Will Tokyo Game Show Outline Handheld Gaming's Future? - News
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 03 September 2011 / 8,527 Views
In recent years, Tokyo Game Show has largely been considered to be on a down-slide in terms of relevance. The most obvious reason for this is a general lack of interest in Japanese development by many gamers. Most Game of the Year material now comes from Western developers. It doesn't help that Europe, North America, and other Asian regions are becoming even larger portions of the market. But Tokyo Game Show may see some exciting news this year around, specifically in that of handhelds.
Currently, the road map for both the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita give us very little insight into exactly where both platforms are going or how they will perform. Nintendo 3DS is finally starting to edge out of its software slump with at least two big titles for the end of this year, plus one or two titles in early Q1 2012. With the PlayStation Vita, we have some minor insight into when the platform will be launching and what sort of software will be available at launch. Our look into the future of the platform ends in early Q1 2012 with a possible Western launch for the system, but Sony's game plans until that point are still a bit blurry.
Come Tokyo Game Show, Nintendo and Sony could be showing us a larger road map for the handhelds. Andriasang found that there will be a whopping eighteen unannounced titles at the show for PlayStation Vita. Eighteen unannounced titles gives the system a lot of opportunity to show off some new impressive software. With a Japanese release for the end of the year seemingly in the books, Tokyo Game Show will most likely be more focused on the launch window, but I wouldn't be surprised if we get a glimpse at software that's further out, whether they be delayed or intentionally launched toward the end of next year.
While Nintendo won't be attending Tokyo Game Show, as usual, they might as well be. Two days before Tokyo Game Show starts, they'll be holding a Nintendo 3DS event. It would be nice to start getting some glimpses at what's beyond 2011. As of right now, the only titles in the cards is Luigi's Mansion 2 and Resident Evil: Revelations. Or the event could just be, “here are the release dates for Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, now go home.” Sure, we have that huge release list from E3 2010, but with 3rd parties backing off from the system to a certain extent, it's hard to say how much on there is still valid. While it seems unlikely, we also can't forget the rumors of a hardware update. Although, even if it were true, I'd guess it would probably be announced at a later date, closer to the supposed 2012 launch. Again, it's a rumor.
Tokyo Game Show really has the potential to show us exactly where the handheld wars will be going between the two dedicated handheld devices. Of course, we still won't know for sure until well after the PlayStation Vita launches. It's safe to say, software sells hardware. If both Nintendo and Sony reveal some strong software support, we can probably start making our bets on which platform has the most potential. Considering Tokyo Game Show's status over the recent years, the exciting possibilities of the portable handhelds may be just what the event needs to help drive it beyond being just another trade show. Otherwise, it could just be another year of idol games. I'm actually okay with this. The more Dream C Club at Tokyo Game Show, the better.
More Articles
I think the first paragraph of this article is contradicted completely by your own charts, the very charts for which this site is most famous for. They show that Japanese developed games account for all 13 of the best selling titles this generation. The highest selling non-Japanese title is Call of Duty Black Ops in at 14th.
Much of the assumptions that Western games are doing better than Eastern ones comes largely from western-biased gaming press; mostly because the closest relationships (of the Western press, which you read) are with their more local development teams; and this does not reflect the interest of most gamers. The interest of most gamers is more accurately reflected by where their dollars are spent - obviously the bulk of the sales are on Japanese titles.
I'm just glad that the entire article didn't mention smartphones once. I am getting sick of the entire smartphone vs handheld debate.
you and me both
I despise the market for those piece of crap games
all they are are rip offs of classic Nintendo, sega etc games anyway
Next thing you know you'll have Crash the Porkupine who runs at high speeds through various level jumping on oh wait where have we seen this before
I hate most indie games
specially when they are obvious ripoffs
I hope this casual Market on smartphones etc gets destroyed by the big leauge game industry
My game of the year always comes from Japan. This year I'm more interesseted in home consoles, I hope for a Resident Evil 6 announcement.
