. "You will not find any other segment that enjoys such high annual growth," he told the crowd confidently.



Journos line up to hear Wada speak.
Ironically, given his position, Wada has been a longtime vocal critical of the game industry in Japan. In his hour-long speech, he once again stressed the sector's need to move forward. His message was clear: Wada feels there is a lot of potential for growth in the ever-changing game market--and publishers must take advantage of this, or be left in the dust.

"Games will have to cater to a much broader spectrum to succeed," he said. "The crisis in the game industry is not volume, but quality. As far as volume goes, there is no need for concern. If you take a business-as-usual approach, there will be a crisis."

The executive's thoughts on untapped game markets seemed to echo those of Nintendo, which is attempting to reach out to non-traditional gamers with its Wii console--and already has with its DS handheld, which is extremely popular amongst diverse age groups in Japan. He said that although people associated games with teenagers, 50 percent of men and two-thirds of women under 40 want to start gaming.

From there, Wada gave a brief overview of pivotal events in Japanese game-business history, such as how the original PlayStation's introduction of discs as game media slashed production costs. "The appearance of the PlayStation has created a richer system for game [production]," he said. "SCE has brought down the cost of the hardware, and they have redistributed the savings rather well to their customers."

Wada then mentioned how the proliferation of increasingly complex electronics makes virtually any device a potential game platform. "I think the industry can respond to this challenge, as all kinds of devices are available," he declared. "Devices found in living room, in your office, and on your desktop can be used for games. Games will be available in all aspects of your life. Thus we see a wider range of people, such as females, with a growing interest in games."

However, going after that wider audience means a fundamental rethink on how games are made, according to the executive. "In the past, game users were young men," said Wada. "We have to grasp the needs of new customers, as lifestyles differ from customer to customer. We need to choose what is best for them. Until now, gaming machines were specialized devices. From now, almost every electronic device will be able to play games. There are great possibilities, but it will be very challenging for developers, because each machine will require different programming."



The Makuhari Messe, longtime home of TGS.
The Square-Enix chief also said that soon, games will no longer be confined to the flat screen. He gave many futuristic possibilities for graphics, such as the projection of images on retinas, output through robots, laser beam graphics, and holograms.

However, in the nearer term, Wada sees the biggest advances coming from networked gameplay over the Internet. "Communication with certain rules is what games are all about," he proclaimed. "Until now, only creators produced content. From now on, though, ...

Source: A Famitsu interview with Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi that sprung up in the Beyond3D.com forums.



What we heard: Microtransactions are a white-hot topic in the gaming biz. Publishers love them because it's an easy way to scoop up easy revenue. Gamers love them because they can pick and choose what they want to add to their game for a few bucks.

Well, that's the theory at least. Some of the more vocal gamers have expressed displeasure over the choices and prices of content, claiming that several items aren't worth what publishers are charging (horse armor ring a bell?). On the other side of things, some publishers are being forced to lower prices on online content after dismal sales. In short, the business of microtransactions is off to a cool start.

If a post on the message boards of Web site Beyond3d.com is true, gamers haven't even seen the tip of the iceberg. A forum member who goes by the nom de plume "one" posted his/her translation of an interview with Gran Turismo creator and Polyphony Digital president Kazunori Yamauchi that originally appeared in Japanese game magazine Famitsu.

The interview allegedly says that the Gran Turismo debut on the PlayStation 3 will come in two forms, one called Gran Turismo HD: Premium and one called Gran Turismo HD: Classic.

Premium will feature "the full graphics power of the PS3" and include 30 cars and two courses, with the option to buy more of each later. There will allegedly be one mode--a casual racing mode--that doesn't include the typical GT gameplay of winning races and acquiring cars and medals.

Classic will (racing fans brace yourself) come with no cars or courses and is basically the demo that was playable at E3. According to the translation, 750 cars will be downloadable for 50-100 yen ($0.43-$0.86) each and 50 race tracks will be downloadable for 200-500 yen ($1.72-$4.30) apiece. The translation also states that cars will be released on a monthly basis, with some being available in limited quantities. New modes and tuning kits may also be downloadable.

