Microsoft's Tokyo Game Show Lineup Revealed

[DoctorFinger]

The Xbox 360 may not be huge in Japan - although things are looking up a little (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=445) - but they're still putting out a big effort at this month's Tokyo Game Show. Siliconera (http://www.siliconera.com/2008/10/06/microsofts-tokyo-game-show-2008-booth-has-star-ocean-4-and/) has the list of games which will be playable for the 360 at the show:

Playable Xbox 360
FIFA 09 World Cup Soccer
Mirrors Edge
Bionic Commando
Street Fighter 4
Resident Evil 5
Otomedius Gorgeous
Silent Hill Homecoming
Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope
The Last Remnant
Sonic Unleashed
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Ninja Blade
Race Driver Grid
Fallout 3
Fable II
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Far Cry 2
H.A.W.X.
End War
Prince of Persia
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Taichi Extra
Dodonpachi Black Label Extra
Saints Row 2

Source - Siliconera (http://www.siliconera.com/2008/10/06/microsofts-tokyo-game-show-2008-booth-has-star-ocean-4-and/).

[LarsenNET]

I'm really looking forward to the new Bionic Commando.

[Gorvi]

So pretty much 90% multiplatform stuff? Odd.

[SPBTooL]

Wow. The Shmups seem to be having a revival these days. TGS is the show I expect we will hear about the new stuff for next year.

[Dark Prince]

I had almost forgotten about Sonic Unleashed. Wonder how that will turn out. Looking forward too Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts.

Should be an interesting week.

[Norse]

So pretty much 90% multiplatform stuff? Odd.

How is that odd? Isn't there 90% or more multiplatform titles on the X360? Microsoft has always spent alot of time on promoting 3rd party multiplatform titles. A wise strategy I would guess. Some people will associate those titles with the platform.

[Troggles]

Star Ocean 4 is all ready in playable form? I thought they just announced it very recently. Here's hoping they aren't rushing it and can put together a decent game.

[biosc1]

I'm really curious where Fifa 09 goes this year, what with the Be A Pro modes in NHL 09 and other EA games. I'm really keeping my eye on this one.

[bean]

@Troggles - They announced it in Japan in December 2007, but Tri-Ace has probably been working on it for years. Their last release was Infinite Undiscovery just a few weeks ago, but before that it was Valkyrie Profile 2 back in June 2006 (I looked this up, btw. . . not a huge Tri-Ace nerd here). So they've probably been working on both Infinite Undiscovery and Star Ocean 4 since 2006 and it isn't expected to be out until sometime next year. A 3 year development cycle is pretty long for Japan. . . I doubt they would make shovelware with their most recognized IP, but their games have been very hit and miss (especially their more recent titles. . . I loved Star Ocean 2 and the original Valkyrie Profile, but did not enjoy Star Ocean 3 or Valkyrie Profile on the PS2, and I'm so swamped with great games right now that I haven't played much of IU. . . seems to have some great moments so far but also some really crappy things too. . . like the UI).

Star Ocean 4 & The Last Remnant are the ones I'm most interested in and that will also be the biggest draws in Japan. I'm curious about Ninja Blade, though the title is not promising (like ninjas, but it sounds like a bad 80's kungfu movie).

[pomeroy]

RE5 playable? Nice.

[Deadend]

Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Taichi Extra

Someone tell me what that is? As That is the only game I don't know.

[Variable Gear]

Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Taichi Extra

Someone tell me what that is? As That is the only game I don't know.
It's a vertical SHMUP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketsui_-_Kizuna_Jigoku_Tachi) by Cave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_(company)) that was released to Japanese arcades in 2002. The 360 version (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketsui_-_Kizuna_Jigoku_Tachi#Xbox_360_version) was originally planned as a download via XBLA, but Microsoft rejected 5pb's proposal (http://www.xblah.net/2008/03/5pb.html) which forced them to release Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra and DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou Black Label Extra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DoDonPachi_Dai_Ou_Jou#Xbox_360_version) as retail games.

[TrackZero]

So pretty much 90% multiplatform stuff? Odd.

Same could have been said about the PS2 in it's heyday. The point is that it (and this) are the primary development platforms for those titles.

[TrackZero]

It's a vertical SHMUP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketsui_-_Kizuna_Jigoku_Tachi) by Cave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_(company)) that was released to Japanese arcades in 2002. The 360 version (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketsui_-_Kizuna_Jigoku_Tachi#Xbox_360_version) was originally planned as a download via XBLA, but Microsoft rejected 5pb's proposal (http://www.xblah.net/2008/03/5pb.html) which forced them to release Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra and DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou Black Label Extra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DoDonPachi_Dai_Ou_Jou#Xbox_360_version) as retail games.

Indeed. Though to be fair, XBLA would have been flooded with SHMUP ports had they not clamped down.

[Gorvi]

Same could have been said about the PS2 in it's heyday. The point is that it (and this) are the primary development platforms for those titles.
Not really, but that's a debate for another time. It just seems like they aren't really showing that many games that are coming from Microsoft, I figured there'd be more.

[TrackZero]

Not really, but that's a debate for another time. It just seems like they aren't really showing that many games that are coming from Microsoft, I figured there'd be more.

You figured wrong. And it's opinion at this point. Most people would agree with me, some won't. ;) All depends on how you want to "see" the market. To me, it's a 360 Christmas.

[Gorvi]

You figured wrong. And it's opinion at this point. Most people would agree with me, some won't. ;) All depends on how you want to "see" the market. To me, it's a 360 Christmas.
By most, if you mean here, you should know that that's not nearly an even argument. And to me, it's a PS3 xmas, to each their own. ;)

[TrackZero]

By most, if you mean here, you should know that that's not nearly an even argument. And to me, it's a PS3 xmas, to each their own. ;)

Hey, the market is big enough now that it's harder and harder to see where things are at. In many ways each of the big platforms will have a big Christmas.

With regards to PS3/360, 360 still leads sales on mutliplatform SKU. So....;)

[Gorvi]

Hey, the market is big enough now that it's harder and harder to see where things are at. In many ways each of the big platforms will have a big Christmas.

With regards to PS3/360, 360 still leads sales on mutliplatform SKU. So....;)
Well, other than the Wii (for gamers), but I think we both agree on that. ;)

Bah, who even cares at this point. We all win. :)

[bean]

Bah, who even cares at this point. We all win. :)
Run for the hills before he quotes even more damaging numbers or finishes you off with a link.

[Shadowstorm]

Run for the hills before he quotes even more damaging numbers or finishes you off with a link.

Hahah.

And yay for RE5 being playable.

[Gorvi]

Run for the hills before he quotes even more damaging numbers or finishes you off with a link.
For massive damage?

[Variable Gear]

Indeed. Though to be fair, XBLA would have been flooded with SHMUP ports had they not clamped down.
Well, I agree that there would be a lot of ports if Microsoft wouldn't have clamped down, but it doesn't make sense to raise the price of such niche titles. If they could have been downloaded via XBLA, they could have entered the market at a much lower price point. As retail titles, I don't know if either game has a chance of being successful, even as niche products.