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Looking ahead to TGS 2002!
Posted by Justin at September 1, 2002 12:00 AM
**UPDATED WITH MORE PREDICTIONS**
This September 20th weekend, the worldfs press will descend on a small, sleepy station around 45 minutes East of Tokyo: Keihin Makuhari.
Pasty-faced foreign giants with rucksacks and note pads will assault the East station exit. Japanese morning commuters will flee the streets, as the army of foreign game geeks stream in crocodile-file fashion for seven minutes along the immaculately tarmaced pavement. And up the Vegas style street-escalator theyfll go, flowing in droves into Makuhari Messe ? home of Japanfs biggest annual games show: TGS.
With the increasing dominance of E3 this year, the status of TGS has certainly diminished. And the market leader itself has chosen to host its own event at Sony Dream World, the new, all-singing all-dancing Sony Group show kicking off this October in Tokyo.
But TGS was always about third party software, and what wefre left with is an impressive array of big debut titles from Sega, Namco, Square, Konami, Capcom and the dozens more boutique software spin-off developers under the umbrella of the big five.
Seeing as most of Tokyopiafs contributors usually party to extinction through TGS weekend, we thought wefd pre-empt the inevitable radio silence by looking ahead to our predictions and most-wanted titles for TGS 2002.
RAVI HIRANAND (TOKYOPIA/CNN ASIA)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle. I really want to see what Square will do with the GC/GBA link-up, and the possibility of another Secret of Mana-styled action/RPG (death to turn-based games!) is a hideously tempting one.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Square will probably come out best with FF:CC and the FFX spinoffs, but personally I'm looking forward to seeing what Sega have to show. They always have a solid lineup, and if they can unveil a few surprises they can easily steal the spotlight.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
I'm not entirely sure, really. Hopefully, new developments on GC-GBA link-ups. More developers are throwing it in, but most are using it for basic functions like unlocking levels and the like. I want to see the full possibilities of it explored, but you do get the feeling that it'll be Nintendo pushing the advanced stuff, not TGS exhibitors (Square, prove me wrong!).
PEER SCHNEIDER (Network Director, IGN)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Dragon Quest 8 from Enix -- if it shows. If not, then Square's spin-off Final Fantasy title(s).
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
It all depends on what Square is planning to show... But Namco and Capcom are definitely coming on strong. Between new Capcom projects, Red Dead Revolver, Breath of Fire, DMC2 and Namco's high-profile sequels, it'll be tough to pick a favorite.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
I think the trend will be an old one: a focus on old favorites and popular franchises. The gaming market is so crowded that most companies will scale back their range of products and concentrate on tried-and-true crowdpleasers.
JUSTIN KEELING (Tokyopia)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
It has to be Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicle for GC/GBA. The FF series has been in need of a major shake up for years, and Ifm keen to see how Square will apply the core assets of FF to a completely blank canvas.
Not to mention, this is the first time wefre seeing a Final Fantasy game on a Nintendo system in eight years. Itfs history in the making.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
I should define this as ebooth Ifm going to firstf and so Ifll go with Square again on this one. Just too much good stuff to miss, and their TGS presentation is always top notch.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
The industry is desperately searching for something new. Japanese consumers need constant fresh experiences, and theyfre probably the most fickle on earth. Therefs a real sense of dread that consumers are increasingly abandoning traditional console games, and itfs taking more and more innovative leaps each time to win them back. TGS should separate the wolves from the sheep.
JOHN RICCIARDI (Tokyopia/EGM)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Probably Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle. Very curious to see what it's all about. Kind of excited about the prospect of Square on a Nintendo system again. Should be cool.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
The usual suspects... Square, Sega or maybe Capcom. I'm looking forward to Square's GBA games, Capcom's unannounced stuff (if it shows up -- I'm hoping it does) and of course, anything Sega has to offer. Most likely it'll be Square though, I think.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
Well, the industry's in a creative slump right now, so I really don't know. Hopefully we'll see some cool new online games for PS2, and some good GBA/GC link-up ideas, but overall, my expectations are kinda low. I just hope the cel-shading fad is on the out, because I'm getting tired of it. It's time for something new.