There was no mention of how much the games would cost, or if they would be included as a pack-in with the PlayStation 3.

It's obvious that publishers are still a bit confused as to how microtransactions are going to sit with gamers. But if such a scenario comes to pass, Sony could have a full-fledged riot on their hands, if the scathing comments in the Beyond3D forums are any indication.

The official story: Sony had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

Bogus or not bogus?: We're hoping bogus, but abstaining until something more official emerges. ...

Earlier this week at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft took the wraps off its external HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360. The add-on, which will cost 20,790 yen (about $177) when it starts selling in Japan on November 22, will play movies on the next-generation video format. HD-DVDs can hold up to 30GB of data on a dual-layered disc. However, Xbox 360 games will still only be available on standard DVDs, which can hold around 9GB on a dual-layered disc.

Both models of the PlayStation 3 come equipped with internal drives that play Blu-ray Discs, the HD-DVD rival that can hold 50GB on a dual-layered disc. Unsurprisingly, this contrast was seized upon by Dave Karraker, the new senior director of corporate communications for Sony Computer Entertainment America.

In a rebuttal issued late last night, Karraker criticized Microsoft's decision to make the 360 drive optional. "It's unfortunate that Microsoft's external HD-DVD drive will not enhance the experience at all for the gamer," he said. "Sony realizes that to truly take gaming into the next generation requires a larger data format for both games and movies. PS3 uses the Blu-ray format for gaming, giving developers 50GB of high-definition storage on a single disc, while Microsoft's 9GB DVD gaming format is an obstacle for storing HD content."

Karraker also took a potshot at Microsoft's recent announcement that the 360 would support 1080p video resolution. "Microsoft's announced HD games patch is really just a compatibility feature," charged the executive. "Upscaling lower-resolution content does not make it full HD (1080p), something that PS3 can do out of the box."

While the software update for the Xbox 360 will upscale existing games to 1080p, a Microsoft rep told GameSpot earlier this week that it will also be able to handle content made specifically for 1080p, if developers choose to create it. However, Microsoft today declined to comment on Karraker's statements, which are the latest salvo in a war of words between the big three next-gen console makers. ...

Last month, Activision and RedOctane, publishers of the popular PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero, filed suit against peripheral manufacturer The Ant Commandos (TAC) over its unlicensed guitar controllers. Rock-and-roll is nothing if not belligerent, so it seems fitting that TAC is firing back.

Guitar Hero controller (l) and TAC Freedom V Wireless controller (r)TAC today announced that it has filed a countersuit against RedOctane and Activision, alleging that they have violated federal antitrust legislation.

Much of the RedOctane/Activision complaint centers around the packaging and advertising similarities between the official Guitar Hero game and controllers, and TAC's own "Guitar Mania" line of peripherals. In TAC's countersuit, the company claims that it was RedOctane and Activision who mimicked its own offerings. Specifically, it refers to the Magical Guitar peripheral that TAC part-owner Topway Electrical Appliance made for Konami's Guitar Freaks series of games in 1999.

A TAC representative told GameSpot that the CEO and sales manager of RedOctane visited Topway's Chinese factory twice, once in 2001 and again in 2004, asking questions about the design of the Magical Guitar controller. The representative also said that TAC purchased several hundred of the guitar controllers from Topway between 2002 and 2004, when RedOctane was known primarily as a seller of unlicensed peripherals for rhythm games like Konami's Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Freaks.

Topway's original Magical Guitar.TAC is asking a judge to prevent Activision and RedOctane from selling its Guitar Hero game bundled with a controller. The company wants the game sold exclusively on its own, so that consumers can then decide which controller they would like to use. Despite the legal wrangling, TAC has said it will continue to design, make, and sell its Guitar Mania line. ...

From Software loves giant battling robots. The developer has created the mech-combat game Chromehounds for the Xbox 360, a handful of Armored Core games, and the Japanese game Metal Wolf Chaos, which sees a fictional American president hop into a giant set of battle armor and deliver a thousand hollow points of light into enemies invading the US.

Today, publisher Sega and From Software announced that Armored Core 4, which was briefly mentioned at last year's Tokyo Game Show, will come to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in spring 2007.