Apparently there is a Resi 6 in development
though i cant confirm it myself
my friend always manages to get this kinda information though and he's hardly ever wrong
so a resi 6 is quite possible if he says so lol
though in all honesty i'd prefer resi 1, 2 &3 remake with the resi 4 Engine that would be awesome :D
I just hope Nintendo surprises us with something good! Something for the old fans instead of the new ones for a change.
lol nothing wrong with rehases
Personally I think that some of these older games deserve the graphical boost specially when we see so many really bad games with gorgeous graphics these days
I'd rather a remake of one of the older final fantasys than play through that aweful exscluse FF13
I'm hoping for Mario & Luigi 3DS
Animal Crossing, Paper Mario and Kid Icarus are all big releases for next year on 3DS, aren't they? Animal Crossing in particular could be huge.
I do agree though, this TGS and Nintendo's press briefing before hand are very important in mapping out the near-future of traditional handheld systems. I'd expect software and dates from Nintendo's briefing, and obviously the same is coming from Sony's briefing. A Monster Hunter on either system would steal the show from the Japanese point of view. If Sony are feeling particularly bold, they'll undercut 3DS's software pricing to give Nintendo a real struggle for control of the market. As big as Nintendo's brands are, if they're undercut by Vita's retail software, then 3DS's momentum will be short-lived.
Nintendo need definite or near-definite dates for Mario Land, Mario Kart 7, Luigi's Mansion 2, Animal Crossing, Paper Mario, Kid Icarus and Resident Evil: Revelations--even if these titles are up to 12 months away, it'll be good to know the long-term line up of the system is strong. Announcements of additions to the online services and a couple more big first and third party titles wouldn't go amiss, Sony could really steal the Japanese market's attention at TGS, and Nintendo need to do everything they can to give Vita strong competition from launch.
Fire Emblem 3DS is what I'm hoping for. When Nintendo announces that and makes a 3DS redesign (I need a longer battery), then I will be getting my 3DS.
I wouldn't hold your breath on that one. Battery technology doesn't look like it's going to advance much in the forseeable future. Plus, when it does, a re-design won't be necessary. You can already buy longer batteries from third parties, they're just bigger and bulkier. I don't think Nintendo is in the business of making a bigger and bulkier system unless they go for a DSi XL type thing; in which case, due to the size of it, it is unlikely Street Pass will be used much at all - DSi XL is too big for pockets.
slight correction of sorts, 18 unannounced 'playable' games for vita. it's confirmed that with 'video only' reveals there will be over 40 games in total for the system at TGS
WORD SONY NEED TO FOCUS ON PSP AND THE CAMRA FOR THE PSP THE CAMRA SOULD BE LIKE KINECT BUT FOR PSP OR MAYBE BETTER THAT WILL KEEP PSP RUNNING FOR YEARS TO COME MAKE GAMES FOR THE CAMRA NEW DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT FOR THE PSP .BUT FOCUS ON THE CAMRA THAT WILL BRING GAMES TO THE PSP AS THE YEARS GO BY
if innovation is shown then i'll join thr new war of handhelds
If the future of handhelds is revealed, this could be the first time in years the TGS overshadows the E3. Seriously, the only big pieces of news from that were the Vita's pricepoint and a promise of seemingly annual Halos.
i know that its over for 3ds yo i think sony sould really focus on not just vita but the psp and it future it still a powerful system and compare that with 3ds 3ds has nothing on psp psp have good internet .more online games psn skype radio downloadable content video music the usb and it could do more hope they talk about bringing netflicks to psp and other content .but let get to the future of the game for psp SONY need to bring out a high tech new camra for psp the one they have is ight but could do better psp has a usb that and download and memory that powerful in my eyes they need to come out with a camra something this time like knicnet but for psp with web cam gyro motion sesensor control im give the psp new life with the cam like record take pics and download new content like notes and store information that they could do and focus on game to bunble it up with psp and 2 games psp with out sell 3ds psp need to be on sony mind at the show