ANDREW VESTAL (Tokyopia/The GIA)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
I'm looking forward to seeing Final Fantasy X spinoffs (Yuna and Rikku); though it's possibly they'll just be soulless cash-ins, I'm expecting Square to throw some kind of curveball in their design to make things more interesting. Square's never done a direct sequel to their signature RPG franchise before ... and now they're doing two. I loved FFX to pieces, and I'm really, really curious to see what they have planned.
I really hope that the Panzer Dragoon Orta version is different from E3; I'm really looking forward to the game, and would be thrilled to see a more polished version.
Capcom has promised a lot of surprises; I hope that some of them deliver. mojib-ribbon should be insane and wonderful.
And even a poster of the ICO's team's next project would make me happy for a week.
Oh, and Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Every new feature announced for this game makes me more and more morbidly curious.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Sega should rule this TGS easily. They had a stellar lineup at E3, and with both better versions of those games and entirely new titles on the floor, this should be the show where they solidify their position as an unstoppable third-party juggernaut.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
No one will have any idea about how to bring their games online -- though this is hardly a new trend, I expect to see nothing but confused, haphazard online plans for at least the rest of this generation. Cel-shading will continue to evolve from a "me-too" gimmick into a number of unique and different styles. With Square finally (!) on GBA, the Swan series will be dead as a doornail. Lots of games will have poorly planned collecting and a-life elements, even though no one actually likes these features. With the exception of Team Ninja, the Xbox in Japan is already dead and abandoned.
GREG TAVARES (Tokyopia/SEGA-WOW Ent)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
ICO2? I didnft get to E3 so Ifd like see Ratchet and Clank and Jak & Daxter 2 if they are showing.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Artdink ;-p Maybe Sega! ;-D
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
I expect the show will look like more of the same. A little online stuff. People will call it a trend but I expect there will not be enough there to really say online is going to go anywhere in Japan yet.
SAM KENNEDY (Official PS2 magazine)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Ridge Racer 6, if it's indeed going to make an appearance. DQVIII would be awesome to see too...
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Square. It seems as though the popular RPG publisher will finally debut a couple of big name PS2 and GBA titles at this year's show. I've got my fingers crossed for an FFXII teaser.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
Not sure about what sort of trends we'll see, but it looks like this year's show will be great for RPG fans.
ERIC YAP (Tokyopia
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Ninja Gaiden
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Capcom
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
Crappy online games and rehashes!
JAMES BAGSHAWE (Tokyopia/Sega PR)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Shining Force 4 - No-one gives this RPG series the time of day - if they have ever heard of it at all - but underneath a clunky exterior is a turn-based strategy game of godlike proportions. Sega are 'undecided' what platform it is coming out on, apparently. All I can say is that if they pick the PS2 I will have to sell my soul down the river and buy one.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Sega. A predictable choice from me, but any company with Shining Force 4 and Super Monkey Ball 2 is pushing my buttons. Spare a thought, though, for Tecmo and Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball. Mmmmmm!
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
None whatsoever. Gaming is in a trough as far as I am concerned. All the games I have mentioned are sequels and spin-offs. The bold new console war has not been the explosion of creativity I was hoping for, further evidence that games are becoming too 'big business' to risk more than one or two innovative titles per year. And they are the ones that always seem to spawn the sequels......
ANOOP GANTAYAT (Tokyopia/IGN)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Easily Panzer Dragoon Orta. Parts one and three in the series are two of my most favorite games of all time, and from what I`ve heard this should be no different.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Easily Sega. It`s always Sega.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
There`ll probably be a lot more Online stuff at this year`s show, which should resemble E3, right? Especially with Microsoft and Sony pushing their Online stuff.
DAVID COYLES (Tokyopia/Morgan Stanley)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
PDO - actually seeing this game in the flesh (as it were) is exciting me quite a bit. I'm a big fan of the previous games, and this looks to be a big step up in immersion - graphically it looks stunning, hopefully the sonics, control and gameplay will match up.
MGS2 - not that i'm excited by the game as such, but the site of MGS2 on the Xbox will be a little weird. After all the fighting on the internet, it'll be interesting to see if Konami are going to bother putting anything extra into the Xbox version, or whether its a straight port of the PS2 version.