The date is news, as previous reports had the Xbox 360 version releasing this year, and the PS3 edition was given the nebulous "To Be Announced" release date. No further details were announced. ...

Dan Tudge, head honcho in BioWare's recently announced handheld arm, has been speaking about the developer's DS project currently underway in an interview with Next-Gen.biz.

Huge, monstrous beans spilled were not when it came to details on the DS title - an RPG - Tudge remaining somewhat coy on the info issue, but he did drop a few hints. He said that the handheld team is "planning a lot of big things" for the game, talking about a strong, story-driven experience and that the team will be taking advantage of DS's touchscreen, microphone and wi-fi features.

Tudge additionally spoke of how the "size and scope of a BioWare game is something that will have to be carefully thought of" when questioned on challenges of developing the game for the DS, suggesting that whatever's being cooked up will be a typical BioWare epic - even if it is being squeezed onto handheld.

But whether the DS game is based on an existing BioWare property or a brand new IP remains a mystery, although with the project apparently around a year away from completion it can't be too long before we find out. When it finally materialises, we can expect "the same hallmarks of quality and a well-written story... a lot of innovation in a lot of key areas within the BioWare methodology, as well as with the DS", Tudge promised.

In the interview, he also explained why BioWare has opted to focus on DS for its handheld venture, saying the machine "really presented the first sort of opportunity to really be innovative, and conducive to the very classic BioWare innovation in the RPG handheld space."

However, the PSP, and indeed other handheld devices, are not being ruled out for future handheld BioWare projects.

"Any handheld platform is open to us. It's really [about] what handheld platform fits our goals for the product. Really, that's what it's about... I certainly can't say 'no' to anything", Tudge revealed. "All I can tell you right now is that we'll be focusing on the DS for our first title." ...

Japanese price-drop aside, there's another reason for PS3 fans to be happy this morning; this latest jaw-dropping Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer fresh from TGS, showing the first gameplay scenes and more plot revelations from Hideo Kojima's stunning PS3 stealth instalment.

We don't want to spoil the hair-raising scenes and set-pieces shown off in the trailer, so we can only urge you to boot up our fancy video player on the right and soak-up the latest footage from Solid Snake's first - and perhaps last - PS3 epic.

Metal Gear Solid 4 - with any luck - will be out late next year.

Trailer Here ...

Gran Turismo HD - previously thought to be merely a technology demo - is coming to the PlayStation 3 as a game in its own right. Indeed, it will be on sale in Japan before Christmas, and in the US and Europe in 2007 - it could even be a European launch title for the PS3.

Polyphony Digital president Kazunori Yamauchi gave a talk about and demonstration of GT HD at the Tokyo Games Show. He revealed that the game will comprise two parts, entitled GT HD Premium and GT HD Classic. He said: "The idea of GT HD Premium is that it will give a sneak preview of Gran Turismo 5. It will be a cutting-edge game, maximising the power available from the PS3." GT HD Premium will not have an online component, but will boast 30 cars and two (as yet unspecified) tracks; Yamauchi's TGS demo showed a public-roads track in the shadow of The Eiger mountain in Switzerland.

Yamauchi explained the thinking behind GT HD Classic: "We wanted to pursue the possibilities behind network gaming offered by the PS3. We took the Gran Turismo assets and recreated them in full HD, then focused on the online aspect of the HD experience." Essentially, GT HD Classic imports most of the assets from Gran Turismos from the past, and assembles them into an online game which, among other things, will allow players to create their own track days and have drifting competitions. GT HD Classic will have 770 cars, 51 tracks and over 4,500 items in all -- as Yamauchi explained: "All downloadable. This is where the PlayStation Store comes into play. Prices for the downloads have not yet been decided, or the structures of the business models."

Yamauchi added: "We are coming to a transition in gaming style. In 1997, Gran Turismo offered over 100 hours of condensed gameplay, and you needed to play it to the full extent to get all the items in the game. With GT HD, we thought we would take a different approach. We would give it casual gaming-style accessibility, so players can maybe play for 10 to 30 minutes, every day. That is one of the reasons why we decided not to call it Gran Turismo 5". ...