Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Games

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Tokyo Game Show goodies

For many of the Tokyo Game Show’s male visitors, it’s a great chance to take pictures of the gamut of goodies on display, allowing them a sneak preview of something that in the near future they’ll be able to view in the privacy of their own homes, where, if it turns out to be as good as they hope, will provide endless hours of joystick fiddling fun.

Tokyo Game Show girlies

Plus, if they are really lucky, it may also involve multiplayer action.

Tokyo Game Show girlies

But, as well as games galore, the event also boasts a considerable cosplay contingent, sporting all manner of weird and wonderful outfits.

Japanese cosplay

A pastime that whether rightly or wrongly is often derided, with its more vocal detractors claiming that such gatherings are little more than modern day freak shows. Such views however are a little on the harsh side to say the least, as regardless of how colourful and chaotic these get-togethers may be, they are hardly a throwback to the bad old days of bearded ladies.

Japanese cosplay

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Well expensive Wii

There would appear to be no looking back for Nintendo as far as the console contest goes, with the Wii outselling Sony’s PlayStation 3 in Japan by a sensational six units to one. And with the machine still in relatively short supply, some retailers have opted to try and cash in on the craze by offering overly priced overseas models instead.

One outlet in Tokyo’s Akihabara district for example is desperately trying to draw in the more determined with a U.S. version of the Wii for the decidedly not discounted price of almost 60,000 yen (500 dollars) — twice the cost of a Japanese model.

Japan Wii

The management somewhat unwisely deciding to display the console on top of its even more outrageously priced American PS3.

Japan Wii

Which at a whopping 128,000 yen (1,000 dollars) has, perhaps not surprisingly, been unsuccessfully on sale since January.

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Giant Japanese jubblies

Whilst Japan may well be considered the natural of home of video games, the fun for all the family approach nurtured by Nintendo isn’t necessarily a true reflection of the current climate. A point perfectly proven by the enormous earnings of eroge, a genre that cannily combines erotica and gaming — its anime style only adding to its allure.

Yet with the competition growing faster than fans can fiddle with their joysticks, Japanese developers are opting for increasingly more memorable promotional material. Like the people behind the boob-related Oppai Baka for example, who are thoughtfully allowing potential customers to quite literally get a feel for the game before making a purchase.

Japanese eroge games

And just to make sure customers don’t feel too self-conscious about manhandling the merchandise, there’s a sign encouraging them to “squeeze all you want”, although overly exaggerated facial expressions are apparently optional.

Japanese eroge games

That said, how many people would be keen on copping a feel so near the counter is unclear.

Japanese eroge games

Much more on the ins and outs of eroge can be found at dannychoo.com, and the images are via Akibaos.

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Timeless Tokyo

Whilst the PlayStation 3 may not exactly be setting Japanese sales figures on fire, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the residents of Tokyo are no longer interested in games — rather they may just be reveling more in the realm of retro gaming instead.

Or at least some people are, with three floors of old school gaming goodness in Akihabara perfectly proving the point.

Japanese games shop

The entrance itself it has to be said is fairly hard to miss,

Japanese games shop

and as far as consoles go, there’s an ample amount available.

Japanese games

It’s the same story for software too, with certainly no shortage as far as selection is concerned.

Japanese games

Plus for the fella looking for a bit of fashion to go with his fun, this watch may be more rubbish than Rolex; however it does have a certain charm – of sorts.

Japanese nintendo watch

More so than this clock anyway.

Japanese nintendo clock

And finally, for those a little more gung-ho about their gaming, there’s always the option of the Homer.

Japanese retro console

With the firearm coming free.

(click images for higer-res retro rubbishness)

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Tokyo transgression

“I spent the money at video game arcades. I murdered them so I could steal some money.”

Hiroshi Shimura’s confession to the police after being arrested for withdrawing money from the account of a man found dead in Tokyo last month.

Third-year University student Shimura is now being grilled further about the incident, which resulted in 61-year-old Shinichiro Nomoto and his 86-year-old mother being murdered at their Tokyo home in late January. An investigating officer reiterating the senselessness of the crime by confirming that the 21-year-old student had frequented game arcades for several years; however how much Shimura-san’s Dance Dance Revolution honed dexterity will benefit him in the prison showers,

dance dance revolution japan

remains to be seen.