FF:CC - Link up game. Yes please! It'll be interesting to see how this idea works and what Square have in line for the GC/GBA.
ICO Team game - partly because , at the bottom of my heart, i don't want Ico 2. Ico was just so perfect that a sequal might ruin it. It's hard to explain - it's like the feeling i have about Ferris Beulers Day Off - a sequal could have been cheap, and it would have had too much to live up to. I hope it's something radically different, i just hope its something playable and something artistically beautiful.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Sega are getting better and better - Super Monkey Ball amassed the greatest queues at last years show, and the return of SMB2 (with possible inflatable monkeys again) could well see there stall being the busiest at the show. It'll be interesting to see how Shinobi goes down, and to see which platforms SA3 is going to (will Sonic finally get a showing on PS2?)
It'll also be interesting to see how Capcom fair - Biohazard serires is starting to feel a little tired, and Onimusha already seems to be pushing its look with its 3 outing in two years. With a bit of hope, the 4 unannounced titles will contain something more exciting than another Dino Crisis. Capcom could do with something new.
Square fans better take a change of pants - if this is what happens when Square are a little down on cash, then their fans must be willing them to make another FF movie every year. It's good to see Square branching out, and the FF:CC for GBA and GC will be exciting to see.
Down at rivals Enix, another drama of note is "Where is Dragon Quest 8 going?". If this game were to go to the Xbox, then this would really open things up here in Japan. However, i don't believe this is going to be the case. It's either Ps2 or GC - and for some reason, i think it might be heading to the GC. We shall see i suppose.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
Last years TGS was fairly exciting, this year seems to be only mildly so. There doesn't seem to be anything rumoured that is off the chart in terms of excitement, so this could be the year where Booth Babe letchery reaches its all time peek.
Other than that, i predict a fair low "online support" turn out, a jump in art quality and production values in games, and the usual cosplay madness.
Wefll be updating the TGS predictions page with more as they come in!
Justin Keeling
EMail Justin
This September 20th weekend, the worldfs press will descend on a small, sleepy station around 45 minutes East of Tokyo: Keihin Makuhari.
Pasty-faced foreign giants with rucksacks and note pads will assault the East station exit. Japanese morning commuters will flee the streets, as the army of foreign game geeks stream in crocodile-file fashion for seven minutes along the immaculately tarmaced pavement. And up the Vegas style street-escalator theyfll go, flowing in droves into Makuhari Messe ? home of Japanfs biggest annual games show: TGS.
With the increasing dominance of E3 this year, the status of TGS has certainly diminished. And the market leader itself has chosen to host its own event at Sony Dream World, the new, all-singing all-dancing Sony Group show kicking off this October in Tokyo.
But TGS was always about third party software, and what wefre left with is an impressive array of big debut titles from Sega, Namco, Square, Konami, Capcom and the dozens more boutique software spin-off developers under the umbrella of the big five.
Seeing as most of Tokyopiafs contributors usually party to extinction through TGS weekend, we thought wefd pre-empt the inevitable radio silence by looking ahead to our predictions and most-wanted titles for TGS 2002.
RAVI HIRANAND (TOKYOPIA/CNN ASIA)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle. I really want to see what Square will do with the GC/GBA link-up, and the possibility of another Secret of Mana-styled action/RPG (death to turn-based games!) is a hideously tempting one.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Square will probably come out best with FF:CC and the FFX spinoffs, but personally I'm looking forward to seeing what Sega have to show. They always have a solid lineup, and if they can unveil a few surprises they can easily steal the spotlight.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
I'm not entirely sure, really. Hopefully, new developments on GC-GBA link-ups. More developers are throwing it in, but most are using it for basic functions like unlocking levels and the like. I want to see the full possibilities of it explored, but you do get the feeling that it'll be Nintendo pushing the advanced stuff, not TGS exhibitors (Square, prove me wrong!).
PEER SCHNEIDER (Network Director, IGN)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Dragon Quest 8 from Enix -- if it shows. If not, then Square's spin-off Final Fantasy title(s).
