[Report of Tokyo Game Show 2012] The conqueror of the game market of Japan is a mobile social game

Tokyo game show 2012 was held on September 20 - 23. 220,000 or more people visited there. This is the record-high number of Tokyo Game Show.

There is big characteristic in this Tokyo Game Show. It is a "mobile social game". It became the topic last year that GREE exhibited in Tokyo Game Show. There were very little exhibition of a mobile game and the social game last year. However, the situation changed suddenly in only one year. Every game company releases the mobile social games now. It was only SCE not to have exhibited a mobile social game in Tokyo Game Show2012.

In addition, GREE CEO Tanaka gave keynote speech this year. 

And the GREE booth was huge as ever and was showy. A lot of booth babes, a lot of objects, a lot of stage event etc ... However, the most important thing is that their new mobile social game is full 3DCG. Of course they support a smartphone and are free to play style. They evolve from conventional J-card game.

Furthermore, the booth of gloops was gorgeous, too. The booth of their Tokyo Game Show2011 was.......

But, this year …

They grew rapidly in one year. They run many mobile social games in GREE and Mobage. The net income of Q1 of their this year is 3,097 million yen. Incidentally, the online game company Nexon acquire them for 36,500 million yen today.
See Also: Online Games Giant Nexon Acquires Japanese Mobile Games Developer gloops For $468.4M Cash

The booth was small, but colopl fought hard, too.

They have been considered to be a company of geolocation game for future phone until now. Of course still they achieve big achievements. However, they release the high quality 3D game for smartphones now. They are going to shift to a smartphone.


The existing game company is also obliged to change.

Bushiroad starts social game platform "Bushimo" for smartphones from this winter. One-third of their booths were exhibit space of Bushimo.

SEGA established the subsidiary of the mobile social game speciality.  Quarter of their booth was exhibit space of the game for smartphones.

When Tokyo Game Show2012 is summarized, it is mobile & social. And in Japan, Social game = "play on mobile". For a Japanese, it is a matter of course to play a social game in mobile. Furthermore, it shifts from future phone to a smartphone rapidly. 

I think that the time changed. It is the turning point of the big times now. Tokyo Game Show2012 expressed it.

See Also:

Graphics: How Mobile Games Are Taking Over Tokyo Game Show [Social Games]

If you want to see many photos of Tokyo Game Show2012, please check albums of vsmedia's Facebook page.

Tokyo Station overflows with Namekos

I wrote about popular game application "Nameko Saibai Kit" for smartphones in Japan several times.
See also:
The game application which is the most popular in Japan is a "nameko mushroom"
Japanese popular game apps "Nameko" goes music!
Nameko everywhere

Tokyo Station is filled with them now. I watched them last week while I reported Tokyo game show 2012.

Now, "Nameko Fair" is held now at Tokyo Station. Every official goods of Nameko are sold here.

Nameko transcends a category of the smartphone application, and it is loved by people.

Many people shooted a souvenir photos in the circumference of the Nameko statue.

The commemorative stamp was popular, too. Even if we did not do shopping, we are able to enjoy these.

We can encounter Nameko if lucky.

Japanese university students developed "Shiri" robot

Students of Japan's University of Electro-Communications developed "Shiri" robot. Is it Shiri of iPhone? No! "Shiri" means "Ass" in Japanese.



Why did they develop the Ass robot by using advanced knowledge and technology?  Why is it ass of the men not a woman? There are a lot of questions. However, you must not laugh at this. In addition, they are earnest. A very high sensor technology is used for this, and the theme of this is communication. This continues evolving and may become the humanoid before long.

iOS application "Manga Camera"

Now, the iOS application which has become the topic most in Japan is "Manga Camera".

This application converts a photos like Japanese manga. "Frame", constructed by sound effects and a background is important.

We put frame together to a photos more than 20 kinds and can make the image of the manga taste.

I tried this by the pumpkin.

In this way, it becomes very natural manga illustration. Surely it will be interesting when we make manga with a photos using this.

Finnish movie "Iron Sky" tie-up with Japanese Video sharing site Nico Nico Douga

Many Japanese movie fans look forward to Finnish movie "Iron Sky". And it is shown in TOHO cinemas Roppongi Hills from September 28.

Japanese official site of Iron Sky

Official Trailer

However, a trailer is not only this. The movie company cooperated with Nico Nico Douga to tell more Japanese about this cool movie. This is an example of the tie-up.


Many texts are inserted in a screen. You may think that they are gloomy. However, this is one of the main functions of Nico Nico douga. Users of Nico Nico douga can post texts in the screen of the videos. Those almost are silly chat and impressions, but they bring about the funniness. Furthermore, Nico Nico Douga broadcasts special program in commemoration of the screening of the Iron Sky on September 15 and 20 (Nico Nico Douga performs the broadcast of the original program).

Furthermore, there is an interesting trailer one more.


This is a trailer using song of Japanese model / singer kyarypamyupamyu "Tsukema Tsukeru".

Original


Her songs are downloaded in large numbers in iTunes of Finland. Probably this will reflect it.