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
It all depends on what Square is planning to show... But Namco and Capcom are definitely coming on strong. Between new Capcom projects, Red Dead Revolver, Breath of Fire, DMC2 and Namco's high-profile sequels, it'll be tough to pick a favorite.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
I think the trend will be an old one: a focus on old favorites and popular franchises. The gaming market is so crowded that most companies will scale back their range of products and concentrate on tried-and-true crowdpleasers.
JUSTIN KEELING (Tokyopia)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
It has to be Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicle for GC/GBA. The FF series has been in need of a major shake up for years, and Ifm keen to see how Square will apply the core assets of FF to a completely blank canvas.
Not to mention, this is the first time wefre seeing a Final Fantasy game on a Nintendo system in eight years. Itfs history in the making.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
I should define this as ebooth Ifm going to firstf and so Ifll go with Square again on this one. Just too much good stuff to miss, and their TGS presentation is always top notch.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
The industry is desperately searching for something new. Japanese consumers need constant fresh experiences, and theyfre probably the most fickle on earth. Therefs a real sense of dread that consumers are increasingly abandoning traditional console games, and itfs taking more and more innovative leaps each time to win them back. TGS should separate the wolves from the sheep.
JOHN RICCIARDI (Tokyopia/EGM)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Probably Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle. Very curious to see what it's all about. Kind of excited about the prospect of Square on a Nintendo system again. Should be cool.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
The usual suspects... Square, Sega or maybe Capcom. I'm looking forward to Square's GBA games, Capcom's unannounced stuff (if it shows up -- I'm hoping it does) and of course, anything Sega has to offer. Most likely it'll be Square though, I think.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
Well, the industry's in a creative slump right now, so I really don't know. Hopefully we'll see some cool new online games for PS2, and some good GBA/GC link-up ideas, but overall, my expectations are kinda low. I just hope the cel-shading fad is on the out, because I'm getting tired of it. It's time for something new.
ANDREW VESTAL (Tokyopia/The GIA)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
I'm looking forward to seeing Final Fantasy X spinoffs (Yuna and Rikku); though it's possibly they'll just be soulless cash-ins, I'm expecting Square to throw some kind of curveball in their design to make things more interesting. Square's never done a direct sequel to their signature RPG franchise before ... and now they're doing two. I loved FFX to pieces, and I'm really, really curious to see what they have planned.
I really hope that the Panzer Dragoon Orta version is different from E3; I'm really looking forward to the game, and would be thrilled to see a more polished version.
Capcom has promised a lot of surprises; I hope that some of them deliver. mojib-ribbon should be insane and wonderful.
And even a poster of the ICO's team's next project would make me happy for a week.
Oh, and Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Every new feature announced for this game makes me more and more morbidly curious.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Sega should rule this TGS easily. They had a stellar lineup at E3, and with both better versions of those games and entirely new titles on the floor, this should be the show where they solidify their position as an unstoppable third-party juggernaut.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
No one will have any idea about how to bring their games online -- though this is hardly a new trend, I expect to see nothing but confused, haphazard online plans for at least the rest of this generation. Cel-shading will continue to evolve from a "me-too" gimmick into a number of unique and different styles. With Square finally (!) on GBA, the Swan series will be dead as a doornail. Lots of games will have poorly planned collecting and a-life elements, even though no one actually likes these features. With the exception of Team Ninja, the Xbox in Japan is already dead and abandoned.
GREG TAVARES (Tokyopia/SEGA-WOW Ent)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
ICO2? I didnft get to E3 so Ifd like see Ratchet and Clank and Jak & Daxter 2 if they are showing.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Artdink ;-p Maybe Sega! ;-D
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
I expect the show will look like more of the same. A little online stuff. People will call it a trend but I expect there will not be enough there to really say online is going to go anywhere in Japan yet.
SAM KENNEDY (Official PS2 magazine)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Ridge Racer 6, if it's indeed going to make an appearance. DQVIII would be awesome to see too...
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Square. It seems as though the popular RPG publisher will finally debut a couple of big name PS2 and GBA titles at this year's show. I've got my fingers crossed for an FFXII teaser.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
Not sure about what sort of trends we'll see, but it looks like this year's show will be great for RPG fans.
ERIC YAP (Tokyopia
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Ninja Gaiden
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Capcom
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
Crappy online games and rehashes!
JAMES BAGSHAWE (Tokyopia/Sega PR)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Shining Force 4 - No-one gives this RPG series the time of day - if they have ever heard of it at all - but underneath a clunky exterior is a turn-based strategy game of godlike proportions. Sega are 'undecided' what platform it is coming out on, apparently. All I can say is that if they pick the PS2 I will have to sell my soul down the river and buy one.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Sega. A predictable choice from me, but any company with Shining Force 4 and Super Monkey Ball 2 is pushing my buttons. Spare a thought, though, for Tecmo and Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball. Mmmmmm!
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
None whatsoever. Gaming is in a trough as far as I am concerned. All the games I have mentioned are sequels and spin-offs. The bold new console war has not been the explosion of creativity I was hoping for, further evidence that games are becoming too 'big business' to risk more than one or two innovative titles per year. And they are the ones that always seem to spawn the sequels......
ANOOP GANTAYAT (Tokyopia/IGN)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
Easily Panzer Dragoon Orta. Parts one and three in the series are two of my most favorite games of all time, and from what I`ve heard this should be no different.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Easily Sega. It`s always Sega.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
There`ll probably be a lot more Online stuff at this year`s show, which should resemble E3, right? Especially with Microsoft and Sony pushing their Online stuff.
DAVID COYLES (Tokyopia/Morgan Stanley)
1. What game are you most looking forward to at TGS 2002?
PDO - actually seeing this game in the flesh (as it were) is exciting me quite a bit. I'm a big fan of the previous games, and this looks to be a big step up in immersion - graphically it looks stunning, hopefully the sonics, control and gameplay will match up.
MGS2 - not that i'm excited by the game as such, but the site of MGS2 on the Xbox will be a little weird. After all the fighting on the internet, it'll be interesting to see if Konami are going to bother putting anything extra into the Xbox version, or whether its a straight port of the PS2 version.
FF:CC - Link up game. Yes please! It'll be interesting to see how this idea works and what Square have in line for the GC/GBA.
ICO Team game - partly because , at the bottom of my heart, i don't want Ico 2. Ico was just so perfect that a sequal might ruin it. It's hard to explain - it's like the feeling i have about Ferris Beulers Day Off - a sequal could have been cheap, and it would have had too much to live up to. I hope it's something radically different, i just hope its something playable and something artistically beautiful.
2. Which publisher do you think will have the best lineup this year?
Sega are getting better and better - Super Monkey Ball amassed the greatest queues at last years show, and the return of SMB2 (with possible inflatable monkeys again) could well see there stall being the busiest at the show. It'll be interesting to see how Shinobi goes down, and to see which platforms SA3 is going to (will Sonic finally get a showing on PS2?)
It'll also be interesting to see how Capcom fair - Biohazard serires is starting to feel a little tired, and Onimusha already seems to be pushing its look with its 3 outing in two years. With a bit of hope, the 4 unannounced titles will contain something more exciting than another Dino Crisis. Capcom could do with something new.
Square fans better take a change of pants - if this is what happens when Square are a little down on cash, then their fans must be willing them to make another FF movie every year. It's good to see Square branching out, and the FF:CC for GBA and GC will be exciting to see.
Down at rivals Enix, another drama of note is "Where is Dragon Quest 8 going?". If this game were to go to the Xbox, then this would really open things up here in Japan. However, i don't believe this is going to be the case. It's either Ps2 or GC - and for some reason, i think it might be heading to the GC. We shall see i suppose.
3. What new trends do you expect to see at the show?
Last years TGS was fairly exciting, this year seems to be only mildly so. There doesn't seem to be anything rumoured that is off the chart in terms of excitement, so this could be the year where Booth Babe letchery reaches its all time peek.
Other than that, i predict a fair low "online support" turn out, a jump in art quality and production values in games, and the usual cosplay madness.
Wefll be updating the TGS predictions page with more as they come in!
Justin Keeling
EMail Justin
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